"Yes Nadia, I have last words for you. In fact, I have exactly two."
She moved the muzzle of the gun closer to his forehead. Clayton watched her nervously, but Ruben shook his head at him. They had agreed to give her lead on this, whatever she did was entirely up to her now.
"Speak." She said. "I'm all ears."
Boyevik smiled.
"Devil's. Breath."
He enunciated each word clearly and slowly. Nadia pressed the muzzle of the gun to his flesh, pushing his head back.
"That's it?" She said.
"That's it." He said. "Today is not the first time you taste it."
A tremble returned to her hand.
"What are you talking about?"
He gave a raucous laugh.
"Kill me Nadia, and you'll never know."
Ruben jerked his twisted arm. "Who said anything about killing you. There are plenty of people who'd be willing to pay money for you Mr. Boyevik. Most of them in Ukraine, some in Moscow."
"Come on Ruben," Clayton said, "let's take this piece of trash out."
Boyevik struggled as he was lifted bodily by the two men.
"You don’t have stomach to kill, none of you do. You won’t give me to my enemies either so don’t waste my fucking time. You can beat me, torture me, but how will you ever now if am telling truth or not? You can lock me up but I will still find you. All of you. Even you." He looked at Clayton. "With all your money, your technology. I will find you from any prison cell. My arms very long and I will come for you. There is nowhere you hide I cannot find you."
Clayton looked at Ruben.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Probably. Why don’t you tell me on the way."
Clayton nodded. "Anything you want to say to him Nadia?"
She had been staring at him wildly while Clayton and Ruben debated their course of action. It was beginning to make sense - all those things the government had said she had done to help Boyevik, the evidence they said they had, she had really done those things, really helped him but without ever knowing it, always in a drugged up dream, acting remotely under his instructions. And then the blackouts... the hangovers… the lost hours that the doctors couldn't explain.
"Is there anything you want to say to him Nadia?" Clayton repeated himself.
"Sure." She said with cold rage. "I have just one word for this piece of shit."
Boyevik looked at her, waiting, the smile never leaving his face.
"Speak to me Nadia. What is your word?" He said.
She put her hand onto his forehead, pushed his head back and looked into his eyes.
"Scopolamine." She enunciated it slowly and clearly and then held up the pack they had taken from Mitch. For the first time a look of fear came into the old man's eyes.
"I hope you enjoy it as much as I did." She said and began to unwrap the pack.
Boyevik began struggling wildly.
"I will tell you." He started to shout desperately. "I will tell everything, all of your blackouts, your lost days and hours. I leave nothing out.
Clayton held back his head with one hand while Nadia removed the cotton wool from his nose.
"There are things you don’t even know about yourself Nadia, that only I can tell you."
She began to unwrap the pack slowly while Boyevik blew furiously to try and disperse the powder before they could use it on him. He was wasting his breath. Ruben pushed his chin up to keep his mouth closed and then waited as the old man held his breath. When he finally exhaled, desperate for air Nadia held the terrifying drug beneath his nose and watched him inhale deeply.
Within seconds the fear had gone from his eyes and his whole body relaxed into a scopolamine dream.
Clayton and Ruben released him.
"Now Mikhail. " Nadia said, wiping tears of anguish from her cheeks. "Time to spill your guts, Devil's Breath style."
He smiled at her like a kindly old man.
"Ask anything." He said in his accented English. "I tell you all you want to know."
Chapter Seven
Ruben saw to it that Michael Boyevik was fully apprised of the hopelessness of his situation before they left him on the bare rock jutting out of the sea that would be his home in perpetuity. He would spend the rest of his days on an island as close to the so-called Pacific Pole of Inaccessibility as it was possible to get on dry land. Ruben had maintained a private island there for some years and this was a small satellite some kilometers distant that pertained to the property. They were almost smack in the middle of an area of ocean larger than the entire former Soviet Union. There were no mobile phone carrier signals for thousands of miles around.
There would be no escape.
As they prepared to leave him he had finally lost control and begun to scream at them, begging them to kill him rather than leave him there forever, but he had misjudged them. There wasn't a bone in any of their bodies that would put another human being to death in cold blood. At the same time, none of them intended to spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulders waiting for revenge to come at them from one of his paid hit-men.
He would be looked after for as long as it took by Ruben and Clayton's staff on the main island. He would want for much, but he would survive and come to no harm.
Nadia had never felt less sympathy towards another person's pain in her life and she prayed never to see the man's face again in this world. Despite what he had told her about her life and about her past, she had no misgivings about leaving him there.
Once they arrived back at the main island they transferred to a private jet with range enough to bring them to Melbourne, Australia. When they reached cruising altitude Nadia and Clayton went to the private quarters of the plane where Clayton lay down on the floor, overcome for the first time with relief and exhaustion.
It was all finally over.
Nadia went to the cabin window for one last look at the island and it's satellite as they disappeared into the vastness of the South Pacific Ocean. Then she joined Clayton on the floor, lying down next to him in the luxurious bedroom suite, thirty thousand feet into the air. She tilted her head to lean it against the man who lay next to her and he reached his hand down to close it around hers.
She lay for a moment before rolling over on top of him and locking her lips to his and then burying her head to his neck to release the tears that had been welling up inside her for days, maybe years, maybe even a whole lifetime.
Clayton held her without a word, as strong as ever, absorbing her pain into strength of his powerful body.
When she had finished with her tears she raised her head and looked at the man who had changed her life inside and out in just a matter of short, intense days.
His dark watched her, waiting for her to fully open to him, accepting everything and anything that might come.
"Is it really over?" She asked him.
He nodded his head and smiled.
"It's all over. He's gone. No jail in the United States of America could prevent him from reaching us, but on that island he's alone and he'll stay that way for the rest of his life. We'll take care of him. It's more than he deserves, trust me."
"What about his organization? His men?"
"What about them? We let them go, paid them off, none of them owe any allegiance to him. If they dare come anywhere near you I'll make them regret it for the rest of their lives and they know it. You're safe now. Nadia Komerov can be Nadia Komerov again - no more lies, no more secrets."
A surge of emotion threatened to overcome her again.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I know it must be hard, after everything that Boyevik told you. It'll take time to learn to live with that, but we have time now and you'll get all the help you need, the very best therapists, the very best doctors."
"Will I ever remember any of those things though? All those things he made me do when I worked for him?"
"We'll get the very best help that money can buy Nadia. It's all we can do."
"And my mother…"
Clayton lowered his eyes. Even with all his money and power there were still so many things beyond his capability to do and it ate at him, shamed him to think of it.
He shook his head.
"It doesn't look good." He said. "The scans don't show any permanent damage but still she can't recall much. The doctors think it may be age, too many doses of scopolamine over too long a period of time. We have to accept her as she is right now, and you have to remember her as she was. She'll get the best of care, the very best. We'll see to it that she's as happy as she can possibly be."
It was a hard reality to swallow, but since she had been freed from Boyevik's power, her mother had shown no sign of being able to recall anything that had happened to her since she had disappeared four years ago. Under the influence of scopolamine Boyevik had been unclear about her mother. He denied the use of any drugs on her and claimed she was with him because she wanted to be. None of it made any sense. The truth revealing qualities of scopolamine had their limits according to Ruben, some things were buried too deeply or were lost to the mind in the state of confusion induced by the drug.
She herself had been induced to carry stolen information back and forth to criminals and spies, betraying her country unbeknownst to herself. It was hard for her to bear, especially as she had spent so long denying it to those who wanted to bend her to their will. Now she would have the job of explaining to them what had happened and hoped she would be believed or that it would make any difference.
"So what do I go back to now?" She said. "Now that you know everything about me, my real name, how I got to be in the mess you found me in, my secret life. Does this mean you're not interested in me anymore?"
He put a hand to her cheek, then ran his fingers through her hair before cradling the back of her head in his palm.
"You're good at talking Nadia Komerov, but someone really needs to teach you how to listen. Now for once in your life pay attention to me while I say something to you."
She nodded her head and felt her heart pound against the muscular chest below her.
"You're a mystery to me no matter how much I know about you."
She began to shake her head but he steadied it in his hand.
"Don't turn away from me Nadia. Listen to me. Look at me. You're a greater mystery to me now than you ever were when I first laid eyes on you. So you pay attention to me, I don't care what you say or what you do, I'm going to be looking after you from now on, for the rest of your life. One way or the other. You can accept this like a lady, or run from it like a little girl, it's up to you, but the bottom line is that you dragged me into this world of yours and I just about got myself killed dragging you out of it. So you owe me."
"You are stone cold crazy." She said, inexplicable, irrepressible laughter beginning to rise through her.
"You can snigger all you want Komerov but you won't be laughing soon. I am going to ask you one single question and I want a straight answer."
She was still trying to hold in the laughter as he searched inside the pocket of his jeans and then when he found what he was looking for he raised it to eye level between them.
It was a ring. A simple band with a small but very precious pink diamond.
Nadia began to shake her head again, laughter replaced with tears.
"Will you, Nadia Komerov…" he paused, the lightest of smiles on his gorgeous lips, the darkest intensity in his deep set eyes, "stop being such a damn fool…" Choked laughter in Nadia's throat. "and give in to me, for the love of God, and be my wife?"
Still shaking her head in disbelief from side to side, she responded.
"Clayton Hargrave, you bossy, arrogant and gorgeous man from heaven, will you give in to me and put that damn ring on my finger? Because yes, once and for all, I give in to you. I finally do."
"At last."
"And from now on, you better listen to every Goddamn word I say because you are mine." She said.
They smiled, laughed, locked lips and then Clayton rolled them over, lifted her up like a princess and took her to the huge bed behind them.
Tenderly, he brought her to the edge and then unceremoniously flung her down causing her to squeak like a girl in surprise.
"Get ready Mrs. Hargrave to be, because I'm about to show you who's boss."
"Fuck yeah." Nadia breathed huskily. "But I'm keeping my name, you can change yours if you want. So come on Hargrave, I'm ready and waiting, give it your best damn shot."
*******************
After some R&R in Australia the couple at last found their way back to New York City where a reunion was in order. Although Dale and Ruben had their suspicions something was up, still they couldn’t quite believe the change in Clayton. He had called them together with a small group of select friends to a gathering at the penthouse floor of the iconic New York building which now housed Hargrave Robotics Inc on Central Park. The view of Manhattan was breathtaking and the dusting of snowfall on the skyscrapers made it all the more wonderful.
When Clayton and Nadia entered holding hands, Dale's mouth dropped open and Ruben arched an eyebrow.
"Holding hands?" Dale said. "Did you keep some of that Devil's Breath Nadia? Or do you have a price on his head with the Ukrainian mafia?"
"Maybe it's Clayton who kept the Devil's Breath." Ruben said. "I might need to take that woman into protective custody for her own good. I'm not sure a man like Clayton can be trusted with a woman of Nadia Komerov's exquisite beauty, charm and high intelligence."
Clayton held up his hand with Nadia's held tightly inside.
"Back off Siegfried and Roy, this one's mine."
"I beg to differ. " Ruben said. "Until a woman has said I do then she's up for grabs. Isn’t that right Ms. Komerov."
"I fully agree Ruben." Nadia said. "Which is why this girl, is no longer 'up for grabs' as you put it."
The small group exchanged momentary glances and then rose as one to congratulate the happy couple. One by one each close friend warmly embraced the glowing Nadia and the quietly content Mr. Clayton Hargrave.
"I'd never have believed it." Ruben said as he leaned in to kiss Nadia on the cheek. "And if you ever change your mind," He smiled mischievously, "I'm always interested in women who are as strikingly beautiful and intellectually accomplished as you."
"I'll keep it in mind." she replied.
"And I'll break your jaw." Clayton smiled. "If I ever hear you say that again."
When they had all resumed their seats Clayton turned to Ruben.
"Don’t we have a little surprise for Nadia Ruben? Courtesy of Mayweather Services?" He said.
"Of course we do. Give me just a moment."
"What's this all about?" Nadia asked.
"Just wait." Clayton said, taking her hand.
A moment later Ruben arrived back and led someone into the room. Nadia covered her mouth in shock and then jumped from her seat to run towards her friend.
"Nadia, thank God. You have no idea how worried I was about you." Suzy said.
"Suzy, my God, Suzy I'm so sorry." Nadia was nearly overcome with emotion. It had been years since she had her closest friend and had hesitated before contacting her. The story she had to tell was so bizarre, so crazy. Where would she even begin?
"I'm so, so sorry." She continued, despite her friend's protestations. "I just didn’t want to drag you into this with me. But it's all over now."
"You should have called me baby, you know I'd do anything for you. I could've helped you." Suzy said.
"Don’t argue Suzy, please, not now. It's all over and nothing like this will ever happen again - thanks to these wonderful men here. I owe everything to them. Anything I can give back to these guys is theirs." She said turning to them. "Not that there's much I can offer three billionaires of course."
"I don't know about that." Ruben said. "I can think of at least one thing right now that I don’t have, that I very much want, and that only you can give me If you're really as grateful as you say yo
u are."
"Anything." Nadia said instantly.
"Really? Anything at all?" Ruben gave one of his mysteriously sexy smiles.
"Ruben, I'm warning you." Clayton said, sending a stern look Ruben's way.
Nadia glanced at Clayton and then hastened to qualify her offer.
"Anything in my power to give you. Within reason of course." She said.
Ruben looked back at Clayton, undeterred.
"Okay." He said. "In that case I have a very special, personal favor to ask of you Ms. Komerov."
Then tension in the room was beginning to build. Clayton looked fit to burst and Dale wasn't far behind. Suzy looked like she was suppressing rage, but Nadia, in her gratitude to the three men and in her joy at being reunited with her best friends remained totally oblivious.
"Ask away." She said happily.
"I'm warning you Ruben." Clayton repeated.
"Don’t worry Romeo, I wouldn’t dare ask anything inappropriate of your bride to be. Besides, this is none of your business." He directed himself to Nadia again. "You'll grant me anything I ask that is within your power, which is within reason and which the beast over there approves of. Is that correct?"
"Absolutely correct." She answered. "But why do I suddenly get the feeling I'm about to regret just saying that?"
"Because it's what he does best Nadia." Dale joined in. "Don’t you trust a word he says."
"Don’t listen to them." Ruben said. "Here is my request." He turned and took Suzy by the hand and looked into her eyes. "I want this one." He said with an intensity that made the woman take a sharp breath in. As ludicrous as the request was, still the directness and absolute cocksure confidence were literally breathtaking.
Nadia looked at her girlfriend, noted the look of shock and then smiled at Ruben.
"She's yours." She said. "Wish granted."
"Excellent." Ruben said, slipping a hand around Suzy's slim waist.
"Not so fast." Dale who had been quietly seething, to his feet and stopped within inches of Ruben, glaring into his face. "Don’t forget that you owe me too Nadia and I have a request as well. That beautiful woman that the Lizard King has his paws all over is mine."
Her Sweet Satisfaction: Billionaire Secrets - Book Two Page 10
