Chapter 85

I leaned back in my chair and swirled the amber liquid in my glass, muttering, "This game is turning out to be more interesting than I anticipated." The low lighting in my private study cast long shadows around the space, and the high walls muffled the city's faint buzz. The complex moves I was planning in real life were mirrored by a chessboard on the desk in front of me, its pieces frozen in mid-game. They were merely pawns in my game, but Victor and Ethan thought they were lords of it.

I was jolted out of my reverie by a knock on the door. I put down the glass and called, "Come in." My assistant, Elena, stepped in, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. Her face was as professional and incisive as ever, and she had a folder under her arm.

She placed the folder on the desk and said, "The shipment details you requested. Everything is there. The timetable, the staff, the path. Everything."

I scanned the papers as I opened the folder. A smile curled my lips. "Excellent. This will work well."

Elena stopped, standing straight. "This is hazardous, Gerard. If Victor discovers-"

"Victor will have more issues than I will if he finds out," I cut in.

She scowled, but made no arguments. She didn't. She was a rare commodity, and her loyalty was strong, which is why I kept her around. For the time being, however.

I closed the folder and pushed it back toward Elena. "Send a message to Richards. Inform him that we'll get a chance to hit Victor and Ethan in the right places. However, he must be prepared to act swiftly."

She gave a nod and started to walk away, but I interrupted her with a question. "How are Victor and Ethan doing? Any cracks?"

Elena looked over her shoulder. "Victor is becoming wary of Ethan. Additionally, Ethan is overburdened. He's making an effort to keep everyone satisfied, but finally something will give."

Content, I relaxed in my chair. "Alright. Let's give them a last shove."

I worked on my plan for the next hour. A vital component of Victor's operations, his cargo, ensured the flawless working of his network. He would lose millions if it were sabotaged, which would cause him to lose his anger. And I would make sure Ethan was in the line of fire when he did.

My attention was disrupted by the buzzing of the phone on my desk. With a bland tone, I picked it up. "Yes?"

Elena's voice came through. "Richards is on the line."

"Get him through."

Agent Richards' voice filled the line after a brief pause. "Gerard. This time, I hope you have something worthwhile."

"Always," I said with ease. "How about eliminating two of the city's most dangerous men?"

Richards laughed, but it wasn't a funny laugh. "I'm paying attention to you. What's the catch?"

I lied. "No catch. Just a chance. Tomorrow evening, a shipment is set to depart from Victor's docks. Very expensive and closely guarded. However, I can provide you with the facts you need to intercept it."

"And what part does Ethan play in this?" Richards asked seriously.

"Let's just say that by the time you're finished, it will be covered in Ethan's fingerprints. Victor will use all of his resources to pursue Ethan after learning what's transpired. Additionally, you can intervene and complete the job while they tear each other apart."

There was a pause, and Richards could be heard rustling papers. "Gerard, why are you doing this? What's your angle?"

I remarked, "Let's just say I'm sick of cleaning up their mess. And I support justice. Do you not?"

Richards snorted. "Justice. Right. Alright. Give me the facts. But don't even think I won't bring you down with them if this goes wrong."

I hung up after saying, "Understood." Of course, he was playing. More than I needed Richards, he needed me.

Creating the conditions for Ethan's participation came next. One of my friends, a man who specialized in causing trouble, was the person I called.

Once the connection was made, I stated, "I need a favor. Tomorrow evening, a shipment is set to depart from Victor's docks. Make sure Ethan's name is connected. Whatever it takes-paper tracks, witnesses, etc. Just make it plausible."

The man replied, "Consider it done."

With a feeling of satisfaction, I hung up the phone and relaxed. Everything was coming together. Victor and Ethan were headed for a collision, and it would be too late by the time they knew I was the one controlling them.

I watched the chaos happen from a distance the next evening. As expected, Victor's shipment was severely damaged. FBI officers were swarming the docks, securing the area with their lights piercing the darkness.

"It's done," was the message that buzzed on my phone.

I put the phone back in my pocket and grinned. They laid the trap. Now I just needed to wait.

I smiled again and set the phone down. I wanted Victor to be on edge. And Ethan-well, he'd soon be caught in a storm from which he couldn't escape.

I sent Richards one last message before the evening was over: "Let's set the trap."

With the city lights flickering through the window behind me, I relaxed in my chair. The pieces were moving, and there was no going back. The foundations of Ethan and Victor were crumbling, and I would soon be the only one standing.