Chapter 1

Anastasia:

I walked toward the poker bar where one of my colleagues reported to have seen him going inside. Watching as the team of officers surrounded the place from far, waiting for my signal.

“Anastasia, you are playing a dangerous game” Blake, my partner said wrapping his arm around my waist, stopping me. The man was insane if he believed that I was going to let the bastard go this time.

This time, the man was mine. One way, or the other, I’m going to have that bastard behind bars, and I wasn’t going to allow anyone, not even Blake, to stop me from doing so.

“Blake, darling, unless you want to lose your hands; I do suggest that you unwrap them from around me” I said glaring at the bar that was literally across the street. Blake sighed and unwrapped his arms from around me knowing that I was dead serious.

I crossed the street, the cars stopping at the sight of me not looking left or right, some honked, others cursed, but I couldn’t care less. I showed the bouncers my badge and rolled my eyes when I saw them trying to make their call as to warn their ‘boss’ of my arrival, but the building was surrounded. He had nowhere to go. Not unless he wanted to get shot, which was most likely something he was used to by now, but I still didn’t think that he wanted to deal with it again.

I didn’t bother waiting for them to let me in. I entered the building and walked through the halls that lead to the main club. A man and a woman who were making out, or more specifically, screwing one another against one of the wall, shamelessly moaning despite being in public. I had to fight back gagging at the sight in front of me as I walked past them.

“Darling” I called once I entered the room where the tables were set. Men stopped playing, shuffling their cards, or putting up whatever money they had with them to look at me upon hearing the nickname. The club which was on the upper floor was sound proof, the music up there couldn’t be heard down here “or must I call you love?”

“Of course, if isn’t the famous officer” he said walking toward me. Elijah Volkov, the man that I swore to put behind bars, stood in front of me in all his glory. He wore a white button up shirt which exposed his muscles, his sharp jawline clenched despite him trying to force a smile. His brown eyes met my own before he grabbed my arm and pulled me a bit further away from the tables. His grip wasn’t tight enough to hurt me, just firm to hold me in place “aren’t you getting tired of this?”

“Doing my job? Never” I sassed. Elijah smirked as to cover his anger from the men who were debating on whether or not they should leave, but I knew him all too well to understand his expressions by now. The men looked at us, waiting to see what Elijah would say; however, Elijah kept a cold, calm stance as not to show them how annoyed he was by my presence.

“You need a chill pill” he said glaring at me. I already knew that I had my way as his men didn’t bother approaching me. They wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on me if they tried anyway, unless they all wanted to be behind bars that is.

“And you need to be put behind bars” I stated coldly “your place is surrounded by cops. Therefore, you have two options, call it a night and come with me, or have this place closed down and all your guests will be taken as prisoners, and I believe that a man like you doesn’t want to lose his costumers”

I knew what I was costing him with what I was doing, but I couldn’t care less. The man deserved it for the crimes he had held on his head, it just annoyed me that he didn’t give a bloody damn about any of them.

“And what charges are you going to be holding against me this time?”

“Being a Pakhan can be one of them, attending a slave’s auction, selling drugs, opening an illegal, uncertified poker table, a few of them actually, I’m pretty sure the place is loaded with the hookers you just ‘bought’…”

“I don’t buy women, malyshka”

“You can try convincing me all you want” I rolled my eyes at his words. If he didn’t buy them; I didn’t know who would “you’re still coming with me”

“You’ll be regretting this”

“I don’t think I will”

“We’ll see about that” he said turning to the men “call it a night men. Our work here is done”

“I see you’ve made your choice quickly” I said removing my arm from his hand. The man has been holding my arm as if I was the one captive, and the funny part was; I didn’t bother trying to remove it as I knew that he wouldn’t technically hurt me.

“Believe me, malyshka; I just don’t feel like dealing with your bullshit tonight. Shall we head out?”

“Gladly”