Nikolai

"Remember, Nikolai, if you need any help, we got you covered." 

I heard Officer Hanson's voice in my earpiece, but I didn't answer him. I reminded him before this whole thing started that I was known as The Ghost for a reason. I couldn't talk over the earpiece. Not unless I was ready for them to move in or to get killed. Rick provided me with the blueprints for this warehouse, but I did my own recon this morning. I wasn't trusting that asshole with anything. 

Good thing, too. Right now, there was way more security than Rick implied.  I figured there would be and I prepared for it. Dressed in all black with my gloves and beanie on, I was strapped with more weapons than you would think possible. I carried a black bag packed with tools, ammo, and other things I might need. I refused the bullet proof vest again and Ryssa didn't take that well. 

To be honest, wearing the vest would probably put me in more danger. I wasn't used to the extra weight, and if I needed to fight, my movements would be restricted. Also, if I ran into anyone and they saw the vest, it was game over. I would get a bullet between the eyes and the cops wouldn't even be able to find my body. 

I checked my watch again, counting the seconds until the outside guard was going to circle back around. Right on cue, he disappeared around the corner. I moved stealthy against the wall until I got to the door. I pulled out my lock pick set and quickly unlocked and opened the door. I slid inside and shut it slowly behind me. I didn't hear any voices as I made my way down the long hallway. According to the blueprints, the latest shipment should be five doors down. 

My main goal here was to retrieve a sample of their product, take pictures of said product, and most importantly, look for Juan Garcia's private ledger. It was his little black book of all his business dealings and God knew what else. If it meant I would be free of this shit, I didn't care. I would do whatever it took. Especially after the night I spent with Ryssa. 

I wasn't expecting her to fall in love with me. Hearing her say it changed everything. We spent the rest of the night making love in every way imaginable. We went from fast and hard, to slow and soft, then back to fast and hard again. We had sex in the bed, on the floor, against the wall...and each time was like the first time. It was amazing and passionate. Something I had never experienced with anyone else. I finally asked her this morning, that if I made it out of this and had to go into WITSEC, if she would come with me. She agreed. 

A noise up ahead brought my attention back to the issue at hand. I heard a voice coming from down the hallway and I carefully ducked inside a room. 

"Hey, what are you-"

I turned around when I heard a man's voice. Before he could finish his sentence, I covered his mouth and managed to get him in a choke hold. Less than five minutes later, he was unconscious. Thankfully, this guy wasn't the fighting type. I walked back to the door and waited until it was silent. I started back down the hallway until I got to the fifth one at the end. This door was harder since it had a combination lock. 

I slipped inside and saw stacks of crates. This is exactly what I was looking for. I pulled out my camera and took pictures of everything Hanson wanted me to. When I was finished, I noticed there was a safe built into the wall on the other side of the room.

The ledger that Hansen wanted me to look for a must be in there. Unable to pass up the opportunity, I walked up to the safe and sat my bag down. When I opened it, I pulled out a small device used to hear the clicks of the lock to break into it.

It's been a long time, and I'm a little rusty, but after a good ten minutes I was in. I pulled out the ledger and started thumbing through the pages.

I couldn't believe what I was reading. No wonder Hansen wanted this so badly. Everything was in here. From details about his drug shipment, to people he had killed...it was endless.

I knew if I didn't get out of here soon, someone was going to stumble upon me. I slid the ledger into one of the secret pockets inside of my jacket. I didn't want to chance my freedom, so if I ended up getting caught and searched, they shouldn't be able to find it.

I quickly closed the safe and threw my bag over my shoulder. I quickly and quietly made my way to the door and made sure the coast was clear before I tried to make my escape.

Thankfully, I managed to make it back outside the warehouse and started heading towards the van where Hanson and Ryssa were waiting. I kept close to the wall of the warehouse and kept my eyes open.

Fifteen more feet and I was clear. Just as I went to step from out from the shelter of the warehouse, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Fuck.

The sound of a gun cocking followed by a man's voice had me tensing up immediately. "Well, well. Look what we have here."

I turned around to see who my assailant was. I was surprised to see none other than Juan Garcia.

"I should feel honored to be held at gun-point by you, Garcia," I said with a smile.

"Fucking, Christ," Hanson said into the earpiece. "Everyone stand down. We need to wait for the signal."

Good. Hanson was smarter than the average cop. I warned him if this happened, not to storm the place. Garcia wouldn't hesitate to blow my head off. Luckily, I set up Plan B in preparation for this exact moment.

Garcia scoffed, "I should be the one honored. I've heard stories about you, Ghost. Although, it doesn't look like your living up to your rep."

"What can I say?" I quipped. "I'm rusty."

If I were being completely honest, I may have set off an alarm when I was in the safe on purpose. I know it would be better to get Garcia recorded then to just go off of the ledger alone. I didn't want any loose ends. The bastard needed to rot in prison if I was getting my freedom.

"Tell me, Ghost, what were you doing dicking around in my safe?"

"Nikolai, I know what you're doing. Tread safely. We're ready to move in and make an arrest."

Hanson knew about my plan B, and that's what he was waiting for. But I wasn't quite finished with Garcia.

"Rick Gatti sent me," I confessed. I wasn't surprised by his uninterested expression.

"Gatti? That wannabe?" He laughed. "Please don't insult me."

"He says you stole some of his shipment."

Garcia rolled his eyes. "You saw what was in those crates. Do you really think I need to steal from that pompous asshole? Besides, he's not a problem anymore."

"So, what? You're just going to let him try to steal from you?"

"Please," Garcia sneered, "Rick Gatti is currently face down in a ditch at mile marker thirty-five on Interstate ten."

"You get the job done quickly, don't you?"

Garcia waved the gun around in front of me. "I shot him with this very gun that I'm about to shoot you with. I make it happen."

"We got it, Nikolai. Time for Plan B."

I reached over to the watch on my left wrist. Just as Garcia cocked his gun to shoot me, I pushed the button. A massive explosion went off to the left of us. Garcia ducked out of instinct and I quickly punched him with my right fist before I took possession of his gun.

"What the fuck!" He yelled as he held his now bleeding nose.

"Everybody drop your weapons! NYPD! Drop them, now!" The police were calling out orders all over the place.

This was the satisfying moment I've been waiting for. To finally have this son of a bitch off the streets. To leave all this shit behind. And in that moment, all I could think about was Ryssa. I actually managed to make it out of this without taking a bullet. Maybe she and I could have a real future together after all.

I listened as the police swarmed the warehouse, arresting people left and right. I was waiting for Hanson, or one of the other officers, to find Garcia and myself. I kept his gun pointed at him, knowing good and well that he would run if you had the chance.

"You're going to pay for this, Ghost." He sneered the words with malice. "I don't care how long it takes. Pay back is a bitch."

I would be an idiot if I didn't take his threat to heart. I just had to hope that the police were going to hold up their end of the bargain and come through for me and Ryssa.

"Nikolai! Drop the weapon and put your hands on your head," Hanson's voice boomed from behind me.

I watched as another officer arrested Garcia and took him away. I dropped the gun and got to my knees before putting my hands behind my head.

Hanson came and slapped the cuffs on me before helping me stand up. "You have the right to remain silent..."

As he continued reading me my rights...I didn't care. I was alive. And so was Ryssa.