Cyborg (ePub)

Sol Abrams, a former NYPD policeman and now a partner in an upscale law firm, asks his best friend Terry Adams, the firm's forensic investigator, to help mitigate the death threats by the mob to Asher Feldman, his visiting relative. Reluctant to tangle once again with the Brighton Beach toughs, he condescends to his friend's plea. He meets the victim at a family gathering, and after hearing his story, he undertakes the task with renewed commitment.

Asher Feldman, a street urchin from Mariupol, Ukraine, met, fell in love, and married the daughter of a successful jeweler in Kyiv. In due course, he mastered the trade and became a brillianteer. When Maidan, the Revolution of Dignity, erupted, he, along with his patriotic biker friends, dedicated themselves to the cause of freedom. In the final days of the uprising, Asher took up arms and fought Putin's Spetsnaz snipers in the bloodied streets of the capitol.

Putin's war in Donbas, once again, stirred his patriotic fervor. Asher volunteered for service in the Dnipro-1 Regiment. In boot camp, he cultivated his skill as a sniper, which was in high demand on the battlefield. Again, at a critical time, he volunteered to defend the Donetsk Airport from Moscow's aggressors and became a CYBORG, a term the ruthless enemy imparted on the indestructibly strong-willed fighters.

His service as a Cyborg, however, was short-lived. During an overwhelming attack by Russian Special Forces, Asher was posted in a runway crater to help thwart the attack. In the heat of the battle, RPG shrapnel tore apart his left leg, which had to be amputated. He eventually was brought to Walter Reed Hospital for rehabilitation. While waiting for his leg to firm and receive a permanent prosthesis, he plied his trade in the diamond district of Manhattan. Russian-speaking mobsters demanded that he provide them with the security layout of the facility in preparation for a burglary. They threatened his life and the lives of his wife and children.

Terry turned to Mustafa Chubarov, a Brighton Beach chieftain, with whom he had previous dealings. He verified that the threat came from overseas, most likely from Kyiv, where Terry went and identified the main culprit. In the process, he nearly forfeited his life.