Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
So just maybe on his way out, he’d snatched up a gun, a suppressor, and a couple of magazines. This was a hunting expedition, and it wasn’t as if he could go into a gunfight with only a couple of knives. Well, he could and have fun with it, but the park was too crowded for that kind of fun. This was faster and easier.
The hulking creature stomping through the park all in black with the gun clenched in his right fist wasn’t even trying to be stealthy. Dear Lord, it was as if this guy had no idea who he was up against. Yeah, he wasn’t going to make that mistake twice.
Moving silently, Alexei circled behind him. He stepped out of his hiding place and lifted the gun as he whistled at the assassin. The idiot jerked around at the sound but didn’t lift his gun. Alexei placed one bullet in the center of his forehead, the gun in his hand making only the smallest sound, like a loud puff of air. The man died with a surprised look on his face.
He hurried over to the corpse and frowned. The shot was a bit off-center, actually. He wasn’t compensating properly for the weight of the gun. Oh, well.
Kicking, shoving, and swearing, Alexei moved the body into the bushes, hiding it from view unless a person walked right up on it. The corpse wouldn’t go undiscovered long, but he didn’t need a lot of time.
As he was dusting his left hand off on his shorts, a bullet whizzed by the tip of his nose and dug into the earth. A soft “Eep!” escaped him as he rolled backward while snatching his gun up with his right hand. He heard two more shots fired. At least these assholes were using suppressors to muffle the shots. Otherwise, the park would be swarming with cops.
With his heart pounding hard in his chest, Alexei shut down all random thoughts and focused only on what was happening around him. He dove into some thick cover offered by some bushes and peered through the leaves to find that his new assailant had taken cover behind a tree not far from where he’d left the first body. Dirt and dried leaves were clinging to his clothes. He’d lost his hat in the roll. Platinum blond had its disadvantages. While sexy as fuck, it was also easy to spot against green and brown.
A twig snapped behind his right shoulder, and Alexei instinctively lunged to his left. A bullet slammed into the tree he’d been crouched behind, sending slivers of wood pinwheeling through the air. He landed hard, pain exploding in his shoulder and air rushing out of his lungs. Pushing the pain away, he continued to roll until he was on his back and his gun was in the air. Sneaky bastard had gotten close. Alexei squeezed off three rounds, burying two in the man’s chest and the last one in his face. He winced. Messy. The assassin fell dead in some bushes, which was handy. He didn’t need to move the body.
But he couldn’t stay there. He needed to get to a somewhat secure spot so he could figure out how many were on his tail. There’d been at least three, which meant there was definitely one more lurking in the park. Was that all? He needed an accurate count.
Getting to his feet, Alexei squatted low in the brush, trying to ignore the horrible smells already wafting from the dead body in the growing heat of the day. Oh yeah, these fuckers were going to be found fast. The clock was ticking.
“It doesn’t have to go down like this,” a new voice called out in heavily accented English. Alexei wasn’t sure the person’s place of origin, but he wanted to guess maybe one of the Latin American countries. Of course, it could be an act and he could be a Southern hillbilly for all he knew.
Narrowing his eyes, he continued to scan the immediate area. Nothing moved but the leaves in the trees. The chirping songbirds, quacking ducks, and laughing children all sounded so very distant.
“I appreciate you getting rid of my partners. They’re such a hassle, and who wants to share a payout?” At least he was going for charming rather than threatening. He was certainly smarter than his companions, but he’d proved that already by letting his so-called partners serve as cannon fodder.
“Hand over the hard drive I’m sure you were running off to deliver to the CIA, and I’ll let you live.”
Much smarter than Alexei had expected. Better connected too. But really, he could have done without the “let you live” bullshit. Alexei barely kept from rolling his eyes. He turned his gaze toward his chatty new friend to find that he’d not only left his hiding place but was nearly standing over him.