Drawpoint (Blake Brier Thrillers Book 4) by L.T. Ryan & Gregory Scott

Author:L.T. Ryan & Gregory Scott [Ryan, L.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liquid Mind Media
Published: 2021-07-05T22:00:00+00:00

24

Nikitin paced, bouncing between the stacks of discarded tires like a pinball that had been launched and then abandoned. Listlessly knocking its way downward, toward inevitable failure.

“Wait here,” Sokolov had said, before storming off to confront their captive. Twenty minutes, an hour, ten. It didn’t matter. When Sokolov returned, he would be there. Exactly where he was instructed to be.

Nikitin looked around. He had never been afraid of dying. It was an impending eventuality. For him, just as it was for everyone else on the planet. And while he’d always figured it would be delivered to him by a bullet, he hadn’t given much thought about where it might happen. The crumbling, defunct loading dock ramp seemed as good a place as any. Fitting, really.

As the breeze kicked up, pieces of litter scurried about. A flattened paper cup. A flimsy plastic bag which wrapped itself around Nikitin’s ankle and latched on, even as he tried to kick it free.

The scent of rain was in the air, but the sun continued to peek through the clouds. Its rays snuck through the gap between the building and the encroaching wood line. It warmed his skin.

A few feet away, young tree limbs reached out over the thicket. With each gust, they waved. Beckoning him.

But he wouldn’t be going anywhere.

Pain. Death. These things were easy. Admitting to Sokolov that he failed was the hard part. Harder than he imagined it would be. In all the years, he had never needed to utter the words.

Others, yes. But not him.

Nikitin had stood witness to what happened to the men who returned with only excuses. He himself had been the instrument of Sokolov’s vengeance on more than a few occasions.

But unlike them, he had no excuses to offer. He had chosen the men. Charged them with carrying out Sokolov’s instructions. Made the decision to leave the United States before the job was done to be by Sokolov’s side. The blame fell squarely on his shoulders. Along with the shame.

There would be no struggle. No resistance.

Nikitin had no doubt that Sokolov knew he was no match for him. The same way a tiger handler knows he would be at the mercy of the beast should it choose to turn on him. It was a truth that was never dared spoken. Not by him, not by Sokolov, not by anyone.

But it made no difference. Nikitin’s loyalty was all that he had. And he intended to take it with him.

His only regret was that he would go out a disappointment. No longer trusted enough to be on the other side of the thick concrete wall. On the inside with Sokolov. But if he were being honest with himself, it wasn’t only his exclusion that ate at him. He had set his heart on something. A trinket, really. One pretty little ear. A delicate specimen worthy of the distinction of being the final trophy in his collection.

As the raindrops finally began to thwap against the rubber tires and ping off the metal roof, Nikitin’s mind settled.

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