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 allof 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.
32
