Page 89 of Twisted Pact

“Develop extraction scenarios. I want options that minimize exposure while maximizing success probability.”

“There are no good options. This is suicide disguised as heroism.”

I watch Mila’s face as she listens. She understands enough to know that we’re discussing something that could get everyone killed, but she’s not backing down. Not suggesting I should prioritize my safety over her father’s life.

“Then we get creative. Use resources they won’t anticipate.”

“You’re making this decision based on emotion instead of strategy.”

“I’m making this decision based on what matters most.”

I disconnect before Boris can argue further. Mila reaches for my hand.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“Don’t thank me yet. We need to figure out how to pull this off without getting everyone killed.”

“But you’re going to try.”

“I will succeed.”

The certainty in my voice surprises me, because Boris is right about the tactical impossibility. Novikov chose this location to eliminate any advantages I might have. He wants me to come after Leonid so he can demonstrate that caring about people makes leaders weak.

But watching Mila fight back tears while trying to stay strong makes all that irrelevant.

“Why aren’t we leaving?” she asks. “You said we needed to go.”

“Because Boris said Dmitri wants to use a secure line, and now that I think about it, this is the safest place to plan the operation. Secure communications. No surveillance. Resources I need for coordination.”

The phone rings again. Dmitri.

“Boris told me you’re planning something that will get you killed,” he blurts when I answer.

“I’m planning something necessary.”

“Same thing in this case. Leonid’s capture is bait designed specifically for you. Taking it proves their point about emotional attachments compromising judgment.”

I walk to the reinforced door and stare at the steel surface. Somewhere beyond these underground walls, Leonid Andreev is being tortured for information about our operations. Somewhere out there, Novikov thinks he’s forcing me to choose between strategy and sentiment.

“What would you do if someone took Katya?” I ask.

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“Katya is my wife. Leonid is your girlfriend’s father.”

“Mila is carrying my child. That makes Leonid family.”

Dmitri goes quiet for several seconds. When he speaks again, his voice is careful. “If this goes wrong, you’re not just risking your life: You’re giving our enemies exactly what they want.”

I know he’s right. Everything about this operation violates basic risk management principles. But I also know that watching Milasuffer while I make calculated decisions about her father’s life would destroy something between us that I’m not willing to lose.

“I have to try.”

“Then I’m sending backup. If you’re determined to walk into a trap, let me minimize the damage when it goes wrong.”

“I’m not asking you to risk your men for this.”