"You know, you could've at least packed some chips and cookies or something. It's bad enough I have to take part in this shit show, I don't see why I also have to starve in the process." The car was eerily silent and it was really starting to piss me off. I'd gone from trying to curb the silence with jokes to hoping I could make either of them angry enough to get a rise at the very least. Both a no go.

We'd been waiting for some signal from Galina and the guys Baba had secure the perimeter of the warehouse we were meeting for almost half an hour. I was starting to think they were dead.

They'd be lucky.

I started to look for anything and everything I could use in the car to incapacitate myself for a little while and settled on a vintage bottle of gin. I was just barely able to pick it up and admire the meticulously etched glass before a high pitched ring cut through the dense air packing the car. Baba wasted no time pulling his pager from his overly decorated coat pocket and checked the dimly lit screen. He shared a stern glance between Pavel and I before taking a deep breath and reaching for his side door.

"Time to go."

Pavel cut me one last look that said be vigilant, but restrain yourself before we all filed out of the car. Despite this meeting place being vetted probably ten times over between both Baba and Galina's people, I couldn't help but feel like something still wasn't right.

Someone's hiding here...we're all being watched.

I tried my best to distract myself from the burning feeling to stay focused on the immediate threat in front of us but as we got closer to Galina and him it only got worse. I started to feel very exposed without the usual comforting weight of a gun on my hip. They decided to host this little powwow in an abandoned power house complex. It was closed off enough to limit any surprise guests but there were still plenty of high structures and windows to be wary of.

It took us only a few minutes to get to the meetup inside the main power plant building but it felt like an eternity. Something about walking into what could be sudden death just isn't quite the walk in the park you'd think it'd be. Go figure.

As soon as we got close enough that same stench I'd come to know all too well blanketed the area and I met his eyes immediately. I could tell he was trying to keep his usual stoic composure in front of Abe and especially Galina but I could see the hellfire behind his eyes soon as they caught mine. I also couldn't help but notice the tightness in his muscles under the black turtleneck sweater he was wearing as his eyes darted around in every direction before he looked back at me. As much as I hated it, we were in the exact same situation as back at the hotel. If all this was going to go smoothly we'd have to cofunction. And we both knew it without needing to share words.

"Privet, Zmey. Long time." I'd like to say this was my first time seeing Galina in the flesh, but there wasn't much to see. She was covered head to toe in a long black cloak embellished in gold. She also wore black gloves and heeled boots to match. Her entire face was veiled by a black curtain that went down to her chin that connected with the hood from her cloak. She looked like a fancy executioner, which wasn't very far off from the truth.

When she spoke my blood ran cold. Her voice was strangely melodic, but in a siren song before you drown to your death kind of way, and pretty deep and raspy for a woman. But, that wasn't what brought about the physical shock. That voice was the last thing I remember hearing before my future was stolen from me all those years ago. Soon as she spoke, it was like I was back on the operating table all over again. I hadn't even noticed my body was trembling slightly before Pavel put a hand on my shoulder to steady me. I gave him a slight nod in thanks and he squeezed for reassurance.

"Can we skip the pleasantries Galina, you know just as well as I there are far more pressing matters to attend to. And quickly. This area can't be kept secure forever. Especially considering one of us has a blatant traitor in their midst." There was heavy accusation in Abe's voice and I could practically hear Galina's veins popping out.

So much for not starting unnecessary shit.

"Yes. Well...I know how troublesome it can be for you to find adept workers these days. Wouldn't want to stretch the few you have left too thin. What do you suggest to snuff out this traitor then?"

"Since they're obviously gunning for either if not both of our prized ponies here, we should stage a job for each of them at the same coordinated time and see who they go for first. At least then that will tell us what side of the board we should be focusing on." It wasn't a bad idea to start, but if they somehow had intel on both Abe and Galina that wouldn't prove useful.

"That tactic could prove plausible, if only..." The more they discussed I couldn't help but trail off the conversation. The more we stood here the longer that earlier feeling of someone watching us loomed heavier and heavier. I couldn't put my finger on it but something was coming. And it was coming for all of us. I tried to lock eyes again with Belikov but he was eyes to the sky around us, just as high alert as I was. Only thing to break him out of it was the hand on his shoulder from a man I hadn't even bothered to notice until now. He wasn't quite as tall as Belikov, hell I don't think giants are as tall as that man, but he was nearly just as built. He also sported a back turtleneck, grey slacks, black running shoes and an empty holster seated under his arm. He had slick black hair that stopped just above his ears with the sides shaven, beard stubble and pale green eyes. I could only assume he was her second best next to Belikov or he wouldn't be here, but I could tell from his calmness he wasn't on the same caliber as either of us.

He didn't sense the shit storm to soon come. Belikov shook his hand off and gestured his eyes up towards the high windows above us. It took Boy Scout a second to connect the dots but he nearly shit himself when he figured it out. Unfortunately, without our guns there wasn't much to be done here unless we got moving. Now. As I started to put together the game plan there was barely enough time to spot the sun reflecting on something behind us that I was all too familiar with. The red laser flashed my eyes and I had milliseconds to duck out of the way of the bullet that soon followed. I wasn't quick enough.

Neither was Belikov. I could faintly see the blood starting to seep through his sweater on his side.

The burning took no time flaring up in my arm where the bullet grazed, but there was no time to feel it thanks to the shower of gunfire that came after.

"Go!" I hadn't realized it until we were all being herded into the nearest building's back entrance and up the stairs, where I could hear the faint hum of a plane coming from, this was all apart of Galina and Baba's plan. And Belikov and I were the bait for it. I assumed the plan now was to go our separate ways and regroup later, but boy was I wrong. I hadn't even realized the only ones that made it up to the top was me, Pavel, and Belikov. Who was just as lost and pissed as I was.

"Listen you two cause I don't have much time to explain this. Your father and Galina knew the only way to find out who was responsible for the ambush was to make another opportunity for one. They staged this meeting to draw out the attackers and now we know it's not just one of you they're after, it's both. Meaning there are traitors on both sides working together to take us all down. There's already a plan in motion to smoke them out, but we need both of you safe and off the grid to do it. There are passports and bags packed for you both already on the plane. From now on you're a young newlywed couple living in the mountains in Switzerland. You are NOT to leave the compound, you are NOT to make contact with anyone outside the compound, and you are absolutely NOT to kill each other. We will contact you when needed but from now on you lay low, and you stay together. Am I clear?" Belikov kept his face wiped of all emotion of course, but I had more than enough racing through me to speak for the both of us.

"Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?!" Pavel ignored my outburst and shoved us both up onto the plane without another word. As we started to lift up off the ground I only had one thought; we're fucked.

Hey guys! I know it's been a long ass time and I'm sorry this chapter is shorter than usual, I just wanted to gauge interest in the story before I decide to fully commit back to it.

I'm also sorry it's been so long, we all know there's a lot of craziness going on in the world and it's been a tough few years for me but I have really missed writing and I've missed sharing it with you all!

I hope this chapter didn't seem to rushed I just really wanna get to the meat of the story we've all been waiting for which will start with the next chapter if you all are still with me :).

Hope everyone's been holding up ok and I can't wait to get back to this story!