Her Volkovs #Book 4

Chapter 38

Belle's POV

"Artan, can you take this with you and give it to Aria in the morning? I am sure she will love it." I asked,

referring to the pretty chocolate cake the man had for my birthday.

"Sure, but you know what she's going to like more?" He said with a naughty smile on his face. "This."

He continued as he wipes the white frosting of the chocolate cake on top of my nose.

"Seriously!? Omg. What's that?" I said, pointing to his side.

For a second he looked over his shoulder which gave me the chance to get back at him. The icing

however, just landed on his lips.

"That was a good one." He said with a smile on his face. I just giggled.

I was about to wipe my nose with the napkin but the man insisted that he will do it. I tried so hard not to

make eye contact because our proximity will make it really awkward.

"Baby." He said as he continues stroking my nose gently.

"Hmm?"

"Hasn't it occurred to you that you might have chosen the wrong Drug Lord?" He asked with a hint of

naughtiness and at the same time, I felt like it was a question truly from his heart.

I smack him with the napkin that I am holding and then wiped the icing off of his lips. The man just

chuckles in response.

"The night at the restaurant, I could swear you were kind of --- you know, feeling some way because I

was with that lady." He said, referring to that incident in the restaurant before we were attacked by the

Germans.

I kind of had a feeling that my actions that night might be interpreted as such by Artan but really, my

main concern was him drinking too much again. Of course, I was curious as well.

"Oh, so you're dating her?"

"Dating is not for a man like me. The life that I was born into does have some downsides, I am sure you

are familiar with. " He replied.

"Nikolai once told me that he does not date. That it's not really his thing. I thought it just comes with

being a Boss. I mean, you get what or who you want with no questions asked."

"I have learned the hardest way that a Boss does not get what or who he wants all the time." He

retorted. I know what he is implying.

"Artan."

"All I'm saying is, we can't just let ourselves fall into the trap of thinking that we are living a normal life.

Bringing someone in our lives, especially if that someone is not from our world could potentially be the

biggest mistake we could ever make."

I somehow understand him, this was the reason why Nikolai and I broke up last time. He was afraid

that I might end up like his sister. He thought that it was a mistake that he dragged me into his world.

He's thinking that something might happen to me because of him that is why he chose to let me go.

"Then why did you still want me if you think that you could put me in danger? I was a normal person

living a normal life before I met Nikolai, Alexei, and you." I asked out of curiosity.

He stood up from my side and went back to his seat across the table. "Because the heart does not

listen to reason."

The heart does not listen to reason.

Whomever this man ends up with someday must be very lucky. Yes, he ticks all the boxes of being

dangerous and controlling sprinkled with craziness and stubbornness on top, but he is also a man who

can make a woman fall head over heels for him because of his heart. Just like my Nikolai and Alexei.

A song is playing in the background as Artan drives us back to the mansion. It's a slowed-down version

of a popular old song and it actually sounds obsessive and kind of stalker-ish. I just smiled because it

really jives with the man's personality. He gently brushes his conglomerate ring that I'm wearing while

holding my hand.

He's looking at the rearview and the side mirrors and I think that he noticed something from behind. We

then slowly pulled over.

"What's wrong Artan?"

"Hold on, baby." He said. He stepped out of the car and sat on the side of the hood. He then crossed

his arms over the other. An SUV from the back pulled over in front of us and out came his men. I

recognize them all too well. That's Dardan, Artan's right-hand man, Adnan and Besian who seems to

be the youngest of the three.

Artan signals them to come to him with a flick of his fingers. Uh-oh. Looks like some Albanian men are

in trouble. It appears that they are following us without Artan's consent.

-

Artan: The fuck are you three doing? Why are you so spent in my personal life?

Dardan: We just want to make sure you're okay Boss.

Adnan: Whatever it is that you decide to do with Ms. Belle, we have your back.

Artan: You make it sound like I'm a fucking psycho Adnan.

Besian: Uhm, Boss. Respectfully. You stayed in the hotel with Volkov's wife for more than four hours.

Spending that amount of time in a place where you could have privacy with the most untouchable

woman in the underworld--- especially if you're not from the Russian Mafia and you have some kind of

a past with her--- could cost you your life. That to me is a telltale sign of--- (halts as Dardan nudges

him)

Artan: We will continue this conversation back home since you have a lot to say Besian.

-

Belle's POV

"They are just looking after you Artan. They care for you that's why."

"Those three are just nosey. They have this penchant to know everything that's happening about me.

They don't observe boundaries." He replied.

"And I think that's a good thing. Since you don't have a wife yet, think of them as your mob wife divided

into three minus the marriage and the sex."

His eyebrows wrinkled while glancing at me, "That's disgusting baby."

I just giggled at the silliness of our conversation.

"Going back to my question a while ago, were you with that woman that night?"

He smiled from ear to ear, looking so content of himself. "We're still talking about that?"

"I'm just curious, okay?" I added, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"She's an escort. Axel wanted some lady companion that night."

"Hmm. I see. Axel is a bad influence for you Artan. Did you know that he kissed me when Nikolai

wasn't looking at the Conglomerate meeting? That man is bad news I'm telling you." I said jokingly.

"You remind him of someone close to his heart." Replied Artan. Regret painted on his face the moment

the words rolled out of his mouth.

Suddenly, the night took a sour turn. I had a strong feeling about whom Artan is referring to. For a

moment I wanted to let it go but there's this unsettling feeling that I could not just let pass.

"You mean, I remind him of Yelena?"

"Baby."

"Who's Yelena to Axel?"

"There are things about Yelena that I am in no position to tell." He replied.

Fine. If he does not want to tell me about Yelena's apparent connection with Axel I won't insist. I have

Axel's number, I can ask him myself anytime.

"How about you Artan? What's your connection with Yelena? I'm pretty sure you are in the position to

tell me about it right?"

"Babe."

"You may or may not tell me, it's up to you. I am still going to find out sooner than later. It's just a matter

of time really. So what's it going to be?"

The man clenched his jaw, his Adam's apple moved as he knows that he has no other choice but to tell

me the truth.

-

The ride on our way back to the mansion was painfully silent--- just the way I wanted it. After what

Artan told me about him and Yelena tonight, my view of my relationship with him and everyone around

me who had a connection with her has changed. I doubt if these people truly care for me or they are

just simply seeing Yelena in me.

Aria is Yelena and Artan's daughter. The little girl is not only Nikolai's goddaughter but she's also his

niece. That is why every time Aria comes close to him, the Russian Mafia Boss who is virtually

coldhearted and indifferent to other people suddenly becomes warm and gentle. She is his beloved

sister's child. She is blood. This is also the reason why at the Conglomerate meeting, when I really

thought that the Albanian Mob transferred allegiance to the Cabana Cartel, Aria was wearing the

Volkov colors. Artan said that Aria will always be with the Russian Mafia's side.

"Why did Nikolai let Aria be with you?" I asked, breaking the ice.

"She's my daughter. She's a Bogdani as much as she's a Volkov. And Yelena made sure that Aria stays

with me even before she died." He answered, looking at the road straight ahead.

I did not inquire further as I am already too exhausted and to be honest I feel so betrayed.

"Baby.."

"Please stop Artan. Just take me home. I am tired."

He tried to hold my hand but I did not let him. "I just don't want you to think that I did this on purpose. I

would never hurt you. Volkov asked me to give him time to tell you the truth about Yelena."

So they are all in on this? They will keep the truth from me until my husband gathers enough courage

to tell me about Yelena? Is that it? This made me feel even more upset about the whole situation. I just

don't get why they had to do this.

I did not speak a single word until we arrived in the mansion. I did not wait for him to open the car door

for me. I got out and pulled his conglomerate ring from my finger.

"From now on, I do not want to see you or Aria. I will just hurt the little girl every time we see each other

because she might be associating me as her mother. Let us not keep her hopes up and betray her

trust, like what you and everyone around me just did."

"Baby, that is not fair!" Artan exclaimed.

"Stop calling me baby because I am not your baby. I am not Yelena."

"Listen, Yelena and I..."

I did not let him finish because I have heard enough to infer that he cares for me because I remind him

of Yelena and nothing more. "Thank you for everything that you did for my birthday. I will wire you the

money for the cost of my parents' plane tickets and the hotel accommodation." I placed the ring on the

hood of his car because the man would not accept it. I got inside the mansion without looking back. I

just heard the engine of his sports car roar as he sped away.

My tears are threatening to fall so I halted and took a deep breath. I did not realize how painful it is to

say goodbye to Artan until now. It's like a piece of my heart has been ripped away. I always thought that

I could count on him, to be honest with me, but just the same he broke my heart.

-

The party for Yelena is over. Nikolai and Alexei are already home when I arrived and when I asked

Dimitri where his Bosses are, he looked at me like I did something wrong like I was in trouble.

The two are in the garage which is actually a building beside the mansion where they keep their cars

and bikes. I went inside and saw the two working on the engine of a vintage car. Nikolai is wearing

denim pants without a shirt on while his brother who just got out from the driver's seat is wearing ripped

jeans and a shirt. They look sweaty and it seems like they have been here for a while. When they

noticed me, they both just went on with what they are doing.

I do not plan on telling them about my birthday anymore. I mean, at this point I doubt if they even care

at all. I will just let this pass as I have a lot more important things on my plate right now. Like why did

they keep the truth about Yelena from me.

"Did you have fun with your date with the Albanian?" Asked Alexei looking at me momentarily, his arms

are on the side of the hood of the car.

"I did not go on a date with Artan. He just needed to show me something. I thought it won't take long." I

replied. What I really meant to say is that Artan made last-minute arrangements so he could salvage

my awful day-a thing that you and your brother were supposed to do for your wife's birthday.

"You went to a hotel with a man who is obsessed with you and stayed there for hours right under our

noses. You did it while all of us here in the mansion are remembering my sister's death anniversary.

You made us look like fools in front of our people. Tell me what am I missing here, Belle?"

My birthday! You missed my Birthday Nikolai! Everyone remembered my birthday except you and your

brother and the rest of the Russian Mafia! I happen to have two husbands but no one actually cared! I

wanted to scream and tell them what my heart really feels but I chose not to. I know that they have the

right to be mad at me for leaving in the middle of the night with Artan, the man who almost ruined our

relationship before.

"We will talk about this tomorrow. In fact, we have a lot of things to talk about tomorrow. But it's late and

we are all tired." I said, turning my back on them as I did not want us to have this conversation when

we all had a long day. We will just end up saying hurtful things we don't actually mean.

"Does our marriage mean anything to you Belle?" Nikolai asked, but it sounded more like a statement

than a question. "We asked you for one thing today. Be with us as we go through this. Just one day

Belle. We needed you, but you bailed on us and went looking for attention elsewhere. You went running

to the arms of another man."

Nikolai's words were like knives stabbing through my heart repeatedly. How can they say this to me

when all I ever did was love them? Our marriage means everything to me. They both mean the world to

me but still they manage to hurt me over and over again.

It took a lot not to respond to what they are accusing me of doing. I just chose to walk away from them.

I had to wipe my tears before I entered the mansion because I did not want their men to see me like

this, out of shame. Shame because they are looking at me like I did a mortal sin-- the sin of

momentarily thinking about my happiness on my birthday.

On my way to the master bedroom, I saw Matushka carrying Yelena's framed picture, the one

displayed in the church during the service. She came inside one of the rooms reserved for family

members. I know she does not stay in that room because she preferred the guest bedroom downstairs.

Moments later she came out without the framed picture, shut the door, and took the stairs instead of

the elevator.

Out of curiosity, I decided to see what's inside the room. The moment I opened the door, turned on the

lights, and saw the whole room, my heart began to slowly break into pieces.

It is Yelena's room. All of her stuff from the old house has been transferred here and arranged as if

she's still alive as if she's still here. In one corner are her pictures with Nikolai and Alexei. Her vanity

mirror with her make-up, pieces of jewelry, and perfume. Her bed and pillows and red daisies in almost

all of the corners of the room.

A wedding gown is displayed in one corner that looks disturbingly familiar. My heart gradually broke as

I step closer and closer to it. I gently touched the veil as the realization dawns on me. This is the

wedding gown I wore in Colombia. The one I walked down to marry Alexei. This was Yelena's wedding

gown. She was supposed to wear this on her wedding day with Alexei. A wedding that never happened

because she passed away.

It's like fate is pointing me towards finding out more about Yelena when I saw an old digital camera on

top of one of the tables next to the bed. It contained videos of their travels and just some random stuff.

One thing I have noticed about the videos is that they are mostly of Yelena and Nikolai. The last video

however contained something that would confirm one of the suspicions I have been trying to ignore. It

was a video of them on a vacation. At first, it was focused on everyone else in the yacht and some

people swimming in the water but as the video focused on Yelena going towards Nikolai and sitting on

his lap, my heart started to bang in my chest.

The camera slowly slipped through my hand and to the floor when I finally saw the moment when

Yelena holds Nikolai's face, kissed him on his lips and told him the only term I am most familiar with, in

the Russian language. Ya lyubyu tebya, Nikolai.

The video I saw they were watching back at the rest-house makes perfect sense now. Nikolai and

Yelena were in a romantic relationship. And she was to wed Alexei as well. They were sharing her just

like they are sharing me.

I wasn't the only one in Nikolai and Alexei's lives. All this time, I have been living her life. Yelena's life.

Nikolai saw Yelena the first time we met and not me. He fell in love with me because I resemble his

deceased lover. And I was just a convenient replacement for her. My suspicions about my and Alexei's

relationship have now been confirmed. The man has not moved on from her death just like his brother.

The signs that I have been ignoring since the beginning of my relationship with Nikolai and Alexei and

everyone from the Russian Mafia came rushing back to me, completely knocking me off of my pathetic

and delusional self.

Artan's revelation about his connection with Yelena is like a piece of this whole grand puzzle. Nikolai,

Alexei and everyone from the Russian Mafia are still grieving Yelena and I just happen to fill that void in

their hearts.