The Devil's Handshake (7 page)

Feeling better, Nara offered a smile of her
own as a way of a thank you, thinking to herself as she did so that
he looked Jewish.

“
Whatever he is he is a
gentleman!” Nara thought. “At very least a bodyguard to very
powerful Oligarch who was meeting with Oleg!” she quickly
summarized as she continued to smile back.

Her instinct had served her well for she was
right on both accounts being Jewish then secondly being a bodyguard
to a powerful man.

Born in Soviet Russia in 1964 to Jewish
parents that were later allowed to emigrate, to Israel, the young
Mikhail had joined the Israeli Army at eighteen where his talents
as an excellent soldier were honed in the Shakbat and then in its
Protective Security Department.

He had served six years and rose to the rank
of Chief Sergeant before leaving and going on the reserve list as
all Israeli’s did until they reach sixty-five.

Having just managed to survive a bad
operation in Bosnia that involved the extraction of ethnic Jews who
had been caught up in the war between the Muslims and Christians in
1992, Mikhail, like many other Russian émigrés around the same
time, headed back to home to Russia to find work as a personal
bodyguard for the new Jewish Oligarchs who were making their
fortunes and wanting individuals with ‘special skills.’

That was where he had met his current boss
who was doing business with the principal he was working for around
the same time.

Recognizing Mikhail’s professionalism the man
had contacted him and invited him for a drink, something at the
time that had surprised him, as most the principals he found
himself working for didn’t give him the time of day. Finding he
liked the man, it hadn’t taken much for him to readily accept his
offer to come and work with him and watch his back.

However it was a night three years ago, when
they were under fire during an attempt on the man’s life by a
Moldovan Mafiosi who was trying to force him to sell an asset in
Moscow, that their loyalty to each other was sealed in blood.

That night had been a bloodbath. Upon leaving
the upscale restaurant, they were suddenly hit by a team intent on
killing the man and anybody who got in their way. Yet instead of
panicking, as one would expect when one of the guards from
Mikhail’s handpicked team was killed next to him taking a bullet
for him, the man had instead picked up the bodyguard’s Glock pistol
and fought alongside them.

Moving forward in a technique known
“Offensive Movement Action” to close the gap on the kill zone, they
had then proceeded to take out the assassination team in a matter
of moments.

After Mikhail had been hit, the man had led
the way and while the other men secured the area, he had
professionally finished the assassins off with double taps to their
heads each in turn before finally pausing over the badly wounded
leader, lying on the floor with blood pouring out of him.

Seeing all of this take place as he lay badly
wounded, Mikhail watched the man say something in Russian to the
remaining live Mafioso before shooting him in the head without any
emotion or hesitation.

“
B-o-s-s what d-i-d y-o-u
s-a-y to him?” Mikhail had asked as he laid on the verge of passing
out having seen his principal in action and now knowing he was a
professional like him.

“
There won’t be a next time!
Now let’s be getting you to the clinic, Old Chap” the man had said
looking at him steely eyed with a grim smile.

Remaining by his side for he knew full well
that with Mikhail being an ex-Russian and worse an Israeli, it was
likely that he would have been the “fall guy” when the FSB turned
up. He had taken care of everything, ensuring the FSB and Moscow
Police buried Mikhail’s wounded presence in the process. A gesture,
Mikhail later learned, had cost the man a quarter of a million U.S.
dollars in bribes.

As for the Israeli family of the young man
who died protecting him, Mikhail had later learned that he taken
care of them as well by placing them under his protection and
ensuring that his widow received million U.S. dollars per year
until his three children reached eighteen. These two gestures alone
ensured that Mikhail had never faced a problem in recruitment in
the following years. To him and the men who protected him, he had
truly Chesed, a unique word in Hebrew as it was a word that
couldn’t be translated into English, but nonetheless to the Jews
meant ‘loving-kindness,’ ‘mercy,’ ‘steadfast love,’ and sometimes
‘loyalty.’

Every member of his security team was treated
as if they were family and each shared in the spoils as he made his
fortune in the development of the new Russia.

When they flew back to London five weeks
later whilst Mikhail was still recuperating from his wound, the
entire team shared a bottle of ‘Blue Label’ to toast their fallen
comrade’s life. It was at that moment as the head of his security
team Mikhail had asked him where he had honed his skills as it was
the topic of gossip amongst the men and the wives.

“
Hereford,” the man had
replied referring to the famous home of the SAS base that lies on
the border of Wales.

Nothing more needed to be said amongst the
men who guarded him. They knew what meant.

“
Hashem yikom damo (We will
avenge his blood)” the man had whispered in Hebrew.

Mikhail looked at him for a bit, puzzled.

“
That’s what I said to the
Moldovan,” the man clarified in answer to Mikhail’s question when
he had been lying on the floor wounded.

Silence descended on the cabin. Then over the
plane’s engines he said, “To Avram.”

Soon after, the Moldovan who had ordered the
hit was found hanging by piano wire in his Moscow apartment by the
local police.

It was news at the time and had made The
Times of London as just another gangland murder in the Yeltsin-led
Russia. To the men who guarded the man, it was a debt of honor that
had been repaid in full and helped forge him a legend in Russia as
a man not to be crossed.

Of course, the beautiful young street-smart
childlike young teenager knew none of this, just that her instincts
told her correctly Mikhail was a man of principle and a
professional.

The room was silent for a few minutes until
the doors to Oleg’s office opened.

Immediately Yuri stood to attention and
sensing that somebody of great importance and power was coming out,
so did Tania and Nara as well.

As Thomas Litchfield walked out, Nara could
see she was right with her assumption. Dressed elegantly as the man
she had assumed was his bodyguard and wearing what she again
assumed was a very expensive tailored grey and yellow pinstriped
suit with a Cornish cream shirt, light pink tie, and black English
shoes, Nara immediately felt his presence and power as he stopped
and took her in. Their eyes meeting for the first time, her heart
jumped. She smiled at him.

Unbeknownst to the beautiful young woman,
Thomas was also feeling something he had never felt before in life
as his eyes met hers, but sensing they were Muslim women he chose
not give his hand as to do so in their culture would be an offence.
Instead, noting the older woman’s presence in the room, he politely
greeted what he assumed was this stunning creature’s mother with a
respectful smile, then winked towards the girl earning another shy
smile in return.

“
My god, what a woman!”
Thomas thought as he left the office with Mikhail behind him not
hearing what was said in his wake.

“
If you’re lucky tonight
you’ll feel his cock in you!” offered the Turkmen in Russian with
acid in his voice. “In you go, Gunara, he is waiting,” he followed
up this time in Turkmen as both women watched Thomas and Mikhail
leave the building.

Forcing herself not to tell him to “go to
hell,” her mother took her hand as they entered. It was not lost on
Nara that her mother’s hand was trembling. She squeezed it.

Once inside they found Oleg sitting behind a
long desk with ivory tusks for legs. He didn’t get up. Manners were
something he never bothered with even at the best of times.
Instead, both women stood waiting for permission to sit down.

Unaware that Oleg had only agreed to this
meeting as he wanted to see where his most productive Jelep’s looks
had come from, and because he already knew from the other girls of
his harem what they were there for, he wanted to it make it as
uncomfortable as possible for them. He made them stand.

Enjoying his moment of power to the full,
Oleg continued to lustfully stare at them both, feeling his
erection grow by the second in anticipation.

“
My little pet’s mother
doesn’t disappoint!” he thought with an evil intent.

Giving his signal to begin with the motion of
his hand, Nara’s mother started in Turkmen instead of the more
common Russian that was often used by the residents of the
capital.

“
Munbashi Rejejow, we are
here to ask for your release of Gunara from our family’s debt,” the
proud woman asked using Oleg’s military rank as a sign of
respect.

Looking at them, his erection now fully
extended, he asked how they intended to do this.

Quickly, Tania motioned her daughter to give
him the Chanel bag containing the twenty thousand U.S. dollars.

As Nara went to do so he slammed his hand on
the desk, catching the both of them by surprise.

Standing up, fire in his eyes, his erection
bulged beneath his suit trousers something that was immediately
noticed by both women. He rushed from around his desk, forcibly
grabbing hold of Tania by the arm whilst Yuri restrained Nara by
her arms, pulling them behind her back all in one movement.

“
YOU FUCKING JELEP…. YOUR
FUCKING DEBT ENDS WHEN I SAY SO!” Oleg venomously spat towards Nara
whilst dragging her absolutely terrified mother by the arm
screaming, until her poor mother was forced to stand behind the
desk in front of her shaking daughter with the evil looking Oleg
behind her.

“
NOOOOOOO!” cried Nara as he
pushed her mother down on the desk, knowing what was about to
happen.

The begging, fear, tears, and whimpering of
the women in contrast to his and Yuri’s evil laughter echoed around
the room as Oleg proceeded to savagely rape the both of them in
turn from behind.

Once finished, Oleg zipped up his trousers.
He looked at the stripped half-naked mother and daughter for a
second. Power flowed through him as his eyes enjoyed the sight of
them cowering in the corner of the office.

“
Make sure this fucking
Jelep is dressed for this evening,” he ordered Yuri, pointing at
Nara.

“
Sure, Boss,” answered Yuri
before dragging them screaming out of the office, their honor in
tatters from the sodomy Oleg had inflicted upon them.

4

Holland Park 2007

The punishment Thomas had inflicted upon her
in front his servant had brought that afternoon’s terrible trauma
back with a vengeance.

With Nara cradled in his arms and as he
listened to her tell him of what the animal had done to the both of
them, Thomas silently swore revenge on behalf of the blood of his
daughter.

Hiding his anger at the actions of Oleg
Rejejow, he looked into Nara’s eyes. He took hold of her hand
gently and pulled it tenderly to his lips. He kissed it long and
hard.

Without waiting for a response, she removed
her training top releasing her beautiful large breasts then leaned
into him to him and grabbed his head forcefully to pull his lips to
hers, a gesture designed for two purposes: firstly to show him that
she had forgiven him for his earlier punishment and secondly to
avoid any possible further punishment. They kissed passionately for
a long minute.

“
I am so sorry, my love,” he
whispered with tears in his eyes.

Ever the skilled courtesan Nara studied his
face. Sex had always been a defense mechanism she used to protect
herself. It would be again. Men had often punished her before
taking her in life, and now it appeared the man she loved and
thought was her protector was no better than those monsters. Her
dormant survival instincts kicked back in.

She lifted her hand to his face. Then stroked
the tear under his eye.

“
Are you?” she asked still
not quite believing him.

“
I am ashamed of myself,” he
said with emotion in his face.

“
Then show me,” she ordered
pulling his head into her forcibly. Sex had been her weapon once,
and it would be again.

5

Hong Kong / Dubai / Aeolian Islands 2007

Once Thomas had told Mikhail what had
happened to Nara at the hands of Rejejow and of his intention to
avenge her honor, the bodyguard knew there would be no talking him
out of it despite the possible repercussions to TLH and himself if
he were caught. Nevertheless the former Israeli operative insisted
on helping him.

“
This is my fight,” Thomas
had responded.

“
We Jews have a saying,
Thomas,” Mikhail had answered shaking his head, not taking no for
an answer. “Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he
destroyed an entire world and whoever saves a life, it is
considered as if he saved an entire world.” He was referring to the
passage from the Babylonian Talmud called Tractate Sanhedrin
37a.

“
That animal destroyed the
soul of Nara and her mother” Mikhail had continued with disgust.
“So because you saved my life on that street in Moscow and that of
Nara and Tania for that matter on your journey, to right the wrongs
of your life our souls are forever entwined with that of yours,”
Mikhail had concluded with his ever-present fatalist outlook on
life.