Dmitry's Closet by Nelson, S. (read people like a book .txt) 📕

was one sniper. A slender blonde man with a slender nose and dimple in his chin. He spoke little English and detested all things American. A Ukrainiangun-for-hire, he knew the entire routine all too well.

He pulled his black cloak over him and watched through his infrared as the men made their way across the street. Slowly, he slipped his finger onto his trigger and breathed in. As he breathed out, he pulled the trigger and hit a female police officer in the head. The second shot hita male officer in the throat. They dropped quickly, causing the officers beside them to scatter. He smiled and pulled the cloak further over him. He would pick them off all night.

The police officers looked at the tops of the building, pointing and calling on their radios for backup. Fear mixed with their adrenaline. Over the doors of their white Dodge Chargers, they shot their futile firearms at the men in black tactical gear and Kevlar.

One man dropped, shot in the leg by a police officer. The one in front of him released a large burst from his shoulder-balanced, rocket-propelled missile launcher directly into the large sea of police cars. Fire and screams erupted. Grabbing the wounded man off the ground, Ivan’s team proceeded.

Agosto was on his radio ordering up a SWAT team to the location immediately but knew from experience that he had to get into the top of the building where the sniper was.

After he pulled Sorrello from the car and put him safely in the doorway of a dark building, he fumbled with his keys and opened the trunk, where he retrieved a large bullet-proof vest and gun and ran across the street to a neighboring building by the sniper.

Finding the fire escape, he jumped up and grabbed the cold stairs. They came down with a thud. Looking around, he climbed them carefully. Within minutes, he was at the top of the stairs. Gun pointed, he kicked opened the door and headed up to the roof.

∞♥∞

Dmitry and his men could not hear Ivan’s men as they entered the restaurant, but they could see them on the monitors. They came through the flames with masks, shooting everyone whocrawled about trying to get out. They were searching for him, determined to find him, even in the flames. He would have stayed and battled it to the death with the cowards, but he had to think of his son. It was his job to protect him now.

Dmitry spoke to the men in Russian. Calmly, they cocked their weapons and checked their gear. He had been smart enough a few years back to purchase bullet-proof vests and jackets. While he never knew if they would come in handy before, he was thankful for them now. He typed in a detonation code into the security pad on the wall and ordered the men out. They had no choice now. The bomb would explode in less than three minutes, finishing what his brother had started.

Quickly, they headed out of the back of the abandoned building and loaded into their cars, barely missing the police, who were headed down the opposite alleyway to cover the rear of Mother Russia.

“All is lost,” Anatoly said, looking out the window as the bodyguards drove.

“No, all is new,” Dmitry assured him. “Head to my house. Ivan is going after Royal next.”

“We should get you out of the city, sir,” one of the bodyguards suggested.

“Take Anatoly if someone should go. My place is by Royal now.” He looked over at Anatoly.

“No. I go with my father,” Anatoly said reassuringly.

∞♥∞

Agosto was quiet as he leaped between buildings to surprise the sniper. But the blast from the last explosion helped give him a distraction. It rocked the entire street, burning alive all the people that remained in Mother Russiaand injuring countless more outside.

The sniper stood up to look in sheer confusion. That was not in their plans. He spoke into his earpiece and began to quickly breakdown his gear.

Hiding behind a large vent, Agosto held his gun close to him as he waited for the man to pack away his gun. The rain started to fall on the already dreadful night. The cold air quickly turned icy slush. How he wished to be anywhere else but here. As he heard the man’s footsteps, Agosto stood up and pointed his gun.

“Stop! You’re under arrest. Drop your weapon and put your hands in the air!”

Immediately, a police helicopter emerged from the darkness with its lights shiningon the rooftop. The wind whirled around the two men as they stood face-to-face. Seeing that he had little alternative and no will to die for Ivan, the sniper smiled and did as Agosto had instructed. Phase two of Ivan’s destruction had already begun anyway.

∞♥∞

Royal’s stomach turned over and over as she lay in her bed. Something was not right. She could feel it. Without success, she had tried to call and text Dmitry several times, but it went straight to voicemail. Unable to rest, she sat up and turned off her television. Cory was down the hall using the computer. She would have him run down to Mother Russiato get her something to eat and indirectly check on Dmitry. She slipped on her house shoes and closed her robe tight.

As she was about to open the door, Cory knocked and came barreling past her.

She smiled. “You were reading my mind. I’m starving. Would you mine...”

“Not now, Royal,” Cory ordered. He peaked through her curtains out over the property. “Turn that light off.”

“What’s wrong,” she asked, finally noticing the gun in hand. “Cory, what the hell are you doing with that gun?”

“There’s been an...accident.” Cory turned to her. “Mother Russia was just blown to shit. Dmitry’s dead.”

“What!?” Royal’s heart sank. “Oh my God!”

He cut her off. “No time for that, Royal. Get dressed quickly. I’ve got to get you and that baby out of here.”

“Where will we go?”

“I need to