Page 32 of Deadly Hacker

“Like you said yourself, I could’ve killed you,” Rad said. “But I heard your accent. I knew the Sokolov Pakhan would want to deal with you himself.”

“The police you pay to do your dirty work took me to the hospital to tend the wounds you gave me. Then, they threw me into a filthy jail cell like common street trash,” the man spat.

“Clearly not for long enough, if you’re here now,” Rad pointed out, still woozy.

“I expected immunity in light of my relatives’ power here. Instead, my bail was paid only to release me to the wolves. That officer drove me home. I thought I was safe. But yourenforcerwas waiting for me in my own living room.”

“Luka,” Rad sighed.

“He beat me. He tortured me while I was still nursing my gunshot wounds. He called me a liability for drawing police attention.Me, a liability,” he repeated bitterly. “I’m an arms dealer, the best of the best. Your gun was almost certainly once part of my extensive collection.”

“If you’re so successful and well-connected, why the hell would you rob a bank?” Rad demanded to know.

“Every successful man has his vice,” he grunted. “From what I saw this morning, I believe I have yours right here.”

He used his taser to gesture to Emma Jean, who flinched away. Rad was disgusted.

“Gambling debts? That’s what pushed you to endanger an entire building of civilians, including children with disabilities?” Rad raged.

“I chose that building because I didn’t want to step on my relatives’ toes. There are no Sokolov properties in that complex. I tried to keep my hands clean,” he said.

“By robbing a bank? Holding hostages? Shooting at police?” Rad listed off angrily.

“It was meant to be a quick maneuver. In and out. I would walk away with enough money to pay off my debts and fly back to Russia. I could’ve disappeared there. Your authorities, your leaders, none of them would find me. I could return to the life I knew,” he went on, brandishing his taser.

“You stupid bastard. Your greed could have killed innocent people,” Rad snarled.

“I was careful,” he shot back, taking an aggressive step toward Rad in the RV. “I cased the place. Those girls took me on a tour of the whole building. I got it all right.”

“Quinn and Kaylee,” Emma Jean said breathlessly.

“Brainless American girls,” he scoffed. “I had them fooled. They would have even hired me if I hadn’t told them I usually specialize in a more heavily armed sector of the security business. They showed me everything.”

“Not quite,” Rad interjected.

The man glared at him angrily. “I didn’t know about the basement. Or the back entrance.”

“I noticed. I caught you off-guard,” Rad ridiculed him.

“Da. You let the cops take me before I could finish the job,” he snarled. “A Russian arms dealer taken down by a worthless computer hacker. Disgusting. But I used my time in jail over the weekend very wisely. You’re not the only one with connections. The Sokolov legacy is well-known, even across the ocean. I reached out to my contacts in the Bratva. Competitors and rivals of your beloved Pakhan. You’ve been keeping tabs on everyone, but they keep tabs on you, too, Jace Radcliffe.”

Rad stiffened at his full name. The man grinned with satisfaction.

“That’s right. I know who you are now. I know how valuable you are to Mikhail Sokolov. You bring in big money. You can hack into anything. You’ll kill if Mikhail Sokolov commands you to. They need you. And I knew they would be willing to pay a fortune to get you back,” he explained cruelly.

“That’s your plan? To hold me hostage and extort the Sokolov Pakhan for money?” Rad clarified, waving his arms. They swung like pendulums, so heavy on his shoulders. “You idiot. Mikhail doesn’t bargain with fools beneath him.”

“Well, even if the Pakhan doesn’t value his moneymaker, I am certain yourbogatyyfamily will pay up,” the gunman surmised.

Emma Jean and Rad locked eyes. She was terrified and confused.

“How did you find me?” Rad asked, trying to stall. As long as he was still talking, there was a chance they could survive.

“The old-fashioned way. I tailed you to that RV rental company. I waited until after hours, and then I broke in. I interrogated that young man. He gave up the rental information without much effort on my part. Weak-willed little boy,” he said.

“You drove out here to hold us captive,” Rad filled in.

“I assumedyouwere in the desert on Bratva business. Imagine my surprise when my binoculars and I find you here for pleasure instead,” he said, turning to Emma Jean with a smirk. “It was easy to hide. Easy to wait and watch. You gave me quite a show this morning.”

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