Page 35 of The Payment

Chapter Thirteen

Jarek

The next morning, Surrey’sRestaurant at Castle Island, State Park in Boston...

Jarek stared at the mahogany panels in Nevil Surrey’s office while his advisor pressed a hidden button under the antique desk.The wood silently slid apart, revealing a steel elevator door.His jaw clenched.The morning sun streaming through the office windows did nothing to calm the rage coursing through his veins.

The restaurant above Castle Island was just a front.Below the Fort of Independence lay the real heart of the Somerville Irish Mafia’s operation—a maze of tunnels built in 1802 by the War Department.What once protected Boston from British attacks now served as their command center.Jarek had transformed the crumbling underground bunker into a fortress, reinforcing the walls with steel plates and installing state-of-the-art security systems.The tunnels were his veins into the city, with three separate access points.One from the restaurant, one from the harbor, and another through the vehicle causeway.The only ones who knew about the access tunnel from the restaurant were him, Nevil, and Declan.

“I can’t tell you how fucking glad I am you warned me about Polov’s intent,” Nevil said, his massive frame seeming to fill the office as he ran a hand over his buzz cut.“I could’ve been the one dissolved to just teeth instead of Oliver.”

Despite his gentle brown eyes, Nevil had steel running through his veins.His private airline business provided a perfect cover for their operations, and his tactical mind had saved their organization more than once.He was the kind of man who could smile while pulling a trigger—exactly the sort Jarek needed in his ranks.Along with Declan, he had been the first to volunteer to move with Jarek to the U.S.To this day, he was one of the most valuable assets of the Somerville Irish Mafia.

“I’m just pissed that the bastard managed to escape,” Jarek snarled as they entered the elevator.“Everything could’ve ended last night.How the fuck didn’t we know about that escape tunnel, Declan?”

The betrayal burned in his gut.In all his years running the organization, not one man had ever turned against him.That Polov had managed to swing one of his best leaders proved how desperate the Russian was to avoid paying his debt.

Big fucking mistake.Now, he had signed his own death warrant.The first kill was done...Polov had instigated a full-scale war of power.Jarek was only too happy to comply.

“I spoke to one of the maintenance crew this morning,” Declan replied as the elevator descended.“Apparently, there was a team two months or so ago who worked in the storage office.He didn’t know anything about it.Said it was a management project.”

“So, the motherfucker has been planning this for some time,” Nevil said with scorn.

“Of course, he has,” Declan snapped.“I warned you, Boss.A man like Polov won’t just lie down and take what you dish out.He’s not going to let up.Mark my words.”

“Oh, my dear friend...”Jarek’s smirk held no warmth.“I have always hoped his reaction would be just that.”

Their footsteps echoed through the concrete tunnels.The air was heavy with decades of secrets.Emergency lights cast harsh shadows on the reinforced walls.Water pipes and electrical conduits ran along the ceiling, feeding life into their underground world.

The passage opened into their command center—a cavern of technology.Dozens of screens covered the walls, displaying satellite feeds and security cameras.Soldiers and admin staff moved with military precision between workstations, monitoring communications while others tracked and assessed financial targets.

“So, what’s the next step?”Nevil asked, lengthening his strides to keep up with Jarek.

“First, get your family safety.Gregor isn’t stupid.He would know you have intimate details about me and our operations.He’s going to come for you through them.”

“They’re already on their way out of the country.No one will find them.I made sure of that,” Nevil said.

“Good, and now, I’m bringing out the big guns.Once my wife emotionally and physically removes them from her existence for good, Polov is done.He’ll be free game and—”

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