She's a great accountant, but I don't think that was the sort of skills she meant. ;)

She's a great accountant, but I don't think that was the sort of skills she meant. ;)

He isn't terribly wise about women, is he?  Poor Nicky, left with the job of trying to bring him up to speed when he failed so badly at it the last time she made the attempt.  Of course, her motivations that time might not have been the best...

He isn't terribly wise about women, is he?  Poor Nicky, left with the job of trying to bring him up to speed when he failed so badly at it the last time she made the attempt.  Of course, her motivations that time might not have been the best...

Secrecy and deals define their world, which makes it a very tricky place to live.

Secrecy and deals define their world, which makes it a very tricky place to live.

It's kind of fun to watch them get under each other's skin, isn't it?

It's kind of fun to watch them get under each other's skin, isn't it?

Heh. She has to because he says so, too.  Luckily, he's a better guy than he appears to be.  In some areas, anyway.

Heh. She has to because he says so, too.  Luckily, he's a better guy than he appears to be.  In some areas, anyway.

You're right about that.  They're rather nasty pieces of work.

You're right about that.  They're rather nasty pieces of work.

Wouldn't you be?  He pretty much has her life in his hands.  That can't be comfortable.

Wouldn't you be?  He pretty much has her life in his hands.  That can't be comfortable.

Well, he feeds her, teaches her and she's attracted to him.  The fact that he's very smart and very dangerous makes him interesting.  Yeah, she's a little twisted herself.  Freud would have a holiday.

Well, he feeds her, teaches her and she's attracted to him.  The fact that he's very smart and very dangerous makes him interesting.  Yeah, she's a little twisted herself.  Freud would have a holiday.

He does.  He just keeps it locked down most of the time.  Katya is the exception to almost eveyr rule he has.

He does.  He just keeps it locked down most of the time.  Katya is the exception to almost eveyr rule he has.

Thanks!  That was what I was going for, so it's good to know it worked. :)  He is definitely not gay....

Thanks!  That was what I was going for, so it's good to know it worked. :)  He is definitely not gay....

Glad it intrigues you.  Keep reading and you learn all sorts of stuff about him.  But not everything.  He won't ever give up all the goods.

Glad it intrigues you.  Keep reading and you learn all sorts of stuff about him.  But not everything.  He won't ever give up all the goods.

Thank you!  I really appreciate you reading.  It was started as a challenge to myself, mostly to see if I could write a book-length story.  I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Thank you!  I really appreciate you reading.  It was started as a challenge to myself, mostly to see if I could write a book-length story.  I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Oh, my!  What a lovely compliment.  Thank you very much.  I hope you continue to enjoy the story. :)

Thank you!  I'm glad you're enjoying it. :)

She loves the old coot, not least because he agreed to help her when no one else would.

She loves the old coot, not least because he agreed to help her when no one else would.

Yes, you're wrong.  Nicky wouldn't have anything to do with Jack Cavuto.  No civilized person would.  Don't worry.  The story is finished.  The only wait is for validation. I'll upload the next chapter today. :)

Yes, you're wrong.  Nicky wouldn't have anything to do with Jack Cavuto.  No civilized person would.  Don't worry.  The story is finished.  The only wait is for validation. I'll upload the next chapter today. :)

Yeah, he does.  So it would be a shame if he died at her "graduation."

Yeah, he does.  So it would be a shame if he died at her "graduation."

I suppose if you look at it like a romance from hell, then a happy(ish) ending is in the cards, but that could be anything from deciding to stay together to simply agreeing to not kill each other. 

I suppose if you look at it like a romance from hell, then a happy(ish) ending is in the cards, but that could be anything from deciding to stay together to simply agreeing to not kill each other. 

I don't know.  Maybe it's because they're about to blow up a building and shoot people who will probably shoot back?  LOL

I don't know.  Maybe it's because they're about to blow up a building and shoot people who will probably shoot back?  LOL

Nicky is always into something, though this goes deeper than her usual information trafficking. Glad the plot twists are working for you!

Nicky is always into something, though this goes deeper than her usual information trafficking. Glad the plot twists are working for you!

Yep, and telling him something he didn't know about Katya was her way of leveling the field a bit. He's known for awhile that he would keep some string attached to her.  The trick is to not let her know that.

Yep, and telling him something he didn't know about Katya was her way of leveling the field a bit. He's known for awhile that he would keep some string attached to her.  The trick is to not let her know that.

Honestly, it started as a way to direct anger about things over which I had no control. There was a lot of research involved once I realized that I needed to understand the technology. My husband is responsible for the accuracy of hand to hand combat. The explosives details come courtesy of the Internet, which might scare me if I thought about it a bit more.

Honestly, it started as a way to direct anger about things over which I had no control. There was a lot of research involved once I realized that I needed to understand the technology. My husband is responsible for the accuracy of hand to hand combat. The explosives details come courtesy of the Internet, which might scare me if I thought about it a bit more.

Oh, she does.  Once she remembered where her spine was, she became a match for any man.

Oh, she does.  Once she remembered where her spine was, she became a match for any man.

As long as no one knows who he really is, Katya is safe.  Besides, I rather think she could take care of herself, if it came to it. Viktor is often wrong, though he has the basic facts right in this case, just the wrong interpretation of them.

As long as no one knows who he really is, Katya is safe.  Besides, I rather think she could take care of herself, if it came to it. Viktor is often wrong, though he has the basic facts right in this case, just the wrong interpretation of them.

Heh.  That was the intent.

Heh.  That was the intent.