Chapter 84: When did you become so wise?

"Where?"

"The Hartford shipment. Enzo just activated a team. Eight men. They’re moving into position to intercept."

Dimitri’s jaw clenched. "When?"

"Two days from now. Tuesday night. The shipment crosses through neutral territory around midnight. If they take it...."

"They establish themselves as legitimate players. They prove they can execute. They give the Volkovs a reason to keep supporting them despite the new clause." Dimitri turned from the window. "What’s our exposure?"

"We haven’t claimed the shipment. Neither has Antonio or Lorenzo. It’s genuinely neutral territory. If Enzo takes it, he’s not technically violating any agreements."

"But he’s making a statement."

"A loud one." Marco pulled up a map on his tablet. "Here. The shipment crosses through the industrial district. Abandoned warehouses. No surveillance. Perfect for an intercept."

Dimitri studied the map, his mind racing through options.

He could let them take it. Prove they were serious. See what they did with the territory.

Or he could intervene. Remind them that even neutral territory wasn’t safe from him.

Or...

"What if we let them take it," Dimitri said slowly, "but we make sure they know we let them?"

Marco’s eyes sharpened. "Meaning?"

"Meaning we have people in position. Watching. Recording. Let them execute their plan. Secure the shipment. Celebrate their victory." Dimitri smiled, cold and calculating. "And then we visit them. Personally. While they’re still congratulating themselves."

"You want to crash their victory party."

"Exactly. Let them think they’ve won. Let them get comfortable. And then I walk in and remind them that nothing in this city happens without my knowledge. That neutral territory is still my city. That every move they make, I’m watching."

"That’s..." Marco’s lips twitched. "That’s diabolical, boss."

"Thank you." Dimitri pulled out his phone. "Set it up. I want surveillance on every angle. I want to know exactly how they’re executing this. Team composition. Vehicles. Routes. Everything."

"And if they spot our surveillance?"

"They won’t. Use the new guys, the ones Enzo and Isabella don’t know yet." Dimitri’s eyes were hard. "This is about sending a message, Marco. Not about stopping them. They need to understand that even when they think they’re operating outside my reach, I’m still three steps ahead."

"What about the shipment itself? Do we care who ends up with it?"

"Not particularly. It’s small potatoes. The territory is worth more as a message than as an asset." Dimitri headed for the door. "I’m going to brief Mike. He’ll want to know about the Volkov situation and the Hartford play."

"Boss...." Marco hesitated. "Eve. Does she know about all this?"

Dimitri paused. "Not yet."

"You should tell her. She asked you to treat her as a partner. This is the kind of thing partners need to know."

"I know." Dimitri ran a hand through his hair. "I just....every time I tell her about another threat, another move, I see the weight of it settling on her. And I hate putting that on her."

"With respect, boss, that’s not your choice to make. She chose this world. Let her carry the weight. She’s stronger than you think."

Dimitri looked at his head of security....the man who’d been with him for eight years, who knew him better than almost anyone.

"When did you get so wise?"

"I’ve always been wise. You just haven’t always listened." Marco’s expression softened. "She’s good for you, boss. Better than anyone I’ve seen. Don’t protect her so much you push her away."

"Noted." Dimitri pulled out his phone. "Where is she?"

"Phoenix Talent. She had meetings all morning. Should be wrapping up now."

"Good. I’ll pick her up. We’ll have lunch. I’ll tell her everything."

"Everything?"

"Everything." Dimitri headed for the elevator. "Starting with the Volkovs and ending with exactly what I’m planning for Enzo and Isabella’s little shipment heist."

***

POV: EVE

Eve was reviewing the Meridian contract when her phone buzzed.

Dimitri: Lunch? I’m picking you up in 20 minutes. We need to talk.

Her stomach clenched. "We need to talk" was never good.

She typed back: Everything okay?

Everything’s fine. Just business we should discuss. Partners, remember?

Right. Partners.

She’d asked for this. To be included. To know what was happening in his world.

Okay. I’ll be ready.

Twenty minutes later, she slid into the Aston Martin, and Dimitri immediately pulled her in for a kiss that was more reassurance than passion.

"You’re worried," he said against her mouth.

"You said we need to talk. That’s usually code for bad news."

"Not bad. Just....complicated." He pulled out of the parking space, headed toward their favorite Italian restaurant. "I spoke with Alexei Volkov this morning."

Eve’s eyes widened. "The head of the Russian family? The one backing Enzo and Isabella?"

"His son. But yes, same organization." Dimitri’s hand found hers on the center console. "I made it clear that supporting moves against my interests would be considered an act of war. He agreed to add a neutrality clause to their contract."

"That’s....that’s good, right?"

"It’s progress. But it also means Enzo and Isabella are going to get desperate. Trapped between their fathers’ expectations and limited resources." He glanced at her. "Desperate people make reckless decisions."

"Like what?"

"Like attempting to intercept the Hartford shipment in two days."

Eve listened as Dimitri explained the neutral territory, Enzo’s team, the plan to let them succeed and then crash their victory.

"You’re going to let them think they won, then show them you were watching the whole time," she said slowly.

"Yes."

"That’s..." She paused. "That’s actually kind of brilliant. Terrifying, but brilliant."

"You’re not upset?"

"Why would I be upset?"

"Because it’s manipulative. Cruel, even. I’m playing with them instead of just shutting them down."

Eve was quiet for a moment, processing.

"You’re sending a message," she said finally. "That nowhere is safe from you. That even when they think they’re operating independently, you’re still in control."

"Exactly."

"And you’re doing it without starting an actual war. Without forcing Antonio or Lorenzo to choose sides. Without giving the Volkovs a reason to abandon them entirely." She squeezed his hand. "You’re being strategic instead of emotional. I don’t see how that’s wrong."