Page 105 of Her Darkest Possession

"South camera. What do you see there?"

"I count about six men at the—" A sharp yelp comes through the line. "They just shot out the camera!"

"Fuck!" I snarl.

The Volkovs are being strategic, taking out our eyes systematically. The fact that the cliffside and west wing cameras were already disabled tells me exactly where their heaviest forces are positioned and where they want me to make my main attack.

They're not stupid. I'll give them that.

"You're doing great, Indigo," I tell her, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rage and fear churning inside me. "Stay on the line with me, okay?"

"I will."

I wave Roma over, and he ducks down beside me as another volley of gunfire passes overhead.

"Roma, take two teams and secure the ventilation shaft access by the cliffside. We can't let the Volkovs take it. If mother really gave all the information about the mansion to Lola, then they'll know how important that is. You'll be going in blind, and odds are good that the Volkovs are already there."

Roma nods grimly. "And you? What will you do?"

"I'll coordinate the assault from here. Shift forces to where they're needed most."

I motion towards another two men, and when they over, I point at both their earpieces.

Both of them gives those up without question, and I hand one to Roma.

"Keep in touch. Call me if you need more men. That ventilation shaft is our main priority. We need to take it. And if we can't, we need to keep the Volkovs from damaging it.Eto moi prikaz."

Roma holds my gaze for a long moment, and then he nods.

"Good luck, brother," he says, clasping my shoulder briefly before turning to gather his team.

"Indigo, stay with me," I say, tightening my grip on the phone. "Kusma is headed to the north entrance with six men. I need you to be my eyes."

"I will," she promises, her voice steadier now. Having a task seems to focus her.

"Let me know the moment you see anything. Either our men taking out the Volkovs or the Volkovs getting more backup."

"I'll do that," she says.

"And Lola? Do you see her?"

"Last I saw her." Indigo's breath catches slightly, but her voice is steady and even as she speaks. "Was right after she shot Vassily. She was in the west wing starting the fire."

Before I can ask more, Indigo cuts in urgently, "The east cameras just went out!"

"Fuck!" I snarl. "Focus on the north entrance then. That's where our men are headed anyways."

The line goes quiet for a moment, just her breathing coming through. Then her voice rises, tight with tension. "I see them! The Volkovs are firing at something! That must be Kusma."

I strain my ears, trying to hear gunfire from that direction, but the sounds of battle are coming from all sides of the property now.

"One of the Volkovs just went down!" Indigo reports. "The other two are taking cover behind the windows on the right side."

"Stay on the line, I'll call you back," I tell her, then dial Kusma.

He answers immediately. "Da!"

"Two Volkov men behind windows on right side facing out. Shift fire."