The countdown began at four minutes and fifty-nine seconds.
For one strange heartbeat, nobody moved.
Rain struck the warehouse windows.
The broken bourbon glass continued dripping from the edge of the desk.
Sadie lay on the concrete with Victor’s white handkerchief pressed loosely against her mouth, while Leon stared at the laptop as if it were a loaded weapon.
Then Leon shouted, “Pull it out.”
Victor did not touch the drive.
Leon twisted against Paul’s grip.
“Disconnect it, boss.
She’s bluffing.”
Sadie’s good eye remained on Victor.
“If I’m bluffing,” she whispered, “why is he so afraid?”
The question landed harder than any accusation.
Victor looked at Leon.
For eleven years, Leon Briggs had guarded shipments, collected debts, disciplined reckless employees, and handled problems Victor did not want discussed in crowded rooms.
He had earned trust by appearing uncomplicated.
Loud, loyal, violent when violence was useful.
Victor had mistaken simplicity for honesty.
“Lock the doors,” he told Paul.
Paul shoved Leon into a chair and secured his wrists with a plastic tie.
Mick and Teeth remained near the wall, trying to make themselves smaller.
Victor crouched beside Sadie again.
“I have a doctor coming.”
“No hospitals you control.”
“The doctor is coming here.”
“No.” Her voice trembled, but she did not look away.
“My brother first.”
“I don’t have Arthur.”
She almost laughed, then winced as the movement pulled at her ribs.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I expected Leon to bring you here without harming you.
My expectations are becoming unreliable tonight.”
The countdown reached four minutes and twelve seconds.
Victor glanced at the laptop.
The screen showed an encrypted window and a progress bar.
No files had opened yet.
“What did Arthur put on that drive?”
“He never told me everything.”
Leon barked, “Because there’s nothing on it.”
Sadie turned her head toward him.
“He told me one thing.
If Leon ever came looking for it, I was supposed to run.”
The room tightened around that sentence.
Victor stood.
Leon shook his head.
“Arthur was a thief.
He was trying to turn you against me.”
“Arthur was a thief,” Victor agreed.
“That does not explain why you needed his sister beaten.”
“She resisted.”
Victor looked at Mick.
Mick’s face drained of color.
“What were my exact orders?” Victor asked.
Mick glanced at Leon before answering.
“Bring her quietly.
No public scene.
