Read Scorpion Winter for Free Online Page A

ask for nothing.”
    â€œI don’t talk about missions.”
    â€œI don’t care mission. I care why you leave, okay?”
    Neither man spoke. The only sounds were the ship’s engines and the slap of the waves on the hull.
    â€œIt was a termination. A street outside the target’s location. He was supposed to be just with bodyguards, but his little boy was with him. They told me to go ahead anyway.”
    â€œDid you?”
    Scorpion shook his head. “No. At that moment, I realized I was through. Tvajo zdorovy ,” Scorpion toasted in Russian, and drank.
    Akhnetzov got up and poured himself a glass of Ukrainian Nemiroff vodka from a bottle on the bar. “Za vas!” he toasted back. He brought the vodka bottle over and put it on the table between them. “Listen, maybe you see on CNN. There is election for president in Ukraine.”
    â€œWhat of it?” Scorpion said. From Akhnetzov’s posture, he could tell Akhnetzov was at the moment, in CIA-speak, when the Joe drops his pants.
    â€œOne of the candidates will be assassinated.”
    â€œI see,” Scorpion said, putting his drink down.
    â€œNo, you don’t. It will mean war. Also end of Ukengaz. We must stop this. This is why I seek you out.”
    â€œWe . . . ?” Scorpion raised his eyebrows.
    â€œLet me explain,” Akhnetzov said, freshening Scorpion’s drink with a splash of Nemiroff. “There are two candidates: Kozhanovskiy, a good man, a man of the West, favored by Europe and the Americans, darling of the students and the Kyiv intellihensia . He wants Ukraine to be partner in EU and NATO. The other is Cherkesov. A strong man, tough like bull. He is supported by ethnic Russians and people in eastern Ukraine. He is for close ties with Russia. Like this,” smacking his fist into his open hand and holding it.
    â€œWhich one do you support?”
    â€œMe, I do business with the devil so long we make money. Russia fears if Kozhanovskiy wins, Ukraine joins NATO, and worse, terminates lease of Sevastopol as base for Russia’s Black Sea navy fleet. For Russia, this is casus belli. My sources tell me there is a plot to assassinate Cherkesov.”
    â€œSources . . . ?”
    â€œThe same sources that led me to you.”
    â€œSVR?” Scorpion asked.
    â€œI will tell you once we agree. These same sources assure me that if Cherkesov is killed, Russia will invade. Ukraine will call upon NATO. This will be most dangerous world crisis since Cuba.”
    â€œYou want me to stop this supposed plot to assassinate Cherkesov?”
    â€œI want you to stop a war.”
    â€œOver killing a single person?”
    â€œWhy not? World War One began with the assassination of a single person,” Akhnetzov said. Neither man spoke. There was a throb as the engines slowed. Through the salon windows, Scorpion could see the harbor and buildings of Monte Carlo piled against the backdrop of the Alpes Maritimes.
    â€œYou’ve got the wrong guy,” Scorpion said, putting down his drink. “This is not my type of assignment. Besides, I’m not a bodyguard.”
    Akhnetzov shrugged. “Cherkesov has dozens of bodyguards. This is not what is needed. What I need is an operative, the right operative.”
    â€œIt’s no good. What makes me effective is a certain unique combination of skills,” Scorpion said, leaning forward. “Languages, for one. I don’t speak Ukrainian and my Russian is pretty limited.”
    â€œBut you speak some Russian, yes? Nearly all Ukrainians speak Rossiyu.”
    â€œJust basic Russian plus some of the dirty words.”
    â€œThe best part of any language.” Akhnetzov smiled, but his eyes weren’t smiling. “But you are wrong. What makes you effective is your knowledge and ruthlessness. Like wolf, like me.”
    Akhnetzov leaned forward and wrote something on a piece of paper.
    â€œWhat’s