Chapter 31 Nikolai
NIKOLAI
Ten Years Ago
The satin sheet lay casually over Nikolai’s bent leg as he rested his back against the headboard of the bed. Next to him, a woman in her fifties lay sprawled out on her stomach, softly snoring as she rested after her third orgasm of the night.
Across the room, Jean-Carlo stood next to a small table, butt-naked, biting into a strawberry as he scoped out the assortment of fruits and cheeses laid out before him. He reached for a cube of cheese and popped it into his mouth before he turned and walked back toward the bed.
“Say what you want, but this woman knows how to entertain,” Jean-Carlo said with a Spanish accent.
He slid into bed on the other side of the woman and lifted his arm when she cuddled into him.
“I think we are the ones who are supposed to be entertaining her,” Niko responded, his voice a little rougher than he intended.
Jean-Carlo glanced over at him, about to say something, but seemed to change his mind.
“Sorry, I’m just worried about Reid,” Niko added.
The man nodded, seeming to understand where Nikolai was coming from.
“Yeah, we all miss him.”
That wasn’t entirely true. Mikhail and his boss didn’t seem to give a shit that one of their earners was missing.
You’d think that they would be out scouring the city, looking for one of their top earners.
He was a member of their elite Diamond Squad after all.
Or did that not really mean anything to them in the end?
Niko stared ahead, jaw tense as he ran through the scenario once again.
Reid had been missing for a few months now, and it was clear that Mikhail knew more than what he was saying. Was Reid dead? Had he been transferred to some other city to work as a high-end escort there? If so, why hadn’t he tried to contact him?
No. Something horrible had happened to Reid. And that bastard knew what it was.
Eyes drifting to the woman sleeping next to him, Niko realized that he needed to escape. This lifestyle had to end.
There were only two ways he could get out: kill Mikhail and his boss, Kazimir, himself—which might be difficult, and he’d have to deal with the fallout with their goons—or have them both arrested.
The latter seemed like the easiest way.
Over the next two weeks, Niko worked on a plan to set Mikhail up and have them all arrested. The hardest part would be speaking with the police without Mikhail or his crew finding out.
Finally, Nikolai figured out a way. He told Mikhail that he needed to see a doctor because his junk was starting to hurt when he peed. Reluctantly, Mikhail gave in and had one of his guys take him to a clinic.
During the examination, Niko told the doctor that he needed to speak with the police because he was being trafficked. The doctor listened carefully as Niko called the police and explained his situation. The officer decided to pose as a client to meet with Niko in person and gather information.
Two days later, Niko walked into a luxury suite, where he was met by one of their female undercover officers.
“I’m Officer Peirs,” the woman began, gesturing to the living room sofa. They both took a seat.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Nikolai,” he said, glancing around the room as if he half expected someone to suddenly jump out and arrest him.
“Don’t worry. It’s just you and me here,” the woman noted as if sensing his trepidation. “This is a safe space. Anything you say will remain between us until you give me your permission to share this information. Is it okay if I record this session?”
Niko nodded.
The woman pressed the button on her recorder, then proceeded to state her name, the date, and who she was interviewing. Once she was done, she turned to Niko, crossing her legs as she waited for him to begin.
Nikolai took a deep breath, then began detailing Kazimir’s sex trafficking ring and how his criminal organization operated, from what he was able to tell. Obviously, there was certain information he was not privy to, but he hoped that the police would be able to figure out the rest.
“They’re having a fancy party in two weeks for all their high-end clients. All of their top sex workers will be there, including those of us in their Diamond Squad.”
“Diamond Squad?” the woman asked, leaning in slightly as she continued to listen closely.
“It’s an exclusive group of us, who Mikhail—our boss—considers his highest money makers because of our looks and…
talents. There are five of us now,” Niko explained.
“That party will be your best chance to arrest Mikhail and his boss at the same time. Most of his crew will probably be there as well.”
The woman nodded, taking down a few notes. She agreed with Niko and explained that they would continue to build their case in the meantime.
Two weeks later, Nikolai walked into the private club knowing that things were about to change that night. One way or the other, he wouldn’t be trapped under Mikhail after this.
Walking around the dimly lit room, Niko watched as wealthy men and women laughed and enjoyed themselves. Some made out with or lazily fondled the pretty young men and women, while others talked amongst themselves, hungrily scanning the room for their next slice of dessert.
Niko had been to parties like these before. It was a way for his boss to thank his high-end clientele for being loyal and for all their business.
Parties like these made the rich and powerful feel like gods. Knowing they could have anyone they wanted, while having their every wish or desire brought to life for them—what could be more powerful than that?
“Well, aren’t you just a handsome piece of meat?” a woman wearing a large ruby necklace and long dangling earrings said as she ran her fingers down Nikolai’s muscular back.
Trying to remain composed, Nikolai turned toward her and gave her one of his smoldering looks.
“Why, thank you, my sweet. I’d love to chat more with you, but unfortunately, I have another woman waiting to be entertained.” Niko leaned in and brushed her hair away from her neck before whispering, “I hope you and I can get a bit more acquainted after I’m done destroying her pussy.”
The woman’s breath hitched as she clutched her chest in shock.
“Ohh my! Th-that would be lovely, dear.”
Niko smirked as he walked off, searching for Kazimir and Mikhail in the club.
There were a few undercover cops working the event, and Niko was charged with pointing out Kazimir and Mikhail once he spotted them at the club. The raid wouldn’t take place until both men were present.
Spotting the big boss, Nikolai stalked toward Kazimir, nodding his head slightly once he was in range.
Kazimir was chatting and laughing with an older gentleman who had a receding hairline and big, bushy eyebrows. They were too busy drinking and enjoying themselves to even notice Nikolai as he signaled the officers.
One of the officers raised a finger, indicating that they had identified one person, but still needed to locate the second.
Niko continued working the room, smiling at clients and apologizing to those he couldn’t entertain.
All these powerful people, salivating over men and women whose bodies they had claimed as their own—all because they had something that gave them access… money.
How had he been so blind to what was really happening for so long? How had he not realized that he was being used and abused? Oh yeah. Because he was young and vulnerable, and Mikhail was the master of manipulation.
He hated both his ignorance and the man who took advantage of that.
Then he spotted him. The man who had made his life miserable.
Mikhail.
The man was standing off to the side, watching the room around him.
He had a glass of bourbon in one hand, sipping it slowly, as he occasionally walked the room, making sure that everything was going smoothly.
If a server wasn’t moving fast enough, or if an escort wasn’t paying enough attention to the high-powered guest, he would discreetly grab the person and have a word with them outside in the back of the club.
Everyone knew better than to disappoint Mikhail.
Niko watched Mikhail, like an eagle monitoring a mouse’s movements. He wanted the man to enjoy his last minutes of freedom before his world came crashing down around him.
Fuck you. Bastard.
Not wanting to give himself away, Nikolai locked eyes with one of the undercover officers closest to him, who was waiting for him to positively ID Mikhail. Niko gave a slight nod.
The lights in the room flooded bright as a loud booming voice shouted over a speaker.
“This is the NYPD! Nobody move! You’re all under arrest!”
The room exploded into chaos as Mikhail’s men began shooting while confused guests began ducking for cover. Women screamed, and men shouted.
Mikhail and Kazimir were both tackled by multiple officers, making sure the two top prizes didn't escape.
Niko grabbed Jean-Carlo and Anastasia, another one of the Diamond Squad, and pulled them down behind one of the bars.
“What’s happening?” Jean-Carlo gasped, eyes wide with terror.
Beside him, Anastasia grabbed hold of Jean-Carlo’s arm and pressed her half-naked body into his. He wrapped his arm around her, protecting her as best he could.
“It’s a raid,” Niko blurted, crouching beside them, trying to keep them both out of harm’s way. They were both victims in all of this, and Niko didn’t want them getting hurt or traumatized any more than was necessary.
Niko peeked over the bar and made eye contact with Mikhail. He was growling at one of the officers who had his knee in his back while snapping handcuffs on him.
Niko gave him a smirk.
It was in that moment that awareness seemed to sink in. Mikhail’s jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed. “You’re dead,” Mikhail mouthed to Niko as the officer pulled him to his feet and yanked him toward the door.
Fuck you, you piece of shit, Niko thought to himself as he savored every moment of Mikhail’s demise.
A few months later, Mikhail and his boss were both sentenced for human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and several other weapons and drug-related offenses.
And as for Niko, he packed up his shit and decided to head West. He had no destination in mind, but figured he would see where the road would take him and what sort of trouble he could get himself into along the way.
Trouble that he was free to get into or walk away from whenever he pleased.