by Alyse Zaftig
Rogue Hearts
Alyse Zaftig
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Epilogue II
From the Author
Chapter 1
Victoria
“All rise for the Honorable Judge William Hughes.”
Victoria Bellamy stood at the command of the bailiff, and the judge came in with his long, black robe and sat in the burgundy leather chair behind the podium. His face was stern and determined. Despite his forbidding appearance, Victoria was happy Hughes was the judge she got. He was a stern overseer, and criminals never got off easy with him ruling the courtroom.
Her trial would go well as long as she stayed alert. She’d even worn her lucky royal navy suit, the one that she used to boost her confidence on the first day of her court cases.
“You may be seated,” the bailiff said.
Judge Hughes gave instructions to the jury about the laws and rules that apply to this case and then turned to look at her and the defense.
“We will now hear Prosecuting Attorney Victoria Bellamy present the case of the People versus Roman Vasin,” the judge said.
As Victoria stood and made her way to the floor before speaking, she noticed that the defense attorney with the curly blond hair was staring at her. She had done her research on Andrei Rusak before coming into the courtroom. She knew he was representing his family law firm, which had a history of defending powerful men. Going over his information helped her prepare for the trial. What she wasn’t expecting was the way he followed her every move with his eyes or the fact that he’d be better looking than the photos she found on him. She felt butterflies in her stomach when she looked at him, but her attraction to him was wildly inappropriate on so many levels. She pushed all of that to the back of her mind as she mentally prepped for her opening statement.
She made eye contact to reinforce her don’t-fuck-with-me lucky suit and matching shoes. In the past, defense attorneys underestimated her, especially the men. She’d built her reputation brick by brick. She wanted it to be clear that she knew how to do her job and do it well. It all started with the clothes followed by a heap of confidence… not just the bravado new lawyers had to make themselves seem smart. True confidence in the courtroom came from dealing with the strong wins and the shitty failures, which she used with every move she made in front of the courtroom.
“Your Honor, ladies and gentleman of the jury,” Victoria started, “today the people are charging Roman Vasin with willful and deliberate first degree murder of Samuel Winter.” Victoria took her time to walk the length of the jury section. When she moved in front the jury and made eye contact with every one of them, she glimpse out of the side of her eye and noticed Rusak was still staring at her.
“The people will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Roman Vasin killed Samuel Winter with malice by calling our witnesses.” She listed her key witness, Mr. Ollie Jefferson, who allegedly saw Mr. Vasin throwing the duffle bag containing the body into the Hudson River. He was the one who was going to help her win. Detectives from the New York Police Department Diving team, who retrieved the duffel bag containing the body from the Hudson River, the coroner who did the autopsy, and an expert from ballistics, who identified the type of weapon and the bullets used in the shooting, rounded out her witness team. “We will also be using the film from the security cameras in and around the jewelry store to help prove our case.”
She couldn’t stop a small smile from making an appearance when she sat down, so she looked at her court files to hide it. This moment was why she enjoyed her job. It wasn’t for the noble reasons of putting bad guys away or seeing justice done. Those were great, but it was the thrill of knowing that she did her job well. That got her through some of the craziness that came from being a prosecutor.
When Victoria sat down, she felt confident in her opening statement. She had this case locked down. There was no way any jury would find Vasin innocent after all the evidence she’d gathered.
Even as she sat down, she still felt the defense attorney’s eyes on her, and they were completely glued to her. Instead of letting it get to her, she finally turned to him and stared right back at him, ice glittering in her eyes. She was expecting an answering challenge in his eyes, but she found something less threatening. He smiled warmly back at her before the judge called him up. She was taken aback, blinking a little bit. When he smiled at her, it felt like the sun had just come out from behind the clouds.
When the defense attorney stood up, she realized how tall and handsome he really was. A lean figure rested underneath his expensive, gray, suit that melded to his solid body like fine butter with deliciously broad shoulders filling out the top of him as if he wasn’t a stranger to occasional weightlifting. He had sexy cheekbones and strong features that made him handsome without being drop-dead gorgeous or a delicate pretty boy.
There was something about him that made it hard for her to take her eyes off him.
“Your Honor,” he said, “ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am Andrei Rusak, the defense attorney for Mr. Vasin, and this is my defense team: Attorneys Linda Lamb and Roslyn Thompson.” He glanced her way. “Unlike the prosecution, I’m here to prove my client is innocent. The evidence is circumstantial and doesn’t place my client anywhere near the scene of the crime.”
Victoria held back a scoff, and she continued listening as he noted witnesses for his defense.
As soon as the he completed his statement, Vasin jumped out of his seat, and screamed, “I didn’t do it, Your Honor!”
The judge picked up the gavel and hammered it down a couple of times. “Order in the court, Mr. Vasin, you cannot yell in the courtroom. Mr. Rusak, I suggest you explain to your client that I expect a civilized trial from here on out.”
“Of course, Your Honor,” Rusak said as he pulled Vasin back down in his seat and whispered something in his ear. Vasin mumbling something back and seemed angry, his face still flushed. Not a minute later, he jumped up again and yelled out, “I didn’t kill anyone, Your Honor!”
“Keep him quiet,” said the judge, “or I will hold him in contempt!”
“It won’t happen again, Your Honor.” This time it was Rusak’s turn to get angry as he whispered into Mr. Vasin’s ear and pulled the man back down with a hand clamped to the back of Vasin’s neck.
Victoria figured he was explaining to his client that contempt meant jail time along with a possible fine for being disruptive. If it continued like this, the case would be easier than she thought and certainly an entertaining experience.
Vasin stayed silent and remained down this time. One reason why Victoria liked being a prosecutor was that the state was her client and not some spoiled man-child who had too much money and power for the span of his lifetime.
Victoria watched Rusak as he stood back up and moved around the courtroom floor to initiate his defense. He made sure that he faced the judge and the jury before finally settling his startlingly blue eyes back on her. She could feel her heart beating hard in her chest and her breathing deepening. Inappropriate. So inappropriate to feel this way.
The way he looked at her made it seem like he saw straight throu
gh to some deeper part of her that no one else could see. It was a stare that would make anyone want to look away from feeling so vulnerable, but Victoria made sure she kept his gaze.
She thought she saw a small, crooked smile on the side of his mouth before he turned to the others in the courtroom. What was that all about?
With each look, he was making her things she had long since pushed to the side so she could focus on her career. Her last relationship had been her longest and hadn’t ended well. They didn’t talk at all anymore. After the dust had settled, she had chosen to forget about her love life and focus on work, which had helped her get to where she was now. The way Rusak kept staring at her made her wonder if she had done the right thing.
She crossed her legs, pushing back the warmth that had stirred up there. She was in court. There was no place for the thoughts that were popping up in her head. Besides, the guy who strode back and forth in front of her was the defense, her opposition.
His blond hair fell forward, and he gently took his hand and brushed his hair back from his face. It was a simple gesture, but he made it appear tempting and almost seductive.
As he continued to speak, she noticed his lips. They were full and pouty lips that any woman would love kissing. She wondered what those lips would feel like kissing her neck. She could feel the edge of excitement creep up through her as she listened to his baritone voice.
She closed her legs as if anyone would be able to sense the wetness that had built up beneath her freshly-pressed skirt. Okay, it had been a while for her, and her body was painstakingly reminding her of that fact. She adjusted her blouse, feeling the room get warm.
This time when he turned and looked at her, he licked his lips. Oh, he knew exactly what he was doing. Maybe it was a tactic to throw her off, or maybe he was one of those men who thought all women should fall at his feet. She didn’t know whether it was an intentional distraction or not, but it was working. She was better than this, and she wasn’t going to let him mess with her, no matter how attractive he was. Her face and neck flushed, making the room feel like a sauna.
“What the hell is wrong with me?” she thought. “I have got to stop this daydreaming. Get it together, Victoria. It’s game time.” She silently blamed it on lack of sleep and tried to focus on his words rather than the voice forming them.
Andrei Rusak continued his opening defense. “The prosecution would have you believe that Mr. Roman Vasin is guilty for the crime of murder, but we will prove otherwise. The neurologist will testify of the nerve damage in my client’s hands and spine, thus preventing him from shooting anyone or having the strength to pick up a body and throw it in the river. My witnesses will also testify that Mr. Vasin attended their wedding on the day in question and spent the night at the family estate for two days at a location that is six and a half hours away in Buffalo.”
When the defense finished, the judge called over the bailiff. “Why is it so hot in here, Bailiff?”
It wasn’t just her. The courtroom was more than a little warm, and the air conditioner didn’t feel like it was functioning at full capacity.
Victoria had already unbuttoned the top part of her shirt without revealing anything that would make her seem unprofessional. Still, a bead of sweat trickled down her temple.
A few people were even fanning themselves with papers, and the jury shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
“I’m sorry, Your Honor,” the bailiff said. “Maintenance was supposed to come in and fix it yesterday.”
“Well, we can’t continue in here under these conditions. The jury will have heat stroke before we even get to the first witness.” The judge dismissed the bailiff. “We will continue with a few breaks in between this session. If it becomes too much, we will adjourn for a future date. Now, the prosecution will call the first witness.”
Victoria did her best to focus on the case rather than how hot she was getting. She tried to do as little movement as possible to keep from overheating.
“The footage from the security cameras will be shown and entered as exhibit number one,” she said. “It shows Vasin—”
Rusak interrupted saying, “I object. The man in the security footage has not been identified as my client.”
Judge Hughes said, “Sustained. Ms. Bellamy, you will rephrase your statement.”
“I apologize, Your Honor. I will say it another way.” She stared at Rusak. “You claim that you saw the alleged suspect” she started before turning back to her witness, “entering the jewelry shop, shooting the victim, stuffing him into a beige duffle bag, and then dragging him out back and placing him in the truck bed. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” her witness said. “I saw it just like that. I saw him leaving the back alley behind Winters Jeweler driving a white truck.”
“To be specific, you said a white Ford pickup. Is that right?
“Yes.”
“He was later seen dumping a large, beige duffle bag into the Hudson River. Later, a beige duffle bag was retrieved by the New York police department, bearing the body of Sam Winter, who was found shot twice in the torso.”
Vasin jumped up and screamed out, “No! No! No! That’s a lie. All lies.”
The courtroom broke out in gasps and murmurs.
Judge Hughes banged his gavel repeatedly. “Order in the court. Order in the court! That’s it. Bailiff, take Mr. Vasin into custody. He will be charged with contempt of court and pay a fine of no greater than $500. Maybe that will teach you to hold your tongue in my courtroom. This isn’t a court drama, Mr. Vasin. Maybe Mr. Rusak and your defense team need to remind you of that before you reappear in front of me. Until then, Mr. Rusak, it may be in the best interest to have your client submitted for a mental evaluation since he has problems following simple directions?”
Mr. Rusak said, “Yes Your Honor.”
Victoria bit her lip to keep from laughing. Her case was turning into a circus, and it hadn’t even been an hour in session yet. She couldn’t wait to tell her friends about this one.
Chapter 2
Andrei
Andrei Rusak was beginning to question his own sanity in addition to his client’s. The man was beginning to be a pain in the ass, and it was Andrei’s job to get the man off from a murder case. Maybe his best option was to plead insanity after his random outbursts.
The only silver lining was the sexy prosecutor, Victoria Bellamy. She had her own reputation for giving criminals what they deserved. He’d heard about her and done his own little prodding about her, but this was the first time he’d seen her in action, and he was impressed already.
He knew he should just keep to himself and focus on helping his client, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. The suit she had on hugged her curves in all the right places. He wondered if she would feel soft and delicious up against his body.
He could tell he was getting under her skin a little by staring, and he had to admit he enjoyed that a little too much. It wasn’t his intention to mess with her or ruin her presentation. In fact, he did it for selfish reasons. Andrei wanted to see if she responded to his attentions, and he had confirmation of that.
The judge had taken an hour recess to get control back in the courtroom. Andrei used that time to knock some sense into his client.
The man and his family had been close friends with his father for years, and his father had made him take the case. Andrei wasn’t a big fan of the Vasins. They were a little too privileged and snobby for them to really feel like his friends. To him, they were just more people his father knew that he had to represent. Sometimes he enjoyed defending people he knew were innocent. Other times they got to be a pain in his ass.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked Roman.
“I can’t just sit there while they try to call me a murderer.” Roman paced back and forth in his tiny cell.
Andrei gripped the bars to keep from grabbing Roman and shaking some damn sense into him. “Actually, that’s exactly what you’re going to do. You’re g
oing to sit there and let me do my job. That means you don’t speak unless you’re up on that witness stand, unless you want to piss the judge off more than you already have. If that’s your goal, you’re finding yourself another lawyer, because I have no time for this bullshit.”
Roman shook his head. “No, my father says you’re the best person to handle my case, and I want the best.”
“Then you’ll listen to what I tell you and not act out like that again. Do you understand?”
Roman nodded.
“Good. We’re in recess. When you get back out there, I want you quiet as a monk who has taken a vow of silence, or I’m leaving you here on your own. Your dad can find you someone else.”
When Roman was allowed to enter the courtroom, Andre was pleased to see the man knew how to follow instructions. He sat quietly and didn’t say a word. If he hadn’t learned to shut up, the case would’ve turned into a nightmare for both of them. Although the jury made the decision, the judge could also make it harder for them. This judge was known for low tolerance for criminal activity and giving out harsh sentences. If Roman kept pushing it and was found guilty, he’d be at Judge Hughes’ mercy.
“We will proceed with court,” said Judge Hughes said after they all returned from the brief recess.
Judge Hughes said, “The defense will call their first witness.”
Andrei stood and addressed the court. “I call Mrs. Rita Jackson to the stand.”
As she approached the bailiff, he swore her in. “Please raise your right hand, and place your left hand on the Bible. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
Mrs. Jackson said “I do” before taking a seat on the witness stand.
“You may be seated,” the bailiff said.
Andrei straightened his suit. “Mrs. Jackson, will you tell the court where you were on May 14th?”
