The Beautiful Billionaire

LINDEN

I quickly took off my shirt, positioned my stance, and cracked my fingers. Honestly, I didn’t know how to defeat him. I didn’t know if I could. He was an MMA fighter but lost his chance of accidentally killing someone outside the ring. And this was an underground fight against killers, murderers, and gamblers- all criminal activities and ground rules didn’t apply. This was a dirty sport. But I was not going to die tonight.

Aleksandr advanced forward. Of course, he did. He wanted to end this fight quickly. I moved forward but maintained my ground, focusing on his possible move. His first jab almost hit my face, and I did a counterattack to push him back. But it was just a warm-up.

I took my own emotional and physical injuries in only three minutes. We had bloody faces, but I took the worse.

He struck me hard with a kick on my side. I had bruised face and probably cracked ribs. Sure, I endured a broken nose, bloody mouth, and my strength was draining so fast, and I hadn’t beaten him. All I could think of right now was the people I left home- my wife and my child.

I drew a painful breath to gather my last strength. I made a quick mental note and studied his move. I knew his weakness, but he was strong and fast. I hadn’t made it closer to kicking his ass, either. He was good with Krav Manga, but I knew Muay Thai.

His eye shifted outside the ring for a mere second- probably a signal to end this fight- my death was sealed if I would not work it fast.

My advance was technique. When I knew he was about to throw his famous roundhouse kick, my height was my advantage. I slid right off down, gathered all my strength, and kicked the back of his knee. I knew he had a history of broken patella. He screamed in pain like a motherfucker. I got my advantage.

The crowd gasped.

While he was wailing in agony, I got to my feet. With my best and probably only move, I had left, and if I missed this, my body would end up in the landfill site where nobody could find me. I threw my Bruce Lee’s low kick, making sure I got to hit his knee. A loud crack echoed, breaking his tibia all over again.

They wanted a kill. I grabbed his head and locked his neck with my arm, ready to snap his neck, but something happened unexpected. A sting on my neck caused me to fall to the ground.

***

I groaned. Everything hurt every time I moved, even the slightest. Even breathing hurt like a motherfucker.

My mind seemed to freeze. Why did every cell in my body hurt? I tried opening my eyes, but it felt like a fucking queen bee fucked me over.

Then I remembered what happened at the ring.

“Fuck.” I jolted to get up.

“I wouldn’t try that if I were you.”

I could barely open my eyes, but I knew that voice. My chest lightened up. I thought I just smiled.

“You’re here.” I cleared my throat.

“I feel like a king, rescued by my favorite knight, and you risked your life to see me, Linden. What the fuck, man? We already talked about this.”

“At least give me water, asshole.” I cleared my throat again. I felt like I hadn’t drunk in days.

“Just take it easy.” He helped the cup into my mouth.

“I’m not dead. That’s good news.”

I finally opened my eyes. Jasper looked good in his fancy suit with a buzz cut, and he even grew a beard.

“Is he dead?”

“Good as dead.”

I nodded. “You look good.”

“Congratulations. I’m happy for you.”

“I wish you were there.”

“You’re married now and become a daddy in a few months.” He sighed. I almost didn’t catch the pain streaking in his eyes.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“You know about that, too.”

“I know everything that’s going on at home. I knew that first before you did.”

I nodded in understanding when everything suddenly became clear.

“You should go. You’re not safe here, and there’s no way I can protect you. You shouldn’t have come here in the first place.”

“Let me guess. You did not send that coordinates.”

He looked down as if he’d done something shameful.

“I’m not judging you. In fact, I owe you that much. That’s why I needed to see you. I want to know if you’re still alive. But why, Jasper? I wanna know the truth.” I searched for the truth in his eyes.

“You don’t owe me anything, but I want you to know that you’re the only person I have come close to a family. If anyone owed you, it’s me.”

“Then come with me.”

“I can’t.” He shook his head slowly. “You know that.”

I looked around. I was in a hospital bed. “Are we safe?”

“Yeah, but I can’t stay long. You will be transferred to the city in an hour for recovery.”

“Where are we?”

“Don’t ask. Just trust me. And don’t do something stupid like that again, especially for me.” A small smile appeared on his lips.

“Then don’t die.”

“I have no plan in dying.”

Before I could cry, I pulled him into a hug. Well, I just cried. “You better be alive to see your nephew, brother.”

“Or niece.”

“Yeah.” I breathed deeply. “How long I’ve been here?”

“Two days.”

“Fuck. Fuck.” I groaned. My ribs hurt.

He frowned. “Well, you only have three broken ribs, bruises everywhere, a broken nose, and an ugly face to go home to your wife, and thankfully, you didn’t have concussions. You’re lucky he didn’t smash your head and beat you to death, asshole. I almost- never mind. I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Not so lucky for the opponent. Who drugged me?”

“Me. I didn’t want you to kill him. You’re not that man. You’re not one of them.” His jaw locked tight. “I’m so sorry, Gabe.”

“Will I ever see you again? Do I get to know what’s going on?”

Jasper didn’t answer but smiled- and something in that smile held a lot of messages and raised many questions in my brain. That was not even enough for me. I barely scratched the surface, but I was happy to see him well and alive, even if he was in hostile territory.

Apparently, I thought I would go by boat again or ambulance. After being transferred by three cars and four routes, I finally arrived at the private airport with a private jet waiting for me. It eventually became clear to me, hence his smile.

I went up the jet. A black woman sitting in the corner in a gray suit caught my eye and just proved my suspicions-his handler.

I grimaced as I took a sit across from her. The drug was wearing off. And my brace was fucking uncomfortable. “The three initials. I didn’t see this coming.”

“You almost ruined my operation, and blew his cover, Mr. Linden.” This woman showed no emotion. Her dark eyes bore mine.

“Well, you should have said something without me getting broken bones and punches, and my wife would probably let me sleep outside the room for a month. We could have pretended that.”

I felt the jet moving. I buckled in.

“Congratulations.”

“For what?”

“You got married and a kid on the way.”

“Thanks. We’re flying. So this is where you’ll throw me off the plane without a parachute?”

She then picked up something from her bag and dropped it on the table. Inside the ziplock bag were my passport, ID, and cash. My watch was in it too.

“I was thinking about it if you blew his cover. I worked hard for this operation for months, and there you go, the hero you are, trying to save his best friend.”

“More than my best friend. You sent that image from the CCTV, the access card, and the coordinates. Who’s fault is that?”

“Do you think only the Hover has that kind of advanced technology?”

“If I hadn’t known, your agency is one of their secret government partners.”

“Say no more.”

“So you’re the one who gave that info to Hanslo.”

“No. Jasper did. He did what I said to his father to make his cover story more convincing, and because of his father and family history, he fit perfectly for the role. And besides, you all are gonna be involved because of him. And you bought it.”

“But Vasilyev is a relative of Yelena Ivanov.”

“Yes. That part is true.”

“You know those are criminals, but what is his mission?”

“It’s classified.” Of course. I would be surprised if she told me.

I just rolled my eyes at the woman, who I didn’t even catch her name. “Let me guess. I can’t know your name too.”

“It’s that way.”

“What is it for him?”

“A job in a government, a purpose, a little adventure. And Hanslo will be given early parole.”

I leaned back. “That’s good enough for me.”

“I thought you’d say that. Mr. Linden, our paths may cross again. I may need your help, but this meeting never takes place.”

“Copy that, ma’am.”