27. Antonio

“Where are we with Nikitin?” I ask the three men around the table in a cramped office inside one of the Port caves. Now that Mikhail has joined the search for Nikitin, we can’t convene in the villa as often as we used to. That space is still sacrosanct, and only Cristiano, Lucas, and I have access.

“He’s been sighted in Morocco and Algeria,” Lucas says.

Every criminal on the lam is sighted in Morocco and Algeria at some point. It’s usually bullshit. Someone trying to cash in on a reward.

I turn to Mikhail. “How likely is it that he would be in either of those places?”

Mikhail shakes his head. “Morocco, maybe. Algeria? I don’t see it.”

I don’t either.And the border between them is dangerous as hell.

“Although, he has to be desperate,” Mikhail adds. “From what I’ve heard, all but one of his guards has abandoned him. And it’s easy to get lost in either of those places.”

“If you can survive,” Cristiano mutters.

Mikhail nods. “Nikitin is an oligarch. A billionaire. He’s used to a cushy life and a platoon of guards protecting him.”

“A cushy life is out the window when you’re on the run—especially when your primary bank accounts have been frozen by your government.”

I slam my fist on the table. “If he’s in such a world of hurt, why can’t we locate him?”

“He’s not exactly poverty-stricken,” Mikhail reasons. “He does have cash with him.”

“That disappears quickly.”

“We can put out feelers everywhere, but we’re not going to capture him without boots on the ground.” Mikhail has been hankering to go to Africa and search.

It’s true, but I can’t send men off to scour the world without some sense of where he’s hiding. “We need credible information before we send out a search party.”

“I want to go,” Mikhail says, catching my eye. He’s not asking for my permission, and he doesn’t have to—we’ve given him safe harbor, and in return he’s helped piece some things together, but he doesn’t work for me.

“I can start in the Canary Islands, because despite what our sources tell us, I think he’s more likely to be there than anywhere else. Then I’ll move to Morocco, and Algeria, if all else fails. In the meantime, we’ll keep searching the web for clues, and checking in regularly with our contacts. I can’t stand to be here waiting to get on with my life, and I refuse to do that until my uncle’s murder is avenged.”

He’s impatient. I get that. I want Nikitin, too, and before the harvest, which is getting closer by the day. “You realize that he could be anywhere, and what you’re planning might be futile.”

He nods. “Our best chance is with me on the ground, and all of you doing the things that can only be done from here with sophisticated equipment.”

“I agree. Although, I can’t afford to send men on a wild-goose chase. Not right now. We’re getting ready for the harvest with all it entails, and I need every soldier I have here. But I can fund your trip. I’ll outfit you with whatever you need and cover whatever expenses you have.”

“I can find a few men to take with me, and while I appreciate the offer, I can fund my own trip. The Fedorov fortune is vast, and some of it has found its way to me. I can think of no better way to use it than to find Dimitri’s killer. What I do need from you is safe passage out of the country. Off the continent would be even better.”

“Done,” I say without hesitating. “Let’s stay in regular contact. We’ll share our information, and you’ll share yours. If you change your mind about funds, you know how to reach me.”