“No police.”

“Just a very quiet house.”

“Tony,” Victor croaked, his voice thick with emotion.

“Ah,” Tony said. “You are a tough old bastard, Victor.”

“But the boy was always sloppy.”

“Don’t worry. I am sending some people to help him finish the job.”

“And to clean up whatever mess is left behind.”

The line went dead.

Victor slowly lowered the phone, letting it drop to the carpet.

“He knows,” Victor said.

“He knew the moment Marcus failed,” I said.

I stood up and approached the window, pulling the heavy velvet curtain back just an inch.

The rain was coming down in sheets now, blurring the lights of the city in the distance.

Down below, headlights appeared at the end of the long driveway.

Two black SUVs turned off their lights as they passed through the shattered iron gates.

They were moving fast, splashing through the deep puddles on the gravel.

“We have company,” I said.

I checked my tactical earpiece.

“Alpha One, do you copy?” I said.

Nothing but the steady hum of static.

My team at the outer perimeter had been neutralized.