Page 19 of Twisted Vows

I leaned back as I contemplated the implications of this discovery. If Petrosian had enlisted the aid of X, it meant their plans extended far beyond the initial cyber-attacks we had thwarted. X’s expertise could potentially grant them access to our most closely guarded secrets, compromising the very foundations of the bratva’s operations.

A soft knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. Malachi stepped inside, his imposing frame filling the doorway. Without a word, he crossed the room and peered over my shoulder at the flickering screens. I pointed to them and said, “Levon and Armen aren't our only adversaries right now. Ever heard of X?”

“I’ve heard whispers of their exploits. This complicates matters.”

I nodded, my jaw tightening. “We need to move quickly before they gain a foothold within our systems.”

Malachi’s gaze hardened, his eyes reflecting determination. “Then we strike first. Gather what intel you can on X’s methods and known associates. We’ll cut off their support network and force them into the open.”

I nodded, fingers already poised over the keyboard and ready to delve deeper into the digital abyss. As the hours ticked by, I lost myself in the rhythmic tapping of keys and the flickering glow of the monitors while Malachi provided vodka and then later, coffee. Fragments of data coalesced into patterns, revealing glimpses of X’s digital footprint but real results were always frustratingly out of reach.

Malachi remained at my side, but his thoughts appeared heavy. I didn't have time to ask him about them at the moment, but I would.

Suddenly, a series of encrypted files caught my eye, their content hidden behind layers of obfuscation. With a few deft keystrokes, I began unraveling the encryption, peeling back the layers one by one until I knew the true nature of the files.

The room fell silent save for the soft hum of the servers. My eyes narrowed, focused intently on the flickering screens as lines of code cascaded across the displays, revealing fragments of information that gradually coalesced into a chilling revelation.

These weren’t mere data files. They were detailed schematics outlining the infrastructure of the Yelchin bratva’s most secure facilities. Alarm bells rang in my mind as I delved deeper, uncovering gigabytes of sensitive information that should have been impregnable to outside intrusion.

A bead of sweat trickled down my temple as the implications became clear. Someone had breached our defenses, infiltrating our systems with a level of sophistication that defied comprehension. This wasn’t the work of a mere hacker. It bore the hallmarks of a seasoned professional, someone with intimate knowledge of our security protocols and the resources to circumvent them.

My fingers flew, tracing the digital footprints left behind by the intruder. Each keystroke brought me closer to unraveling the mystery, but the deeper I delved, the more unsettling the revelations became.

The encryption algorithms used were cutting-edge, designed to thwart even the most advanced decryption techniques. Yet, they had been unraveled with an almost surgical precision, leaving no trace of the perpetrator’s methods or identity.

“How deep does this go?” asked Malachi, sounding tightly strung.

I shook my head, barely able to find words just yet. “Deeper than we could have imagined. These files contain detailed schematics of our most secure facilities, including the locations of our safehouses, inventories of our shipments and current products, and the identities of our operatives.” I swiped a hand down my face. “I think it might be an insider. How else would they have accessed all our information?”

His fists clenched, the muscles in his arms rippling beneath the fabric of his shirt. “A mole,” he growled, his eyes burning with a barely contained fury.

I nodded, my gaze returning to the screens. “I think so. Whoever it is has formidable skills, but the leak doesn't have to be the hacker. It could be someone working with X.”

He cursed. “We need to move quickly. Lock down all non-essential operations and initiate Protocol Zeta. No one moves without our explicit authorization.”

I acknowledged his orders with a nod, initiating the security protocols that would seal off the bratva’s operations from further intrusion. As the digital barriers fell into place, I hoped it wasn't too late.

***

It didn't take long to realize I uncovered a hornet’s nest. By bringing down the barriers, I had forcefully ejected X or whoever else was in our system. That must have triggered Petrosian and his second-in-command, Levon, to attack before we could totally fortify our defenses. It was a multi-pronged attack on several of our properties and strongholds. Malachi and I just happened to be at the headquarters, which was taking the brunt of the assault.

The sound of gunfire echoed through the corridors, punctuated by the occasional explosion that shook the very foundations of the building. I crouched behind a reinforced barricade, my fingers wrapped around my gun. I had handed over the digital defense to Valentina, our usual IT coordinator upon realizing just how deep the danger went. Malachi, positioned a few feet away from me, waved his headset. “Rurik, they’ve breached the lower levels. Valentina says we need to secure the server room before they gain physical access to our systems.”

Without hesitation, I gathered more clips and rushed through the corridors beside Malachi. The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and cordite, making my nose twitch.

As I rounded the corner, the scene that unfolded before me was one of controlled chaos. Viktor’s men were engaged in a fierce firefight, their weapons barking in staccato bursts as they traded volleys with the Armenian forces. Malachi and I plunged into the center of the maelstrom. His movements were fluid and lethal as he dispatched one enemy after another with brutal efficiency.

I wasted no time, slipping through the chaos and making my way toward the server room.

So as an authorized user, it was easy enough to gain access through the biometric locks, and I entered the room. The air hummed with the steady thrum of servers and cooling fans. I took up position behind Valentina as her fingers danced across the keyboard, initiating a series of security protocols designed to fortify our defenses and prevent unauthorized access.

As the minutes ticked by, the sounds of battle raged on outside, punctuated by the occasional explosion that shook the very foundations of the compound. I remained focused, splitting my attention between the door and Valentina's efforts to fortify our systems against further intrusion.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Malachi strode in, his face streaked with sweat and grime. “The lower levels are secure,” he said, his voice hoarse from the exertion of battle, “But they’re regrouping for another push. We need to be ready.”

I nodded, my fingers tightening on my pistol while Valentina continued to reinforce our digital defenses. Her focus was absolute, and she didn't say a word or make any sound. “Our systems are holding, but they’re relentless. We can’t let them gain a foothold, or it’s all over.”

Malachi’s gaze hardened, his eyes burning with fierce determination. “Then we fight until the last man falls. This is our home, our fortress, and we’ll defend it with our lives if necessary.”

---