Chapter 8 - The Shadow Convoy
At midnight, a fleet of five armored black SUVs rolled through the industrial district toward the city’s civic center. Inside the lead vehicle, Viktor sat in silence, surrounded by an arsenal that could equip an infantry platoon. The city was quiet, oblivious to the fact that two halves of the most powerful criminal empire in the hemisphere were on a collision course.
Viktor checked the tactical map on the console. The Central District Courthouse was a towering fortress of granite and reinforced glass, guarded by federal agents, local SWAT units, and Sofia’s private security detail. It was designed to repel a siege. But Viktor hadn't built his empire by playing defense; he knew every secret conduit, every forgotten sewer line, and every corrupt maintenance director who kept the city running.
""The power grid to the southern district drops in four minutes,"" Marcus announced from the passenger seat, his tablet displaying the municipal power station's schematics. ""Our hackers inside the power plant are executing the blackout protocol. When the grid goes down, the courthouse’s secondary generators will take forty-five seconds to spin up.""
""Forty-five seconds is forty seconds too long,"" Viktor replied, his eyes fixed on the distant silhouette of the courthouse. ""We don't go through the front doors. Sofia expects a frontal assault. She thinks I’m blinded by rage.""
""The maintenance tunnels under the subway line?"" Marcus asked.
""Father built those tunnels thirty years ago to move contraband beneath the federal reserve,"" Viktor said, a dark smile touching his lips. ""Sofia spent her life studying law books; she forgot that this city was poured on top of our family’s concrete.""
Suddenly, the vehicle’s radio crackled. It was the medical unit left behind at the hospital.
""Boss! We have a problem! Elena... she woke up fully. She pulled her IVs out. She’s demanding to speak with you.""
Viktor grabbed the microphone. ""Put her on.""
A few seconds later, Elena’s voice came over the speaker, weak, raspy, but carrying an iron determination that surprised even Marcus. ""Viktor... don't do it. It’s a trap.""
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Viktor’s voice softened instantly, though his jaw remained tense. ""Elena, lie back down. You’ve lost half your blood.""
""Listen to me!"" she gasped, coughing slightly. ""Sofia didn't go to the feds to surrender. She’s not giving them the ledger... she’s using the building to stage an ambush. She knew you’d use Father’s tunnels. She planted charges in the foundation. If you go under that building, Viktor... you’ll never come up.""
