Chapter 8 - The address belonged to a church.
That surprised Tessa.
Saint Catherine’s stood near the edge of an old industrial neighborhood where the city had spent decades promising redevelopment without ever delivering it.
The brick building occupied the corner between a closed pharmacy and an abandoned laundromat.
Its bell tower leaned slightly west.
No security cameras covered the front entrance.
No businesses remained open nearby after sunset.
Viktor had chosen carefully.
At 9:00 p.m., Tessa arrived alone.
At least, that was what anyone watching would believe.
She wore a long black coat over a gray business suit.
No visible weapon.
No jewelry.
The encrypted telephone rested inside her pocket.
Roman had argued for 43 minutes.
The argument began quietly.
It ended with Roman breaking a crystal whiskey glass against the bar.
Tessa had waited until he finished.
Then she explained that Viktor expected control.
Control required predictability.
If Roman behaved predictably, Viktor would remain confident.
A confident enemy made mistakes.
Roman hated the logic.
He accepted it because it was correct.
There were no Valorie vehicles near the church.
No familiar guards.
Roman was 900 yards away inside an abandoned municipal building with Carmine and a tactical team.
Tessa wore no communication device.
Viktor had specifically warned against it.
Instead, a tracking transmitter smaller than a grain of rice had been inserted beneath the sole of her left shoe.
Roman could follow.
He could not listen.
The arrangement almost destroyed him.
Tessa entered the church.
Warm candlelight illuminated the interior.
Dozens of empty wooden pews extended toward the altar.
No priest appeared.
No congregation.
Only one man sat inside the third row.
Viktor Saranov.
He wore a dark blue suit.
No tie.
Silver hair brushed backward.
His scar appeared deeper in person.
Tessa stopped approximately 20 ft away.
Viktor stood.
“You came.”
“You kidnapped an elderly woman.”
Tessa removed her gloves.
“It seemed impolite to ignore the invitation.”
Viktor smiled.
“I understand why he loves you.”
Tessa’s expression did not change.
“You know very little about what Roman feels.”
“I knew Roman when he believed feelings were weaknesses other men could exploit.”
Viktor indicated the pew.
“Sit.”
“I prefer standing.”
“As you wish.”
Viktor sat again.
Tessa remained near the aisle.
She examined the church.
Three exits.
Two side corridors.
No visible guards.
That meant nothing.
“Lucia.”
Tessa said.
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“Not here.”
“Then your leverage is becoming repetitive.”
Viktor looked amused.
“You negotiate like an accountant.”
“I am an accountant.”
“You are much more.”
“I have heard that recently.”
Viktor folded his hands.
“Roman found you by accident.”
“No.”
Tessa corrected.
“He hired me.”
“Exactly.”
Viktor looked toward the altar.
“Roman thinks he selects people.”
“He does not understand how often people are selected for him.”
Tessa became still.
“Explain.”
“That is why you came.”
Viktor looked toward her.
“Not for Lucia.”
Tessa did not answer.
Viktor smiled.
“You came because you found M.”
“Who is he?”
“Matteo DeLuca.”
The name struck silently.
Roman’s underboss.
The man who had stood beside the wet bar during the Boyle meeting.
The man Roman trusted to hold dangerous criminals inside a room while he ran toward Tessa.
Tessa’s mind immediately rejected the answer.
Then she forced herself to stop.
Emotion was irrelevant.
Evidence.
“Prove it.”
Viktor nodded approvingly.
“That is what makes you dangerous.”
He removed a brown envelope from inside his coat.
Tessa did not approach.
Viktor placed it over the pew.
Then stepped away.
“Records.”
“Copies.”
“Bank transfers.”
“Photographs.”
“Messages.”
He looked toward her.
“Enough to begin.”
Tessa picked up the envelope.
She opened it.
The first page documented a transfer.
M Holdings.
Zurich.
The second showed Matteo entering a private club in Montreal.
The date was 5 years earlier.
The third contained a photograph of Matteo speaking with Viktor.
Tessa examined it carefully.
“Photographs can be manipulated.”
“Yes.”
Viktor agreed.
“So can financial records.”
“Yes.”
“And people.”
“Especially people.”
Tessa closed the envelope.
“Why tell me?”
“Because Matteo intends to kill me.”
Viktor’s smile disappeared.
“He also intends to kill Roman.”
The church became colder.
“Why?”
“Money is rarely the final reason.”
Viktor looked toward the candles.
“Pride.”
“Resentment.”
“History.”
He raised his eyes.
“Matteo believes the Valorie organization should belong to him.”
“He believes Roman inherited what he earned.”
“That makes no sense.”
Tessa’s voice remained controlled.
“Roman built the present organization after Salvatore died.”
“Correct.”
“And Matteo?”
“Was there.”
Viktor’s eyes sharpened.
“He fought beside him.”
“He recruited men.”
“He killed competitors.”
“He protected Roman when Roman was still learning how to become what he is.”
Viktor leaned backward.
“And then Roman became the king.”
“Matteo remained the servant.”
Tessa remembered Matteo.
Quiet.
Professional.
Always present.
Never seeking attention.
That was what made the accusation plausible.
The most dangerous resentment often learned patience.
“Why would Matteo work with you?”
“He did not.”
Viktor’s answer surprised her.
“Not initially.”
“He used my network.”
“He moved money through contacts he believed belonged to people who hated me.”
Viktor laughed quietly.
“They belonged to me.”
“You allowed him?”
“For years.”
“Why?”
“Because a parasite is useful while it remains attached to another man.”
Tessa understood.
“You were watching Roman through Matteo.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“Now Matteo knows I returned.”
Viktor’s eyes hardened.
“He knows I possess the records.”
“He knows I can expose him.”
“Therefore, Lucia.”
Tessa said.
Viktor’s mouth curved.
“You assume I kidnapped Lucia to control Roman.”
“You kidnapped her to prevent Matteo from killing her first.”
For the first time, Viktor looked genuinely impressed.
“Roman selected well.”
Tessa did not appreciate the compliment.
“If you are protecting Lucia, allow her to leave.”
“No.”
“Then everything you are saying remains conveniently self-serving.”
Viktor stood.
“Of course it does.”
He approached slowly.
Tessa did not retreat.
“Do you know what Roman did after Salvatore died?”
“He destroyed your organization.”
“Yes.”
Viktor stopped several feet away.
“But first, he discovered there was a leak.”
Tessa’s pulse changed.
“What leak?”
“Someone told me Salvatore would be inside the restaurant.”
Viktor’s voice became quiet.
“Someone provided the floor plan.”
“Someone identified the guards.”
“Someone knew Roman would be absent.”
Tessa stared.
“Matteo?”
“No.”
Viktor smiled sadly.
“That is the beautiful part.”
“Matteo did not betray Salvatore.”
“He betrayed me.”
Tessa frowned.
Viktor continued.
“After the explosion, Matteo approached my people.”
“He offered information.”
“Routes.”
“Locations.”
“Names.”
“He told us Roman was weak.”
“That the young heir could be removed.”
“Then?”
“Roman survived every attempt.”
Viktor looked almost nostalgic.
“He was magnificent.”
“Angry.”
“Brutal.”
“Far more intelligent than Salvatore.”
“Matteo realized he had selected the wrong side.”
“So he returned to Roman?”
“He never visibly left.”
Viktor corrected.
“He had been standing beside Roman the entire time.”
Tessa’s stomach turned.
“Roman does not know.”
“No.”
“Why did you not tell him?”
Viktor’s expression darkened.
“Because I wanted Roman dead.”
“At the time.”
The honesty mattered.
Tessa opened the envelope again.
“Why did Matteo continue stealing?”
“To build an independent structure.”
“Money.”
“Officials.”
“Transportation.”
“Men loyal to him instead of Roman.”
Viktor continued.
“He has been preparing for the day Roman falls.”
Tessa’s face remained calm.
Her mind was racing.
“Why now?”
“Because you appeared.”
Viktor looked directly toward her.
Tessa stopped.
“You changed the balance.”
“How?”
“Roman has weaknesses.”
“Lucia.”
“His people.”
“His sense of responsibility.”
Viktor paused.
“But they are old weaknesses.”
“Predictable.”
“You are new.”
Viktor’s eyes became sharp.
“Roman does not simply protect you.”
“He listens to you.”
“That makes you more dangerous to Matteo than Roman is.”
Tessa understood.
She had entered the financial structure.
Identified Donovan.
Discovered M.
Given more time, she would eventually have found Matteo.
“He wants me dead.”
“Yes.”
“The warehouse.”
Viktor nodded.
“Donovan and Hodges were not supposed to kill you.”
“They were supposed to frighten you into leaving.”
Tessa’s breath slowed.
“When that failed?”
“You moved into Roman’s home.”
“You joined his operations.”
“You became nearly impossible to reach.”
Viktor looked toward the envelope.
“So Matteo accelerated.”
Tessa heard a sound behind her.
A wooden creak.
She turned.
A figure stepped from the side corridor.
Not Roman.
A priest.
Older.
He held both hands visible.
Viktor did not react.
“Father Anthony owns the church.”
The priest nodded toward Tessa.
“No weapons.”
“No soldiers.”
Viktor raised his hands.
“I promised neutral ground.”
Tessa looked toward him.
“You expect me to trust the man who murdered Roman’s family.”
Viktor’s face became completely still.
“I killed Salvatore.”
“Yes.”
“I killed men who worked for him.”
“Yes.”
Viktor stepped closer.
“But I did not order the restaurant explosion.”
Tessa froze.
“What?”
“Someone used my explosives.”
“My people.”
“My conflict.”
Viktor’s voice hardened.
“But the order did not come from me.”
Tessa’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Viktor stared at her.
“That is the question I spent 10 years answering.”
He reached inside his coat.
Tessa’s muscles tightened.
Viktor slowly removed a photograph.
He handed it to her.
The picture was old.
A restaurant.
Several men outside.
Salvatore.
A younger Roman.
A younger Carmine.
Matteo.
And one other man.
Tessa recognized him.
Benedict Shaw.
Current chief financial officer.
Only he appeared much younger.
Tessa looked up.
Viktor spoke.
“Matteo built the financial mechanism.”
“Shaw built the lie.”
“Together, they have been feeding from Roman since before he became Roman Valorie.”
Tessa stared at the photograph.
The church doors opened.
Roman entered.
Alone.
Tessa’s heart struck hard once.
Viktor looked over her shoulder.
A slow smile appeared.
“I told him one person.”
Roman walked down the aisle.
His hands remained visible.
No weapon.
His expression held nothing human.
“I stopped taking instructions from you 10 years ago.”
Viktor stood.
Roman’s eyes moved toward Tessa first.
Checking her.
Alive.
Uninjured.
Only then did he look toward Viktor.
“Where is Lucia?”
“Safe.”
Roman continued moving.
Viktor remained still.
“Roman.”
Tessa spoke.
He stopped beside her.
She handed him the photograph.
Roman looked down.
For three seconds, nothing happened.
Then his face changed.
Not visibly enough for another person.
Tessa saw it.
Recognition.
Shock.
Betrayal.
“What is this?”
Roman asked.
Viktor answered.
“Your real war.”
Roman raised his eyes.
Viktor continued.
“You spent a decade hating me for destroying your family.”
His voice echoed beneath the church ceiling.
“You should have spent it looking at the men standing beside you.”
A gunshot shattered the silence.
The church window exploded.
Viktor moved first.
He seized Tessa and pulled her behind a stone column.
Roman dropped beside the pew.
Another shot struck the altar.
The priest shouted and crawled behind a wooden partition.
“Sniper!”
Roman roared.
Viktor looked toward Tessa.
“I told you.”
A third shot entered the church.
Roman moved across the aisle.
He reached Tessa.
His hands seized her face.
“Are you hit?”
“No.”
“Are you hit?”
“No!”
Roman pulled her against himself for less than one second.
Then the church doors opened again.
Carmine entered with four armed men.
“Rear building!”
he shouted.
“Shooter east side!”
Roman looked toward Viktor.
The older man smiled without humor.
“Matteo knows you are here.”
Roman’s face emptied.
Tessa held the brown envelope against her chest.
May you like
The war had begun.
And this time, the enemy already possessed a desk inside Valorie Logistics.
