The Soviet Comeback Jamie Smith (ebook reader online free txt) 📖

He caught sight of his reflection in a mirror near his table and gazed at the craggy face looking back. Was he twenty-two? Twenty-three? Twenty-four? He couldn’t recall, but the face looking back had deep puffy bags under the eyes and a hint of grey in the dark stubble lining his jawline. He took another sip of whiskey. At least his body was still in reasonable condition. Aside from the long scar on his thigh, still paining him in cold weather, his young body had recovered well from the many hardships it had been put through.

As he gazed wearily at his reflection, he began to see Elysia’s face. He shook his groggy head to put her from his mind, but the image remained. As it cleared, he realised it wasn’t Elysia, but Jess gazing at him from the end of the bar. He smiled uncertainly at her.

***

It was the toilet flushing that caused Nikita to wake. His head felt heavy and his mouth thick and fuzzy but he was instantly alert and reached cautiously under his bedside table for the revolver he kept there.

He held it under the cover, pointed in the direction of his en-suite bathroom door. He heard movement behind it and his body was coiled and tensed, ready to move.

The handle slowly pushed down and out stepped Jess, wearing nothing but a black bra. She looked at him and grinned. “Easy boy, I have to go,” she said, raising her eyebrows at the raised bump in the covers.

He exhaled and smiled back, turning onto his side and sliding the gun under his pillow. “Oh, come on, baby,” he said, his throat dry and raspy.

Nikita’s aching mind quickly began to piece the night together, cogs turning painfully. Much of it was a blur.

He pulled her down and kissed her as she giggled. Her dark brown body was young and firm under his hands; she felt warm and smelled of jasmine. He held her close and closed his eyes, enjoying the closeness before she pushed him away. “No seriously, I was due in for my shift at the bar ten minutes ago.”

“Call in sick,” he murmured, kissing her again.

“I can’t, I can’t,” she said, forcing herself off him and standing up. The moment the contact was broken he felt revulsion in himself. She looked so beautiful standing there, her hair all tousled, as she pulled on her t-shirt. But it did absolutely nothing for him; he just wanted her gone.

“No, I understand,” he said, pushing himself into a sitting position before a wave of nausea forced him back into a horizontal position.

Nikita closed his eyes and tried to transport himself away, but the faces of his family swam behind his eyelids, followed by Sarah before settling on Elysia. “Right, I’m outta here,” Jess said pointedly. When he failed to open his eyes, she spoke more loudly. “I’m going, Jake.” He opened his eyes reluctantly. She was standing next to him. With a groan, he swung his feet down and stood up, swaying slightly.

She caught him. “Show me to the door?”

He nodded silently, hating her, but hating himself more. Every part of him felt horrible.

Following her to the door, he held it open as she stepped outside and looked at him. “Are you not gonna say anything?” she said.

“What do you want me to say?” he asked, confused.

“If you don’t know then maybe last night was a mistake,” she replied crossly.

He sighed. “Maybe you’re right, Jess.”

Her eyes instantly welled up. “Great to know where I stand,” she said angrily, turning away and marching down the path to the road.

Nikita knew he should call after her but he didn’t have the heart. He’d make it up to her next time he was at the bar. Either that or find a new bar, he thought to himself as he closed the door.

He walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face, to feel more awake, before making his way to the kitchen to make some strong coffee. He still could barely remember anything from the night before.

Opening the cupboard, he realised there was no coffee there, or anything else. Nothing in the fridge either, other than some old mouldering ropa vieja — his failed attempt to recreate his favourite Cuban dish. With a groan, he threw on some clothes and headed out to the shop.

Half an hour later, he was placing the paper bag full of groceries onto the passenger seat of his car when he looked up and saw the face that had dominated his thoughts for two days.

CHAPTER 22

Elysia stood a few yards away, her eyes burning into him. She was wearing blue jeans and a loose-fitting white shirt that her long curls tumbled across. This time there was no sadness, only fury.

“Ely—” he began but she quickly held up her hand and interrupted.

“I knew you wouldn’t show, but for some reason I convinced myself that you might not be a coward after all and would face me like a man.”

This time Nikita didn’t bother to try and contradict her. “You were right on both counts. I was a no show and I am a coward.”

He braced himself for the barrage that was to come in his direction. But it didn’t come.

She stood staring at him, her hands on her hips caught between defiance and something else that Nikita could not place.

“How did you find me?” he asked tentatively.

“Get in the car,” she snapped, striding towards the car, grabbing the shopping out of his hands and putting it on the back seat, before flouncing into the passenger seat with no small amount of dramatic flair.

Nikita rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck. His head still hurt and whatever was coming would not be enjoyable. He climbed into the driver’s seat and reached into