He speaks rapidly, screaming to be heard. “There’s an ambush. We were trying to move the shipment, but we’re being attacked.”
I quickly rise, preparing to move. “Casualties?” I ask, as I press the call button for my secretary.
“Two of ours down. Three wounded. They're holding, but it's bad.”
The door flings open. My secretary waits for my instructions.
“We’re coming with back-up soon. Hang tight, Yegor.”
“Sir?” Anastasia asks.
“Round up the convoy and inform my brothers. The warehouse on East is under attack.”
She pales but moves quickly, rushing out of the room. I grab my Makarov from the drawer, pick up some extra bullets, and make my way out.
***
I reach the basement of our office building and find my brothers already there, organizing our convoy.
Faddey looks grim when I walk up to them. Bogdan is busy distributing the weapons among our men, while Ilariy and Melor are checking that all the cars are fueled and that the tires are in good condition, in case we need to get away. Rurik ends a call and walks over to Faddey and me.
“Another two down,” he grimaces.
“Everyone, put on your vests!” I bellow to the ground. Within seconds, we secure ourselves as much as possible against bullets and pile into our cars.
“Move,” I say into the intercom connecting our fleet. Bogdan and Rurik ride with me, while Faddey, Ilariy, and Melor are spread across the other vehicles.
“Any idea who ambushed us?” I ask my brothers.
“It’s the Sokolovs,” Rurik grimaces.
“Those bastards,” I slam my fist on the side. We have a long history with the Sokolovs, and I hate them with every bone in my body.
“They want the Ukraine shipment,” Bogdan adds.
“Of course they do,” I say. “Drive faster,” I tell the driver, before turning back to my brothers. “That shipment is worth millions. The weapons are military grade. Whatever happens, we can’t let the Sokolovs get their hands on it.”
“Never, Brother,” Bogdan promises while Rurik, in that quiet manner of his, checks if his guns and knives are in place.
***
We pull up the industrial warehouse district with speeding tires. Even from two blocks away, I can see the smoke rising from our location.
“Fuck!” I roar as our driver swerves to take a shortcut. I grab my radio to connect with the other cars.
“Park outside the warehouse. We will approach on foot and must enter in a silent formation. The longer our enemies believe they have the upper hand, the faster we win. Bogdan and Melor will flank left. Rurik and Ilariy, you and your men take the roof access.”
The men acknowledge my directions, and I turn to Faddey. “You’re with me. We go in through the loading dock.”
Once parked outside the warehouse, we exit our cars and spread out according to my plan. The gunfire grows louder as Faddey and I approach. Through my earpiece, I hear Ilariy's voice: “South entrance secure. There are eight intruders visible from my position. Two on the catwalks, six on the main floor.”
“Copy,” I respond quietly. “Hold position. We're coming.”
I raise my hand, giving Rurik the signal to move toward the roof access. Bogdan and Melor nod once before slipping around the west side.
Faddey and I approach the loading bay doors, crouched low to avoid being seen. Through the gap beneath, I can see some movement. I hold up three fingers, then two, then one.
We burst through the doors with our weapons raised, and two men jump at us. We’re the first to shoot, and they go down fast. As others join, I roll behind a stack of crates, returning fire while maintaining cover. Faddey takes position behind a forklift, picking off another man who tried to flank us.
