Chapter 15
Belle's POV
"Dimi, I'm hungry. Can you tell Nikolai or Alexei that the pregnant woman they are locking up is famished? Also, can you tell your Boss to get a divorce attorney? I just need to consult some very important matters."
Silence.
I swear Nikolai and Alexei are going to pay for this! I really don't see the reason why I am being held hostage by my own family! If they have a reason for this, why not tell me!? Why keep me in the blind? I have the right to know the truth!
I don't have a phone and nobody is answering me anymore from the other side of the door. I am so mad and hungry at the same time. My stomach is already rambling. I need to get out of here.
I scanned the room and the only way I can get out of here is through the windows. Luckily one window is open, but it will be approximately eight feet fall to the ground. Jumping out is not an option.
And so I took the sheets from our bed and then tied the one end around the pole of the window. It did not really reach the ground but I guess it's going to work. I tossed my high heels first and then my purse so I can free my hands. I slowly lowered down facing the window, my bum flying outside. My mesh dress is not helping my cause at the moment, but at this point, I really don't care.
After going to the next-door neighbors and reaching for their telephone line from one of their windows, I was able to call an operator to dial a restaurant that offers delivery for Palitos De Queso which is one of my most favorite Latin American food. When my father attends a meeting with some of the leaders from this part of the world, we would always be offered by the host their delicacies one of which is this yummy and cheesy soft breadsticks. Just imagining the chewy and gooey cheese makes my mouth water already. I'm so hungry and so as my babies I believe. Aren't you little Volkovs?
Yes mum! We are hungry! Said the little voices in my head.
Geez. My hunger is real.
I wonder why the neighbors aren't necessarily strict when it comes to their home security. It's like I can just get in and take whatever I want and leave just like that. Maybe perhaps they are thinking that no one would dare take anything from them because they are the De Alba's, the most powerful drug cartel in South America.
Yikes. I hope they don't find out I was the one who took their horse for a ride, ate some of their icecream and borrowed their telephone for a while.
Hmm-- no matter. Nikolai will take care of it if I get caught.
In the meantime, while waiting for my food I decided to wait by the pool. I'm taking my form-fitting dress off to get ready to swim when all of a sudden I felt someone behind me. When I turned around my heart jump from my chest when he seemed to be extending his arms to hold me. I instantly turned to my defensive mode and recalled what my cousin Devon taught me. I kneed the man on the balls as strong as I can. He slumped on the chair in pain. And then I looked around for any object I can throw at him but I only saw my stilettos. I figured I will just stab his eyes with the pointed heels.
I was about to lung at him but I was halted when he extended his arms. "No! Por favor! Ah! Shit." He exclaimed in agony. He is holding in his hand a brown paper bag and a tub of what looks like ice cream. Oh my god! It's the food delivery guy!
He looks too dapper for a delivery guy though. He is wearing a frigging perfectly tailored suit, a neatly trimmed beard, jet black hair, and tattoos on both his hands.
"Señora Arabella Volkov?" He asked, and he's trying really hard to look unfazed but he's obviously failing.
"Yes. Oh my gosh. Is that my food delivery?" I let go of my stilettos and slowly step towards him to take my food.
"Palitos De Queso, soda, and a complimentary chocolate gelato imported from Italia." He answered.
"Uhm I am so sorry. You startled me. Here let me help." I took the tub of ice cream and placed it on top of his crotch to somehow ease the pain. I figured, Artan used ice before when I accidentally kicked him on his man parts as well. Maybe the cold will help. "I'm so sorry. What's you're name?"
It took him a while to answer, in fact, I think he even thought of his name first. Geez Belle, you gave the man temporary amnesia by kicking him on his balls.
"Sebastian." He finally replied.
"Thank you Sebastian. Good thing the gelato did not melt on the way here?" Is the only conversation I can strike given the awkward situation.
"Ah. The restaurant is not far from here and the owner also owns this club." He replied.
"Oh really? Axel De Alba?" I asked as I hurriedly wear my black dress back.
"Yes." He answered. "Do you know him?"
"Not really. I just heard his name from around here. My husband knows him though." I opened the can of soda and gave it to him. "So um. You work for Axel De Alba then?" "More or less." He replied with a hint of a naughty smile on the side. What was that about?
He looks a lot better now and the color of his face has returned to normal. Goodness. People should really stop startling me. "I am so sorry Sebastian. Please don't come up to people like that again. I really thought you're up to no good."
This time the man snorted as if I said something really funny. I just could not find the humor in my statement though. "Were you up to no good?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
He disconnected his gaze momentarily because he got a message on his phone. He then stood up casually and slid on the table a black calling card with no name on it but only a set of numbers. "Not this time. Not with you, mi amorcita." He answered with an inexplicable mix of sweetness and arrogance in his voice.
I'm trying to climb my way back up using my escape route but it is so damn hard especially when I have just eaten a tub of ice cream and three orders of cheese sticks. Dammit! I'm not even a foot higher from the ground. This is so hopeless.
And then to my disappointment, I hear the voice of the devil himself, Nikolai. "I probably should have handcuffed you to bed, woman." He said while extending his palms to my bum because I'm already wobbling.
Alexei lowered me down and wrapped his arms around my waist until I was able to stand on the ground. "Princess, what were you thinking? You could have seriously hurt yourself and the babies." "Well if I wasn't locked in that room with no means of communication and food and no explanation whatsoever for incarceration, I wouldn't have escaped!" I replied in all conviction.
"The fuck was Yuri doing when you were escaping?" Asked Alexei completely ignoring my fit. He looked pissed and the target of his agitation is none other than Yuri. The man that he swore he would kill if Yuri continues pursuing me.
"Alexei, this is not Yuri's fault. Perhaps he was busy with some other things. You know he takes care of a lot of things for the Mafia. And besides, it wasn't really Yuri guarding the door. It was your other men and Dimi and they did not budge to my requests in all fairness to them. It's just that I got lucky with that one window." I said, trying my best to ease him down.
"Dimitri was with Matushka. Yuri was in charge of your security." Alexei answered.
"You mean Yuri was the one guarding the door?" Oh my goodness. I might have given the worst love advice to that man. If it was Yuri, I swear to god.
"Yes. It was Yuri at first. Why? Did he do something again? Tell me." He asked like he's just waiting for a reason to brawl with the man again.
"No Alexei. Will you please stop treating Yuri like he's the enemy. He's not. It will break my heart if anything happens to him because of me." And I won't be able to forgive myself if this costs Yuri's life. "If anything happens to him it's not because of you. It's because he's a fool. He knows he can't touch you and yet he fucking had the nerve to kiss you in my own fucking house? He saw that we were falling apart and the second that he had the chance, he betrayed me and undermined my position." Alexei answered clearly conveying the message that he is not ready to forgive Yuri.
I did not press any further about the Yuri situation because at this point I know that there is no convincing Alexei.
I held on to Nikolai because he is having a hard time walking even if he has a cane. No matter how mad I am with him, I just can't bear watching him struggle like this because of my own doing. We dialed Dimitri to bring a wheelchair for Nikolai. I insisted that we take a little breather so the two can rest from worries or whatever stress our family is facing at the moment.
It's already dusk, we can already hear the sound of birds and crickets in the garden. I laid on the grass in front of Nikolai and played with Petrushka and Valkyre. The two huge fluffy wolves are too adorable and sweet despite having different personalities. Valkyre is more silent and uptight but really touchy and sweet. He would just sit and behave while I'm using him as my pillow and he likes belly rubs and kisses. Petrushka on the other hand is a menace. He runs back and forth and around Nikolai and Alexei. He also likes bothering his brother but the latter is apparently very patient when it comes to his sibling. I lay on my side to face the two most important persons in my life. We just looked at each other not saying a single word. Alexei is sitting and resting his back on the legs of his brother. I threw a flying kiss to the both of them. Nikolai acted like catching my kiss and placed the palm on his chest. He then slipped his fingers inside his jacket and tapped his chest several times like a beating heart. God, he's so corny. Alexei on the other hand is laughing at his brother's apparent silliness.
"The three of us forever and ever?" I asked.
"The three of us forever--" Said Nikolai.
"And ever." Continued Alexei.
On the way back to the Villa, the two explained to me the whole situation. Yrina's mother, Laura Yvanislov a former Conglomerate wife before they were banned and hunted by the Russian Mafia, had been seen to be meeting with her friends who have influence the Conglomerate wives. They found out that her motive was to make my official entrance to the Conglomerate as unwelcoming and as unpleasant as possible. Ultimately, she wants to get to me and to use me as leverage so she can get her daughter back.
Nikolai and Alexei think that her husband Sergey Yvanislov was involved in this and that someone in the Conglomerate is helping the Yvanislov's. But Axel has already denied involvement and that he assures my safety while in his territory. Still, Nikolai and Alexei are skeptical. Someone of huge influence must be behind the attempts against the Volkov Mafia.000