Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Innocent people are getting hurt now and I hate that,” Igor goes on. “Your men think they’re pretty clever right now, don’t they? Finding the lucky break that led them to me. A talkative bartender. Such a stereotype. Except he was anything but a stereotype. He was paid handsomely to feed your men just enough information to put this all together and find this place, but not quite enough information to make it too easy and make them suspicious. Apparently, he nailed it. I might have to give him a bonus after this is done.”
After this is done, the only thing you’ll be doing is rotting away in a shallow grave somewhere I think to myself.
“Ok so you got me here. And you’re not making a move on me. So why don’t you cut to the chase and tell me what you want from me. Money? Is that it?” I ask.
“I don’t need your fucking money,” he snaps. “I have more money than I know what to do with.”
“So, what is it then?” I ask, my voice calm.
“Is the maid alright?” Igor asks, throwing me off slightly. “The one who got shot?”
“The one who you shot, you mean? Yes, she’s fine.”
“I want an apology,” Igor says, jumping back to the original topic. The jumping around is a known tactic, meant to throw a person, but I’m not thrown by it. I practically invented this trick. “For my father and friend.”
I move to the couch and sit down, and I see that I’ve thrown Igor slightly with my casual movement, although he hides it well, the flicker of emotion only showing on his face for half a second before he paints the cocky expression back on.
“It was an accident and Michael’s family received more than an apology at the time, Igor. They received a very generous settlement from me. As for your father. I didn’t start that war. He wanted my territory and so he tried to assassinate me, but instead murdered my woman and our unborn child. Did you think there would be no retaliation? I did what you’re doing now,” I say.
He makes a strange high-pitched sound. “Stop talking. Stop making excuses. You killed them. You killed them. And I want a real apology. I want to hear you say the fucking words. And I want you to mean it.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry about your friend. He was just a bit player, not important enough for my men to take out. He was just collateral damage, a consequence of the business we were all in. I truly am sorry you lost him, but I will never apologize for your father. I took pleasure in ending his life.”
“Collateral damage?” he screams. “Your men killed him because he got in their way. That’s almost worse than if he was the intended target.”
“Don’t sit there on your fucking high horse, Igor. You know how this shit works. Michael was a bit player, but he was still a player. He knew the risks of playing with the big boys. And you sit there judging me for it when you’re worse than my men ever were. You shot a fucking maid in my home. An innocent woman.”
“I didn’t plan on that. She got in the way,” Igor says quickly.
“Just like Michael did,” I point out.
“But there’s a major difference between Michael and that girl, between me and your thugs. Your men shot to kill my brother. I shot that girl in the leg to stop her from interfering.”
“So, you’re going to take the moral high ground because you’re a bad shot?”
“I’m not a bad shot. I didn’t want to kill her,” Igor snaps.
“Whatever,” I say. “You’ve gotten your apology. It’s time to end this once and for all.”
“Yes. I suppose it is,” Igor says. “You must pay for what you did to my father. A life for a life.”
Even after saying it he seems reluctant to act so I stay seated.
I smile at him coldly. “You don’t want to kill me, do you? It’s not that you don’t want me to die – you do want that. But you know the moment I’m gone; your life becomes empty and the grief rushes in. While you’re looking for revenge, you have something to focus on. Once I’m gone, there’s nothing left to occupy your mind but memories and regrets.”
“Don’t fucking sit there thinking you know me,” Igor snarls.
“But I do know you. Trust me. I’ve been you.”
“You’re nothing like me,” Igor yells, now sounding completely unhinged.
He jumps to his feet, and I jump to mine half a second behind him. He runs at me with a roar, and I see a flash of silver. Igor has a knife. I sidestep his attack, narrowly avoiding being stabbed. It doesn’t deter him, he spins around, more nimble on his feet than his size implies. He comes at me again, and this time, I have nowhere to go. My back is against the wall, but I’m ready for him. I know exactly how to stop him, but I don’t get to use my skill.