Chapter Two - Killian

Rory arrived ten minutes later, his bright carrot red hair stuck up all over his head as if he had stuck his hand in an electric socket.  

'The bastard is going to double-cross you, Boss.'

He says, plonking himself down on a chair and putting his laptop on my desk before flipping it open. Pressing a few keys, he links the laptop to the large flat TV screen on the wall, then presses play. The picture is clear; we see Pavel sitting at a table in the Calibre Restaurant, and sitting with him is Miguel Laney, the head of the Colombian Cartel, and Juan Nexu, the head of the Mexican Cartel.

'So, we are together on this?'

Pavel looks at the other two men, and they nod their heads. 

'You have told the FBI?'

Miguel says his thick Colombian accent is barely understandable.

They will pick up Killian O'Hara and arrest him. No?'

Juan demands in a low voice, his eyes darting around the restaurant as if expecting them to jump out of the restroom. Pavel reacts furiously to their hesitance.

'We stick together. It is the only way to get this done. Da?' 

The other two nod their heads.

'Keep your promises, Russian, and this will profit all of us.'

Miguel warns Pavel as they stand and shake hands before leaving the restaurant, and as soon as the door closes, he picks up his cell.

'It's done. You can pick them up on 1-10 Interstate 10 Highway, at the place I told you about. Then get the other two on the Border. I'm handing you all three on a plate, so you better give me what I asked for.'

The recording cuts out at that point, and I stare at Cormack and Rory.

'Un-fucking-believable.'

I gasp, shocked at what we have just heard.

'He's fucking setting us all up.'

I snarl, jumping to my feet and pacing my office.

'He's not going to get away with this.'

Cormack says, and Rory looks at me.

'What do you want me to do with the footage?'

Rory asks, but I can't deal with that at the moment.

'Save it. I'll decide later. Right now, I want everything we have on that fucking snake.'

Rory understands what I am asking and heads back to his tech office to do as I want while I pour myself a whisky and down it in one gulp before pouring another.

'When is the shipment due?'

Cormack heads to the bar and pours himself a drink.

'We have two weeks.'

'Tell Rory to find out who that dirty FBI mole is. I want his fucking ass found, and I want to know who he is working with before we take them out.'

He downs his whisky and heads out the door.

'I'll have him bring you the report as soon as he has it.' 

When I am alone, I stand leaning one hand against the window, staring blindly out at the ocean.

'How can he do this?'

I think, blinking angrily.

'How can he throw away decades of partnership. Damn it, never mind a partnership, what about all those years of friendship?'

Angrily, I hurl the glass against the wall, watching it shatter into a million pieces and the amber liquid splashes across the wall and carpet.

'Fuck!'

I yell in frustration, and then I sit back in my chair and start to plan for a war. 

The next morning, Rory and Cormack arrive promptly at seven, and it does not surprise when Pa turns up as well.

'So, what do we know?'

I ask, pacing behind my chair, too agitated to sit down.

'There are three dirty FBI Agents. Brad Anderson, George Manson, and Stewart Raybin. George Manson is the Senior Agent controlling things. They've offered him the chance to rule the whole of Texas if he takes you guys out. They will turn a blind eye to his activities. He will be taking over all three operations. They have the Mexican and the Colombian governments on board, too. They've been working on bringing this about for years. Pavel's Bratva has been shrinking; he's lost a few guys in skirmishes over the past few years, and they have not been replaced. This is his do-or-die moment. He's putting all his eggs in this basket.'

Rory says, handing me a file with this information and more background, and I'll look at it later when I have time to read every word.

'Thanks, Rory. Now we know what we are up against, I want to know his weaknesses.'

Rory sighs.

'Apart from the small size of his Bratva, who, I might add, are very well trained and intensely loyal. They will not be easy to overcome, and let's not forget he's got the FBI in his pocket.' 

I sink into my chair, steepling my fingers, my mind sifting through what we know.

'Okay, what are his weaknesses. There must be something?'

I look at my men, but it is my father who speaks up.

'He has a daughter.'

He says softly.

'Sure and ain't she a pretty little thing.'

I look up at my Pa.

'Daughter?'

'His Achilles heel. His only child, his pride and joy. Her mother died giving birth to her.'

'How old is she?'

I turn to Rory, a plan beginning to form in my mind. I remember something about Pavel's wife, Irina, dying, and the fact that he went on a drunken killing spree, and it took a lot of pressure from the Cops he had on his payroll to stop him from going to prison for a very long time.

'Tavisha Khushanov is nineteen years old. Currently studying Animal Welfare at Texas A&M University.'

Instantly, the plan clicks into place, and a dark smile spreads across my face.

'Check her movements and let me know where she will be tomorrow night. Prepare the guest suite. I want it to be totally secure, with windows locked down, but doors have all locks removed except the main one.'