Page 9 of Hunter's Trial

“Twice in one week? You’re going to get addicted rather quickly, Ms. Thorne.” Nikolai smirks.

It doesn’t even truly occur to me to be scared of the lack of chains between us. “I don’t suppose there are any official reports on what happened to you that I can use for your case?”

Nikolai rolls a shoulder. It tells me everything I need to know. I wouldn’t be surprised if the guards themselves were in on this. That’s the sort of power trip that they like. It’s infuriating because it’s a violation of inmates’ rights. Yet, Nikolai is unlikely to tell me which guards did it, or what inmates have an urge to mess up his pretty face.

“I’m surprised that you’re not talking about how much of an improvement this is.” Nikolai teases me.

“Well, I thought that much was abundantly obvious.” I tease right back.

Yesterday I spent the better part of the daylight hours working his case. I’ve identified all of the key witnesses and testimonies that will benefit him. It’s going to require a taking a lot of liberties with the truth but sometimes that’s just what’s needed. To get Nikolai out of here, the judge is going to have to drop all of the charges against him. It’s impossible to think about for most people. I’m just about the only one who is going to be able to do it. By some stroke of luck, they aren’t even including his Bratva or any of the crimes listed to it as charges. The only thing that he’s presently being held on is the kidnapping of a minor and a couple other smaller charges. Then there’s the matter of the divorce, but that’s another minor thing. I just need the right leverage. I know that I can do it.

But if he’s being injured to the point that he is now, he might not live long enough for me to take the luxury of time to do this the easy way. It’s going to have to be a lot faster than I imagined.

I pull out the divorce papers and put them on the table between us. “I assumed that you missed these by mistake.”

Finally, Nikolai lifts his gaze to meet mine. I’m trapped under how intense it is. It feels akin to a drug high to have such focus on me. What is it about this particular man that has such a damned effect on my body? He’s just looking at me with those dark, menacing eyes and now I’m stuck.

“Maybe I don’t want to sign them?” Nikolai says without the playful bite from yesterday.

“And here I was hoping that those injuries meant that they knocked some sense into you. I see that they didn’t.”

Nikolai grins. He almost looks amused by my little joke. “That’s a good one.” He reaches forward and pulls the papers toward him. “Tell Alek that if he wants me to sign them, he can come ask me himself. Say pretty please and everything.”

“I don’t think that he or his fiancée are going to come within a hundred yards of this place.” I cross my legs and wink at him. “I do think it’s rather amusing that you can hit on me while being so happily married.”

“Is that what you think that I’m doing?”

“Sign the fucking papers, Volkovich. You know as well as I do that they are conditional for me to represent you.”

The muscle in Nikolai’s jaw ticks again. It tells that he’s doing something he doesn’t have a choice about. Sure enough, he signs the papers so roughly that I’m almost surprised that the damned paper doesn’t tear under the force of it.

“And when this is done, what happens next? Do you have a plan to get me out of here or am I just pissing in the wind with my final shot here?” Nikolai asks. It’s perhaps the most vulnerable he’s been with me yet. Is he actually worried? I didn’t think ‘monsters’ like him could experience such emotions.

“It will take me at least a week to have you in front of a judge. It shouldn’t be more than that.”

He’s silent for a moment, considering. “And me signing these papers is what? A good fucking faith gesture?”

“If that makes it easier for you, then yes. You can consider it that.”

“I would much rather seal the deal with a kiss, actually.”

“You’re not going to convince Anya and Alek without signing them. If they aren’t on your side, then there is no way in hell that Henry will be on your side. Furthermore, without Henry there is no way in hell you’re getting out of here.”

I won’t deny that it’s exciting to have one up on him.

“So what I’m hearing is that you’re not nearly as good as you think you are.” Nikolai responds.

I didn’t see that one coming.

“What?”

Nikolai leans forward. He tries to hide the wince as the movement jars whatever injury to his ribs he must have. “You’re saying that you’re not good enough to get me off without my signing these papers.” Nikolai shrugs one shoulder. “It’s alright, not everybody can live up to their reputations.”

“I - I can get you off.” I bluster as he stares at me.

Nikolai’s grin turns feral. “Oh, I have no doubt about that sweetheart.”

Damn him.

---