Vyper went inside and headed directly for the kitchen. “You hungry? I’ll make sandwiches.”
“Starved. We should have stopped for lunch.” He walked to the sink. “Want some water?”
She nodded. “I have been studying Zatan’s spreadsheets. I think I figured out what is going on, but I need to look up some accounts. There might be more information on suspicious activity reports.”
“What did you find?”
Vyper handed him a sandwich and sat down. “You have to wait. I will check it out after I take a shower.”
“Would you like some company in the shower?” Niko grinned. “It saves water, you know.”
“You are naughty.” She smiled. “You can shower in the guest bathroom like you always do.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
A shy smile was her only response.
Vyper had loosened up over the past few weeks. They loved to “make out”, and she wasn’t shy with her body around him. But Niko’s naked body—a man’s body—was off limits. She certainly had reason to fear men, and she always demanded he keep his pants on. Even though they kidded each other about it, she was dead serious.
After lunch, Niko took a shower. Then he put on a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt before heading to the living room to join Vyper on the couch.
She adjusted the top of her bathrobe. “I do not want to distract you. I think we hit the jackpot with Sokolov.”
“I love being distracted by you.” Niko scooted closer and looked at the computer screen. “What did you learn about our favorite Russian?”
“According to Zatan’s financial spreadsheets, he receives 650 million rubles a month from Altai Associates—the one owned by Sokolov’s nephew.”
“That’s about ten million dollars a month. Sokolov receives thirty million from GRU.”
“Right.” Vyper pointed to a number on the screen. “This ten million comes out of the thirty that goes to Sokolov.”
“Okay. I must be missing something. Sokolov spends one third of his GRU money on Zatan’s team. That’s a lot, but it could be legitimate.”
“Look at this.” Vyper’s finger moved to another spot. “Zatan pays sixty-five million rubles each month to this account. The owner is Sokolov’s nephew—the same nephew who owns the Altai account.”
“Hmm… smells fishy. The mysterious nephew is a front man for the GRU. Then Zatan sends this same nephew a ten percent cut. He’s skimming money. Cheating his own government.”
Vyper nodded. “I told you I hit the jackpot. If we can prove this, the Russian government will be angry with him.”
Niko laughed. “This isn’t a court of law. We have sock puppets. If our puppets post it, many people will believe it. I’m going to post the story as a fact and send it to my pro-Russia and pro-Ukraine followers. If they buy it, Sokolov could be in trouble. If not, we lose nothing.”
After Niko drafted and refined the messages, Vyper configured her sock puppets, each one falsely identified as a real Russian or Ukrainian. After a thousand of them posted their messages, she directed a thousand more to post responses.
Before long, real Russian-speaking followers reacted, and arguments followed. The internet lit up, and the hashtag #SkimmingScandal topped the trending list.
Vyper threw her arms around Niko and kissed him. “We did it. We got him. All we have to do is wait.”
“We should celebrate.” He nuzzled her neck. “I have an idea.”
She softly pushed him away. “I know your idea, but right now I want to play video games.”
Niko went to the game console and brought the controls to Vyper. As she started it up, he walked to the back of the couch and kissed her neck.
She squirmed while clicking on the controller. “What are you doing?”
“I have a challenge for you. I’ll bet you can’t maintain your concentration while I kiss you.”
“How silly. If anyone can concentrate, it is me.”
“You’re on.” Niko opened the front of her robe and cupped her breasts while he nuzzled her neck.
“No fair.” Vyper kept playing. “You said kissing.”
He released her breasts and walked around, kneeling next to her so she could still follow the game on the TV. “You’re right. I said kissing… well, fondling, too.” He opened her robe, exposing her entire body, then he removed his shirt.
Vyper squeezed her legs together, but she smiled and continued playing. “Only kissing and fondling. Nothing more.”
“I know. I’ll keep my pants on.” Niko’s lips and hands roamed all over her body, teasing and squeezing.
She continued to play. Her hips moved rhythmically, her legs relaxed, and she arched her back. Then the game controller slipped from her hands.
Niko did everything possible to please her while keeping his pants on—and it was working. Her inhibitions washed away.
Vyper’s hands gripped his head and she pulled him gently on top of her. “I want to make love.” She reached down to the waistband of his shorts. “Take them off. Make love to me.”
Niko rolled over and removed a condom from his pocket before slipping off his pants.
She grabbed the condom and tossed it on the floor. “I use birth control.”
The woman was a mystery, but now was not the time for questions. He turned back and reached for her breast.
Vyper grabbed his butt. “I want you… now.”
He began slowly, treating her like a virgin—and in a way she was. She responded to his moves and he responded to hers. They made love with abandon until she collapsed with a smile.
Her arms held him tightly for a long time. “This was even better than I imagined.” She kissed him. “You have been so good to me. I hope it was worth the wait.”
Niko raised himself on his elbows. “I would do anything for you.”
A wicked smile appeared on Vyper’s face. “It is your turn to play video games. Let me see if I can distract you. And you may not put on your pants.”
Chapter 16
Sokolov
Vyper’s Home—Sterling, Virginia
Even though Sokolov went into hiding after the successful internet campaign against him, Niko’s nights continued to be plagued by frightening dreams from his life in Sevastopol, when he was still known as Adam.
On the bed next to Adam was a valise of collection money for Falcon. Beside it was a suitcase, packed and ready to go. Time to leave this dangerous life behind.
But first, he couldn’t resist playing his favorite video game. Every time he played Grand Theft Auto, he became Niko Bellic—a hardened war veteran willing to do anything to make a buck. Right now, ‘Niko’ was running from the police. He turned the corner and—shit—one of them pointed a gun at him and pulled the trigger.
The game ended with a familiar metallic sound, followed by a groan and the word WASTED plastered across the screen. He could start another game, but not tonight. This would be his last for a long time.
Adam stood up, dropped the game controller on the bed, and opened the valise. It was a lot of money, and Falcon would never get his hands on it.
He started with the largest bills, stuffing them into pockets on the inside lining of his jacket. More went into his underwear, his socks—every place he could hide it. He checked himself in the mirror to see if any suspicious bulges appeared. Satisfied, he abandoned the remaining small bills, grabbed his suitcase, and left for the docks.
Straight ahead was the cargo ship Adam was looking for. The Bolshoi was headed to Odessa where he’d buy a fake passport. From there, he’d find a ship to Istanbul and eventually to America.