Continuing on, Mike’s anger became more noticeable. “One night, they’re on stage, the next they’ve suddenly ‘quit’ their jobs and moved on. Ivan is as good as his dad at making sure the stink from his shit doesn’t touch him. He can’t wait for the day Alexandar kicks the bucket so he can take over the family business. Mikhail, the youngest son, wants out, but he knows going against his father and brother would be suicide.”
Mike took a breath and shook his head. “I’ve been working that angle for a while, and I’m finally close to breaking him. I can feel it. If I could just turn him, then good ol’ dad and Ivan, along with the rest of the Russian bastards, will go down for good. But Mikhail’s been too scared to give us anything concrete that we can use in court. Shitty thing is, I can’t blame the poor sonofabitch.”
Jake wasn’t surprised that Mike was sharing such detailed information. Jake had the same clearance level as Mike, so Mike wouldn’t be in trouble for reading him in.
“Couldn’t you testify on what you’ve seen? From what you’ve just said, I would think you’d have enough to put them all away by now.”
“I’ve got Mikhail dead to rights, which is why I’ve been leaning hardest on him. Ivan...maybe, but not Alexandar. I’m tellin’ ya, the guy’s damn near untouchable. I could get the smaller fish, which would definitely hurt their empire, but my bosses want them all.”
Mike ran a frustrated hand over his jaw. “And Alexandar Volkov isn’t stupid. He’s covered his tracks over the years and made sure nothing could be tied directly back to him. Well, almost nothing. We’re so close, but I need Mikhail’s help. I convince him, and we’ll take Volkov down once and for all. Once the top falls, the rest will be scrambling to make deals. Problem is, even if I do get Mikhail to agree to everything, there’s no guarantee that when the time comes he’ll actually have the guts to take the stand.”
Mike paused, lost in thought for a moment. “So to answer your original question, in the beginning, I was sure it was worth it.”
“And now?” Jake asked, sensing his friend was struggling.
Mike looked over their surroundings and shook his head. “Now...” He inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. “Now, I don’t know, man. Everything we’ve done has made a real difference to a hell of a lot of people. But you only get one shot at this, you know?” Mike was still looking out at the wide-open space longingly, and Jake knew his friend was talking about life.
“You could quit,” Jake only half-teased. “Do some real work for a change.”
Mike chuckled but, then, got serious fast. “I’ve been thinking about it. A lot, actually.”
Jake swung his head to the side, surprised. “Seriously?”
Mike turned to him, not a trace of humor in his expression. “This cover has just about reached its end. If I can’t convince Mikhail to help us soon, then they’re going to either get someone else in who can or settle for what they can get with what we have now.” He sighed, his eyes filled with resignation. “Either way, I’m done, Jake.”
Jake recognized the look, and it wasn’t a good one to have when working deep undercover. He’d seen a lot of guys burn out. They’d make a fatal mistake, or say fuck it, and join the other side.
Mike would never trade sides. Jake was as sure of that as he was his love for Olivia. But the guy was right. He clearly needed out of that life. Jake just prayed Mike could make that happen before he did something stupid like getting killed for real.
“So, what are you going to do?” Jake asked his friend. “It’s not like you can just rise from the dead after ten years.”
Mike shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe, maybe not. After all, it is the U.S. Government. They can always come up with some sort of explanation. And given everything I’ve done for them, you bet your ass I’ll find a way when I’m ready. One thing’s for sure, though. Whether I come back as Mike Bradshaw or someone else, it’ll be for good.”
Mike gave a brief pause then continued with, “It’d be one thing to do what you and your teams does. To be able to work a job here and there and come back home. To a real home and an actual life that belongs to you, and not some fictional character. Like this”—Mike glanced around at the property again— “You’re gone when you’re needed, but then, you get to come back to all of this. You’ve planted roots, man. Hell, I couldn’t even tell you the last time I went on a date. An actual date with someone I liked, not a piece I was just using to gain intel.”
Mike’s hand scrubbed over his beard again. “Shit, Jake. I look back at my life, so far, and I’ve got nothing to show for it. Not personally, anyway. I’m thirty-four years old with no wife, no kids. Hell, my dad died, and I couldn’t even go to his fucking funeral. Or Liv’s for that matter. Though, thank Christ, that turned out differently.”
Jake couldn’t agree more.
“I don’t know, man,” Mike went on. The guy clearly needed to vent to someone he trusted. “I’ve left my sister alone all this time, even when she was going through her own hell, and for what? I mean, at least if I did what you do, I’d have the option to settle down somewhere. Start a family of my own.”
Jake was surprised at that. Until recently, he’d never seen his job as one that was conducive to a long-term relationship, let alone a family. He was still worried about how they’d manage it, and wondered how Mike thought it could work.
“You think so?”
“Hell, yeah. It’s no different than being career military. Better, actually.
