Chapter 23


    Belle''s POV


    "Victoria, before we continue, may we wee the newest member of the Wives Circle?" Said one of


    the wives to Victoria, the one presiding the meeting. Mrs. Stepford looked like she did not appreciate


    the suggestion at all and she''s not even trying to hide it. I admire her though, she doesn''t seem to care


    that Niki and Alexei are in the audience. She dislikes me and she''s owning it.


    "We have begun our meeting more than twenty minutes ago. She came crashing and interrupting the


    meeting with not so much of a courtesy. I don''t think thedy needs any more introduction." Replied


    Victoria, ncing at me momentarily and then looking back to her notes.


    I can hear chattering from the people outside the velvet rope the moment she said that. Some of the


    wives on the table have smiles on their faces while others, I mean most of them looked surprised.


    So this is why the people close to my heart warn me against attending this meeting? Just because of


    some petty and insignificant power struggle? I''m just holding back myself from rolling my eyes so hard.


    The Conglomerate is a criminal organization, it''s not like we are doing good for the world or something.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Part of me regrets going through the hassle of facing my acrophobia and punching my husband in the


    face all because of this. I could have been sleeping my pregnant ass at the rest house at this very


    moment but no, Mary Arabe Volkov wanted to prove a point.


    I notice that the wives are also wearing their own unique rings representing each crime family. And the


    one that Victoria is wearing is almost dark purple. I know very well that she only has one vote and


    perhaps she will get some other votes from the other wives.


    I let out an automatic scoff. Victoria is being a bitch but she can''t back it up. That''s so frigginme.


    I made sure that Niki''s ring is in ce before I connected my gaze on Axel, who is now drinking and


    smoking a cigar with some other Bosses. I showed her the back of my hand hoping he gets my signal.


    A naughty smirk slowly appears on his face when our eyes met. As much as I hate his guts, I know that


    if pushes to shove his two votes will y a huge difference. Since Axel is single, ording to the


    rules, he can assign his ring to whomever he wants. Same as with Artan, the man who always has my


    back and fought my husband, the devil himself, just to get me.


    Axel De Alba downs his liquor and then went to Artan. They talked for a few seconds before Axel


    signaled the person guarding the velvet rope to let him in. Like the Boss that he really is, he walks with


    that certain electrifying presence and approached the wives table like a friggin god. Upon his signal, his


    own Conglomerate chair was ced beside me, to the amusement and bewilderment of the people


    around us. He crossed his legs over the other and smoothly removed the royal blue vintage diamond


    ring from his ring finger. I try so hard not to roll my eyes at him. He could have just lent me the female


    version of his ring. Not his own damn ring! And he could just have someone deliver the ring to me. But


    no, he really wants to make a scene.


    He then gently caught my hand and inserted his ring around my pointer finger. He kisses his ring first


    and then the back of my hand. "Mi amorcita Belle. I never thought my ring would caress such a delicate


    hand."


    "Yah yah. I got it from here De Alba." Said Niki who just appeared from nowhere. He removes my


    hand from Axel''s and then sat to my right. He forces my right hand to hisp and then ced an


    icepack on my now bruised knuckles.


    I don''t know if I''m going to be mad because of his possessiveness or I''m just going to appreciate his


    sweet gesture of tending to my bruise -- the result of the punch thatnded on his beautiful face.


    s, my love for the man prevailed over everything else. I squeeze his thigh gently, letting him know


    that I appreciate him doing this. He''s looking down straight on my knuckles, his dark green eyesced


    with worry and madness at the same time. It''s quite frightening really.


    Axel just lets out a smirk and to my surprise, kisses me on my hair. Thank goodness Niki is so


    focused on my hand he did not see what Axel just did. I looked at the Cartel Boss and shook my head


    at him signaling not to taunt Niki further.


    "Niki, Axel please?" I said, hoping that they realize how bad I want to do this on my own. I know that


    more than anything else, they are here to protect me but I will just look like the spineless little wife of


    Volkov if I let them continue doing this.


    Axel stood up from his chair and buttoned back his tuxedo. He nods to the other wives as he excuses


    himself from the table. My husband on the other hand still did not budge. I did not have a choice but to


    stand up to talk to him somewhere private.


    When we are already alone, Niki pulled me towards him for a tight embrace. "I''m going to crush the


    German Mob. And that woman will kneel in front of you, begging for her life."


    Oh my goodness. "Niki, look at me. You are not going to do that. Promise me?"


    "I don''t make promises I have no intention to fulfill." He retorted.


    "You have to trust me. I will handle this. Okay? I know what to do with Victoria." I pleaded.


    "She disrespected you in front of everyone, she disrespected me. They will y dirty. And you my pure


    and innocent love is above that. You are above all those women."


    Instead of getting mad, my stupid heart just melted like a heated marshmallow. This man knows the


    exact words to say to leave me weak in the knees.


    This must be the reason why he doesn''t want me to attend the wives'' meeting. He doesn''t want me to


    end up being like the women of the conglomerate. In his own words, I am his pure and innocent love.


    "I''m doing my best to shield you from my world, but things are not going as I nned. I am losing


    control of the situation. And I don''t like losing control, especially when ites to you." He cups my


    face gently with his strong and veiny hands.


    "Niki, I am still the same, I am still your Belle. And trust me; you are still in full control of the


    situation, in full control of me. I just need a little breathing space. I need you to just trust me this time.


    Please?"


    "Just this time?" He replied.


    "Uhm maybe twice or thrice more in the near future?" I said teasing him. He just shook his head at me.


    "Promise me if I handle this meeting, you will not retaliate against the German Mob? "


    "Handle how? You have to be specific here woman. I am hanging by a very thin thread right now."


    "I will preside the meeting, taking over Victoria''s role. And that sparkly ss bell she''s holding? That''s


    going to be mine before the night ends." I answered without hesitation.


    This time, a small smile formed on Niki''s face. I know he will agree to this. Either way, we get to do


    something against the German Mob, if not his way, then my own little way. I just wish that I get to win


    this though. Niki''s way is going to be bloody and possibly will cause a rift in the Conglomerate.


    "Alright. I will wait." He replied.


    "You have to promise Niki!"


    "I told you, I make no promises I do not intend to fulfill. I will consider your proposal. First, show me


    what you got."


    Shit. He''s good. Do people even win against this man ever?


    "Okay. But first I need to see Alexei, where is he?" I need him badly. He''s been out of my sight for a


    while now. It''s like there''s this huge void in my heart when he''s not beside me.


    Niki nods towards Alexei''s direction. The man is at the Bar, drinking by himself and smoking.


    "What''s the matter with your brother?"


    "He just needs his princess."


    I wanted to give myself a good smack in the head seeing the other love of my life like this. There could


    be a lot of reasons why he''s by himself looking all serious while slowly drowning himself in alcohol but I


    think I know precisely the reason why. I told Niki I need to talk to his brother alone and so my ever-


    loving husband obliged.


    I went to Alexei and instantly hugged him from his side. I do not care if there are people from the


    conglomerate around us. My rtionship with Niki and Alexei is nobody''s business but mine and the


    Volkov Brothers.


    It caught him by surprise but when he figured it was me, he immediately pressed the tip of his cigar on


    the ashtray and blew the smoke away from my direction.


    I then moved the chair right next to him and made sure that there''s not an inch of gap between the two


    of us. I took his huge and veiny hands and kissed his ring while looking him straight in the eye.


    "I need you there." I said while cing his hand on my thigh.


    "Nah. You''ve got the two heads of the Conglomerate on your side. You''re good."


    I . Knew. It.


    Alexei rarely gets jealous but when he does, he bes stubborn and some serious Volkov tantrums


    happen.