title: Nikita's Journey: A Story of Loss and Hope
author: Andrea Howard
description: <b>Author</b>: Andrea Howard has a Masters Degree in Psychology and is currently working on her PhD. With a 20 year career in counseling and life enhancement, Andrea dedicates her expertise to her business, Beyond Wellness, located in Northern Virginia. She has always had a special place in her heart for hospice. Andrea has 4 wonderful children: Paul, Lacie, Nikita, and Madeline. She was inspired to write this book for them, as they have each experienced personal loss and healing. <b>Illustrator</b>: A Native with a Celtic mix, artist Selina Farmer studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe NM as well as La Coste School of the Arts in France. Her work can be found in both public and private collections throughout the world. Selinas art has been described as a haunting exploration of emotion & Culturally Stimulating. This book was done in loving memory of her daughter Mazzy.
zlib_text: Nikita is the hitman to one of Chicago’s most notorious Russian families. He has a reputation for
  being the second deadliest man in the city. One day when sent on an errand, below his station in
  the family, Nikita is not happy, but he knows he must follow his bosses orders.
   
  He is entrusted to go to a local bistro to make contact with a messenger from the other Russian
  family that rules over Chicago’s south side and deliver a briefcase to an over the top twink.
  Nikita is also instructed to make sure the case is cuffed to the twinks wrist so he doesn’t lose it.
   
  Already being annoyed by the assignment, Nikita is not thrilled when he spots his contact and
  notices the man is sitting with another twink. He takes up position away from the pair but still
  close enough to hear their conversation and discovers that the man he had originally thought
  was his contact may not be the right man.
   
  When Nikita suddenly awakens flat on his back in an alley with the briefcase cuffed to his own
  wrist, 