Billionaire Protector

by Kyanna Skye

  “Mr. Romanov!” the judge barked.

  “If I may…” Alexi went on, “I know that the old system of life has not been entirely done away with. There is a way you can provide them what they ask for and serve justice simultaneously.”

  The judge’s face remained red, but Regina noticed a curious twitch of his eye. He seemed to regard Alexi carefully as if weighing his words for any sign of deception. Finding none, he relaxed his chair a little. “What do you have in mind, Mr. Romanov?”

  Abram chose that moment to speak up. “Your honor, if I may be heard?” he asked fretfully. “I would like to go on record…”

  “No, Mr. Fyodorov… I would very much like to hear what the defendant has to say… irregular as this may be.” He looked to Alexi, “Proceed.”

  Alexi straightened his tie. “I am aware that those who are baying for my blood would very much like to see me returned to Russia… mostly to satisfy their own ends. And at some point, I will likely be found dead drowning myself in numerous bottles of vodka if they are feeling generous.”

  “Your honor…” Abram began to object.

  “Silence please, Mr. Fyodorov,” the judge said, his tone a bit more relaxed. “Continue, Mr. Romanov…”

  “I would very much like to continue living as much as the opposition would like to see their money returned. I’m prepared to do so… just not on their terms.”

  Utkin arched a curious eyebrow.

  Alexi gestured over his shoulder at the courtroom doors. “I have just sent my trusty friend, Yuri, to see to the dispensation of funds to the parties in question whom I have apparently mishandled. Very shortly, the interested parties in this case will find that three times the money that they lost will be returned to their accounts.”

  “Your honor…” Abram said, again trying to speak up.

  “And all of it will be coming from my private financial account,” Alexi interrupted. “And this is half of what Mr. Fyodorov was sent to achieve, is it not?”

  Regina felt a shock shoot through her heart. She wasn’t aware of what Alexi’s assets were in total, but she could do the math in her head well enough to know that such a gambit could ruin him financially. Not to mention that $5 billion had been earmarked for her firm and if she failed to deliver… she felt a shudder at what Carver would do.

  “It is,” the judge said, silencing Abram with a look. “And I’m certain that the interested parties would be satisfied with a settlement that large.” He gave Alexi a stern look, “But this is not all that they require in order for justice to be served. The interests of the people – all of them – must be served.”

  “I am aware of that your honor. My actions, though illegal, have also seen the building of new schools… proper highways… facilities meant to keep our people from freezing to death when winter returns. My assistant, Yuri, is also seeing to it that the persons Mr. Fyodorov represents will get credit for their “donations” to see these structures built. Surely it could not hurt them to show a little respect for the people whom they labor to serve?”

  Utkin took that in and Regina also noticed that even Abram seemed to be mulling that idea over favorably in his mind. His face even lit with an unexpected smile, as if he had just discovered some wonderful bonus for his efforts.

  “No… it wouldn’t hurt their reputations at all,” the judge said favorably. “That still leaves the problem of your extradition, Mr. Romanov. Federal requests dictate that the matter is to be handled.”

  “I have also considered that, your honor.” Alexi drew up a breath and squared his shoulders. “To that end… I believe that the opposition would accept a political avenue,” he added pointedly.

  The judge’s face changed in a way that Regina wouldn’t have thought possible. It lit with glee. She found that expression more frightening than when he had looked red with rage.

  “You are aware, of course, Mr. Romanov, of what that will entail should I rule so?” Utkin said, his smile nearly dripping with anticipation.

  Alexi nodded. “I am, your honor, and I am prepared to accept it. I have already made preparations for such… my companion, Yuri Salnikov, has agreed to oversee the transition of my estate into federal hands.”

  The judge was quiet for a short time before bridging his fingers and gave an approving nod. “In the old days, a sacrifice like this would have seen you well-rewarded for your service to people and country, Mr. Romanov.”

  “Alas, these are the new days, your honor,” Alexi said, though Regina thought she detected a note of sorrow in his voice.

  Utkin nodded. “Very well.” He looked to Abram. “Mr. Fyodorov… do you object to what Mr. Romanov has proposed?”

  Abram, who looked as if he had been in some fantasy of how to spend vast amounts of money shook his head. “No, your honor… what the defendant has proposed sounds quite agreeable… but if I might make one small addendum?”

  “Yes?”

  Abram gave a small look to Alexi and Regina saw a brief flicker of… forgiveness? But just as quickly as it had come it had gone and the plaintiff turned his attention back to the judge. “Your honor, I would move that my clients give the namesake of one of the community centers that they donated to my late daughter. Many of these projects were her ambitions, after all.”

  Regina was not religious by nature, but she did believe that she had just witnessed a miracle. She held her quiet and waited to see if other miracles may yet follow.

  The judge nodded. “Very well… I’m sure it would not be a terrible effort.” Utkin made a note on his pad and gave one final look to Alexi. “Are you prepared to hear your sentence, Mr. Romanov?”

  Alexi nodded knowingly. “I am your honor.” With that, he sat back into his chair and Regina struggled to keep from reaching out to hold his hand. She wasn’t entirely sure what was happening here, but whatever it was, Alexi was comfortable with it.

  The judge made a final note on his pad before speaking, his voice becoming official once more. “Alexi Romanov… in my judgment, you have abused your powers of business for selfish purposes. If we were in Russia, such an action as that would be grounds enough to revoke your business license. Yet the money you have diverted has gone to the benefit of those in our country who cannot help themselves. Admirable as that aim might have been, I cannot allow your methods for doing so to go unpunished.” Utkin sat up straight in his chair. “In light of this new information, the court sees fit to accept the financial reparations that your associate, Yuri Salnikov, will make on your behalf and I shall see to it that he is made the executor of your estate.” He paused and his voice became slightly stern. “For your crimes, you will be sentenced to political exile, and all of your family’s assets in Russia will be confiscated by the state, and you will remain here in the United States of America until such time as you are decreed a legal immigrant or the American jurisprudence finds you worthy of resident alien status.”

  Regina’s heart skipped a beat at hearing this. It wasn’t a miracle, but it certainly was a better outcome than what she had managed to envision for an outcome at the end of this trial. It’s not perfect… but it’s not a bad outcome either.

  “Court is adjourned,” Utkin said, banging his gavel. The sound carried like thunder across the empty room. Utkin stood, as did she, Alexi, and Abram as the judge gathered his notes and made an exit from the room.

  Abram was next, picking up his briefcase – which he hadn’t even opened – and made for the exit. Before reaching it, he stopped and turned to look at Alexi. Regina waited and watched, expecting there to be a final hateful glance or a threatening remark. But neither came. Abram Fyodorov silently turned and walked out of the room, saying nothing.

  Alone with Alexi, Regina’s mind was still spinning with what had just occurred here. In the silence of the court, she looked to Alexi and felt the questions bubbling within her.

  Alexi answered them before she could even ask. “This means that I will stay out of Siberian prison… but it also means that I can never r
eturn to Russia. Ever.”

  She nodded. “And you’re ruined, financially.”

  He turned a sly look at her. “Am I?”

  Her face became inquisitive. “Aren’t you?”

  He chuckled and much to her surprise – and pleasure – he reached out and put a hand on her hip, gently rubbing at it. “Through political exile, the Russian Federation will confiscate some of my accounts, Regina… but not all of them.”

  She felt her eyebrows furrow. “Huh?”

  “I’ve had accounts here in America for several years now. By now, the interest alone is… substantial. And the Russian government cannot touch those.”

  She found that this puzzle was falling well into place. “So… you’re not broke?”

  He smiled at her. “The five billion that I promised your firm can be paid twenty times over if I choose.”

  She smiled. “When did you come up with this plan?”

  He touched the underside of her chin. “This morning… while I watched you sleep. I knew there was no way I could ever return to Russia with honor… or without fear that one day my caviar might be poisoned. At least this way, I am as good as dead to them. My troubles are – for all intents and purposes – finished.”

  She looked over her shoulder to where Abram had left. “And him?”

  Alexi shook his head. “We have – in our own way – made our peace. Perhaps it was not done as he would have planned, but it was also done in a way that he would not shun, either.”

  She gathered up her briefcase and they walked towards the exit of the courtroom and again she had to fight the urge to put her arm through his affectionately. They weren’t clear of this place yet and until then, she had to retain some manner of professionalism.

  “So, in the end, you didn’t really need me at all for this, did you?”

  “Not so. Without you, I wouldn’t have had the thoughts that led me to your room last evening. I was prepared, for all intents and purposes to fight this as best as I could to its inevitable – and troubling – conclusion. But seeing you… I felt… different.”

  She smiled. “You needed me.”

  “I still do… with my alien status now in question, I will need representation to become a United States citizen.” He smirked. “I don’t suppose you could recommend a firm to aide me? Perhaps you know of one with experts in international law whom I could work with closely… for long periods of time?”

  She smirked back. “It will be a long process, Alexi… and after today my record will be…”

  “Untarnished. You did not win, but you did not lose either. And I will be happy to give your supervisor my highest praises for your efforts. And a case of this nature, settled in two days, will surely bring you much favor, yes?”

  She wasn’t able to suppress it any longer. She took hold of his neck and brought his mouth down to her own. The kiss was simple but as passionate as it had been the night before. Again, he did not fight it and she desired to try again that which they had both admitted shortcomings. But there would be more time for that later.

  When she broke the kiss she replied, “You know… I can think of someone who would love to work the case.”

  THE END

  Bad Boy Romance Collection

  Ruthless Prick

  He could take anything he wanted—her heart, her body, and he wanted it all. He was going to have it and she was helpless. All she could do was throw her head back and take it.

  Lana's dreary life, of sitting behind a nurse's desk and watching people die, gets shaken up when she finds her boyfriend, Jim, dying from a heroin overdose in the bathroom. She packs up, ends her life in Arizona and hits the road to San Diego where she unwittingly signs up to work in a bloodbath clinic where they do nothing but pull bullets out of criminals without notifying the police. She went from watching people die to work for the mafia.

  And what about that man? Tony. A mountain that could crush a man's skull. She meets him while he's smiling with a bullet in his arm like nothing happened at all, and when he told her they were going on a date, she's powerless to stop him, even though he's clearly a part of the mafia.

  Chapter 1

  Lana stared at the TV through the glass surrounding her nurse's desk. The patients, mostly victims of dementia, were lined up in a half circle formation in front of the screen in the corner. None of them knew where they were, or what was going on around them.

  The clients at Sunset Boulevards were completely restricted to either their bedrooms, the visitation room, or the day room, which is where they spent most of their time. It was a white, square room with a filthy, tile floor that had seen every substance known to man. There were game pieces and old crayons thrown about, and sometimes a random playing card would be found plastered to the wall with some unknown concoction holding it in place.

  Lana usually just watched TV and filed random pieces of paperwork. She was supposed to sound the alarm for an emergency, but there were never any serious altercations. In fact, there was rarely any excitement at all.

  It was late afternoon, and she was ready to get off work when the phone rang at her desk.

  “Hello,” she yawned.

  “Are you watching soap operas again? Do you really want to waste your life stuck on those things? They're not even that good.” It was Tia, one of the doctors.

  “They're not that bad.” Lana blushed.

  “You wanna help with a black bag?”

  “Sure.” She hung up the phone and grabbed her keys and radio. Then she walked to the hospice ward, where the patients all had respirators and feeding tubes attached to their faces. Their hair was pure white, and their twisted, yellow toenails stuck out from their short, baby-blue blankets. Lana wished they could go with dignity, at home with their families saying their goodbyes. Many of these people were good and had seen amazing things, but their families abandoned them. Lana had seen it thousands of times. People would come in and talk about how they loved their mother or their uncle, but that they can't take care of them. Then they'd sign a piece of paper and leave them there.

  The family might come once or twice. Some even kept up consistent visits for years, but they all eventually gave up and forgot about the loved one. It became too distressing for the families to see their loved ones decomposing in front of the TV. Eventually, the patients would stop recognizing their family, and they'd start acting erratically. During the later stages of Alzheimer’s, patients exhibit strange behaviors. Some revert to child-like states and other simply go blank and stop talking altogether. Sometimes they wander around aimlessly, babbling nonsense.

  So their families would leave them behind and they'd die alone in a nursing home.

  “Lana,” Tia crept up behind her.

  “Jesus.”

  “Come on.” Tia showed her to a black bag stuffed with a stiff corpse laying on a gurney in the corner of the room. Tia checked her chart. “Her name was Mary Esther Young.”

  “How old was she?”

  “94.” Tia closed the chart.

  “Amazing. I wonder how long she'd been sitting in front of that TV,” Lana said.

  They began rolling the gurney to the back wall.

  “Does it get to you still, handling the dead bodies?” Tia asked when the gurney was facing the thick incinerator hatch.

  “I don't know. You?”

  “The first corpse I saw gave me a jolt, but that was it. Every other time after that, I learned to deal with it.”

  “Do you still think about it sometimes though?” Lana opened the hatch and grabbed the woman by the feet. Tia grabbed her under her arms.

  “A little bit.” The body made a thud when it fell to the bottom.

  Lana went white and turned away. “I think I'm gonna quit.”

  “Do it then. If you can't handle it, it's not right for you. You'll internalize everything.”

  “It's not that easy.”

  “Aww,” she patted Lana on the back. “Come on, you'll find something. It's not worth risking your san
ity over.”

  “You're right, but I'm going to give it some thought.”

  “Listen,” Tia moved in front of her to face her, “I watch you react like this every time you see a body. You can't take it, and that's okay, but I won't stop you if you want to wait it out.”

  “All right.”

  “Go home and take a nap. Have the day off tomorrow. Then come in the next day refreshed. I won't fire you. I like you, but I am going to encourage you to find another line of work.”

  “Okay,” Lana said. She was tired. Her eyes were droopy and she was struggling to hold up her body. “Thank you,” she said before she walked out to her car.

  Chapter 2

  Lana did wonder about what she was doing working at the nursing home. Every day was torture. She was stuck watching TV sixteen hours a day for twelve dollars an hour. Then there were the corpses. At first, she didn't mind them so much. The shock was always there, but she was able to get past it. Then she kept thinking about how terrible it would be to die like that and the bodies started getting to her.

  What would happen to her if she spent her whole life watching TV at Sunset Boulevards? She wouldn't have a family or people to take care of her. She'd end up alone, staring into space for years.

  But what was she supposed to do? She peeled out onto the highway. The desert stretched for miles all around. In that part of Arizona, there was nothing for hours: just the rocky ground with dying, yellow grass peeking out from the cracks. There were two places to work: the grocery store and Sunset Boulevards, and the grocery store didn't pay enough to live off of. Everyone that worked there lived off either social security or their parents.

  It didn't matter anyways. She couldn't quit. She had Jim to take care of. The grocery store wouldn't take him, so he was all out of options for money. If she wanted to have a real career, she would have to move, and she didn't have enough money with all the household expenses.

  She had to buy food for two people, cigarettes, and beer. Those were just the basics, and they left her with nothing. They were barely surviving. Moving would cost upwards of three thousand dollars, and there was no way she was going to have that kind of money while she was trying to support herself and one other person.