Page 23 of Deadly Legacy
“You should have called me sooner.” Grigorii approached the monitors, his reflection appearing in the darkened screens. The door sealed behind him with a pressurized click, security protocols automatically reengaging.
“I wanted to be sure before bringing this to you.” Nikon straightened, shoulders squaring to mirror his brother’s stance—a habit formed in childhood that neither had outgrown. “But there it is. Reuben’s father is definitely working with Dmitrii.”
Grigorii leaned closer to the screen, his broad shoulders blocking the overhead light. His eyes narrowed as Wallace’s fingers compulsively adjusted his tie while accepting a drink from the bartender. Grigorii gestured at the screen. “Look at him. He’s terrified.”
“Yet he still took the meeting, just three hours after seeing Reuben at Vasilisa.” Nikon tapped the edge of the screen where Roman sat, too relaxed for a casual business meeting.
The footage continued, showing Wallace checking his watch repeatedly, glancing over his shoulder toward the entrance. His chair scraped loudly against the floor as he shifted his weight.
“Play the audio.” Grigorii folded his arms, his wedding ring catching the blue light from the monitors.
The technician tapped a command, and Wallace’s voice emerged, pitched higher than normal.
“—I can guarantee the technology works. My team has fully vetted—”
“Your team?” Roman’s accent was thicker than he typically allowed in public. “Don’t bullshit me, Wallace. We both know who’s really behind this. Just get us into that demonstration tomorrow.”
Nikon froze the image on Wallace’s face—fear poorly disguised as business confidence.
“Dmitrii wants Quantize Guard’s surveillance technology.” Grigorii stepped closer, his Russian accent thickening, as it always did during family discussions. The system’s hourly scan beeped in the background, a reminder of their own vigilance. “This isn’t some business rivalry. With that tech, he could monitor any security system in the country.”
A muscle ticked along Nikon’s temple as he tapped the screen’s corner to advance the footage frame by frame. “That puts everything at risk. Not just the casinos—”
“But also my weapons shipments and Alexei’s money movement.” Grigorii’s palm slammed against the table edge, the sound sharp in the contained space. Grigorii stabbed a finger at the screen. “He’s trying to cut into every revenue stream we have.”
The door opened again, this time with a soft knock preceding it. Alexei entered, tablet in hand, his tailored suit a contrast to Grigorii’s more traditional attire. He nodded to both brothers before sliding the tablet across the table.
“I found something. Three more offshore transfers to Wallace’s investment group in the last week.” The tablet’s screen illuminated Alexei’s face from below. “They’re using the same shell corporations Dmitrii used for that property grab on the Strip last year.”
Nikon scanned the documents, the patterns immediately familiar. The same laundering technique Dmitrii had employed in previous operations against them.
“We should tip off the feds about Wallace’s firm.” Alexei flicked his wrist, bringing up another document on the secondary screen. The motion sensor lights brightened in response, highlighting the tight set of his jaw—the only visible sign of his irritation. “An anonymous report about international money laundering.”
Nikon’s throat constricted, a physical rejection forming before his thoughts could articulate why. Not because the strategy wasn’t sound, but because of what it would mean to Reuben.
“No.” The word surprised Nikon even as it left his mouth.
Alexei’s eyebrows shot up, his hand freezing mid-gesture. “You can’t be serious. This is our cleanest option.”
“Not for Reuben.” Nikon turned away from the screens, the muscles in his neck tight. “It’s still his father.”
“His father had kicked him out and made sure no one would hire him.” Alexei’s voice sharpened. “The same father who’s now in bed with Dmitrii to take us down.”
The ventilation system clicked on, sending a cool draft through the room. Nikon paced along the back wall, his fingers brushing against the textured concrete.
Ten years ago—even two years ago—he wouldn’t have hesitated. A threat was a threat, regardless of its connections.
“We need to consider what this would do to Reuben.” The words felt strange in his mouth, concern for someone else’s feelings an unfamiliar territory. “Their relationship is broken, but he’s still his father.”
Grigorii studied him for a beat with knowing eyes. “You’ve changed, brother,” he observed, not unkindly. “Before you met Reuben, you would have shut this down immediately.”
Nikon’s hand settled on the back of a chair, fingers sinking into the cool leather. “There are different ways to handle a problem.”
A long silence fell between the brothers, broken only by the soft beep of the security system running its hourly scan. Alexei leaned back against the wall with a low sigh, his expression contemplative as he watched Nikon.
“So what’s your plan?” Alexei’s tone had softened. “We can’t just sit back and watch.”
“We track Wallace, find out exactly what he’s promised Dmitrii.” Nikon returned to the table, pulling up a different file on the secondary screen. “Meanwhile, you make sure Reuben’s bid for Quantize Guard is bulletproof. Make sure his presentation already outshines anything Wallace’s team can deliver.”
