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I stand and glance over at Roman as he enters the warehouse. We must move quickly. There can’t be a trace of any evidence when the cops get to the warehouse.
Nik isn’t with him even though he should be.
Is Nik trying to play me? Did he give away the location before he left? No, that’s not possible. Nik is a good man. He's my little brother. He would never betray me.
“Ivan, there’s more that I have to tell you. It’s important. In case you don’t get out of there in time.”
I hold the phone away from my ear and motion to Roman. He runs over, his eyebrows knitting together. He comes to a stop in front of me, crossing his arms. I study for a minute, taking in the hard set of his jaw.
“The cops are on the way. Burn it to the ground.”
Roman nods and jogs away, grabbing one of the red cans of gas we keep just for this scenario. I take a deep breath and put the phone back to my ear. Sophia’s saying something, her voice so soft I don’t catch it as I tip over my desk and send the papers on it flying.
Everything in this warehouse must burn before the cops get here.
“I’m sorry, doll. I have to go and take care of this. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Ivan.”
“Later, doll,” I say, my tone stern before I end the call and put my phone back in my pocket.
As Roman pours gas on the product, I grab a crowbar and start pulling open crates. Opioids tumble to the floor. Irritation flows through me as I open crate after crate while Roman soaks everything. We worked hard for this deal, and now it must go up in flames.
The faster it all burns, the better.
“How did you even find out about the cops?” Roman asks as he sets down the last can.
I head for the door with him trailing behind me as he pulls out a lighter. “I got a call from a contact within the department. They told me that the cops were on their way. Hurry up and toss that. We need the fire going before they get here.”
Though I don’t think he’s the one, I’m not going to tell him that Sophia gave me the tip. If I’m wrong and he is the traitor, that information will only make her his next target.
As we step outside, my chest constricts. Though the Bratva is going to live to see another day, we’re still destroying a multi-million-dollar deal.
“If your informant is wrong about that tip, then we’ve just been fucked over,” Roman says, running his hand through his hair as we make our way to our cars.
Sirens start to screech in the background, the first flash of red and blue lights glinting off buildings a couple of streets over.
My stomach sinks as I open the door to my car and look at Roman. “The informant wasn’t wrong.”
I slide into the car and stare at the burning building for a moment. Watching that much money go up in flames is never easy, but it’s better than the alternative.
Dense smoke chokes the air and drifts with the wind across the sky. People stand on the edge of the inferno and watch it burn with their cell phones. Some call for help, others try to throw buckets of water on the flames. It is as if they believe they can stop these flames.
I need to get out of here before the police arrive.
Roman’s car takes off while I continue to watch the people trying to save the warehouse. But it can't be saved. We've made sure of that. By the time the police arrive, and the fire department extinguishes the flames, there will be no evidence left for them.
As I rev the engine and peel out of the marina, one thing becomes clear.
I must get to Sophia before the traitor finds out she has given me this information.
Chapter 21 - Sophia
My phone is on the kitchen table and I'm waiting for it to ring. Ivan will be safe. I got through to him in time. He'll be out of the warehouse before the police get there. Everything will be fine.
At least, so I hope.
“Sophia?” Uncle Lev comes in, his brow furrowed and his hands in his pockets. “Ivan called me and asked me to stay with you until he gets here. What’s going on? He didn’t sound good on the phone. I have a bad feeling.”
