Page 83 of Wicked Vows (Suvorov Bratva 2)

She sighs. “That’s why I should stop doing it.”

I glance at the police scanner on the table. It’s not ancient, but it’s certainly not shimmering with the updated technology of the age. Static crackles and a voice crackles through, stating that an incident has been handled.

“Nothing yet,” she whispers. “When are they starting?”

I glance at the time on my phone. “Soon.”

“How did you set it up?”

“A few teams ofokhotniki.Hunters. They already have multiple officers targeted that they can pin within minutes.”

She nods. “And the others?”

“I’ve subcontracted several killers from smaller groups in the area.”

“What if they get caught?”

I shrug nonchalantly. “There’s a system in place to ensure their silence.”

“Killing the killers.”

“Precisely.”

The police scanner crackles to life again. Radio messages cut through the room, informing us of a potential shooting situation.

I sit next to Liya and offer her my arm. She doesn’t lean into me, choosing to take my hand into her lap instead. She plays with my fingers like she did with the fabric just seconds ago.

At least she won’t ruin the cardigan any more than she already has.

“Officer down. Bedford Ave. All units respond.”

I nod. “Scratch one.”

Liya holds her breath. Were it not for the telltale inhalation, I wouldn’t have known she was doing it. She tenses next to me, her nails pricking my hand as she worriedly scratches my skin. Given my high pain tolerance, I’m not bothered by her anxious habit.

Another call goes over the radio for another officer. And then another. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, more come through, each one building on the others. The panicked voices make me lean forward on the edge of my seat. Sweat trickles down my rib cage. I lean my elbow on my knee as Liya continues to pick at my hand.

At this rate, I won’t have any skin left, but that means nothing to me.

Victory is far more distracting.

And this is the type of victory I could live inside forever.

For weeks, I’ve tried to sort out how to take down Cardona. With his elite NYPD officers dropping like flies around the city, he’ll get the message loud and clear.

I’m not a pakhan to be fucked with.

The scanner becomes overwhelmed with requests.Officer down. 5th Avenue. Officer down. Soho. Officer down. East Harlem. Officer down. Park Slope. Officer down. Hell’s Kitchen. Officer down. Midtown. Officer down. Upper West Side.

For a split second, it seems like the whole NYPD is fighting among itself about who to respond to first. My teams and my contractors are attacking all at once. They’re creating a collective chaos that will undoubtedly weaken the NYPD significantly.

Once the other insiders catch wind of what’s happening, they’ll certainly tuck tail and run. Cardona can only extend so much protection to them.

The threat of death always tends to convince people to drop their arms.

“Shots fired. Times Square.” The radio crackles again. “Team one responding now. Need backup!”

Liya grips my hand.

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