Page 100 of Enigma

“Maybe. But your greed already got my family killed.”

The sound of boots on concrete echoed through the warehouse as tactical teams flooded through every entrance. “FBI! Everyone on the ground!”

CHAPTER 65

The warehouse had become a war zone.

Smoke from the canisters created a gray haze that made it difficult to see more than a few feet in any direction. Gunfire echoed off the concrete walls as FBI agents engaged Sarah’s armed guards in running battles between the shipping containers.

Through the chaos, Olive saw Anton Karakov attempting to reach a black SUV parked near the loading dock. Two of his bodyguards flanked him, returning fire at pursuing agents.

“Anton’s getting away!” she shouted to Simon.

“I’ll get him,” Simon called back. “Where’s Sarah?”

Olive glanced beside her. Sarah had disappeared.

She quickly scanned the smoke-filled warehouse and spotted her aunt moving toward a side exit, using the confusion to slip away from the main battle. Sarah had a pistol in her hand and was checking corners like someone with military training.

“There!” Olive pointed toward the exit.

But between them and Sarah stood three of the warehouse guards who hadn’t yet been subdued. They’d taken defensive positions behind concrete pillars, their automatic weapons trained on anyone who tried to cross the open floor.

Mitzi appeared beside her. “We need to stop Sarah before she reaches that exit.”

“The guards.” Olive nodded toward the armed men between them and Sarah.

“Leave them to me.” Mitzi pulled out a flash-bang grenade. “When this goes off, you and Jason move. I’ll handle the guards.”

Olive nodded and helped Jason to his feet. He grimaced but pushed through the pain.

Olive stayed close just in case he needed to lean on her.

The explosion of light and sound momentarily stunned everyone in the immediate area. Olive and Jason sprinted across the warehouse floor while Mitzi engaged the guards with suppressing fire.

In the distance, she saw Simon apprehending Anton, several federal agents assisting him.

They reached the exit corridor just as Sarah was entering the code on an electronic lock. The door clicked open, revealing a parking area with several vehicles.

“Sarah!” Olive called out.

Her aunt spun around, gun raised. Her eyes widened when she realized she’d been caught. “You should have taken the money and walked away.”

“It’s over,” Olive said. “The FBI has the building surrounded. Anton’s already in custody, and my colleague has Elena subdued.”

Sarah’s eyes flicked toward the parking area. “This is just one location. You think arresting me will stop anything? We have operations in four countries, assets you can’t even imagine.”

“Maybe. But this ends here.”

Sarah laughed bitterly. “You’re so naive. Do you think I built this network alone? There are people above me, below me, people who will make sure this business continues with or without me.”

“Then they’ll have to do it without you.”

For a moment, the two of them stood in a tense standoff. Sirens wailed outside, and the sounds of the ongoing operation echoed through the warehouse behind them.

“You know what the funny thing is?” Sarah said, her gun still pointed at Olive. “Your parents thought they could just walk away too. They thought witness protection would save them. Look how that worked out.”

“At least they tried to do the right thing in the end,” Olive replied. “That’s more than you can say.”