Her Volkovs #Book 4 novel 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.