Page 27 of Deadly Offer

Beside him, Reuben’s breathing had gone shallow. He’d heard it too.

The men moved past their hiding spot, continuing down the hall. Nikon waited until their footsteps faded before turning to Reuben.

“They knew about the back entrance.”

Reuben’s eyes were wide in the low light. “Andrey told them. He must have.”

“I need to find Alexei.” Nikon checked the corridor before pulling Reuben out. “He was supposed to be waiting here.”

They moved swiftly through the back halls, avoiding the main casino floor where most of the commotion seemed to be centered. Rounding a corner, they nearly stumbled over a body sprawled across the corridor—Leo, one of the newer additions to Nikon’s security team. A bullet had torn through his throat, leaving a ragged exit wound. Blood pooled beneath him on the polished floor, his sightless eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Nikon paused just long enough to catalog the scene with clinical detachment before he stepped carefully around the body.

Reuben followed, his face grim in the emergency lighting.

The security room was just ahead when more gunfire erupted.

This time, it was much closer. The bullets hit the wall beside them, sending plaster dust into the air.

“Run!” Nikon shoved Reuben forward, turning to return fire.

He got off four shots, forcing their pursuers to take cover, before following Reuben around the corner. They sprinted for the security room, bullets pinging off the walls behind them.

Nikon punched in his code, yanking the door open and pulling Reuben inside. He slammed it shut just as more gunfire erupted in the hallway.

“Nikon!” Alexei was already there, blood streaking one side of his face. “What thehellis happening?”

“Are you hurt?” Nikon’s eyes fixed on the red trail running from Alexei’s temple.

Alexei waved him off. “I’m fine. Just caught some debris when they first came in. Not important right now.” Alexei slammed his fist against the security monitor, causing the imageto flicker. More blood trickled down his temple, but he seemed oblivious to it. “Do you understand what this means?” His voice sharpened slightly at the edges, eyes narrowing as he spoke. “This isn’t just any location. The south casino handles our real estate cash... damn near all of it. Three years building the East-side shell companies...” His hands trembled as he pulled up the security feed showing the vault corridor. “If they compromise this, that entire business front collapses.” He turned to Nikon, eyes wide with disbelief. “How could they have known about this place?”

Alexei’s gaze flicked to Reuben, then back to Nikon. A silent question.

“It wasn’t him,” Nikon said firmly. “Reuben didn’t even know about the back entrance until tonight, when I brought him through it.” The certainty in his voice surprised even himself. The doubt that had plagued him from earlier was gone, replaced by a wave of self-recrimination.

Nikon’s gaze found Reuben across the room. How many times had Reuben proven himself? He’d seen the worst of the Matvei world and chosen to stay.

The man who’d entered Nikon’s life as a reluctant asset had become the only person he could trust completely. The irony wasn’t lost on him.

“It was Andrey,” Nikon continued to Alexei, his eyes hardening to glacial points.

“I know.” Alexei wiped blood from his eye with a sharp, agitated motion. He stared at the red smear on his hand for a long moment, as if the sight might somehow make sense of the incomprehensible.

“I caught one of Dmitrii’s men out there.” His voice sounded hollowed out. “Got him talking before he ran out of blood.”

The fresh bruises on his knuckles and the splatter pattern on his sleeve told the rest of the story—how Alexei, usually the most controlled of the brothers, had lost himself in the interrogation.

“He confirmed Andrey told them the codes.” Alexei’s fingers curled into a tight fist. “My own twin...” His voice faltered, then hardened. “I made him repeat it. Three times. I thought—” He stopped, jaw working soundlessly for a moment. “I didn’t want to believe it,” Alexei whispered, “but that bastard sold us out. And he knewexactlywhat he was giving away.”

“He’s been helping Dmitrii systematically dismantle us,” Nikon said, voice dangerously soft, cold rage hardening his expression. “Selling us out piece by piece.”

“Guys, we need to get out of here.” Reuben pointed to one of the monitors. More of Dmitrii’s men were entering through the main casino, at least five of them. “There are too many of them.”

“There’s a tunnel.” Alexei moved to a storage cabinet, pushing it aside to reveal a hidden door. “It leads to the building next door.”

The sound of gunfire was getting closer. They were running out of time.

“Go.” Nikon pushed Reuben toward the tunnel. “I’ll cover our retreat.”

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