Page 89 of The Brigadier

“What about the store owners. Worth chatting with?”

Vadim scanned the street again. “I doubt they’ll talk. They are loyalists and smart. They know better than to assist one not their own. If they dared issue a word, they could be killed. Including their families.”

“I suspected as much. We’re back to square one.”

“Not necessarily,” he said, chuckling. “We have a traitor. He’ll break one way or the other. Even if he doesn’t, we’ll know more of what to look for. Aleksander will be placed in charge of that information, including the possibility of the man working with anyone on either of our employee rosters.”

“I’ll have Danny do the same. A hunt. If only we could do that in real life.”

“Not a bad idea. You need to make certain you aren’t followed on the way back. Make sure you have enough trusted men with you as well.”

“Don’t worry. Not being followed is easy enough to do. There’s several routes my driver can take. The first thing I’ll do is have my guys check the security equipment, not only sweeping it but determining if Tanner used his contacts to provide us with merchandise.” Damn it. I was so angry I couldn’t see straight.

“Good. All three of us need to sweep, check the dark web, and lock completely down.”

He was the most cunning man I knew. That was one thing I admired so much about him. “In going dark, you’re trying to lure the arrogant bastard out in the open.”

“You know how greedy men are. They aren’t patient.”

“You should know that.” I finally slipped my sunglasses on even though it was clouding over.

“You, my friend, are such a shithead. But I’m glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor. I’ll make certain the buzzard is locked down tight,” Vadim stated. “I know of a perfect location where we can make the traitor nice and comfortable.”

I squeezed my own wrist, wanting nothing more than to use my technique to snap every bone in his neck, but I’d have my fun with Tanner later. On my time.

“Excellent.”

“The cleanup crew will have everything back to normal in a few hours. I’ll place guards including Dobermans on the place as well.”

“Since when do you have dogs?”

“I don’t. One of my men does. Three of them. They act like they’re going to rip off your face, but they are utter pussycats.”

It was so funny how life went on after tragedies or wars, earth-shattering illnesses or whatever other malady was forced on mankind. While the evil men and women of the world fed off another human’s ill fortune, good people simply needed to return to some sense of normalcy, finding peace.

And hope.

I wished I believed some could be found.

Just like salvation.

As Tanner was brought out to be locked down in the back of one of Vadim’s SUVs, I did my best to keep from killing him in broad daylight.

“Why kill Sonya?” I asked, although I wasn’t entirely certain why I bothered. The odds of getting a straight answer were slim and nil.

“Just a bitch standing in the way,” Tanner said through his swollen lips. Somehow, he still managed to grin like he had the upper hand.

That was it. I couldn’t help myself, backhanding him with enough force he was pitched to the wall then the floor. “Didn’t I teach you that you don’t talk about women that way?”

“Let him go,” Vadim pushed. “He’s not worth it. Yet.”

I released him again, trying not to stumble backward. Finally, I shoved my weapon into the interior pocket of my ruined jacket, ensuring Tanner knew by the look in my eyes he’d fucked up.

And there would be hell to pay.

He was dumped along with another man in the back of an SUV. “Make sure your guys sweep his body for any sign of an injected bug.”

Vadim seemed confused at first. “Fuck. I didn’t even think of that. We’ll get to a remote location and find out. Good idea.”