He knows me too well for me to hide anything from him.
“Something Gregovski said, back on Alcatraz,” I say after a moment.
“What was it?”
“We were fighting, and I said to him that every Russian who has tried to kill me has died in the process.”
“True,” he says with a shrug.
“Gregovski said, and I quote, ‘Not all of them’…”
“You think he means—”
“Clara?” I say, finishing his sentence. “Yes, I do.”
“Look, you know we ain’t letting her go. If she’s alive, we’ll find her when the time’s right and play hide the bullet with her head. But don’t let it eat at you, man. Stay focused on the future.”
I finally turn to him. My jaw clenches as I struggle to find the right words to say. I’ve been meaning to say this for over eight years, and now the time’s right, I want to make sure I do it right.
“But things do eat at me, don’t they?” I say. “I’m not sure I can look to the future without first addressing my past.”
“What are you saying, Boss?”
“I’m saying, I think it’s time.”
“Really?” he says, his voice a mixture of excitement and concern.
“You said yourself, me and Agent Chambers — we clearly feel things for each other, but I can’t allow myself to move on like that. Not with the death of my family still hanging over my head. I need to go back to the beginning, to Pittsburgh. Put things right and deal with Wilson Trent once and for all. Put the memory of Janine and Maria to rest, along with my guilt. After everything I’ve been through over the last few days, I realize now that the life we lead might not afford me many more opportunities to do it. And I need to move on. It’s time, Josh.”
I let out a sigh. That wasn’t easy for me to say.
“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted you to say that, Adrian. Watching you sweep those demons of yours under the carpet time and time again, carry the guilt on your shoulders the way you do — none of it was your fault. It was Wilson Trent who murdered your family, not you. And until right now, you’ve never been ready to aim those Berettas of yours back at him and avenge your wife and daughter. I’ve got your back, Boss, as always.”
Before I can say anything else, Josh nudges my arm and nods at Chambers and Wallis, who are walking toward us.
“Hey,” says Wallis, shaking both Josh’s hand and mine in turn.
“I’m glad you could make it,” says Chambers, with a smile.
“I’m sorry about Agent Johnson,” says Josh. “I know how hard it is when you lose a colleague. He was a fine agent.”
“Thank you,” she says, before looking at me.
“Adrian, there’s someone who wants to talk to you.”
I raise an eyebrow quizzically before looking at Josh, who simply shrugs. She turns and walks off and I follow her without another word.
Up ahead, across the cemetery over by the far gates is a black limousine, surrounded by four men wearing suits, earpieces, and black sunglasses. As we approach, the door opens and a man steps out. He’s shorter than me, maybe five-nine or five-ten. He’s got silver-gray hair, but he isn’t that old, maybe early fifties. His weathered face indicates a hard life, but he’s managed to retain a certain youthfulness about him.
“Adrian,” she begins. “This is—”
“Ryan Schultz,” he interrupts in his broad, Texan accent. “Secretary of Defense for the United States. And you are Adrian Hell.”
“That’s me,” I say.
“I have a dilemma, Adrian. See, this is the second time you’ve done our great country a service now, son.”
I shrug humbly and nod, recalling the last time I spoke with him, down in Heaven’s Valley last year.
“But this time you saved my damn life, so I hear.”
I shrug again.
“You’re welcome,” I say.
“You’re welcome… what?”
“Don’t push your luck, Ryan.”
The Secret Service agents around his car all flex their shoulders back and shift uneasily on the spot. Sensing it, Schultz half-turns, and gestures with his right hand for them to relax.
“Fair enough, son. You’ve done your job and on behalf of the United States, I’d like to extend you our appreciation.”
“Does this get me off the government’s shit list?” I ask.
Schultz frowns and glares at me for a moment in silence, before making a dismissive gesture with his hand and turning back to his car.
“Doesn’t mean I like you, son,” he says, climbing in the back as one of the Secret Service agents slams the door shut behind him.
The limousine drives off, and I turn to Chambers.
“Nice guy.”
She smiles and we both set off walking back toward Josh and Wallis.
“So, what now, Adrian?” she asks. “Do you still intend leaving?”
“I do,” I reply.
She nods, but fails to hide the look of disappointment from her face.
“Where are you going? Do you know?”
I take a deep breath.
“I’m heading for Pittsburgh,” I say after a moment. Saying it out loud makes it seem more real. This is going to be one of the hardest things I’m ever likely to do in my life.
“What’s in Pittsburgh?” she asks.
I lean forward and kiss her on the cheek before taking a step back and looking into her steel-gray eyes.
“Closure.”
Dear Reader,
Thank you for downloading my book, and I hope you enjoyed it!
If you did, I’d really appreciate it if you could spare thirty seconds of your time to leave a review on whichever website you downloaded it from. For independent authors like me, one review makes the world of difference!
Alternatively, you can contact me directly via my website (the link is below). I love hearing from my readers — the best part of being a writer is getting to know my audience, and finding out what they think of my work.
Thank you in advance!
James P. Sumner
(http://www.jamespsumner.com/)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James P. Sumner was born in 1982, in Stockport, UK. He's married with a son, and currently lives in Bury, UK. His "other" job, besides being an author, is a full-time Account Manager for a large, international company.
An avid reader from a young age, his heart has always been in writing. In July 2013, he began work on his first novel. After some trial and error, he published his debut thriller himself on Amazon, and hasn't looked back!
He is a Top 10 Bestselling Author on Amazon, with both Hunter's Games and One Last Bullet. True Conviction is also a permanent fixture at the top of the Free charts.
When he's not writing, he's either reading (usually thrillers or comic books), cheering on his beloved Manchester City, or enjoying one of the many TV shows he follows religiously — he's a big fan of Game of Thrones and The Flash!