Chapter 43
Belle''s POV
The private ne Artemis, is now at the tarmac as we wait for our turn to take off. Seconds from now, I
am finally free. My life in New York ising to a bittersweet end -- bitter because of all the things that
I went through for falling in love with Niki and Alexei and sweet because of the tiny little angels in my
womb that I will never regret having.
I will protect them the best way I know in Pwi and I will raise them rightfully as theirst names,
Volkov. I will be fair to them and I will not deprive them of the fact that their fathers are Niki
Vyachev Volkov and Alexei Viktor Volkov. They will grow up with so much love surrounding them.
They will have the most amazing grandparents, uncle Devon, Aunt Amy and a mother who will never
All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.
give up on them no matter what.
"Artemis is such a hot name. I think it''s a name built under the foundation of testosterone and strength."
Said Amy, breaking the silence inside the ne. "I wonder what Artemis looks like. Artan is such a
daddy. He must have got the good genes from him."
I just shook my head on her. I know she''s trying to make light of the situation but I am honestly not in
the mood. I feel like my insides are twisting as I sit anxiously.
"I got to give it to Mr. Bogdani though, drunk and broken-hearted or not, the Albanian Mob Boss always
Amy told me on our way to the airport that Artan was out of reach since ourst conversation. His men
were worried because he kept himself in his room, not talking to anyone except when he orders them
to bring alcohol. Dn said that after Aria was brought to the hospital to check on her uncles, she was
immediately sent to the safe house. This usually happens on two asions, one if there is a mob war
going on, or Artan is going through something that he doesn''t want Aria to see. Dn thinks both
reasons are equally true. They are preparing for the consequences of the fallout from the Russian
Mafia and Artan doesn''t want Aria to see him in this situation.
When my father asked help from him, he never thought twice. He immediately sent help without regard
to the consequences. That man is so stubborn I honestly don''t know what I will do with him anymore. If
I know that Pa will ask help from him, I would not have agreed to it. It will just cause unnecessary harm
to the people who will get involved.
Sooner orter, I know I have to thank him for doing this huge favor for our family. As for now however,
I don''t think I can forgive him just yet for lying to me all this time. I trusted him with all my heart and yet
he betrayed me just the same.
My heart started to beat at an abnormal pace as the ne approaches the runway for takeoff. I don''t
know what exactly to think much less to feel. I close my eyes as uncertainty seeps into my veins like
gravity that is pulling me back.
Am I doing the right decision? Is leaving my marriage with Niki and Alexei the right thing to do? Is
abandoning them while they are both in the hospital, a decision that I will regret someday?
I took a deep breath and tighten my grip around the armrest of my seat as I try my very best not to give
in to my doubts. I am leaving New York City. I am leaving my life away from the Russian Mafia and
away from Niki and Alexei.
-
Meanwhile at St. Michael''s Hospital
Niki is lying beside his brother while reading the book for expecting dads that his brother bought for
him in Colombia. He is talking to him in Russian as if Alexei could hear him.
"Can you believe that brother? Babies will poop four to five times a day? That''s so much poop! Fucking
hell. I have twins."
"What''s that?" He continued, as he connects his ear close to his brother''s mouth as if he could hear
him whisper. "That''s what I''m thinking. It''s on page 9. It says here that sometimes, mums will have an
excess amount of breast milk. And you know what they do? They use this device called a breast pump
to calm the titties. I don''t think our queen will need this device often, yah? That''s what husbands are for.
To help and give the wife all thefort she needs. If both titties needfort, you take one side and
I''ll take the other. If only one titty needsfort, we take turns."
"Boss, we have a small problem." Says Yuri as he enters the hospital room interrupting Niki''s one-
sided conversation with Alexei.
"We have traced five private nes all taking off at the same time bound to Pwi in different locations
in New York. We don''t have much time to pinpoint the exact ne or airport."
Niki stepped down from the bed and put his jacket on. He then sat down calmly while crossing his
arms over his chest. "Do you think my wife is in one of those five nes Yuri?"
"No. I think the five nes are decoys." He answered with a tone of certainty.
Niki walked towards the window and pulled the blinds to have a view of the New York skyline. He
thought to himself that Yuri might be right, the nes are just decoys to distract them from finding the
right ce where the Galves'' will take off. But that''s not about to stop him from getting his wife back.
"Papa''s good. The old man walks his talk."
"What''s the n?" Asks Yuri, obvious sense of urgency on his tone.
"Make the call. Ground every single fucking ne leaving New York in the next 10 minutes."
Yuri was taken aback at first as he knows the extent and seriousness of what his Boss is trying to say.
Nevertheless, he obliges as he also thinks that this is the best chance they have at the moment to stop
Belle from leaving. If they do not make it on time, they will have to take down a whole nation just to get
the wife back.
This is the most efficient and urgent way. Grounding every single ne even if that means pulling some
major strings that the Russian Mafia holds. It''s a genius idea, Yuri thought to himself. One of the
reasons why Niki is the Mafia Boss that everyone fears in the underworld. Perhaps the one man
who thinks beyond evil and exactly does what he means.
-
5 minutester....
Belle''s POV
I am going to kill him!
I swear I will strangle him to death! That man knows no limit to his wickedness. This is him, I am sure of
that. We were seconds from take-off but we were not given the clearance at the veryst moment.
Apparently, the air traffic office received information that there''s a bomb in one of the nes leaving
New York at the exact same time that we were to take off. Can you believe that? He jeopardized other
people''s time and safety just because he wants to stop our ne from leaving. He caused a major
disruption to the whole of New York for his own selfish reason.
"B, calm yourself. You look so flushed."
"Niki did this! Now we can''t leave indefinitely because of his doing! I thought that the man is passed
out in the hospital or something, apparently, even in his unconscious state he still can do such awful
thing like this!"
"Stop pacing back and forth Arabe, you''re just stressing yourself." Said my mother. And if I don''t
know any better I would think that she favors our canceled flight back home. She''s just literally sipping
her wine with such relief and calmness coupled with a smirk and a crimson face. Geez Ma. Pace
yourself. How drunk are you?
I removed the ss of wine from her hand and requested the server in the lounge to remove the bottle
from our table but she grabbed the wine instead and signaled the server to leave.
"I am mad Mama! You know what I want to do right now? I want to find him and give him one good
punch in the throat!"
"Oh! Like what you did to him in that meeting -when Niki sent you to the safe house but you still
came looking for him stubbornly? You had that Papa''s girl attitude with you since you were a little girl
Ara. Don''t tell your Father but your Pa was so proud of you for standing up for yourself against the
Russian Mafia Boss and all the Bosses'' wives in that meeting." She said under her breath as she
finishes her sentence and eventually realizing she''s saying things she should not have known.
"Mama, how did you know of that?"
She looks like she''s been caught stealing from the cookie jar with that unapologetic yet cheeky look on
her face. My mother is an angel and she rarely drinks alcohol, however this time she looks like she''s
genuinely having fun and my father- who is her best friend and number one promoter of her happiness
doesn''t look like he''s going to burst my mama''s bubble.
"Uhm, okay. So Niki and Alexei- those two handsome men of yours- they keep in touch with us
almost everyday Arabe. Why do you think we don''t worry about you even if you barely call or update
us about your situation here? Your Pa and I know almost everything that''s happening with you. Well, at
least your men''s version of events I suppose."
I honestly don''t know what to think let alone feel about this. I don''t know if I am going to be d
because they reach out to my parents or mad because I did not have a single idea about it.
"Ara, listen to me okay? Niki and Alexei have been regrly sending money to Pwi. They have
been funding projects to build schools, hospitals and facilities to bring electricity and clean water to far-
flungmunities. This week we are to inaugurate a building for an organization that rescues
abandoned children. Niki specifically requested that project because he knows how important this is
to you. He once told us that he severed your job at St. Mary''s School because he''s sure that you will
have your te full when he puts up your own charitable organization consolidating every project he
has funded in Pwi and that includes St. Mary''s school. He took over majority control of that school
because oF you. All of these were supposed to be Niki and Alexei''s surprise birthday gift for you.
They were preparing for it months ago. I just don''t understand what happened why they forgot about it
on the day itself. It did not make sense to me and still does not until now."
I know why. In the middle of a mob war, the conglomerate meeting, my severe allergic reaction which
was an attack against the Russian Mafia, my pregnancy, and Yelena''s death anniversary-was my
birthday. Still, this does not erase the fact that they did not remember. Instead, they were mourning
their sister sh lover''s death on my own birthday. We were fighting and they used me of eloping
with Artan right before my very special day.
Them forgetting my birthday was only the tip of the iceberg. Truth is, it was just the confirmation of my
doubts as to the extent of the lies hidden from me by Niki and Alexei, particrly of their rtionship
with her.
"Now let''s not forget that they have their shorings-and we all do. I am not in any way condoning
whatever behavior they had that made you decide to turn your back from your marriage Arabe. I
respect that, that''s why me and your Pa support your decision. All I am saying is, in every rtionship,
especially in marriage, problems like this arise. And the best way to put things into perspective is to
"But auntie, what if there''s nothing left to talk about? What if all the things that you need toe up
with the wisest decision are allid down in front of you and there''s nothing left but to just leave?"
"Well, Amylinda, in that case, you still try. Rtionships work because two -or three-people in the
rtionship choose to work things out. Arabe''s father and I have been through the worst possible
situations but we came out stronger every time. Circumstances will test your rtionship and it''s on
you if you raise your white g or continue pushing through. Right now, it''s Niki and Alexei who want
the rtionship to work and I don''t see them stopping anytime sooner."
My mother might be right but in our case, Niki and Alexei had all the time to tell me and to
exnation can change that fact.
-
Phone conversation between Niki and the General.
Niki: Papa
General Galves: Niki, do I have to ask you why New York City is in total chaos right now because of
a purportedly terrorist bombing attack?
Niki: Pa, your daughter did not give me any choice. She and my babies are the reason why this life
is worth living for. I am not just going to give up without fighting to save our marriage, even if she has
given up on me.
General Galves: Now we are stranded in the airport and I have no doubt that you already know that I
have relieved our security details after we boarded the ne.
Niki: I have sent an advance party and they are on their way to your location as we speak. Dimitri is
in charge. He will stay with you until I arrive there. I''m on my way.
General Galves: I thought you''re sick?
Niki: I am just probably- sick in the head Papa. You''re daughter ticks off a lot of buttons in my head I
never knew existed.
General Galves: You know Niki, when a man tells me that he''s sick in the head, I tend to believe
him. But don''t me that on my daughter. You are sick in the head, period.
Niki: (snickered) (short silence) Pa, how is she?
General Galves: (Looks back towards Belle and sees how mad Belle is. She''s fisting her hands, red as
a tomato, fuming in anger.) She''s calm. I''m sure she wants to see you right now.
After his conversation with his father-inw, Niki buttons his cufflinks as he thinks of his next n to
get Belle back. He adjusts his tie and jacket in ce and then kisses his brother''s forehead, "She''s
definitely crazy mad right now brother. I hope she doesn''t hurt her hand after smashing it to my face. I
won''t be here to see you back to the mansion but I promise to bring her home tonight. Open your eyes
when you can. Do it for me, for Belle and the twins. Okay? We will be waiting for you."
He signals the hospital staff that it''s okay to move his brother to the other bed to start his transfer from
the hospital back to the Volkov Mansion. Niki is certain that Alexei prefers it this way.
-
Belle''s POV
My heart is pounding inside my ribcage. I just saw Dimitri talking to my father and he looks like he''s
staying or waiting for someone. Alexei''s men are here and they are now surrounding the lounge area
as if something will happen to us.
I really have a bad feeling about this. So I confided with Amy to eves drop to their conversation. She''s
now on her way back to me like something urgent is happening.
"What A?"
"Omg B! Niki ising. He''sing to fetch us."
Oh my goodness. So it was really him who caused this. Now it makes me think that he was awake
when I came to visit them in the hospital to say my goodbyes.
For some reason, part of me feels relieved because now at least I know he''s fine. A huge part of me
however, feels terrified. Yes I want to punch him in the face but not now! Maybeter or some other
time. Right now, I don''t want to see him! I am not ready to see him.
"A. You need to help me. Where''s Devon?"
"He left to arrange our return to the embassy. Dimitri was insisting that we are all gonna go to the
Volkov mansion, they are just waiting for Niki to arrive but your Papa did not agree. The General
wants to go back to the embassy."
"We will not go back to the embassy. That''s not going to happen. When Niki says something we can
be sure as frigging hell he''s going to do it. No matter what or who he is dealing with."
"Hmm. I doubt that B. The General''s decision will prevail. Wanna bet?"
"I don''t have time for that right now. I don''t want to see Niki A!"
She looks around in defeat. "Uhm, B. In case you haven''t noticed. We are surrounded by the Russians.
Your womb has two half Russians. We have nowhere to go to escape these damn Russian men."
Well, I can. And I will not be forced into this situation. "Get your things. We are leaving A."
"Ooooh. Like a true mafia wife." Amy said with beaming pride.
"Correction! Soon to be EX mafia wife."
"Yas! So how are we gonna do this?"
I hushed her and went in my parent''s direction. "Mama, Papa I am tired, can we go back to the
embassy now? Are you okay to leave now Pa?"
"Baby Madame, you are not safe without a security detail."
"I''m not talking to you Dimitri." I darted him a sharp look but he just shakes his head as if telling me not
to do it.
It''s a good thing that his phone rang and so I took the chance to signal Amy, Papa and Mama toe
with me to leave.
For some unexpected reason, Dimitri who often doesn''t ept no for an answer did not even attempt
to follow us. He just stood there arrogantly while adjusting his tie with this evil smirk on his face.
I''m already dialing Dn''s number as we walk towards the exit of the lounge area when my heart
started to bang in my chest. As if being under a spell, everyone''s attention is now focused on someone
scarily familiar entering the VIP lounge.
His piercing green eyes connected to mine and in an instant caused chills to run down my spine. His
tattoos and that damn wolf head appear very prominently,plementing his white shirt inside a vest
and a ck jacket.
What in the world is this devil doing here when just a while ago he was passed out in the hospital? He
looks so serious, I involuntarily stepped back as if some kind of a survival reflex.
"Oh my God! Mr. Lucifer Volkov is here." Said Amy. I know it''s bad when I can actually sense fear in her
voice.
Niki halted a few steps from me as if inspecting every inch of my body. I got so conscious I had to
cradle my pregnant belly in utter embarrassment. Like, can you please not do that Niki? You''re
getting so much unnecessary attention.
The man hasn''t spoken a single word and yet everyone around him is already under his spell. The
Volkov effect.
I had to force myself to disconnect from his stare and walk away but it instantly became a futile act. My
body swung as he pulls me to his side and then wraps his other hand over my back to put me in a tight
embrace.
At this point, the world around us seemed to stop moving. Everything stood still. Niki holds me so
firmly to his chest that for a few moments my body did not have much of a choice but to give in. It
doesn''t help that he smells so damn good that when I close my eyes, I feel like I am in our room in the
mansion, just snuggling with him and Alexei by the firece.
At this point, the warmth of his body against mine havepletely put my guard down. He holds me
around the back of my neck gently to force me to look him straight into those dark green eyes. With his
thick Russian ent, he spoke the words that wereing from his wicked heart, "Baby, pleasee
home. Alexei and I are waiting for you. Come home."