Page 75 of Hunter's Game
‘Oh no, dear.” Petrova’s smile turned predatory, revealing the monster beneath the pretty exterior. “Alexander has much bigger plans for you both. The next generation, trained in both shadows and light. Federal agent and international curator, perfectly positioned to help rebuild what Romano’s incompetence destroyed.”
Understanding dawned. “He let us take down Romano’s operation. Sacrificed his own son to position us exactly where he wanted us.” Despite their assumptions they’d been keeping one step ahead of his game, they’d actually been pawns all along. The realization made Eden sick to her stomach.
“Very good.” Petrova’s approval made Eden's skin crawl. “You see the bigger picture. Alexander always said you had potential. Both of you do.”
“And if we refuse?” Katherine asked with deadly certainty.
“Then things become...messy.” Petrova gestured, and red targeting dots appeared on Eden and Katherine. “Alexander would prefer to avoid that. Family should stay together, after all.”
Eden felt Hunter’s silent question in the way his hand tightened on her shoulder. She could feel the crosshairs on her chest, knew Katherine was similarly targeted. One word and the Blind Jack’s best shooter would eliminate the immediate threat.
But something in Petrova’s confidence made her pause.
“Why now?” she asked instead. “Why wait until we destroyed Romano’s network?”
“Because now you understand what real power looks like.” Petrova spread her hands. “Romano played with artifacts and criminals. Alexander builds and destroys governments. Changes the course of history itself.”
“Through murder and corruption.”
“Through whatever means necessary.” Petrova’s voice hardened. “The world runs on shadows, little girls. Sarah never understood that. But you do, don’t you? You’ve both tasted real power. Felt what it’s like to shape events from darkness.”
Eden exchanged another look with Katherine, communicating an understanding that needed no words. They’d both fought through shadows, survived by becoming what they hunted.
“And what about our allies?” Katherine asked carefully. “The ones who helped us destroy Romano’s operation?”
“The bikers?” Petrova laughed genuinely. “They can be useful tools. Alexander appreciates the value of having...specialized resources.”
Eden felt Hunter go very still beside her. When he spoke, his voice carried that deadly calm that usually preceded violence.
“Tools.” the word hung in the air like a bullet. “That’s an interesting way to describe the people who helped take down an international crime syndicate.”
“Ah yes, the devoted lover.” Petrova’s smile turned cruel. “Alexander has opinions about that particular...attachment. But he’s willing to be reasonable, assuming certain conditions are met.”
“Conditions,” Eden deadpanned. “Like what?”
“Like remembering where your true loyalties should lie.” Petrova produced a phone, showingthem live video feeds. “Family is everything, after all. Isn’t that right, Mr. Hunter?”
The feeds showed multiple angles of the Blind Jacks’ secondary location, where King had moved operations after the main site was compromised.
“You're bluffing.” But Hunter’s voice held a tremor of uncertainty. “That compound’s completely off-grid.”
“Nothing is completely off-grid.” Petrova’s smile never wavered. “Alexander has spent decades building his network. Did you really think a few bikers could hide from him?”
Eden watched targeting dots dance across her chest, feeling the weight of generations of violence. In that moment, she finally understood what her mother had faced: the impossible choice between power and principle, between family and justice.
“You have twenty-four hours to decide.” Petrova was already heading back to her convoy. “Choose wisely. Unlike Sarah, you won’t get a second chance.”
The vehicles departed with professional precision, leaving silence and impossible choices behind.
“Well.” Katherine’s voice carried dark humor. “That was interesting.”
“That’s one word for it.” Hunter was already moving, checking their defenses. “Darkness needs to know his compound’s compromised.”
“Darkness needs to go dark completely.” Eden holstered her weapon, mind racing. “Along with every ally we have. Alexander’s reach is obviously longer than we thought.”
“And his plans more complicated.” Katherine pulled up files on her laptop. “Look at these transfer records from the past week. Every major account Romano controlled, every property. They’re all being consolidated under new shell companies.”
“Companies Alexander controls,” Eden observed, studying the data. “He’s absorbing Romano’s entire operation while making it look like it’s being dismantled.”
