“Oh, no,” Halston blurted.
“And my team has confirmed the Petrov siblings, along with Bulgrov,” Kathrine added.
“Halston has been working for the ambassador since her assignment began in Moscow,” Sin said. “Halston, why don’t you walk everyone through the documents you and Gabriel found?”
Sin got busy on his laptop. A screen behind him rolled down from the ceiling. He moved next to his wife as Sydney jumped up and dimmed the lights.
The first slide was the Russian map of the US.
“I walked in on a meeting with the ambassador Yuri Bulgrov, Natasha the embassy’s social director, and the Russian businessman Dmitri Petrov,” Halston said. “Bulgrov told me he handpicked me for an assignment that would—and I quote—shift the global balance of power.”
“That’s not good,” Kathrine said.
“The first group of cities that went dark had been marked with a star,” Sin explained. “Portland, Wichita, Tampa, Richmond, Baltimore, San Jose, and Santa Fe. They’d circled the larger cities. These are currently in blackout. New York City, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, and the DMV—the District, suburbs in Maryland, and all of Northern Virginia.”
Sin tapped the laptop, and a different document projected on the drop-down screen. “Halston, bring the team up to speed on this.”
“Gabriel found this Russian document in the home of Pavel Donskoy—a member of the Russian Mafia who’s been working here,” Halston explained. “It translates to read, ‘Twelve packages are arriving January 8th at Dulles with a 7:40 AM pickup. Two vans are needed. After the delivery gets loaded, Donskoy takes it to Ashburn.’”
“Pavel Donskoy was eliminated,” Sin said.
“This is a good time for me to jump in,” Gabriel stated.
“G, not now,” Greystone said.
A jolt of frustration pounded through him. “Yes,now.”
“It can wait,” Greystone pushed back.
“Se non stai zitto e non mi lasci parlare, ti pentirai di avermi zittito,” Gabriel said.If you don't shut the hell up and let me speak, you'll regret shutting me down.
Greystone narrowed his gaze. “Mi stai minacciando? È una stupida dimostrazione di potere?”Are you threatening me? Is this some bullshit power play?
Teddy intervened. “Dovete darci un taglio, tutti e due. Hai fatto approvare i tuoi punti di discussione, Gabriel? E Greystone, smettila di essere così dannatamente controllante,”You gotta take it down, both of you. Did you get your talking points cleared, Gabriel? And Greystone, don't be so damn controlling.
A growl shot out of Gabriel as his hands clenched into fists.
“This infighting isn’t helping,” Z said. “Gabriel, continue.”
“Pavel Donskoy’s brother was one of the Bratva who’d taken over my distillery plant in Milan,” Gabriel said, refusing to acknowledge his brothers.
“G, this is irrelevant,” Greystone said.
“Silence,” Gabriel seethed. “I overheard Donskoy’s brother on a call. Since Pavel Donskoy is dead, his brother was ordered to fly here and manage the delivery.” Gabriel eyed the team. “The man on the phone with Donskoy—the one barking orders—was Petrov. Dmitri Petrov. He’s managing the package delivery at Dulles.”
Halston steeled her spine. “Oh. My. God.”
Then, silence.
Earth-shattering silence.
Gabriel leaned back. Message delivered and definitely received.
“Dmitri Petrov is in tight with the Ambassador,” Halston said. “He’s the one who told the ambassador the delivery date.” She shot Gabriel a little smile. “Nice. What happened to Pavel Donskoy’s brother?”
“He’s rotting in hell with Pavel,” Gabriel replied.
“Thank you, Gabriel,” Z said. “Very pertinent info.”
