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18

Aithan

The tension in my father’s office is suffocating. He sits behind his massive desk, fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood as he delivers the worst news I have heard in ten years.

"Someone within our ranks tipped off multiple European customs offices about our shipment. Not only did they tip off our target countries, but countries such as Spain, Italy, and France are also aware." He pauses, letting the weight of the information sink in. "We got lucky this time. The Bratva got wind of the leak before the shipment could enter European waters. Viktor is pulling some strings to reroute it to the States."

"Lucky?" My voice had come out as a growl. "We don’t do luck, Father. We don’t survive on it. We built this empire with precision, power, and loyalty. Not some bloody luck."

My father’s eyes burn into mine. "Then explain to me how a fucking traitor slipped through our ranks."

The room goes silent. Leon, who is sitting to my right, clenches his jaw tight, his posture rigid.

"We don’t know if the mole is Greek or Russian yet," Leon offers after a long pause. “The leak could have come from the Bratva, too.”

Sabastian nodded, considering. "Possible. But I won’t take chances. Aithan, this is our problem now. I want the both of you to fish out whoever it is."

I meet my father’s gaze, my muscles coiled tight. "And would you like the honor of pulling the final trigger?"

“I’ll leave them to you both.” My father surprises me. "Find them. Rip them out by the fucking roots. And when you do..." His lips curled into something menacing. "Make sure they never betray us again. Make an example out of them."

The door slams shut behind me, the force of it rattling the glass panes. My hands curl into fists as I pace the length of my office, fury burning through my veins like wildfire. There may be a mole in our organization. A rat, burrowing deep, feeding information to the wrong people. And that rat just put our entire ammunition shipment in jeopardy.

A sharp knock on the door interrupts my thoughts, and Leon steps in, his expression grim.

"We have our work cut out for us,” he says dryly, shutting the door behind him.

"How the fuck did this happen?"

He exhales and drops into the chair opposite my desk. "We need to find whoever it is ASAP. And when we do, they will be digging their own grave with a spoon.”

I drag a hand through my hair, now pacing. "This is our operation. Our people. Someone tipped off customs, and if it weren’t for the Bratva’s inside men, we would not only have lost hundreds of millions, but some of our men and theirs would have landed in prison with very long and hard sentencing. Do you understand what this means?"

Leon leans back, nodding. "It means we’ve got a snake slithering around, feeding intel to an enemy we don’t even see yet."

I stop pacing, my fists clenching. "No. It means we have to find out who it is before they sink their teeth into us again."

Now, sitting at my desk, my fingers drum against the surface. My pulse is a steady, controlled rage.

"We need to look into everyone," I say to Leon, my voice measured but lethal. "No one is above suspicion."

Leon watches me carefully. "Even the Russians?"

I nod. "Especially the Russians. I don’t trust anyone outside of you and Viktor right now."

He sighs. "This is going to get bloody."

"Then let it."

The opening of the door makes both of us turn. It’s Yelena. She had sent me a message while I was with my father that she was bored and wanted to stroll around the building.

She steps inside, eyes sharp as they take in the tension-filled room. Her presence alone is enough to cut through my fury, but I don’t have time to let her settle the storm brewing in me.

"What happened?" she asks, arms crossed, gaze flicking between me and Leon. "I can feel your anger from across the hall."

I debate keeping her out of it, but then I remember who I married. She’s not a woman you can keep in the dark.

"There’s a rat," I say finally, meeting her gaze. "Someone tipped off customs about our shipment."

She doesn’t flinch.

"The Bratva stopped it," Leon adds. "But if they hadn’t… we would’ve lost millions. And good men."

A flicker of something crosses Yelena’s expression, something cold and calculating. "Do you have any leads?"

I exhale. "Not yet. But I will soon."

She nods slowly. "Good. Because the longer the person roams free, the bolder they will become, and that is dangerous."

"I am going to rip whoever it is out sooner than later."

"As you should."

I smirk despite myself. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

She tilts her head, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "I enjoy seeing you in your element. You’re dangerously handsome when you’re pissed."

I step toward her, my hand brushing against her waist as I lean in. "You have no idea, agápi mou ."

Leon groans. "Jesus Christ, can we not do this in front of me?"

Yelena chuckles, but I’m still focused on her.

"I want you to stay out of this," I say, brushing my thumb against her hip.

Her amusement vanishes instantly. "No."

I raise a brow. "No?"

"You don’t get to keep me in the dark. I’m your wife and this affects me, too."

I grip her chin, tilting her face up to mine. "That’s exactly why I don’t want you involved. Because when I go after this bastard, they may want to come after you."

She doesn’t back down. "And what if I can help?"

My grip tightens for a fraction of a second before I release her with a sigh. "You really don’t know how to listen, do you?"

"Not when I know I’m right."

Leon clears his throat. "Alright, lovebirds, can we get back to planning?"

I take a step back, running a hand through my hair. "Fine. Yelena stays in the loop. But the moment this gets dangerous, you stay out of it. Understood?"

She nods. "Understood."

I don’t believe her for a second.

As the conversation ends, Yelena steps away, her expression contemplative. I watch her carefully, knowing she’s already thinking of ways to dig into this herself.

Leon sighs, standing. "We need to start pulling records. Looking at who knew about the shipment, who had access to it."

I nod. "Do it. And Leon—"

He glances back at me.

"If we find them, I want their blood on my hands. No one else’s."

Leon’s grin is slow, sharp. "You are really bloodthirsty."

I watch as he leaves, my hands flexing at my sides.

There is a snake in our organization.

And when I find them? I’ll erase them from this planet.