Hunt the Villain

Two rival mafia heirs collide at a forced-proximity summer camp

Fifteen-year-old Vaughn Morozov, heir to the New York Bratva, arrives at a mountain camp designed to bridge decades of rivalry with the Chicago branch.

Two rival mafia heirs collide at a forced-proximity summer camp

Fifteen-year-old Vaughn Morozov, heir to the New York Bratva, arrives at a mountain camp designed to bridge decades of rivalry with the Chicago branch. He's meticulous, composed, and already cataloguing security details when an explosion rips through the grounds. Yulian Dimitriev, the Chicago leader's son, emerges grinning—dirt-covered, busted-lipped, clutching a homemade detonator. He scales the balcony to introduce himself, offers a filthy hand. Vaughn drops a monogrammed handkerchief in it; Yulian blows his nose in it. When Vaughn refuses to fight, Yulian smears blood across his face. In that instant, Vaughn's disgust crystallizes into something absolute. He vows to make this chaotic, loud, infuriatingly uncontrollable boy's summer a living hell. The feeling, he believes, is mutual.

Vaughn discovers Yulian's injuries come from his own father

Vaughn spies from an adjacent balcony when Yulian's father, Yaroslav, arrives unannounced. Through the cracked door, he watches the Chicago Bratva leader backhand his son hard enough to send him sprawling, then kick him repeatedly while calling him useless and talentless. Yulian grins through it, mocking his father even as blood pools on the hardwood. Vaughn's fists clench—his own father has never struck him, and the concept sickens him. He realizes the black eye, the bruised ribs, the constant injuries aren't from Yulian's recklessness alone. They're gifts from his father. Yaroslav threatens to separate Yulian from his cancer-stricken mother and sister, Alina, if he doesn't improve. After Yaroslav leaves, Yulian stands motionless, staring at the floor. Vaughn watches from the shadows, unable to move.

An ambush on the mountain forces enemies to become allies

Punished together after a sparring match that went too far, they're sent up the mountain to gather wood. Vaughn carries a meticulously packed emergency backpack; Yulian brings only water and a grin. Their bickering cuts short when sniper fire erupts from the trees. Before Vaughn can react, Yulian shoves him aside and takes a bullet to the side—deep, just below his ribs. They flee together, Yulian bleeding heavily, navigating through the forest and killing assailants with terrifying precision. Vaughn realizes Yulian's combat instincts far exceed his classroom performance—this boy who sleeps through lectures can pinpoint snipers in trees and shoot them dead mid-stride. They reach a hidden cave Yulian discovered during his many punishments, and Vaughn knows he must save a life he never expected to care about.