Ashcroft was quiet for a moment.
Then he said thoughtfully,
“Volkov holds power through blood. Greco’s always been the outsider.”
A pause.
“If Viktor goes down, the structure weakens before Marco even gets a chance.”
Damien said nothing, allowing Ashcroft to finish his thought.
“And if Viktor isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed… but not the dullest either—”
A faint scoff came through the line.
“Marco’s worse. That’s why the nickname fits him.”
A brief pause.
“The Shark. A bloodthirsty bastard who bites before he thinks.”
“We should be able to eliminate him before his seat on the throne even gets warm.”
Then something in Damien’s earlier words seemed to click.
A pause followed.
“Wait a second.”
Ashcroft’s tone sharpened.
“Volkov said he followed your advice… did you talk to
