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No answer. Again. Volkov had been trying to reach his inside man at the airport for the past thirty minutes.
The FBI had reached out to his company asking for his location. Were they on to him? But how? Reborn’s soldier had been taken by military and knew nothing of him.
He would not talk to the FBI without knowing what they had on him. But not talking to them made him look like he had something to hide.
No! This was not how it was meant to play out. He was so close to getting to Russia with Anya, he could taste it. If he could just get there, they couldn’t touch him.
“Oleg!” His bodyguard appeared in seconds. “I need a new burner.”
Oleg was back with one in under a minute. Hakim answered.
“Yes.”
“FBI are on to me.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. They want to talk to me about the shipment. How would the FBI know anything? Did you share information with your soldier that was captured?”
“I don’t think I like your tone,” Hakim said.
“The military took your man, and now FBI are on to me. It has to be connected.” He didn't give a fuck about his tone.
The silence at the other end of the phone set off alarm bells.
“What are you not telling me?” he demanded.
“The military team I mentioned. They have a close connection to the FBI office in San Diego.”
Of course. Volkov remembered Reborn had claimed responsibility for a bomb at the FBI office a while ago. But that didn't explain how they were on to him now.
“Your captured soldier may have talked to the FBI then?”
“I would not know. The team are very persistent in their pursuit to end Reborn.”
“This team is based at Coronado, I presume? This is why the attack is happening here, at the memorial. You are making this personal,” he challenged.
“They made it personal a long time ago.”
“I want names. The team. FBI. I need to find leverage I can use to ensure my safe passage out of this country.”
“Your safe passage out of this country is not my concern. I need to go and finalize the details of the main event.”
“Hakim.” He growled into the phone. “Should I remind you who got the weapon to you? Who introduced you to the men producing it? You can rain terror on the US all you want but trust me when I say you do not want to make an enemy of me. An enemy of mine is an enemy of Russia.”
Long silent seconds passed before Hakim spoke.
“Very well. I will send the names. Do not underestimate them. They are Navy SEALs.” When Hakim ended the call, Volkov stared at his phone. Within seconds, the names arrived. Scanning the list quickly, his eyes rested on the name halfway down.
Steve Williams.
Well, well. Mrs. William’s husband was a Navy SEAL. And not just any Navy SEAL, but one on a team Hakim Aziz had in his sights. Clearly, the bitch had been feeding her husband information. This is why they were onto him. It had to be her.
He paced the room, considering different ways he could make sure Mrs. Williams regretted ever telling her husband anything. She would pay. It didn’t take long for an idea to start forming. He called Hakim Aziz back with an idea that might just get him out of the country and get Hakim the team he wanted so badly.