Chapter 25: One Step Ahead

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The night was darker than usual, a heavy weight in the air as we moved through the narrow streets

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The night was darker than usual, a heavy weight in the air as we moved through the narrow streets. My men followed close behind, all of us silent, focused. We had tracked Nikolai to a small warehouse near the north docks, the same place we had suspected he would be. Everything had been set. Tonight, we would finally get answers.

Dante, always sharp and steady, was by my side, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "This is the place," he muttered, signaling the men to move in. "We've got him cornered. No way out."

I nodded, adrenaline pumping through my veins. We were so close. I could feel it—this was the moment we had been waiting for. Viktor's right hand, Nikolai Petrov, was here, and he was the key to everything. We just had to flush him out.

We moved quickly, silently, guns drawn as we approached the warehouse. Dante signaled two of the men to cover the exits while I moved forward, my eyes narrowing as I pushed open the door.

The warehouse was cold, empty except for the dim light of a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. And in the middle of the room stood a man, his back turned to us.

"Nikolai Petrov," I called out, my voice low, controlled.

The man turned slowly, and I froze, my heart sinking.

It wasn't Nikolai.

Dante stepped forward, his gun still raised. "What the hell..."

The man smirked, his expression a twisted mirror of the one we had been expecting. But it wasn't him—it wasn't Nikolai. I could see it now, the subtle differences in the face, the posture.

Dimitri.

Nikolai's twin brother.

He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes as he held out a small envelope, waving it tauntingly. "Looking for someone else, Valentino?" he asked, his voice oozing with mockery.

My stomach churned, and I stepped forward, yanking the envelope from his hand, fury burning through my veins. "Where is he?"

Dimitri shrugged lazily. "Not here. But he left you a little gift."

I ripped open the envelope, pulling out the note inside. My hands tightened as I read Viktor's handwriting, every word more sinister than the last.

"Haha, I'm always one step ahead."

The smirk on Dimitri's face only deepened as I continued reading, my rage building with each word.

"When I said I was going to get Brianna and Zara back, I meant it. You will not get in my way, and if I have to, I will kill everyone you love. Brianna, Zara, and your lovely beautiful sister that Nikolai has taken a liking to. Don't be surprised if she goes missing soon too. Nikolai always gets what he wants."

I felt the blood in my body boiling, my fists clenching around the note.

"You can't protect them forever. Haha. Till next time."

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