Her Volkovs #Book 4

Belle's POV

"No! A bullet has just been removed from your thigh! You are not fit to stand let alone travel to another continent. Tell him, Dr. Marcus." I said firmly dismissing Nikolai who is now insisting to still leave for Colombia despite his wound. The man could not even stand without help from his brother. How does he expect to attend the Conglomerate meeting in his condition?

"Madame Volkov is ri-" Says the poor Doctor who is obviously halted by Nikolai's death stare. My husband's piercing green eyes instantly disconnected when he noticed that I caught him doing his 'I'm the Boss thing again.

"Leave us." Ordered the stubborn man. Dr. Marcus and the other boys exited the room. Only me, Alexei, and Nikolai are left inside.

"This is not up for discussion Nikolai!" I exclaimed, standing my ground.

"Babe, come here." He says, tapping his uninjured thigh.

I wanted to protest but then I thought that I am the very reason why he's in this situation. Not to mention the bonus slap I gave him on the way to the clinic.

I slowly slid in between his thighs and sat on the other one carefully. He winced in pain but at the same time, he held me tight around my waist then planted kisses on my chest. I then wrap my arms around his neck as tears threaten to fall from my eyes. "I'm so sorry Nikolai. I never meant for this to happen. I swear it was an accident."

"I'm not sure baby. I was an inch closer to not having future Volkovs." He replies, referring to the wound very close to his balls.

"So fucking close to shooting blank rounds all your life, brother." Inserts Alexei, making light of the situation.

I know what's going to happen next. He's going to use the guilt trip on me so he can make his way. And he is going to do that through his beautiful dark green eyes plus the unwavering support of his brother, the other love of my life. I am not going to fall prey to this. I am not going to look straight to his eyes. I swear I'm not.

20 seconds and a jet plane ride later....

'Buenos dias! Welcome to Colombia!' Greet three women wearing teenie tiny bikinis and colorful flower garlands. And guess who's not ashamed to show his fascination towards the lady greeters?

"Dimi boy, I hope you listened to your teacher during Spanish clash." Said Alexei teasingly. Smiles are plastered on all of the boys' faces while looking at the women swinging their hips, dancing while putting the garlands around our necks one by one. Yuri, Boris, Dimitri, Alexei's men, and our remaining bodyguards, including their Bosses are clearly enjoying the view quite well. I just shake my head in defeat-- men. "Nikolai, Alexei would you want me to practice shooting again?" I said calmly while giving them the crazy girlfriend glare.

"God I like it when you're territorial. Turns me the fuck on." Whispered Alexei.

"I think I already took one for the team. Your shooting practice is suspended indefinitely." Added Nikolai.

I just giggle inside. Who would have thought something good will come out in accidentally shooting your husband? It keeps them on their feet for some good reason. Not literally of course because-- injured. Geez.

After the short welcoming and warm reception, Nikolai nods to signal his men and just like that, the boys went back to business.

Until now I am still amazed at how Nikolai handles being a Boss to the Russian Mafia men. His command over them is truly impressive. Even Dimitri the playboy turned his back away from the women and wen ahead to the reception of the Coco Cabana -- the name of this exclusive hotel and luxury country club -- to confirm our arrangements and to make sure that the demands of the Volkov Mafia have been met. Apparently, this place is owned by the host of this year's Conglomerate meeting, the De Alba's.

The top crime families are staying at the twin vacation houses next to each other while all other families will occupy the other houses situated inside the several hundred acres of this exclusive club. There's a whole exclusive street where the temporary residents are Bosses of gangs and criminal organizations and their families.

In the jet on the way here, while Nikolai was getting some needed rest, I had the chance to ask Alexei questions about the Conglomerate. He told me that Antonio De Alba, the former Boss of the Cabana Carte and Papa Vyacheslav had a long-standing rift. Everyone in the underground criminal world knows about this. They are each other's worst nemesis. Antonio De Alba planted his roots first in the southern and western hemispheres of New York while Papa Vyacheslav, fresh from Russia, made his name as a contraband Kingpin in the Northern and Eastern part. They toppled every standing gangs and mobs going against them in their own respective hemispheres until they rose to the top. They made alliances with the surviving gangs which eventually resulted in many gangland and mob wars between the Volkov Mafia and the Cabana Cartel.

This went on until a massive crackdown on their businesses was made by the government, the target of which was Antonio De Alba and Vyacheslav Roustam Volkov themselves. This created worry and panic in the underground criminal world. New and old gangs scrambling to take advantage of the situation, the two Bosses did not have a choice but to forge an agreement. They agreed to stay away from each other's businesses and pledged to the mutual existence of the crime families. This marked the beginning of the Conglomerate. The Russian Mafia and the Cabana Cartel being at the top management have two votes each whenever the Conglomerate decides on something while all other criminal organizations have one vote each.

However, the bad blood between Vyacheslav and Antonio remained despite the facade of peace. They still hated and competed against each other. Alexei, with a hint of arrogance and pride, revealed to me that Papa Vyacheslav came out as the victor against Antonio because, for one, Vyacheslav has more powerful alliances, which means he gets to make crucial decisions backed by the votes of the majority of the Bosses. And two, as petty as it may sound, they competed on who gets to have a male heir first.

Nikolai was born several hours before Antonio's son was born as well. Like, they literally have the same birthdays, only that my husband was born first. I now completely believe Nikolai when he says Volkov always wins because he was for real born a winner.

Alexei told me that I should spend more time with Matushka so she can tell me more of these stories.

But then the conversation turned a little dark when it came to the point where Alexei had to recall the death of Viktor and Vyacheslav and how initially they thought that it was the De Alba's who had them killed in retaliation to the death of Antonio, whose body was found dead on a fishing boat.

Until now, Sebastian Axel De Alba, the son of Antonio thinks that Vyacheslav was behind the death of his father since no one except the Russian Mafia Boss had the resources, the motive, and the gut to kill another drug lord.

I asked if it was really Papa Vyacheslav who had Antonio De Alba killed but Alexei said that Papa Vyacheslav denied having to do with Antonio's death. I did not have the chance to further ask more questions because Nikolai demanded my snuggles when he woke up from his pill-induced sleep-- which I kind of forced into him because the man is an unstoppable workaholic.

Dimitri came back escorted by another man who was standing behind the reception. He is a little taller than Dimitri, with a bigger build and he's wearing a tuxedo, eyeglasses, and sports a prim and formal overall appeal. He greets Nikolai and Alexei and he looks like he knows my boys already. He then escorted our entourage towards the receiving area of the hotel where everyone has to show up for a short formality before going to the respective vacation houses.

"Mr. Volkov, may we roll out a wheelchair for your convenience?" Asked the man who welcomed us. I'm sure that he meant well in offering a little help but I can tell that my husband did not appreciate his suggestion.

"No, thank you. I would have had it written down in the list of my demands if I needed it, didn't I?" My husband answered dismissively. "Uh I apologize Mr.--"

"We would like to proceed with the authentication process as soon as possible. We have had a long day." Interrupts Alexei.

As per usual, Nikolai and Alexei's mere presence turned some heads as we walk towards the receiving area reserved for the Russian Mafia.

I held on tight to Nikolai as he carefully sits down. It's pretty obvious that the man is in pain even if he tries hard not to show it. "Can you hold this for a while, my love?" Asked my husband, handing me his

cane.

This is the exact cane I saw in one of the pictures of Papa Vyacheslav back at our brownstone house. It has a gold wolf's head handle, hardwood body, and gold tip lining below. Nikolai is very particular with this cane because he doesn't allow anybody to touch this aside from his brother and me. Yuri was very careful when he handed this to Nikolai back in the clinic. It was well preserved inside a long box.

I understand and respect how Nikolai reveres this piece of object. This is his father's cane. The man that he looked up to the most and I'm afraid that he's also the man that Nikolai has become. "Of course Nikolai." I answered.

"Thank you baby." He said while lightly brushing the back of his hand on my cheek.

I bite my lip in embarrassment, I know I'm slowly turning red. There are people around us but Nikolai could care less about them. Just like Alexei, if he wants to be sweet and touchy he will be sweet and touchy in front of other people without the usual fear of being emasculated. That is how sure these two are with their identities and sexualities. Which is such a turn on, to be honest.

"Nikolai..." I said, eyeing a rectangular attache box in front of us. It has some sort of a small screen outside with a tiny red light on.

"Mr. Volkov, you requested to add another person to have access to your holdings, is that right?" The man asked.

"Yes, I want to add my wife to the list." Nikolai answered, gesturing his hand towards me.

"As you wish. Very well, Mrs. Volkov, it is a pleasure to meet you. Can you please place your right palm over the screen and wait for it to finish scanning, the same with the left palm, your voice sample and then we will proceed with the eye scan." The man continued.

"What's this for?" I asked Nikolai since I have no single clue as to what exactly is happening.

"It's just a formality. You will have access to the assets of the Russian Mafia that are under the Conglomerate's safekeeping. These assets are kept in classified locations around the world. You, my brother, and I are the only ones who have access." Nikolai answered.

I can sense that this is important to him so I gave what was required of me for this 'formality'. And then a smaller attache with an emblem of the wolf's head was presented to my husband. It was kept locked as he hands it to Yuri.

Our entourage then headed to one of the bigger vacation houses inside the compound where other crime families will also reside during this two-day event. As we near our designated vacation house, members of other crime families would take notice of our SUVS pulling over in the driveway. We did not immediately get inside because Yuri and the other boys inspected the whole place first and checked for bugs. Not that I'm new to these security checks and precautions, in fact, this is just normal protocol back when my father was still the president of Palawi.

What took my curiosity however while waiting in the SUV in the driveway was the crate-like enclosure that Alexei and his men are unloading in the garage. "Nikolai, what's that? Did we bring that from New York?" I asked as I hand him a pill to take for his wound.

"Yes baby, those are Petrushka and Valkyre. They are our-- pets." Nikolai answered, sounding a little unsure about calling whatever those in the crate -- our pets.

"Pets? Yours and Alexei's?"

"Yes, and yours as well." He answered.

"Yah? What are Petrushka and Valkyre?" I asked in excitement.

"Ugh...babe, what's the color of the pill that you gave me?" He asked as he forces to wink and open his eyes.

"Blue for your--- oh my god! Nikolai I'm so sorry." Shit shit shit shit. I gave him the sleeping pill instead of the pain meds. Oh my.0000