Chapter 35

Yaroslav

F urther analysis of the CCTV footage showed the SUVs splitting up, heading in the direction of two of Sharkozi’s properties we know of. Two cars went to an old factory and the third to a warehouse. With the clock ticking and every wasted moment making it more and more likely that the Sharkozi might harm Kim or Marta, I decided to split up my men. Artem has taken a team to the warehouse while I’m going to the factory with another team.

The fact that they didn’t change cars is setting off alarm bells for me, they either don’t care if we know where they went, think they have time to move on before we find them, or they’re leading us into a trap.

As we near the abandoned factory, I get a call from Artem. “Hey, Boss. We’ve arrived and done a sweep of the place. Sharkozi and the girls aren’t here. But you’ll never guess who I did find, Vova and Mikhail,” he says to my surprise.

“Alive?”

“Vova is, Mikhail didn’t make it. As we suspected, Sharkozi’s men ambushed them and got the upper hand shortly before the kidnapping. We found them tied up in separate rooms here. It’s obvious they’ve been interrogated, but whoever was doing it must have left when they heard us approaching. Vova says that after they were tied up, the men who took them left, leaving two others behind, at least with him. He doesn’t know what happened with Mikhail. He also says they wanted to know about the shipment,” Artem explains.

“Fuck. What did they tell them?” I ask, relieved that Vova’s alive but concerned as to what Sharkozi now knows, and what this means for Kim and Marta.

Vova and Mikhail were some of my best men, if Sharkozi’s men got the upper hand over them, they must be more prepared and organized than I anticipated.

“We’ve no idea what Mikhail gave away before he croaked it. Vova says he was shot in the initial ambush so that’s likely why he didn’t survive the torture. Vova’s roughed up but nothing too serious, seems we got here just in time. He didn’t give up any information, the tough son of a bitch,” Artem replies proudly.

I let out a small chuckle, Vova is definitely a tough nut to crack. “That’s our Vova! Does he have any more information for us? Does he know where the women were taken or why?”

“Not much, unfortunately, but he did say he overheard something about an abandoned factory,” Artem explains.

“Good, so this must be the place. Tell him good job and to go see the doctor and get some rest,” I reply, keen to get moving now I’m confident I’m in the right place.

Artem relays this to him and in the background, I can hear Vova protesting. “No fucking way, man. I’m coming with you, you guys need all the backup you can get!”

“Fine. Get here as quick as you can. I’m going in now for a closer look.”

Artem knows full well that although he would rather I wait for backup, I won’t. Given the distance, for Artem to get to us, it will take him well over an hour. I can’t wait for him. We’re on our own.

“Will do. Be careful,” he replies before hanging up.

I instruct my men to get out and approach on foot. If we might not have the element of surprise, we need to be stealthy. The place looks deserted, so I’m hoping they aren’t expecting us to arrive this soon. This means that hopefully, the women are still alive. But we’re at an abandoned factory with several buildings, they could be in any of them. Choosing wrong could be a fatal error.

Suddenly, a bullet rushes past my ear, narrowly missing me. We quickly take cover, trying to locate the shooter who must be hidden on one of the roofs. A flurry of bullets continues to rain down on us, seeming to come from all directions.

“Fuck, it’s a trap!” one of my men calls out.

We return fire, shooting blindly, unable to see where the shooters are hiding. I look around, taking in my surroundings. All of the nearest entrances require us to cross the empty forecourt, leaving us vulnerable, but here, we’re sitting ducks. We’ve got to try.

I gesture to my men the door I think is our best bet to make a run for, “Let’s go! Group one go and group two will cover you. Once you’re in, we’ll follow!”

I know this plan means group two, including myself, is likely to get the brunt of the fire, but no one hesitates to follow my order. Even after men in the first wave get hit, group two follows me without question. We give as good as we get, managing to take down some of our opposition. Just as we reach the door, I feel a sharp burning sensation in my left arm, I’ve been shot.

I can’t look back, looking back is what gets you killed. We make it inside, down but not out, taking a moment to recuperate, the guards having already been dispatched by group one. I glance back outside the door. One of mine lies dead, Boris, who it seems had the misfortune to get a bullet through the brain, perhaps the same one that nicked my arm since he was behind me. Erik and a couple of others from group one are injured, the two are helping the more seriously injured Erik retreat. But I can’t let myself dwell on our losses, we have to keep moving.

“Good job men, but it’s not over yet, we’ve still got to find and extract Marta and Kim. It seems Sharkozi is prepared for us,” I say grimly.

“Boss, you’re hurt,” Fedor points out, looking concerned.

“Nothing to worry about, a graze only. Wish I could say the same for the others,” I reply grimly, jerking my head to the now-closed door behind us. There’s only one direction we can go in now, down a corridor into the main building. “Follow me and stay alert,” I warn.

I don’t like the fact we’re being led down a one-way route, it could be another trap. Fortunately, we don’t encounter anyone as we make our way into the factory’s heart. When the corridor finally ends, we enter the main, disused factory floor where we’re able to quickly dispatch the small group of men patrolling there. We move toward the one main room the dead men appeared to be guarding. Inside, there’s a control room with several CCTV monitors under the supervision of just one man. So, that’s how they knew where we were coming from to attack.

He cowers in the corner, his gun shaking in his hands as he realizes he has no place to run, there’s only one way in and out of the room. Before he can react, I fire, killing him instantly. Now we have access to the control room, we can see where the rest of the men are. There are surprisingly fewer than I would have anticipated, I’ve no doubt we can easily take them. There’s no sign of Sharkozi, not that I expected him to be here, he’d rather let others do his dirty work.

I didn’t come here today for Sharkozi, I came for Kim and my sister. Finally, I spot Marta, alone and tied to a chair but seemingly alive. But where’s Kim?

“I’ve got eyes on Marta here, seems she’s at the far end of the building. Can anyone see Kim?” I ask, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

“Found her!” Fedor exclaims, pointing to one of the screens.

Kim and Marta have been placed in separate parts of the building from each other. We’re going to have to split up. And I’m going to have to make a choice, I have to decide if I’m going to go with the team to rescue my sister or to one looking for Kim.

I don’t have time to agonize over it. I have to trust my gut. And my men.

“Fedor, you lead group one after Marta, I’m going for Kim with the others. We’ll meet back, in the middle, if either team encounters issues once the target is secure, we double back to help. Artem and the others should be here soon. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” they echo in unison as we head off.

Kim is closer to us, which makes her the more obvious person to save first. At least that’s what I’m telling myself is the reason I chose to go to her first. I can double back once I know she’s safe, to get Marta. I can save them both. I have to. I can’t let myself think of the alternative.