“Talk to me, Hawk,” Alex said over the coms. “I’m flying blind here. There are no security cameras in that room.”
“We’re trapped,” he said.
CHAPTER 25
Washington, D.C.
PRESIDENT MICHAELS FUMED over the Supreme Court’s split decision, grousing about the outcome to one of his aides. After throwing several books across the Oval Office, Michaels calmed down and fell into his chair.
“I swear I’m going to ruin Williams,” he said as he looked up at his aide. “She’s going to pay dearly.”
“What exactly would you like for me to do, sir?” the aide asked.
“Get out,” Michaels growled.
Michaels waited until the aide left the room before moving. Surprised that Petrov hadn’t called, Michaels scrolled through his address book in search of one name: Frank Stone. He finally found it and dialed the number again.
“We have some things to discuss,” Michaels said as Stone answered.
“Apparently our warning wasn’t strong enough for Justice Williams,” Stone said.
“That’s one way to put it, but we’ll have to wait and address it at a later time.”
“You have a more pressing matter?”
“Yes, and it’s not one that we can afford to have screwed up this time. No excuses. Do you understand?”
“Don’t accuse me of not doing my job,” Stone said. “You were the one who told me only to scare Williams. I could’ve just as easily had them kill her that night.”
Michaels bristled. “My orders were to persuade her to vote in my favor. Your persuasion didn’t accomplish the intended goal.”
“I think I’ve established with you well by now that persuasion isn’t my specialty. I deal better when it comes to finite directives with results that are easier to measure.”
“Take this order as a more permanent one with only a single outcome that will satisfy me,” Michaels said. “In other words, if you don’t fulfill the mission, don’t come home.”
“Who’s the target?” Michaels asked.
“Brady Hawk,” Michaels said. “I want him dead.”
“Where is he?”
“At the moment, he’s in Istanbul. Not sure if he’ll be there long—or survive, for that matter. But you better go and bring back pictures of his dead body. This is your final chance. Got it?”
“Loud and clear.”
Michaels hung up and then leaned back in his chair. He stared at the ceiling and pondered his next move.
CHAPTER 26
Istanbul, Turkey
HAWK RAISED HIS ARMS IN THE AIR and stared at Petrov. He’d hoped for a clean getaway but would’ve settled for a messy one under the circumstances. Scanning the room, he realized he’d likely get neither. He stood in the middle of a tinderbox. One itchy finger was all that was between his hope of a miracle and utter annihilation.
“Seems like you’ve won and congratulations are in order,” Hawk said.
Petrov wagged her finger. “Mother Russia has won. I have simply fulfilled my role in a greater plan.”
“So, now what? A bronze bust of you in Moscow or St. Petersburg? A university named in your honor?”
“That’d be nice,” she said with a smile. “But I’d settle for a nice little home somewhere along the Black Sea. But enough about my retirement plans. Let’s discuss yours, which are limited at this point to either a quick death or a slow one.”
“I was hoping you’d just let me walk out of here,” he said. “A little catch and release. Without me in your life, things wouldn’t be very interesting.”
She circled Hawk, her heels clicking against the concrete floor.
“Believe it or not, Mr. Hawk, I prefer life to be less interesting. Whenever people do exactly what I say, I find that my stress level goes down. But when you are around, somehow I’m constantly on edge. So, I’ll decline your proposal, which puts us back to what I originally asked you—quick death or slow death?”
Hawk shrugged. “Dealer’s choice.”
“Very well then,” she said. “But before I make my decision, there’s something I want you to see.”
Petrov turned and nodded at one of the soldiers, who pressed a button on the side of the wall. A large screen dropped down from the ceiling along with a camera. Next, a row of lights flashed on. Petrov moved toward the middle of the room.
“Keep those two over on the side. I don’t want them in the shot,” she instructed, gesturing toward Blunt and Hawk.
She pulled out her smart phone and began dialing. Seconds later, a video conference feed appeared on the screen with a simple name beneath it: Michaels.
After a few seconds, the screen blinked alive and President Michaels was sitting in the Oval Office, hunched forward, his elbows resting on the desk, hands clasped together.
“Ah, Katarina, how are you? I’ve been expecting your call.”
“I’m sure you’ve been looking forward to it too given your failure to uphold your end of the bargain.”
Michaels winced. “Unfortunately, this isn’t Russia. In a democratic republic, sometimes things don’t end up going your way.”
“Your type of government isn’t an excuse,” she said. “When you promise results, you should deliver. Now, you’ve put me in a less than desirable position.”
“I’m sorry about that, Katarina. Is there any way I could make it up to you?”
“Since you asked, I’m willing to give you one more chance.”
“Just tell me what I need to do.”
Katarina laughed mockingly and turned toward her guards. “American men are so weak.”
“What was that?” Michaels asked.
“Never mind. Here’s what I’m going to need you to do: Convince the Federal Reserve to disband on their own and place temporary decision-making power back into your hands.”
“Disband? You can’t be serious? There’s a better chance that Kim Kardashian would—”
“Shut up,” she said. “You asked for one more chance. I’m giving it to you.”
“But how am I supposed to convince the entire Federal Reserve to give up all their power and disband? They already hate me as it is.”
“Good,” she said. “Then you won’t lose any friends over the deal since they loathe you so. I hate losing
