CAIN'S POV
Viktor Kozlov died badly.
Cain stands in the ruins of the compound, watching his team process the scene. Bodies everywhere—Kozlov's security detail, all eliminated. The man himself in the master bedroom, where he'd tried to make a final stand.
It hadn't been enough.
"Boss." Marcus approaches, tablet in hand. "Final count: fourteen enemy KIA, zero survivors. We found the six victims—five women, one teenage boy. All malnourished, showing signs of long-term captivity. Medical teams are en route."
"Good." Cain doesn't feel triumph. Just exhaustion. "And our people?"
"Two injured, both stable. Chen took a bullet to the vest—cracked ribs but he'll live. Rodriguez has a concussion from a close-range flash bang. Everyone else walked away clean."
A win, then. As much as anything i
