Her Volkovs #Book 3 novel Chapter 11

Belle's POV

My eyes flicker as I am slowly awakened by small kisses on my forehead. The soft touch of the sunlight is making it hard for me to fully open my eyes to have a clearer picture of what's around me.

"My love....."

Said the familiar soft voice. I inhaled and instantly recognize his scent. It's Artan.

I crinkled my eyebrows in confusion. This man was close to being dead last night. How come he's already awake now? I realized that I'm already in his arms all wrapped around him. He is half naked and a bandage is wrapped around his torso.

When the doctor allowed us to be with him last night, I made sure to be on his side but I could not recall lying beside him in bed.

He cupped my face with his palm and looked me in the eyes. He let's out a naughty smile and spoke, his voice still hoarse.

"I should have known getting shot is what it takes to wake up with you like this." He said while gently rubbing his fingers on my face.

"Artan...you getting shot is not funny."

I moved to step down the bed but I wasnt able to remove myself completely because he instantly grabbed me.

"You know, my pole is kind of waving its flag right now."

My lips parted in disbelief. "Artan!!!!" Oh my god this man!

I heard someone soft chuckle inside the room. When I looked around, I see Dardan, Besian, and Adnan looking at us all amused. I hit him on his chest which made him wince in pain.

"Ahh.." He muttered.

I squirmed because blood instantly soaked the gauze and bandage on his side.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry Artan."

He just smiled and pulled me even tighter towards him but far fom the side where he got shot.

"Artan you should stop straining yourself."

"I will be forced to strain myself if you move. So just don't move baby."

I decided to stop putting up a fight.

"That's better." He said while planting a kiss near my lips.

My palm landed on his face instantly, but his grin just grew even wider. For a man who got shot and almost died, this one looked the happiest.

Artan signalled his men to come to us while his face is near mine.

"You look a hundred percent Boss. I wonder why." Said Adnan who is looking at the two of us with a smile on his face.

Artan softly chuckled and cocked his head to face Adnan. "Am I? Maybe because of this wonderful drug beside me."

Yup the man has completely lost it.

"Boss, we need to talk about what happened." Said Besian.

"Some other time." Artan replied.

"The Russians deserve to answer for this! We will look weak if we let this one pass Boss." Scowled Besian.

"What did I just say Besian?" Artan sounded calm but with enough firmness to cause chills to run down my spine.

"But Boss..."

Adnan placed his hand on Besian's shoulder as if telling him to stop pushing.

"We will talk some other time Boss, we will leave you and Ms. Belle alone."

"Good. Tell everyone not to disturb us or I will shoot whoever goes through that fucking door." Said Artan and he doesnt look like he's even kidding at all.

Adnan soft chuckled and gestured a salute with his index and middle finger. "As you wish Boss."

The three went out of the room leaving the two of us behind. I thought that this is the best time to plead to Artan not to exact revenge to Nikolai anymore. If there's one person who can once and for all end this, it would be me. The very reason why this is all happening in the first place.

"Artan please.... you and Nikolai can still talk things over. You have been friends for a long time. Don't put that friendship into waste."

"I think Volkov and I are way past talking my Belle."

"Please....I was devastated last night when you were shot. It will completely ruin me if anything happens to Nikolai and Alexei, especially now that I'm..."

Artan crinkled his eyebrows, "Especially now that?"

"Nothing. Just please Artan. No bloodshed anymore?"

Artan looked at me like he's thinking. "Okay.. for now."

That's good enough for me. It would buy me some time to think and hopefully end this chaos. Besian is so fixated in exacting revenge to the Russian Mafia and only his Boss can stop him from pushing forward with his plan.

"Youre wearing my shirt...you look perfect in it." Artan said as he drops his face on my neck.

"Thanks for this by the way."

He smiled. "You have my whole closet at your disposal baby."

Artan's eyes are slowly shutting down. I tried to fight the urge to close my eyes as well but eventually my eyelids became too heavy to bear. Slowly everything around turned so quiet, my body relaxed for slumber.

~

*Nikolai and Alexei in the study. They just had an argument when Yuri entered the room.*

"Boss, Madame Volkov is here."

The two looked surprised. Nikolai instantly stood up but noticed that Yuri looked very uncomfortable.

"Uhhh... Boss, It's Madame Irene Volkov."

Irene entered looking calm and composed. "Thank you Yuri, you may now leave."

Yuri nodded and shut the door on his way out. Nikolai and Alexei looked like they have seen a ghost. Irene placed her vintage Chanel bag on top of the chair in front of Nikolai's wooden table. She slowly removed her coat and then her gloves.