Markov pulled the cigarette from his mouth and threw it to the ground, crushing it with his heel. With a snap of his finger, several soldiers ran over, climbed up onto the container, and were handed heavy-metal chains from below by their comrades. Quickly, securing the chains into reinforced metal eyelets in the four corners of the container, they hurriedly moved back to the center and secured the chains together onto a large metal hook and waited, looking up into the night sky.
The sound of a large helicopter approaching out of the dark made Mitchell stop and look up into the sky as a huge Russian-made MI-26 heavy lift chopper came into sight. It slowed down and then slowly descended towards the sea container. The sound from the helicopter’s powerful engines was deafening. One of Chang’s men stood directly in front of the container using a pair of bright yellow paddles to guide in the helicopter. Configured to take a sling load, the helicopter hovered for a moment as the thick metal chains from the sea container were placed into a massive steel hook hanging underneath the chopper. With its cargo ready to lift, the MI-26 increased its power. The powerful engines strained at first and then slowly pulled the container up into the dark night sky.
Parking his truck beside the hangar, Mitchell grabbed his AK, climbed out, and then made his way back along the side of the tall building. Cautiously, he peered around the corner of the hanger. The sea container was gone, and the soldiers had begun to drift off to other assignments. He was reassured when he saw Jen’s jeep still parked out front; it could only mean that she was somewhere nearby. Seeing that the front entrance was crawling with soldiers, Mitchell looked back the way he had come and saw a door about fifty meters further down the side of the hangar. Deciding that this was his way in, Mitchell jogged over to the door, turned the handle, and breathed a sigh of relief when he found it open. Carefully stepping inside, Mitchell looked down a brightly-lit corridor with numerous offices on either side of the long hallway. Knowing that he had to start somewhere, he slung his AK over his shoulder and then nonchalantly, walked over to the first office, opened the door, and peered inside. It was dark and empty. Closing the door, he moved to the next office.
Nika sprinted up the stairs, taking two at a time as she made her way up to her father’s makeshift office overlooking the spacious hangar floor. Throwing the door open, Nika stormed inside. To her disgust, she saw her father and sister standing there with champagne flutes in their hands.
“Ah, Nika, I am so happy that you are here. Now we can all celebrate together,” said Romanov as he reached down and grabbed another glass.
“Why did you both leave the helipad without me?” snarled Nika, baring her teeth like a wild animal.
A puzzled look crossed Romanov’s face. “Your sister wanted me to see the bombs before they were taken away, that is all,” Romanov said, taken back by Nika’s outburst of anger.
“My sister,” Nika said mockingly, “how nice that she wanted to show off her work to you.”
Alexandra’s dark eyes narrowed. “Easy, my dear sister, Father wanted everything moved up a day. I just wanted him to see that his plan is still on track to succeed,” said Alexandra, her voice dripping with venom.
Romanov moved between his daughters. They had always vied for his attention, but tonight seemed almost too much, even for him. A tension unlike any he had ever seen before from his daughters filled the room.
“Now, my dear daughters,” said Romanov calmly, as he raised his flute, “let us toast to our continued success.”
Like a pair of alpha wolves warily eyeing one another, they grudgingly toasted and drank their champagne.
“Just so you are both aware, I have made arrangements for us all to leave within the hour,” said Alexandra.
“That is excellent news,” Romanov said. “The sooner we are on our way, the better.”
“What about the American women?” asked Nika. “What do we do about them?”
“Miss March has brought me luck, perhaps that luck will continue. Her mother, however, is now redundant,” said Romanov casually. “Kill her and then see to it personally that her body is incinerated. Erase her from the face of the earth.”
An evil smile broke out on Nika’s face. “With pleasure,” said Nika.
Romanov patted the case containing the jewels. Looking over at Nika he said, “Once you have done away with the woman, I want you to ensure that the jewels and Miss March are loaded onto my helicopter.”
Nika smiled at her father, ordered two of Chang’s men to pick up the box, and then, singing happily to herself, she spun about and went to dispose of Jen’s mother. She had hoped to kill both women today, but was resigned to the fact that she would have to wait to kill Jen later.
Jen sat straight up. She could hear footsteps coming down the hallway. Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, Jen watched uneasily as the door opened and two armed men entered the room. A moment later, Nika stepped inside with a look of sadistic pleasure in her eyes.
Jen felt her stomach knot. They had run out of time.
Mrs. March looked into Nika’s eyes and felt a chill run down her spine. The woman seemed devoid of any feelings.
“Stand up,” snarled Nika.
A man stepped forward and pointed his AK at the women.
Jen stood. Reaching over, she took her mother by the hand.
“Now, Miss March, you will accompany my men to my father. As for your mother, I promise that I’ll make sure it will be quick and painless,” said Nika coldly.
“No!” screamed Jen loudly as she threw her arms around her mother, holding on to her as tightly as she could.
Nika pulled a pistol from her belt and aimed it right at Mrs. March’s head. “Let go of your mother, or I will shoot her right in front of you.”
“It’s all right, dear,” said Mrs. March, trying to console her daughter. “Please do as the woman says.”
Tears streamed down Jen’s face. “No mother, I can’t! I won’t,” said Jen.
Nika pulled back the hammer of the pistol with her thumb. “Now,” she said coldly.
Mrs. March reached over, kissed her daughter on the forehead, and then let go of her.
Looking deep into Jen’s tear-filled eyes, Mrs. March said, “Stay alive.”
Jen lost her voice; she meekly nodded as a guard moved over, grabbed her roughly by the arms, and forced her outside of the room.
Mrs. March stood there with a defiant look on her face. She could hear her daughter crying as she was led away. Turning her head, she looked over at Nika. She had never hated a person so much in her life. The vile woman standing before her deserved to die. Mustering up her courage, she raised her head and looked straight ahead. There was no way in hell she was going to give Nika the satisfaction of seeing fear in her eyes. Stepping out into the hallway, Mrs. March saw two more guards standing there, carrying a large case between them. Holding her head up, she fell into line behind Nika.
Before they had gone five feet, another mercenary came around a corner and walked straight towards them.
The guards carrying the case saw the man approaching, but paid no attention to him, until it was too late. In a flash, the man smashed his rifle’s butt straight into Nika’s face, shattering her nose with a loud crack. Blood instantly streamed down her face. Staggering back in pain, Nika instinctively raised her hands to protect her face. In a fluid move, her assailant savagely shot the butt of the rifle into her face, sending her tumbling onto the floor.
Corrine did not know what was happening and recoiled in horror.
“Down!” yelled the man as he brought his AK to his shoulder.
Throwing herself to the floor, Corrine covered her head with her hands.
Before the men carrying the case could drop it and pull their slung weapons off their shoulders, the man opened fire, cutting them down. Spinning on his heels, the man dropped his empty AK and drew a pistol from his shoulder holster, looking for more targets.