Her Volkovs #Book 4 novel Chapter 3

Belle's POV

I woke up the next morning beside a wooden crate marked Eastwoods Animal Sanctuary. I can actually hear some scratching going on inside the crate. There's a baby feeding bottle filled with milk and a small note on top of the crate which says:

~~~

To my sunshine,

Forgive me, but I do not regret kissing you.

Yuri

~~~

It's from Yuri. We haven't really talked about what he did when he decided to defy the Mafia and went on to kiss me and confessed his love for me. To now, I'm still convinced that he is just confused and perhaps just lonely. Nikolai and Alexei believe otherwise. Regardless, the man still deserves to be taken care of because he is family.

Not being able to marry nor enter into relationships whilst around Nikolai and Alexei is cruel and against human instincts. Everyone deserves to fall in love and be loved back. It's a basic human right. Not to mention that it's the most beautiful thing that can happen to a person.

I am just somehow relieved that Nikolai and Alexei did not banish him from the Mafia or worse-- I can't even say it. It's unthinkable.

While stepping towards the crate, I hear some animal noise from inside. I then extended my legs to slowly open the crate with my toes. When I was able to push the cover away I slowly peeked to see what's inside.

There's a little black puffy animal growling so adorably inside my chest fluttered with joy in an instant. Oh my gosh! It's a tiny little bear! I slowly carried it in my arms and fed it with the milk from the baby bottle. Aww it's hungry, that's why. You poor little thing.

And then I remember the little incident in Russia when we broke into a bear sanctuary. I was admittedly a little bitchy on that day and the person on the receiving end was Yuri.

Where's your momma? Did they take you away from your momma? Look at you so hungry. Come on. Let's go find the man who brought you here.

I found Yuri in the huge kitchen having his breakfast with Dimitri and the rest of Alexei's men.

"Look what I found in my room." I said as I approach Yuri. The maids and the boys instantly greeted me as soon as they saw me enter the kitchen.

"It's the cutest thing ever, thank you Yuri." I slightly bent over to kiss him on his cheek. The man lets out a coy smile in response.

"Yo, baby Madame, don't get too attached though. That predator is just up for loan for a few hours. We need to return that thing before we leave for Colombia."

"Colombia?" I asked with wrinkled eyebrows as I have no single clue what the man is talking about.

"The big bosses did not tell you yet?" He retorted.

Yuri cleared his throat while darting a serious look at Dimitri. "The Boss, Alexei and Matushka are in a meeting with our people at the warehouse as we speak. The Boss left us with you so you can practice shooting before we leave for Colombia this evening for the Conglomerate Meeting."

Upon further inquiry, Yuri said that it's a yearly event where the different criminal organizations and crime families gather. It is when the Bosses of these organizations meet to discuss business, territory, etc. Apparently, the quick conglomerate meet up that I personally witnessed before was just a prelude to the grand conglomerate meeting.

"Oh so, we are leaving tonight? I need to pack then." I said.

"No need, it has been taken care of baby Madame. We need to teach you how to shoot before the Boss arrives or else I'm fucked." Dimitri answered.

"Uhmm. No. I don't want to practice shooting. Bye." I retorted.

I exited the kitchen, walking as fast as I can. I'm not particularly comfortable holding a gun. Papa and my cousin Devon once tried to teach me how to shoot but it ended tragically. I accidentally shot one of our gardeners who was pruning a tree not far from us. He just fell to the ground like a bird. We actually did not know that he was there in the first place. Luckily, his gunshot wound wasn't that fatal. From then on, Papa never attempted to teach me again. Instead, my cousin Devon took charge of my security. I cringe just by recalling that moment.

Even Matushka's gun has been collecting dust in one of the drawers at our home at the Brownstone. I found no use for them since I am surrounded by four bodyguards on a regular basis. It's kinda heavy and although small in size, still requires a good amount of skill to carry.

~

20 minutes later

~

"Yuri! Put me down at once! I'm telling you, I don't want to practice shoot!"

I'm trying my very best to wiggle off from him but his arms are tightly holding my legs together while my bum is flying in the air. "I'm pregnant! Why am I being manhandled? You can't force me against my will! Nikolai will know of this!"

"Goddamit Madame! Why are you so stubborn?! Just let us do our job." Said Dimitri who is following us from behind.