chapter 4

The city was alive, but not in a good way. It was both thrilling and suffocating.

Adrian felt the beat of the streets pounding beneath his feet as he stepped out of his penthouse with Nikolai trailing behind him. The air was crisp with the heavy mist of tension that had clung to the two men since the last time they spoke.

They were going to the docks. It was the site where the lost shipment was supposed to have arrived. If any informations were to be discovered, it would be here. Among the derelict warehouses and the sound of water slapping against the docks in the distance.

But Adrian was smart enough not to hope for a simple solution. In this game, nothing ever was.

Nikolai’s presence was an odd one. They were a dangerous duo. The two men who had been enemies for as long as they could remember was now forced to work together.

The irony was almost laughable. But Adrian had learned long ago to put aside his personal life in work related matters.He exactly knows how to separate his feelings from work. There is only one rule in this world and that is to survive.

When they reached the docks, the night seemed quieter. It was as if even the city held its breath. The lights overhead flickered occasionally, casting long shadows on the ground. The air was heavy with salt and diesel.

Adrian turned to Nikolai. “No one knows we’re here. This is our territory, got it?”

Nikolai gave him a half-smile. “Understood. Wouldn’t dream of letting anyone ruin the fun.”

Adrian refused to smile in return. Instead, he motioned for Nikolai to follow behind him as he navigated a narrow alleyway that was situated between two giant warehouses.

His thoughts were already ahead of his legs, strategizing about what came next, what to do and how they could protect their families while hunting Lazarov.

They arrived at the side door of the warehouse and Adrian motioned for Nikolai to remain behind him as he walked up to the door. It was locked not that he had expected anything less, but that wasn't a problem for him.

With quick fingers, Adrian reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small device and started hacking into the security system.

Nikolai stood against the wall, observing his partner with a calculating stare. "You know, for someone who is supposed to be in control of an empire, you spend an awful lot of time doing my work."

Adrian said nothing. He didn't have to. His abilities and skills were more than just a product of his upbringing. He was a force of his own, a machine of precision. Whether it was business, violence or technical work, Adrian handled it all.

The door clicked open. And Adrian gestured Nikolai to enter. Inside the warehouse, dim light lit up stacks of empty crates and discarded shipping equipment. The smell of oil and metal blended with the stale air, and the stillness was oppressive.

This location was supposed to be full of our cargo," Adrian told him, speaking in a low tone as they moved further into the cavernous area. "Someone ensured there was nothing remaining."

Nikolai looked around with an analytical eye. "Someone who knew what he was doing."

Adrian did nod. "Too tidy. This wasn't a hit done at random. It was planned, and it was personal."

They stepped further into the warehouse, the sound of their footsteps was ringing off the concrete floor. Adrian's eyes narrowed as they walked past row after row of bare shelves and crates. Whoever did this left no trace ,no indication of who had been behind it. But something in Adrian's stomach told him that they were closing in.

And then, when rounding a bend, something had caught his attention. A tiny, misplaced thing, half concealed behind a pile of crates.

He moved forward slowly, Nikolai at his heels. When Adrian went down on hands and knees to look at it, his heart missed a beat.

A blood stained knife.

It wasn't any knife, either. The workmanship was unmistakably high quality, the sort of weapon reserved for a select few. And on the hilt there was a symbol that sent Adrian's blood running cold,the sign of Lazarov.

"I thought it was a ghost," Adrian whispered, his eyes fixed on the blade as his mind was racing. "I didn't think Lazarov was this brazen."

Nikolai hunched down beside him, his gaze running over the knife before he leaned in closer to examine the symbol. "This isn't a warning anymore. This is a message."

Adrian got to his feet, turning his fists white as anger washed over him. Lazarov was no longer a shadow figure in the background, he was right in front of him. And he was making his move.

Adrian stood motionless for a brief moment, his jaw was clamped hard. "We will find him. Now."

Nikolai stood up, his eyes locking with Adrian's and flashing a deadly glint. "I will take care of my part. You get your people on this."

Adrian didn't flinch. "Already have."

With that, they both turned and exited the warehouse, the gravity of what they had learned weighing heavily in the air between them.

They had no notion of where Lazarov was in hiding or how far down his network extended. But the only thing that they both knew for certain was that they weren't going to rest until they catch him.

And when they finally catch him, they will make sure to burn the son of a bitch to the ground...

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