Chapter 28
There was complete media frenzy behind the bomb attack
on Mother Russia and the Medlov compound. Outlets
from across the nation stood outside of the gates of Dmitry‟
s home discussing the murder of a young shopkeeper
and the attempted assassination of a millionaire of questionable
character with alleged ties to the Vory v Zakone by his
crime boss brother, Ivan Medlov, who headed the Memphis
Medlov Organized Crime Family.
Obviously, the media had it all wrong, which was good
for the men who had survived the attack and for his son,
who was now the head of the family, but it was not good
for his most apparent and haunting dilemma.
For nearly 15 years, Dmitry avoided his name ever making
one newspapers regarding his possible connections to
the mafia, and now his face was splashed across CNN,
MSNBC and Fox News along with newspapers nationwide.
He had no choice. He had to leave.
Three months had passed and although the house repaired
and the restaurant rebuilt, there were several undercover
investigations going on by the MPD, FBI, ICE, DEA
and the IRS. Dmitry was embattled, yet none of his worries
outweighed the pain he felt for Royal.
He sat in the back of the limo as it escorted him now to
the private airstrip, where he had made arrangements to fly
to Prague to his new luxury villa that awaited him with a full
staff and a newer life.
He also had purchased two large storefronts in the middle
of Prague 1 district, where he had already started a new
restaurant and an upscale clothing store called Royal Flush,
just as he had promised her.
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348
A staff had already been picked and both would be
open within the week. Besides, he had done everything that
he could here. Dmitry's Closet and Mother Russia belonged to
Anatoly now. There was nothing more to fix, no more
reason to linger.
"What are you thinking about?" Royal asked, taking off
her shades.
Dmitry put his hand on her knee and sighed. "You.
This is big move so early in your recovery. I‟m not sure that
you even need to be out of the bed."
"I‟m ready." She rubbed her growing stomach. "I
think we both are. This place is just a memory now. It‟s
time to move and time for you to stop treating me like
I‟m made of glass."
The diamonds sparkled from her neck. Dmitry had
purchased a three-million dollar diamond necklace,
designed specifically to cover the large knife mark that
Ivan had left when he tried to claim her life.
"Prague is a good change. Somewhere new where no
one knows me or you," she said confidently. "I can feel it.
Everything is going to be fine."
Dmitry raised his brow. "They know me, but there is
no need to worry. I won‟t be boss in Czech Republic. I‟ll
be shop keeper like you."
"Well, we‟ll finally have something in common."
The limo stopped on the airstrip and the driver
opened the door.
"Mrs. Medlov," he said, offering his hand.
"Umm, I never get tired of hearing that name," Royal
said, taking his hand and smiling.
"Good, because you‟re going to hear it for the rest of
your life." Dmitry stepped out after her.
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349
There was not one cloud in the sky, and spring had
brought fresh clean air, warm weather and unexplainable
beauty. Memphis was wonderful that way, always offering
all four seasons in full. Royal would miss that.
As soon as the sun hit Royal‟s necklace, it lit up the
airstrip. Dmitry smiled. No matter where she went for
the rest of her days, he would make sure that her lifestyle
reflected her name. She would live like a queen. He
would see to it.
"Are you sure that you‟re ready to leave this all behind?"
he asked, straightening his linen suit.
He stood beside her taller and more hauntingly beautiful
than ever. His blonde hair brandished streaks of new
gray. His eyes wore lines beside them where talons of life
had clawed at his face in the middle of sleepless nights.
But his heart was warm and content. The love he now
possessed radiated past the physical and transformed him
into something one could only admire.
"Everyone already thinks that I‟m dead thanks to
Cory and your doctor," Royal said as their bodyguards
escorted them. "I might as well start a new life."
He stole a look at his wife. Strong. Beautiful. Resilient.
She had stood by him until her end. She had
endured the sins of his life with more dignity than even
he could, and she had done so at his expense with no
blame.
I owe you everything, he thought to himself. It was a
recurring though lately. His existence was no longer
complete without her.
He grabbed her hand and led her to their private jet.
This was the end of their stories apart and the beginning
of their one life together. God only knew what was
in store.
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350
Dmitry had been by Royal‟s side the entire time of
her recovery. Every time that she woke, he was there to
take care of her – feed her, bathe her, dress her, read to
her. Every need had been met. Every promise kept. He
did so with little to no sleep. He barely ate. He never
stopped worrying.
He paid the coroner, doctors, lawyers, police and the
local judges millions to stay out of jail and out of court –
to keep his secret of Royal‟s survival.
All that he cared for was her health. It had been his
dedication that kept her and his blooming daughter alive.
And it had been New York and Moscow that had
come in to help the transition go smoothly. He had their
blessings and therefore their protection. Men came in
droves from across the world. They replenished the
ranks and worked faithfully under the Medlov Family‟s
newest boss.
Upon her recovery, Dmitry and Royal were married
in their home with only Cory and Anatoly to witness a
quaint, private ceremony. She could never again call her
adopted family or see Renée but the trade was worth it.
She wished them all well.
Royal had known no pain after that horrible night
with Ivan and no greater pleasure than being married to a
man that seemed to live to provide her complete happiness.
For weeks after Ivan‟s attack, Royal had been displaced.
The transfusions, the pain pills, the nightmares
overwhelmed her. For weeks, she could feel his large
hands on her body, his tongue in her mouth, his scent on
her skin. She remembered the thrust of his hips and the
cut of his blade. But with her healing, resolve had come.
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351
Ivan‟s death had been retribution for his crimes against
her.
Royal looked up just in time to see Dmitry lean over
and kiss her lips softly.
"Let‟s get the hell out of here, Mrs. Medlov."
She and her entourage boarded and relaxed as the
stewardess seated them and prepared the passengers for
takeoff.
Quietly, Dmitry sent Anatoly a text. It simply read,
"From a father to a son, thank you."
Anatoly smiled as he read it. He sped through the
streets of Memphis in his father‟s old Mercedes-Benz
with a new lease on life and a new woman in the passenger
seat.
"Good Luck, Papa," he texted back. "I hope that you
enjoy your new boring life cooking borscht and chasing brats."
Dmitry smiled and deleted the text.
"Everything okay, baby?" Royal asked, touching his
arm.
"Everything is perfect, sweetheart," he said, grabbing
the champagne off the tray as the stewardess passed.