Ethan swallowed, his anxious eyes trying to get a hold of what Alexei was thinking. Having no luck, he sighed shakily. “My sentence ended six months ago. In addition to my sentence I had to pay an exorbitant fine. I had enough money gifted to me from my parents to cover it. Since my reinstatement back into society, I have been living in the house that my parents willed to me. A couple days ago I was taken downtown to the police station where I was questioned regarding the rape and assault of an underage girl that had taken place three months ago. They told me that while there is no physical evidence linking me to the crime, that a witness has recently come forward saying that he or she saw me rape and assault the girl. But I swear I didn’t do it! Prison changed me…I got beat up so many times that the thought of doing anything to make me go back makes me sick . . . it makes me want to vomit . . . it even gives me the shakes, I mean, look at me,” Ethan ordered showcasing his trembling hands.
“Do you have an alibi?” Alexei asked leaning back in his chair being rational in the face of Ethan’s disequilibrium.
“Y–Yes, I do!” Ethan declared, his voice quivering. “The night she was assaulted I was at my friend’s house, watching a football game with him. I got so drunk that I couldn’t drive so he offered to let me stay over and I took him up on it. I slept on his couch. I know that he will be willing to come forward and back me up. But …” He trawled off his eyes filled with panic.
“But what?” Alexei pressed, eyes intent on Ethan’s face.
“You have to help me,” Ethan pleaded. “I’ve been charged with the girl’s rape and assault. I was released on bail once I paid the five-million-dollar bond on the condition that I wear a monitoring anklet at all times. It was the only way they’d let me walk around freely, otherwise I’d be locked back up in prison. I’m pretty sure they have men following me, too,” Ethan ranted, standing up from his seat, pacing up and down.
Alexei stood up, towering over Ethan by several inches. “Ethan, I need you to calm down. Please take a seat. Tell me what happened with your alibi. Did he say he wouldn’t come forward?” Alexei interrogated as Ethan sat back down, his head sinking into his hands.
“I’m screwed,” Ethan whimpered. “I haven’t been able to find him! I went by his house, I even staked it for twenty-four hours. No one came in or out. So then I decided to break in and see if something had happened to him but he wasn’t there. I don’t know where he is. But without him I have no defense! The jury will take one look at my past, at the evidence of what I did to those two girls years ago, and without a doubt believe that I did it again. But I didn’t, I can’t go back. Please, you have to help me! I can’t go back, I can’t,” he cried, tearing up.
Seeing and hearing his fear, my certainty that he had hurt another girl wavered. Of course, he would do or say anything to keep from going back to prison but there was this ring of truth in his voice. I hated acknowledging it but if he hadn’t done it then the person who had was still out there. And that person needed to be brought to justice.
“What’s the name of your alibi?” Alexei asked, trying to restore calm.
Ethan lifted his head up, a look of hope flickering in his eyes. “His name is Felix Ulrich, he’s an ex-con, too, but he never hurt anybody like me. He went to jail for robbing several convenience stores. He’s a good guy, I know he’ll be fine with stepping forward to confirm my story but I don’t know what’s happened to him.”
“I’ll have my private investigator take a look into his disappearance. He would undoubtedly be your best chance of defense but failing to have that we need to work on building a convincing case without him. Has the trial date been set?” Alexei asked.
“Wait . . . Y–you believe me? What are you saying? Are you really going to help me?” Ethan whispered in shock.
“Yes, I have the time and it doesn’t matter whether I believe you or not, it’s about whether the jurors will. Now you’ve mentioned that a witness has stepped forward but you haven’t said anything about the victim. What’s her name? And I assume you would have been in a line up with other criminals. Did she identify you as being the person who assaulted her?” Alexei inquired.
“Her name is Katia Smith. I don’t know much about her either other than she recently committed suicide. Apparently after she was assaulted she suffered from amnesia so there’s no evidence of her naming me as her attacker,” Ethan exhaled with relief. “Oh, and the trial date has been set, it will start in two months’ time.”
“Okay, I’ll also have a search done on her. From here on out I believe the best course of action will be for me to meet up with the man on the other side, to get a feel for the evidence they have against you. What’s his name?” Alexei asked.
“It’s Gabriel Hunter, I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He’s from out of state and only moved here recently. His track record is outstanding—he’s never lost a case. That’s why I came to you. I know you used to work at the Justice Department here and you haven’t lost a case either. You’re my best chance of getting out of this. I just can’t go back to prison,” Ethan repeated.
“I understand, Ethan, I will do my best to represent you against him,” Alexei promised fiercely. He then grew more somber. “I’ve definitely heard of him. I make no promises of success, but the more prepared you are to face him on the stand, the better. One of my associates will interrogate you like Hunter would; I need to make sure you won’t fall apart when testifying. In the meantime, I will work on building your case. But for now, go straight home, talk to no one and stay there until I call for you,” Alexei commanded.
“Thank you, I can’t say how much . . . H–how thankful I am!” Ethan cried as he followed Alexei’s prompt to leave the room.
Switching the feed, I followed them as they walked back to the foyer.
“Don’t thank me yet, Ethan,” Alexei ordered turning serious. “No case is ever a foregone conclusion; there are always so many variable factors at play when jurors determine a man’s guilt. You and your case are only ever as strong as your ability to appear innocent. You say that you are innocent, and it isn’t a matter of convincing them you are, it’s simply a matter of convincing the majority that there is doubt of your guilt,” Alexei stressed.
Ethan nodded his head, “Then I’ll create that doubt. I’m sorry that Katia Smith was hurt but I didn’t do it,” he said with conviction, “And I refuse to spend the rest of my life in prison for something I didn’t do. I’ll be waiting on your call, Mr. Grigoriy,” Ethan declared right before the elevator doors closed.
“So, do you think he did it?” I asked as Alexei walked back into my office.
“What do you think?” He threw back at me as he poured some whisky into a glass and tossed it back. I couldn’t blame him…that had been one hell of an intense conversation, definitely not one for the fainthearted.
I sighed not wanting to reveal what I thought, but the only reason why we worked so well together was because there were no secrets between us, at least not when it came to our work. “I think he did it before, but I don’t think it was him this time.”
“Why?” Alexei asked, taking off his tie. He exhaled then took a seat opposite me.
“A gut instinct, but I could be wrong. His search also confirmed all that he said about his past,” I replied, crossing my arms in contemplation.
“No, I think you’re right, but my chances of proving otherwise are slim to none,” Alexei laughed emptily.
“I’d say you have a history of working well with those odds,” I rebutted, pouring him another drink. “I have to admit though, if it were up to me there is no way you’d be representing him. He deserves to burn in hell for his sins,” I shared truthfully.
Alexei chuckled this time with actual fervor. “I know and that’s why I’m the lawyer and you’re my silent partner. I know you can’t be objective, and of course you wouldn’t be after . . .” Alexei paused awkwardly, shooting me a look to see my reaction, but I was locked down. It wasn’t something that I could talk about and I
didn’t think I would ever recover from it.
“Anyway, while he is certainly guilty of his other crimes, I don’t believe he is guilty of committing this particular crime,” Alexei continued on nervously. “And even if he was, as much as I would hate to represent him, you know I would have to. The law is hard, but it is just.”
“You’re right, I’m stepping over the line. You’re a good man, Alexei, there should be more men like you out there in the world,” I smiled bitterly.
Alexei got up and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Do you really think I would have gotten into a partnership with someone I didn’t believe was good to the bone? I couldn’t do what I do without you, Hendrik. And given the choice to do it alone, I wouldn’t because I couldn’t. What we do isn’t easy, you could choose to have nothing to do with it but you don’t and it’s not because you’re trying to atone for your past. You don’t give up because you have this innate need to do what’s right. The truth is, you’re a good man,” Alexei proclaimed fiercely.
“Helvete,” I swore in my father’s tongue. He didn’t know just how close I was to beating Ethan up when I’d heard what he’d done. He only saw what I allowed him to see, and not all the darkness within.
“Hell what?” Alexei laughed, used to me swearing in Swedish.
“You have got to stay away from the alcohol, min vän, my friend, it makes you spout lyrical lies,” I mocked, dislodging his hand from my shoulder.
“I can hold my liquor just fine,” Alexei protested. “God, I’m exhausted,” he groaned taking out his cufflinks and rolling up his shirtsleeves.
“Save the undressing for Desiree, she’s probably waiting for you to come home,” I rebuked.
“I’m leaving now, it’s been too long since I last saw her,” Alexei moped like a lovesick fool. He was totally whipped.
“You saw her last night, didn’t you?” I teased.
“Exactly, it’s been twelve long hours, coming home to her is just always so damn good, it makes me question why I ever leave,” Alexei taunted. Love and having love on tap was clearly working wonders for him.
“What are you waiting for then? Go home to her,” I ordered. “I need some quiet so I can look for Ethan’s alibi and also do a search on the victim,” I encouraged.
“It can wait till tomorrow. Go and get a good night’s rest yourself.”
“The longer I wait, the higher the chance that his alibi might not be found,” I protested.
“No, it can wait for tomorrow. Sometimes you’ve gotta put yourself first,” Alexei refused.
“Fine, fine, I’m going but I just need to make a quick call first,” I conditionally conceded.
“Good, I must be drunk because I can’t believe you just listened to me,” Alexei whispered in wonderment.
“Håll käften, shut up,” I chuckled.
“Alright, I’m heading off,” Alexei smirked, “See you tomorrow, Hendrik,” he called walking out of my office.
I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. So maybe I’d lied, because of the state of his sorry ass, I’d have to make a second call.
“Dalton, Alexei’s had a bit much to drink, make sure he doesn’t drive himself home…get him a cab,” I instructed the building’s security guard.
“Will do,” Dalton replied.
I ended the call and paused before I made the next one. I’d blown Emerson off for two days, part of me argued it was because I wanted to make her wait, to keep her on edge. But I wasn’t sure who I was punishing more—her or myself. I was hoping that the distance would have a sobering effect on me. I had to be gentle with her, but I wanted to be anything but. At the warehouse I’d almost asked her to stay and I could see how tempted she had been. If she had stayed I might have lost control with her and gone too far and fast with her before she was ready.
I shouldn’t have gotten caught up with her at all but I stupidly hadn’t been able to resist. Seeing her at the club alone and defenseless had sparked a resolve within me to protect her and right now she needed protecting from me. But that didn’t mean there weren’t other ways of fulfilling my agreement to her, I smirked to myself.
Pressing number four on my speed dial I waited for the person on the other end to respond, and of course he did before the call had rung even once.
“Mr. Vasgård, how can I be of assistance?” Tomas questioned formally. I’d asked him countless times to call me by my first name, but he said he called me by last name out of respect for me and my father. That had hit me hard because I missed him all the time and because Tomas had been his courier first, but really he was more than that, he was family.
“Hi, Tomas, I’m just checking in to see if you’ve picked up the box from my foyer?” I asked into my phone, shaking off my distractive thoughts.
“Yes, sir, I’m on my way to deliver it now,” Tomas replied cordially, professional as ever.
“Excellent, please confirm once it’s done,” I courteously demanded.
“Of course, sir. And if I may be so brash as to overstep my boundaries, I must say that I like her for you. I approve.”
I chuckled wishing it were that easy…that she was just a woman and I was just a man, just two people drawn to each other, but there were other forces at play. “You can’t overstep non-existent boundary lines, Tomas. I’m sorry to disappoint you but we only have a business arrangement in place. Once certain conditions have been met on both sides we’ll part ways.”
“If you insist, sir,” Tomas replied with amusement, ending the call before I could insist some more. I sighed. He had good intentions but it wasn’t going to happen, and not only because I wouldn’t allow it to, but because it couldn’t for both our sakes.
“ARE YOU SURE you don’t want to come out with me and the girls tonight?” Laurina repeated, gazing at me with such intensity that I could also feel her attempting to compel me to go. But I was impervious to her spell casting.
I felt a bit dejected and drained and the last thing I wanted was to go out dancing and get drunk, especially with my terrible track record.
“Once again, thank you, but I wouldn’t make good company tonight. I need a bit of downtime,” I shared from where I was perched on her bed. An hour ago she’d forced me from my room into hers to assist her with dress choices, which was pretty bizarre considering she hated my fashion sense, which really meant she wanted something else. I had cautiously been on tenterhooks waiting for that reason to make itself known.
“That’s exactly why you should get out . . .” Laurina began then stopped with frustration, I winced waiting for her to blow. “Wait!” she threw out. Yep, here it comes.
“Okay, fine, I knew there was no way I’d be able to convince you to come along in the mood you’re in,” Laurina admitted while crossing her arms. I wasn’t sure if that was her attempt to intimidate me but it was sort of working. “And, yes, I did have an ulterior motive. I know you’re hiding something from me and I want to know what it is,” Laurina burst out with hungry anticipation almost frothing at the mouth for juicy tidbits.
“I’m not hiding anything,” I lied. “Do you really think I’m going to go and visit a frat boy as soon as you leave? The only date I have tonight is with my bed,” I joked, trying to distract her.
“I knew it!! You’re seeing someone,” Laurina squealed.
“Um, that isn’t what I just said,” I replied with confusion.
“I read between the lines. That was woman speak for I’m not in a committed relationship; I’m seeing a man and it’s hot and heavy. Who is he? Do I know him? Does he go to Thorne?” Laurina interrogated.
I groaned internally. “Alright, so there might be a man but it’s complicated. There’s no love, no affection, nothing like you and Lukas,” I confessed.
“So, that just leaves sex in the equation,” Laurina interpreted with wide eyes and a massive grin on her face.
“We haven’t progressed anywhere near as far as that,” I laughed, rolling my eyes.
“Sounds like you’re frustrated with
that. If he’s playing with you, play him right back, girl,” Laurina advised. “That’s how I got Lukas, I made him work for me, hell, I still do.”
“I don’t think that will work. He’s not a womanizer, he’s a man . . . everything he does is carefully thought out and planned. He’s devastating, so raw yet checked. If I do that, if I throw down the gauntlet and taunt him he’ll retaliate and I don’t think I’m ready for the form that will take. He scares me, but in the best way possible, do you know what I mean?” I asked in a confounded voice.
“No, not at all, but it sounds like he’s got you wrapped around his finger. All I’m saying is that you have to find a way to even out that power. No one person in a relationship should ever hold all the power and you’re letting him walk all over you. So work out a way to get yourself some power, comprende?” Laurina posed while putting on some mascara.
“Kind of. I don’t know. Maybe I’m playing with fire. He’s dangerous, maybe I should give him up before he hurts me,” I retorted with panic.
“Pfft, it sounds like to me you’re running scared and it’s not so much because you’re scared that he’ll hurt you but because you’re scared of the way he’s making you feel,” Laurina shook her head in mock admonishment. “I think it’s good, I think he’s good for you. Enjoy the fire and excitement. If he’s sticking around it’s because he wants you, so it’s not all one-sided,” Laurina said somewhat reassuringly.
It was two-sided but not in the way she thought. He was going to receive a future favor and I had no idea what he would ask from me.
“Now you seem to be the one making sense, and I’m the one who sounds insane. When did that happen?” I laughed, shaking off the seriousness of the conversation.
“Alright, I get the message, I’ll lay off, but I want updates, comprende?” Laurina said with her hand on her hip.
“Yes, I understand,” I responded with a smile, “Now, enough of the girl talk,” I said, swiping her purse from her bedside table and handing it to her as I pushed her outside her dorm room.
The Leverager Page 11
