Page 69 of The Bratva Stalker's Ruthless Claim
I hesitate for a moment, then ask, “What was that?”
“It’s Timofey.” Mike locks eyes with me, his expression unreadable but fierce. “Our bait operation has yielded fruit. One of the falsified shipment routes was ambushed, exactly as you predicted. The version leaked matches the file sent exclusively to Sergei.”
My stomach tightens. “So…he did it?”
Mike nods slowly. “Yes.”
“What are you going to do?”
He scoffs. “They came after you, Ellie. That’s the line I can’t cross. There’s only one thing I can do now.”
Chapter 14 – Mike
The sniper attack removed any lingering doubt. Sergei had to be neutralized, but I needed undeniable proof before making a move that could fracture the organization.
In a world like mine, before you kill men like Sergei, men the world perceives as loyal to the bone, you need absolute certainty.
Personally, I already have enough to nail him to the cross, but I won’t act yet. Not until I see how far he’ll go to lie to my face.
I want his death to be gruesome. Not just because he betrayed me, but because he went after my wife. But first…I want to savor the moment. I want to see the cracks in his mask, the hesitation he thinks he can hide.
I take a slow sip of vodka, letting the burn sharpen my focus. That’s when the door opens just a crack. Sergei steps inside, his posture casual, the practiced ease of a man who thinks he knows the room. It’s been over a week since I discovered his involvement, but he’s still oblivious, because I’ve not acted out of character.
“Boss, you wanted to see me?” he asks, voice even, friendly almost, like this is just another ordinary meeting.
“Sit down.”
He takes the chair across from me.
Finally, I speak, keeping my tone calm, almost casual. “Sergei…I’ve been reviewing the warehouse incident again. Very clean. Very precise. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing.”
He blinks slightly, a microsecond too long, then recovers. “Yes…very unfortunate. Whoever it was must have had inside knowledge. I’ve tightened all security channels and made sure nothing like this happens again.”
I watch him carefully.
“Inside knowledge,” I repeat slowly, letting the words hang in the air. “Interesting choice of words. And you…you don’t think someone in our inner circle might have provided it?”
His eyes flicker, just a flash, before settling back to meet mine. “Boss…I wouldn’t think anyone in our inner circle would betray us. Everyone here is loyal.”
I lean forward, resting my forearms on the desk, my gaze unflinching. “Loyalty is a funny thing, Sergei. People claim it, swear it, swear on their lives…but it bends, twists, and sometimes breaks. Especially under pressure.”
Sergei shifts, a slight tension running through him. His hand brushes the edge of the desk, almost imperceptibly. “I…I understand, Boss. I’ll make sure no one has access they shouldn’t.”
I let him sit in that. Let him feel the weight of my words. “Access isn’t the only problem. It’s about decisions. Choices. Who you choose to protect…and who you choose to betray.”
He swallows, a microsecond too long. “Boss…I’ve always been loyal. I would never—”
“Of course,” I say smoothly, lifting a hand to stop him from finishing the sentence. I lean back in my chair, as though the matter isn’t particularly heavy on my mind. “But let’s say, hypothetically, someone is betraying me. What would you suggest I do to find them?”
Sergei doesn’t hesitate long. If anything, the question seems to energize him. He straightens slightly in the chair, slipping comfortably into the role of trusted advisor.
“Well,” he begins carefully, “first we tighten the inner circle. Immediately. No one outside the core should have access to sensitive information. Cut the flow of intelligence down to the smallest possible group.”
I nod slowly, as if considering it.
He continues, warming to the topic.
“Second, we monitor communications. Phones, encrypted channels, financial transactions. A man who betrays you usually leaves a trail—payments, offshore accounts, shell companies. If we follow the money, we’ll find who he’s working for.”
