Mark Pryor - Cyberian Affair

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.”

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.

Adam walked up to a sailor who was barking orders to others. “You hiring?”

The man looked Adam up and down, then nodded. “You’ll do. What’s your name?”

Adam responded with the first name that came to mind. “Niko. The name’s Niko.”

“You can start right away.” He yelled to a sailor on the upper deck of the ship. “New man coming up.” Then he spoke to Niko and pointed. “Top of the ladder. We’ll do the paperwork later.”

The ladder, actually a steep metal stairway, was firmly attached to the ship. Niko climbed to the top.

The deck boss’s on-the-job training was delivered with one terse command. “Do what they’re doing.”

Niko got right to work, moving barrels off pallets and muscling them down a narrow ladder, where he placed them next to dozens of other barrels. It seemed like the job would never end.

When he returned for more barrels, his boss yelled out. “Niko, the third mate wants to see you.” He pointed toward the bow. “Take the forward ladder—two decks down.”

Niko descended one deck and half of the next. Then he stopped abruptly.

I’m a dead man.

On the deck below was Falcon, an evil grin on his face. Next to him stood a large man, obviously an enforcer. Niko turned to climb back up, but another man blocked his way. There was no escape.

“Where do you think you’re going?” asked Falcon, leaning on a metal table, fingering the handle of a meat cleaver.

Niko’s heart raced. He felt the bile rise in his throat, but held back, trying not to puke. Nothing he could say would help, so he remained silent.

Falcon spoke to the man behind Niko. “Get him down here.”

Niko quickly scrambled to the lower deck, trying to avoid being pushed off the ladder. He stopped in front of Falcon.

The evil man’s black eyes never blinked. “You owe me a lot of money.” He tilted his head briefly toward each of his enforcers. “Strip him.”

One man pulled Niko’s jacket from behind, pinning his arms against his body. The man in front removed Niko’s shoes and socks, spilling cash on the deck. As the rest of his clothes came off, more cash appeared.

Falcon picked up the jacket and removed more money. “Tie him to the ladder. Tie his arms to the rails.” He grabbed a meat cleaver from the table. “You know what happens to people who steal from me.”

Niko sat straight up in bed, sweat soaked the sheets. “My hands!”

Falcon had disappeared. Vyper’s hand was on Niko’s shoulder. He reached out and hugged her naked body.

“You are shaking,” she said. “Did you have the same dream?”

Niko’s breathing calmed, and he released her. He nodded. “Sokolov caught me stealing. He threatened to chop off my hands.”

“Lie down and relax.” Vyper ran her fingers through his hair. “You let the death of Sokolov’s nephew affect you. That happened a week ago. He is the one whose hands are missing.”

“True. The Russians killed him, and we’re the ones who exposed his role in the skimming scheme. He wasn’t even in Russia. They tracked him down to Odessa. They took his hands! It was a message to people who steal Russian money—like we did.”

Vyper kissed his cheek. “It is almost morning and I am awake. I will fix breakfast.”