Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Alexey slammed his foot on the man’s back, and then he did it again. He had his gun ready and shoved him around. The gunman had a knife, which he attempted to slice across Alexey’s stomach. Alexey caught the hand that held the knife, twisted it, and shoved the blade right to the hilt into the gunman.
“Give me a name.”
It didn’t matter if he got a name or not. He tightened his grip around the man’s hand and twisted the knife.
Tears fell from the man’s eyes. Alexey looked into his eyes, so that he could see what his future was going to be. Death was coming. Right now, it wasn’t going to be quick, but it was coming. He stared right at him and waited.
And then, he got his name.
“Vincent Morello.”
So now, that son of a bitch was attempting to kill him, and that put a whole new spin on things.
Chapter Seven
One Week Later
Jane had to wear a wig, along with some glasses and a large trench coat. Her whole appearance needed to be changed to get her into the hospital.
Alexey refused to allow her to go, but when he came back to the apartment a week ago, covered in blood and looking like something out of a horror movie, she knew she had to help. This was all her fault.
She stepped into the private room where Nikolai was recovering from the attack. She couldn’t believe he had taken not one but six bullets before Alexey had been able to push him out of the way.
Alexey was ... quiet. He had dropped her off at the hospital, and she had offered to stay with his friend and keep an eye on him. Several of his men were at the door, outside and inside.
The threat from Vincent Morello was real.
She made her way toward the counter and placed the flowers she had gotten for Nikolai on the way over, as well as the card she made by hand. Another of those little crafts she was attempting to fill her time with. Or at least, what Alexey was determined to get her to do, so she was distracted from her imprisoned life.
She took a seat and looked at Nikolai. It was horrible to see him in the hospital bed, hooked up to different machines and tubes. This was not the man she had seen so many times. According to Alexey, he had died twice on the operating table, and right now it was still touch-and-go. He was tired a lot and came in and out of sleep regularly. Jane didn’t mind sitting with him.
Alexey, Makar, and Igor had taken turns staying with him. Jane had wanted to do more. She had no words to say. Nikolai was not a close friend.
“Morning,” Nikolai said.
Jane lifted her head, a little taken aback as she wasn’t expecting him to speak.
“Nikolai,” she said, getting to her feet. “What do you need? Do you need me to call a nurse?”
He shook his head. “No nurse. They poke and prod and ask a lot of questions. Also, stop asking me fucking questions. Can you reach that water?”
She grabbed the small cup with a straw inside it and presented it to his lips.
After a few seconds, he let it go and raised his hand. “Please, tell me you’ve brought me some brownies, or something fucking better than hospital food.”
She smiled. “Of course I came bearing gifts.” She moved back to her bag and pulled out the box of sweet treats. “There’s caramel brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and a few cinnamon rolls for you.”
“You’re a star,” he said.
Jane noticed he struggled to take the lid off the box, so she reached out and did it for him. “There you go.”
“Thanks.”
He went for a caramel brownie, and he clicked the button on the bed that helped lift himself up.
“You shouldn’t be overdoing it.”
“I don’t give a fuck what the doctors or nurses say. I want to eat something more than the shit they give me.” He wrinkled his nose. “Besides, I’m fine.”
“Nikolai, you nearly died on the operating table.”
He shrugged. “I’ve nearly died many times in real life as well. Trust me, this is not my first rodeo on the death train.”
She opened her eyes. “Wow, okay.”
He laughed. “You never heard anyone be quite so flippant about dying?”
“Pretty much. Most people are afraid of it. Are you trying to tell me you’re not?”
“It’s not that I’m afraid of dying or not afraid of dying. When my time is up, it’s up. It’s not like any of us are getting out of this world alive, is it?” He winked at her.
Jane thought about it. “I guess you’re right.”
“We all end up dead.” He shrugged. “I just don’t choose to dwell on it. I’ve been gunned down. Stabbed. I’ve even had the crap beaten out of me.” He let out a laugh. “Trust me, there is a high probability I’m going to die.”