THE INTERROGATOR

The Confession

Cole walked through the gates of the Orlov compound at dawn. His clothes were torn. His face was bruised. His body ached from the night's violence. But his eyes were clear. His mind was sharp.

He had been running for hours. Through the industrial district. Through the Warren. Through the streets of Red City. He had circled back, doubled around, lost any pursuers. Now he was back where it all began.

The guards at the gate stared at him. They didn't stop him. They had been told to expect his return. One of them made a call. By the time Cole reached the main house, Ivan Tarasov was waiting for him.

"The boss wants to see you," Ivan said. His voice was flat. His eyes were cold. "Now."

Cole didn't respond. He just walked past him, into the mansion.

Konstantin was in his study. He was standing by the window, his back to the door. The first light of dawn was streaming through the glass, casting long shadows across the room.

"I heard what happened," Konstantin said without turning. "The ship. The dock. My son's involvement."

"Your son is working with Shaw," Cole said. "He's been feeding information to the enemy for months. He's the one who set up the attack on the compound. He's the one who kidn*pped my daughter."

Konstantin turned slowly. His face was unreadable. "You have proof?"

"I have eyewitnesses. I have documents. I have a trail of evidence that leads directly to Sergei."

"And you expect me to believe you? A stranger who walked into my home three days ago?"

Cole stepped closer. "I expect you to listen. Sergei is planning to overthrow you. He's been working with Shaw to build a network. An alliance. When they're ready, they'll burn everything you've built to the ground."

Konstantin was silent for a long moment. His eyes were fixed on Cole's face, searching for the truth.

"How do you know all this?" he finally asked.

"Because I've been hunting Shaw for five years. I know his methods. I know his patterns. And I know he wouldn't work with someone like Sergei unless there was something in it for him."

"What could Sergei possibly offer Shaw?"

"Access. Information. Protection." Cole's voice was hard. "Sergei has been giving Shaw classified information about your operations. Your alliances. Your weaknesses. In exchange, Shaw is going to help him take over the family."

Konstantin walked to his desk and sat down. He looked tired. Old. The weight of his years was suddenly visible on his face.

"Sergei is my son," he said quietly. "My firstborn. My heir."

"He's also your enemy."

Konstantin was silent for a long moment. Then he reached into his desk and pulled out a thick folder. He slid it across the desk toward Cole.

"These are Sergei's records," he said. "Financial transactions. Communication logs. Travel records. I've been watching him for months. I suspected something. But I didn't want to believe it."

Cole opened the folder and scanned the documents. The evidence was damning. Wire transfers to offshore accounts. Encrypted messages to unknown recipients. A trail of deception that stretched back years.

"Sergei has been planning this for a long time," Cole said.

"Yes." Konstantin's voice was barely a whisper. "My own son. The one I trusted most."

"What are you going to do about it?"

Konstantin looked up. His eyes were hard. Cold. The eyes of a man who had made difficult decisions his entire life.

"I'm going to give you what you want," he said. "I'm going to help you find Shaw. I'm going to give you everything you need to destroy him. But in exchange, I want one thing."

"What?"

"I want you to bring Sergei to me. Alive. I want to look into his eyes when he confesses. I want to hear the truth from his own lips."

Cole studied him for a long moment. The old man was broken. Betrayed by his own blood. But he was still dangerous. Still capable of terrible things.

"Deal," Cole said.

---

Cole spent the next two hours in the compound's secure communications room. He called in favors. He contacted old allies. He built a network of informants and assets that stretched across the city.

And then he found it. A lead. A location. A place where Sergei was meeting with his co-conspirators.

The Red Lotus.

Cole grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. Ivan was waiting for him in the hallway.

"I'm coming with you," Ivan said.

"No, you're not."

"Konstantin's orders. I'm to ensure that Sergei is brought back alive."

Cole studied the enforcer. Ivan's face was a mask of cold fury. His hands were clenched into fists. He wanted this. He wanted to see Sergei brought down.

"Fine," Cole said. "But you follow my lead. You don't make a move unless I say so."

Ivan nodded curtly. "Understood."

---

The Red Lotus was quiet when they arrived. The neon sign was dark. The doors were locked. But Cole knew Sergei was inside.

They entered through a side entrance. The club was empty. The booths were deserted. The bar was abandoned.

But there was a light on in the back room. The private room. The one where Cole had met Anya.

Cole moved through the club, his weapon drawn. Ivan followed behind him, his footsteps silent on the plush carpet.

They reached the door. Cole paused. He listened. Voices. Two of them. Male and female.

He pushed the door open.

Sergei was sitting at a table, a glass of whiskey in his hand. Across from him sat Elena. The woman who had betrayed Cole. The woman who had kidn*pped his daughter.

Elena looked up and smiled. "Cole. I was wondering when you'd show up."

"Where's Shaw?"

"Not here. He has other business to attend to." Elena stood up slowly. "But he sends his regards."

Sergei's face was pale. His hands were shaking. "Elena, what is this? You said this was a private meeting."

"It is a private meeting, Sergei. I just invited some extra guests."

"What's going on?" Sergei demanded. "Why is he here?"

Cole stepped into the room. "Because you've been a very bad boy, Sergei. Meeting with the enemy. Selling out your family. Planning to kill your father."

Sergei's eyes widened with fear. "That's not true. I never—"

"Don't lie to me. I've seen the documents. I've traced the accounts. You've been working with Shaw for months."

Sergei turned to Elena. "Tell him. Tell him it's not true."

Elena's smile widened. "It's all true, Sergei. Every word. I've been feeding you information, guiding you. Making you think I was your ally."

Sergei's face went white. "You used me."

"Of course, I used you. You were a tool. A pawn. And now you're a liability."

Cole stepped between them. "Elena. Where is Shaw?"

"Somewhere safe. Somewhere you'll never find him." Elena reached into her pocket. "But don't worry. You'll see him soon enough."

Cole saw the weapon coming. He moved fast, but not fast enough. Elena pulled a small device from her pocket and pressed a button.

The lights went out. The room was plunged into darkness.

Cole dropped to the ground, his weapon raised. He heard movement. Footsteps. A door slamming.

By the time the emergency lights flickered on, Elena was gone.

Sergei was still sitting at the table, his hands shaking, his face pale. He looked like a man who had just seen his entire world collapse.

"She's gone," he whispered. "She left me."

"Get up," Cole said. "We're going to see your father."

---

Konstantin was waiting in the grand hall. He was sitting on his throne-like chair, his face a mask of cold fury. Ivan stood behind him, his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on his brother.

Sergei was on his knees in front of his father. His hands were bound. His face was bruised. Cole had been thorough.

"Father," Sergei said. "Please. I can explain."

"There is nothing to explain." Konstantin's voice was quiet. Controlled. "You betrayed me. You betrayed this family. You sold us to our enemies."

"I didn't have a choice. Shaw threatened me. He said he'd kill you. He said he'd destroy everything we've built."

"And you believed him?"

"He's not a man you say no to, Father. You know that. I was trying to protect us."

Konstantin was silent for a long moment. Then he stood up and walked over to his son. He knelt down and looked into Sergei's eyes.

"I know what it's like to be afraid," Konstantin said. "I've been afraid my whole life. But I never let that fear control me. I never let it turn me against my family."

"Father, I—"

"Sergei. You are my son. My blood. And despite everything, I still love you." Konstantin's voice cracked. "But I can't trust you. Not anymore."

Sergei's face crumpled. "Please. Please, don't—"

"You will leave the city tonight. You will go somewhere far away and start a new life. And you will never return. If I ever see your face again, I will kill you myself."

Sergei stared at his father. Tears streamed down his face. "Father, please—"

"Ivan. Take him away."

Ivan hauled Sergei to his feet and dragged him out of the room. Sergei's pleas echoed through the hall. Then the doors slammed shut.

Konstantin stood alone in the center of the room. His shoulders were slumped. His face was old and tired.

"I never thought it would come to this," he whispered.

"None of us did," Cole said.

Konstantin turned to face him. "You kept your promise. You brought him to me. Now I will keep mine. I will help you find Shaw."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." Konstantin walked to the window. "Shaw has been building his network for a long time. He's not going to be easy to find. But I have resources. Contacts. I'll find him."

Cole nodded. "I'll be ready."

"There's one more thing." Konstantin turned. "My other son, Dimitri. He's been quiet lately. Too quiet. I want you to keep an eye on him. Make sure he's not involved in this."

Cole's pulse quickened. Dimitri. The quiet accountant. The one who had warned him about Sergei. The one who had helped him.

Was he part of the conspiracy too?

Cole nodded slowly. "I'll watch him."

---

Cole walked through the compound, his mind racing. The pieces were coming together. Sergei was exposed. Elena was still out there. Shaw was still hiding. But he was getting closer.

His phone buzzed. A text from Katya.

*Riley is safe. She's asking about you. When can she see you?*

Cole smiled. A small, tired smile.

*Soon,* he typed. *Tell her I love her.*

*I will,* Katya replied. *But Cole—be careful. Shaw knows you're getting closer. He'll try something soon.*

Cole pocketed the phone. He knew Shaw would try something. He was counting on it.

Because when Shaw made his move, Cole would be ready.

The game was far from over. But the end was coming.

And Cole Brennan was going to be the one to finish it.