Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Viktor is someone we rely on, but he does better work when he has a clear motive. He has no qualms about taking the life of an enemy but considers it an act of justice to do away with someone whose actions he considers heinous and reprehensible.
Fuck. He’s chosen Viktor instead of me for whatever reason. If he—
Mikhail turns to me. “Nikko. You’ll go with him.”
It takes me a second to register what he just said. “Me?”
Mikhail nods. “You most closely match the profile of the man hired to protect her. With a few small tweaks, you’d pass for him at a distance. The others would stand out too much.” Mikhail holds my gaze. “Listen carefully. Your job is to pretend to be her bodyguard. Get close to her, Nikko. Find out everything you can about her father and his operation. And when the time is right,” he pauses, his words weighing heavily as he lays out my objective. “You’ll end him.”
I nod. I’ll accept this responsibility. It’s the only choice I have. And even if I had another, this is the one that I’d choose. I’m dedicated to protecting my family, no matter the cost.
“You said she speaks no Russian,” I say thoughtfully, tapping my chin. “Should make things interesting since I don’t speak any English.”
Lev snorts, Aleks grins at me, and even Kolya cracks a reluctant smile. “That will absolutely make it easier for you to gather intel,” Kolya admits with a shrug. “To a degree.”
“When do I leave?”
Aleks takes out an iPad and pulls up an itinerary. “This is Vera Ivanova’s schedule. Aria’s set a drone in place to map her for a few days so you can get an idea of her habits, how she operates, where she goes, and what she does. I’ve tapped into her mobile and online browsing as well.” He shakes his head. “I’m telling you, Mikhail, the fact that Aria and I run cybersecurity for you guys puts you head and shoulders above everyone. They don’t even have biometric sensors or quantum encryption GPS trackers in place.” He shakes his head and curses in Russian, obviously disgusted.
I have no idea what the fuck a quantum encryption GPS tracker is, and only the vaguest idea that the biometric sensors monitor our health and location remotely, but I take his word that it’s important and maybe even necessary.
“Her father’s set it up so that her new bodyguard will accompany her from America to Moscow. They’re scheduled to meet in three days at the airport, where she’ll fly to Moscow. And you, as Vera’s bodyguard, will go with her. It doesn’t matter if anyone sees you since no one else has met the real bodyguard. The only person who can’t see you is her father’s mistress, but those chances are slim to none.” He jerks his chin at Viktor. “And thanks to Viktor, no one will notice he’s gone.”
I’ve never had such a mammoth task before. An assassination is a clear instruction, something easy to accomplish with the right tools. This is something entirely different—an assassination with a twist.
“Perfect.” I love a challenge.
“Here,” Aleks says, taking a file out of his laptop bag and handing it to me. “This is everything we’ve complied on Vera Ivanova for you to familiarize yourself with before you go in.”
I open the file and immediately school my features so I don’t give away my shock at seeing her. Delicate features are framed by long, chestnut hair that cascades in loose waves around her shoulders. Emerald-green eyes are highlighted with long, thick lashes, displaying intelligence and curiosity, but the slight upturn of her little nose hints at mischief. A smattering of freckles adds to her wholesome appeal. Despite her slender frame, there’s a quiet strength in her posture and movements, hinting at hidden reserves of determination.
I stare at the portrait of the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. A woman I can’t have.
Kolya looks over my shoulder as I continue to read the specs. “You’ve been trained for this, Nikko. Pretend she’s poison. Tell yourself that if you touch her, you turn to stone.”
Mikhail grows cold. “Tell yourself that if you touch her, you’ll die.”
I nod. Stay completely detached. Made of stone. Impermeable.
Stay focused on my job because I have an obligation to kill her father.
CHAPTER TWO
Vera
One, two, three, four, five. I count the bags I’m bringing with me on my flight one more time.
Is it too much? I have a tendency to overpack because I want to be prepared, but the last thing I want is to stand out. Does a grad student moving to an international study program really need that many bags? Thankfully, I’ve condensed the books I need into one heavy suitcase, and everything else fits in the lightweight luggage I bought especially for this trip.