Page 62 of Bratva Bidder

He exhales through his nose. “Alright. I’ll poke around.”

“And Lev?” I add as he turns to leave.

“Yeah?”

“She doesn’t know I’m watching. Let’s keep it that way.”

As Lev disappears into the trees, I unload the rest of the magazine into the last target until the metal frame sways, torn through the chest.

Then I walk away.

The estate’s private drive curves down toward the west wing—a separate building behind reinforced iron gates. Not many know what it houses. Those who do never talk about it.

The moment I step inside, silence falls.

Two of my lieutenants rise from their chairs. Anton nods once. He’s the muscle, brutal and efficient. Maksim follows a second later—he’s leaner, meaner, the brains behind half of our international logistics.

They’re both waiting.

“Is it done?” I ask.

Maksim pushes a folder toward me. “The shipment from Odessa docked two hours ago. We routed it through Jakarta like you asked.”

I skim the manifest. Weapons. Modified tech. A coded note that confirms the deal with the Turks has held—for now.

“And the drop to the Mexican side?”

“Delayed,” Anton says. “Cartel wants more cash for safe passage.”

I look up. “They were already paid.”

“They think you’re distracted. Marriage and all.”

A cold laugh escapes my throat. “Then they’ve forgotten who they’re dealing with.”

They exchange a glance. “There’s something else.”

“What?”

“Two of the containers were flagged in Tijuana,” Maksim says.

“Flagged by whom?”

“That’s the thing,” Anton says, arms crossed. “Mexican military didn’t touch them. They were tipped off—by someone else. Higher.”

I stare down at the map of the western corridor. A red blinking marker flashes at a point near Mexicali.

“They’re testing us,” I mutter.

“Who?” Maksim asks, confused.

I lean against the edge of the table, folding my arms. “My father,” I say simply.

A beat of silence passes between us.

“You think he’s pushing the cartel to apply pressure?” Anton asks.

“I know he is. He’s not coming at me directly. Not yet. But he wants to disrupt the supply routes, scare the buyers, ruin my credibility in the network.”