Page 44 of Twisted Pact

Dmitri shows up at one thirty with the full team. Five men plus him, all experienced, and all trained for this kind of operation.

Boris, Nikita, Sergei, Denis, and Anton. Each one handpicked for his specific skills: Boris for his tactical expertise. Nikita for his ability to remain calm under pressure. Sergei for his medical training in case Irina or the baby need immediate care. Denis for his lock-picking and technical skills. Anton for his sharpshooting abilities if things go wrong.

“Final briefing,” I tell them in the main room. “Targets are Irina Andreeva and her infant son. They’re being held in the east wing of the Novikov compound, on the second floor. Three guards on rotation. Civilian staff might be present, but shouldn’t interfere. We go in quiet, extract the targets, and get out before they can mount a coordinated response.”

“What’s the priority if things go wrong?” Boris asks.

“The baby. Then Irina. We don’t leave without both.”

“And if we can’t get both?”

“We get both. That’s not negotiable.”

The men nod. No one questions the order even though they all know rescues don’t always go according to plan.

“Weapons are hot; don’t fire unless fired upon,” I continue. “I want this clean. No unnecessary casualties or burned bridges we can’t rebuild later. The Novikovs are competitors, not enemies. I’d like to keep it that way if possible.”

“The Novikovs won’t see it as clean regardless,” Nikita points out. “We’re violating their territory and taking their leverage. They’ll want retaliation.”

“Let them want it. By the time they organize a response, we’ll be long gone with the hostages safe. We’ll claim humanitarian concerns and let politics sort itself out.”

I dismiss the team to make final preparations. Dmitri stays behind.

“You sure about this?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Once we cross this line, there’s no going back. The Novikovs will know we sided with the Andreevs and adjust their strategy accordingly.”

“I’m aware of the consequences.”

“Are you? This isn’t just about business anymore. This is personal, and personal decisions in our world tend to get people killed.”

“No one’s getting killed tonight.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I just did.”

He shakes his head but doesn’t argue. “I’ll prep the vehicles.”

I head back upstairs one more time. Mila’s door is still closed, and there’s still no light underneath.

I pull her phone from my pocket. The one I confiscated when we first arrived at this estate. I unlock it and check the battery. It’s at forty percent. Good enough.

Then I knock on her door again.

“Mila. I’m leaving your phone outside your door. You can use it to contact me if there are any security concerns while I’m gone. All communications are monitored, so don’t try anything stupid.”

I set the phone on the floor outside her door and wait to see if she’ll open it.

She doesn’t.

“I’ll bring your sister home,” I say to the closed door. “I promise.”

Still nothing. Just silence from the other side of the door that feels heavier than any words could.

I turn and head downstairs, where the team is waiting. Six men ready to risk their lives for a rescue operation that serves no strategic purpose beyond keeping one woman happy.