Chapter 19 - Kolya
The sound of knocking on the door pulled my attention from the email before me.
Narrowing my eyes, I noticed the uniforms before even seeing their faces.
I sat back in my chair as I gestured for them to enter.
As they approached my desk, I let out a sharp exhale.
This was another mess coming to upset me.
“Good morning, Mr. Aslanov. I’m Agent James,” The first man in the dark grey suit announced. Turning to look at the man next to him, he continued. “This is Agent Brian.” The two men looked at me as they flashed their badges.
“We’re from the Department of Justice,” Brian, his partner, added. “Do you have a few moments for us? Our boss, Mr. Martin Knowles, has sent us here.”
I nodded in agreement, gesturing at the two seats before my desk. “Of course, Agents. What can I do for you today?” I asked. Leaning back in my chair, I crossed my arms over my chest. I watched them intently as they moved and sat down.
First, it was a ton of lawsuits. Now the DOJ? I wondered what Melody was trying to achieve. She was either very brave or foolish. The men in uniform stayed outside my office in the hallway. There were four of them.
“Is Mikhel in today? We need to see him regarding a case we are working on,” Brian explained, shifting in his chair.
Rubbing my chin, I stared at the two men. “May I ask what this is about?” I said after a brief pause.
“Well, there’s this arson case…” Before Agent James could continue, I interrupted.
Instantly, I knew this was a setup. “Arson, really, you suspect him of arson?” My tone was harsh and dry like the desert mid-afternoon. Mikhel, arson, never.
Agent Brian cleared his throat before speaking again. “Yes, Mr. Aslanov. We have an eyewitness placing him at the scene minutes before the fire started. Our eyewitness also claims that Mikhel was heard arguing with the shop owner the day before.”
“No, that can’t be right!” I spat at them, shaking my head.
Lowering my gaze, I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on.
I don’t trust the government in general.
Plenty of people are on my payroll, some with other Bratva.
I know they’re corrupt. Mikhel setting a fire, that is impossible.
I would have known if he had. It was ludicrous.
“Well,” Agent James stated. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “We have him on the security footage entering the building.” He sat forward in his chair, trying to intimidate me.
In that moment, I knew this was a setup. There was no doubt in my mind. He was being framed. I just couldn’t figure out why or by whom. “Who’s the witness?” I asked, glancing from one to the other.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
They exchanged a nod, and then finally James spoke.
“Unfortunately, we’re not allowed to disclose that.
We cannot discuss an ongoing investigation.
” He ran his hand through his greasy-looking hair before continuing.
“We came here hoping you’d understand and cooperate.
You can give him to us, and he can go willingly.
Or we can take him forcefully. We do have a warrant. ”
Agent Brian rose speedily, pulling a folded paper from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He placed it on my desk and slid it across towards me. Using my letter opener, I flipped the paper open. I wasn’t going to touch it and leave fingerprints for them to use against me.
Scanning the document, I noticed it looked like a legitimate warrant. It had the court’s name, address, and other details. It stated that it was for the use of taking in Mikhel on charges of arson.
A complaint was lodged against him for property damage by setting fire to a building. It also stated that he had done so with the intent of causing not only damage to the property, but also to harm the occupants.
After an investigation, it was found that traces of an accelerant were used to start the fire. Mikhel was seen on nearby security footage entering the building minutes before the fire started.
The estimated damage was in the range of two and a half million.
The maximum penalty it carried was fifteen years imprisonment.
There was an official stamp on it with today’s date.
I tried to think who was working at the courts today.
But I couldn’t think of any names. I wanted to confirm the authenticity.
I scanned the document a couple of times. I knew Mikhel was innocent. Yet, there was nothing I could do if the warrant was, in fact, real. Trying to think if there was a judge I could call and pay off, I heard my office door slamming open. Glancing up, I saw Sophia storming in.
“Honey,” she breathed out as she came to stand beside me. “As your lawyer, you know I’m supposed to be here when dealing with the authorities.” Her tone was sweet, but I could hear the sarcasm and venom drip from it.
Before I could respond, she snatched the warrant up. I wondered if she could get Mikhel out of this. Looking at her, I hoped she would. After staring at the sheet of paper, she lowered it. Looking at the two agents, she spoke quickly and harshly. “Badges, please, gentleman.”
She held the warrant in one hand as she extended her other to them. Agents James and Brian pulled out their badges and held them up. “I want to see them!” she huffed, her tone now like ice. The two men handed them over without hesitation.
This side of her was new to me. It was attractive. I found my mind trying to wander off to other places. Shaking my head, I dismissed the thought. I had to focus. Sophia narrowed her eyes as she studied one and then the other before handing them back.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Mikhel will not be leaving with you.”
Agent James rose, looking her in the eyes as he spoke. “With all due respect, ma’am. You can’t stop us from taking him into custody. We have a warrant.” His tone was cocky, and he sounded annoyed.
“Well, you see, as the company’s lawyer, I also represent Mikhel as he works here. So, I may ask questions,” she stated sharply but in a calm tone.
“Yes, ma’am, we understand,” Agent Brain said. “But we do have a warrant.”
Sophia looked at the paper in her hand as she spoke. “Yes, you do, don’t you?” Her tone had changed. She now sounded irritated. She smiled at them as she folded the document up again. “But this doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to Agent Daniel Smith.”
Turning her attention to Agent James, she continued. “Are either of you Mr. Smith?”
The wheels in my head started turning. I was right, this is fake, a setup.
“Daniel is sick. He would have come himself. But he can’t,” Agent Brian blurted out.
Holding out the warrant, Sophia spoke in a softer tone. “There’s also they question about the date on the warrant as well as the stamp. Both appear slightly smudged. The year is practically illegible. Without confirmation on the legality of the warrant, you can’t take Mikhel.”
I watched in awe as Agent Brian took the warrant back. Sophia smiled. Stepping to the side of the desk, she lifted her hand, pointing towards it before continuing. “Tell Agent Daniel, we hope he gets better soon. Especially if he wants Mikhel. He can come when he is no longer ill.”
The two men stopped at the door and turned back. Before they could speak, Sophia cut them off. “I can’t allow you to take him with such paperwork. For all we know, this is a setup. You might want to get rid of him. Who am I to say you’re not assassins, or hired to kill him by a rival company?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. God, she is ruthless.
Getting up, I joined her as the two agents glanced at each other and left.
I wasn’t sure if I should hug her, kiss her, or marry her.
Well, marry her with permission this time.
She was something else. After the restaurant and now this, I knew she was meant to be by my side.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I whispered. I fought with everything inside me not to grab her.
She turned to me, beaming. “If something like that happens, you call me!” she spat back. “If you hand Mikhel over, it’s an uphill battle to get rid of false claims.”
Sophia stood firmly watching my face as she continued. “I know those are false, as I have come to learn a lot about you. There are so many things wrong here, but arson isn’t one. You don’t just comply, do you understand? You call me.”
Her brown eyes were wild. I could still see her innocence, but there was a sharpness to them as well. It was like looking into a viper’s strike.
“I will,” I agreed, nodding excitedly.
She glanced at me once more before leaving my office. The rest of the day was filled with back-to-back meetings. I had two with investors, one with creditors, one with lawyers, and one with management.
I needed Sophia in this room negotiating, I thought as the last people left the room. He was good at a lot of things, and negotiating was one. She would make a great addition.
The day's meetings were done. I was done and wanted to go home. I went to track her down. I found her in the last place I would have expected. My office. She was hunched over, glaring at my screen. Her brows were furrowed in focus, and her hair pushed back behind her ears.
Clearing my throat as I entered, I thought she would jump up. But there was no reaction. “You know, if you want an office, you could just ask for one. This one, however, is mine,” I huffed as I moved closer.
“Yeah, I want an office,” she muttered distractedly. Her eyes were glued to the screen.
Stepping closer, I glanced at the content on her screen. She was reading an article on the Briarwood fire.
“I think it has to do with the Santiago Docks,” she added. Dragging her mouse, she highlighted a section.
“How?” I asked.
Sophia pointed at a paragraph on the screen. I read it out loud.
‘Investigators released new details Wednesday regarding the fire at the Briarwood Storage Facilities at the Santiago Docks. It revealed that the blaze may have been deliberate, staged to conceal another crime.
Surveillance footage recovered from nearby businesses showed multiple unidentified individuals entering the building. This happened about an hour before the fire started. They exited the building minutes before the alarm was triggered.
The footage inside depicted a ransacked storage unit. Boxes were overturned, the contents scattered. It appeared that the perpetrators were searching for something specific. Authorities believe the fire was set shortly afterwards to destroy evidence of the break-in.’
Standing back, I folded my arms across my chest as I considered the facts. “We can worry about this tomorrow,” I murmured. Pulling her chair out gently, I held my hand. “When you have your own office. Now, let’s go home.”
Sophia grinned as she got up. “No worries,” she replied as we headed out. The drive home was quiet but quick.
I got out and quickly went around to her door. Opening it, I extended my hand like I had done a million times before. She doesn’t hesitate. Her hand slips into mine, warm and sure.
Leading her inside, I couldn’t wait. The door had barely clicked shut before my lips found hers, taking her in a deep, hungry kiss. One hand tangled in her hair while the other pulled her tightly against me.
“I’m so tired of staying away from you,” I murmured against her lips.
“Me too,” Sophia whispered. Leaning closer, she kissed me with more passion than before.
Lifting her, I felt her legs wrap around my waist. Turning, I moved away from the door. As I reached the stairs, I placed her down quickly, removing my shirt. Grabbing her waist, I pulled her into a tender kiss. Her lips are warm and inviting.
She gently pushed me back. She licked her lips as she gave me a sexy look. Slowly, she removed her top and winked at me as she dropped it to the floor. Before I knew it, she was running up the stairs.
Grinning, I shook my head as I spoke. “You'd better run, little one, I’m going to catch you.”
She giggled as I started after her. As I reached her, she chucked her bra at me. It landed on my head, covering one eye.
“Oh my,” I huffed, taking it off. “Mmmm, eighty percent naked. You know you’re making me hungry, little one?”
She stopped at the top, swiftly removing her panties. Taking the last steps two at a time, I caught up with her. Catching her off guard, I swept her off her feet. She gave a soft scream and then laughed as I lifted her into my arms. Her panties dangled on one foot.
Moving with purpose, I went to my room. Placing her down on the bed, I removed the strangler and dropped it to the floor. Leaning over her, I kissed her. First on the lips, then her cheeks.
Sophia laughed softly as she pushed her hands into my hair. Moving down, I gently kissed her neck and collarbone. She was so beautiful. Tenderly, I caressed one breast as I kissed the other one. Licking her nipple and drawing a circle around it with my tongue made her wiggle.
Carefully, I moved closer and got on top of her. I sucked and nibbled her breasts in turn. She moaned delightfully.
I dragged my tongue down her belly as I shifted myself over her. Reaching the bottom, I tenderly kissed each hip. Getting on my knees, I lifted her legs and spread them so I could sit between them. I kissed her inner thighs from the knee down to her pussy.
I licked her pussy swiftly, and Sophia moaned loudly. Dragging my tongue from the bottom to the top of her pussy made her arch. I used my tongue to play with the folds of her pussy before softly taking a bite.
She tasted so sweet. The ways she moved and bucked under me as I ate her pussy had me throbbing. I was so horny, I just wanted to fill her up. But I wanted to treat her right. She had to be pleasured properly.
I felt her reaching climax and slowed down. I kissed her pussy, then her stomach as I moved back up her body. She was breathing hard. Lying on top of her, I kissed her lips tenderly. “You enjoy that?” I asked softly.
Sophia shook her head. “Don’t stop,” she begged. “I want more, please give me more.
“I will, as much as you want,” I whispered as I picked her up.
Turning, I moved to the bathroom. Placing her down on the side of the tub, I opened the shower taps.
I waited for the water to run hot before turning back to her.
“Let’s get as wet as we can, baby,” I added, picking her up and taking her into the shower.