Her Volkovs #Book 4 novel Chapter 42

Belle's POV

"I am doing this for the sake of my babies. Nikolai, Alexei and the Russian Mafia are not my concern anymore." I turned my back on him because I know in my heart that Yuri is right. Nikolai and Alexei have the right to know.

"The babies are the Russian Mafia. They are Volkov's flesh and blood." He retorted.

"Before anything and anyone else, they are my babies too! I am their mother! I have to protect them even if that means keeping them away from their own father. I bled and almost lost my babies right in front of your Bosses, Yuri! Why can't you understand that!" I'm already clenching my palm in anger. I wanted to scream at his face for thinking about the Russian Mafia when the lives of my babies are at stake.

"I'm sorry, Belle. You have all the right to feel this way. All I'm asking from you now is to at least consider it. You and the Boss never had the chance to talk after what happened. You are married to both of them. Running away from them, from your marriage will not solve anything."

"Running away from them will save my babies."

"Running away from the Bosses will put you and the babies in far more danger. I told you that the Mafia is imploding. That is the truth. Nikolai and Alexei will self-destruct and along with it, the Volkov Mafia. And when that happens, who do you think our enemies from both outside and inside the Russian community will target?"

I turned my back on him because I somehow know what Yuri is trying to imply. He held my arm and made me face him, "Belle, the only way they can eliminate the Volkov Mafia and take over everything is to get rid of everyone down the Volkov bloodline. Our enemies will hunt the twins down because the Russian Mafia operates that way. Succession to leadership is by blood. Unless someone will take charge in the meantime until the babies will come of age to take over. Until then, it will be a total chaos if anything happens to the Bosses. It will be a hunting spree for the takeover and control of everything the Mafia holds. And the conglomerate can't even save us when the time comes."

"My father will protect me and my babies..."

"Your father is a sickly man Belle. We both know that his heart condition hasn't gotten better."

I feel like every time Yuri reasons out, my back is slowly pushed against the wall like there is nowhere out for me but in the Mafia. He makes it appear like I don't have any other choice but them. This made me feel uneasy in the pit of my stomach. Perhaps because I know that Yuri is just telling the truth and setting out all the possibilities if anything happens to Nikolai and Alexei.

No matter, I can't let them know about the babies. Because if that happens, what's left of my little chance of breaking free from them will disappear into thin air. I know Nikolai will move heaven and earth just to get me and the babies if he finds out.

So, I stepped towards the door and made sure that Yuri is not able to leave and tell his Bosses that I am still pregnant. I dialed my phone and called Devon.

"Don't do this Belle." Said Yuri, his shoulders fell as he hears Devon knock a few seconds later.

When I opened the door, Devon and Papa's men barged into the room and made Yuri kneel on the floor. The man looked unfazed by Devon, instead disappointment and defeat are painted all over his face. I could not stand looking at him like this so I had to look away as he is being restrained by our security. His eyes never disconnected from me until he was brought out of the room with handcuffs around his wrists.

-

My eyes swelled with tears as I was not able to contain the pain in my heart anymore. I feel like the memories of the betrayal, the heartbreak and the lies that I went through because of my relationship with Nikolai and Alexei came pouring in like a flood of emotion.

Adding to that is the reality of my situation. Nikolai was sent to the hospital because of his stupid heart and that he could possibly be abusing his pain medication. Alexei has been rushed to the hospital because he figured into a racing accident in his bike. That friggin' stupid bike! I know that the man is an adventurous biker but he is not reckless. How could he let this happen to himself? I want them out of my life but I sure don't want them dead! It's as if they don't care whatever happens to them anymore.

'Guilt is a foe no one can ever win. Not even a Volkov', keeps on repeating in my head and haunting my broken soul.

I had to wipe the tears from my eyes as I hear a knock on my door. Amy came with the news about Alexei and Nikolai. Apparently, the little angel Aria was brought to the hospital to see her uncle and Alexei the moment they knew about what happened.

"Alexei's condition is unstable B. He's still unconscious until now and is under observation. Nikolai was given meds so he could rest. Since you left, your husband was on the verge of being a highly functioning alcoholic and a drug addict. When we arrived there, everyone was holding their breaths. There's news going around that if the brothers don't make it, Yuri will take over temporarily but no one knows for how long. And well, your Yuri is confined and held at the basement right now so I don't know how will that work out for the Russian Mafia."

Hearing what happened to the two straight from Amy, my abdomen started to constrict in pain. It's as if the babies know exactly what is happening to their fathers.

"Oh my god. Are you okay B? I am so sorry. Here, lean back...slow and deep breaths.. that's it. It's okay. It's going to be okay."

"Is Alexei going to make it? What do you think A?" I looked at her straight in the eyes. She's a nurse, I reckon she will know if someone is dying or not.

"Of course B. He's going to make it because he's in good hands. Did you know that almost half of the medical staff in the hospital and the best doctors in the country were attending to the Volkov Brothers? So don't worry."

I know Amy too well and I can tell if she's being honest or just trying to make me feel better about the situation. I looked at her sternly as she tries to look away from me.

"A."

She sighed and sat beside me in bed. "B... whatever my opinion is, will not matter because it's up to Alexei now if he still wants to fight for his life or not. He's in critical condition and the next several hours will be crucial if he survives or not."

I feel like my heart is being crushed into tiny pieces. What if Alexei doesn't make it? What if he doesn't want to fight for his life anymore? Did I do this to him?

It's as if Amy knew exactly what I was thinking, she continued, "B, don't you ever think for one second, that this is your fault. Those two are responsible for their actions. They did this to themselves by ruining your marriage."

"Nikolai and Alexei think that I had a miscarriage. They think that our babies died because of what happened. They are blaming themselves for something that they did not do."

"I know this is a very difficult situation but think about it. If you tell them now, we will not get out of New York, ever. Your husband is the ultra God of the New York underground world B. The General can only do so much here in the US."

"There must be another way. Maybe, I can ask help..." I just have to think of a way that I can tell the truth to Nikolai and Alexei and at the same time leave New York without them knowing.

Amy looks at me like I just said the most ludicrous statement, "B, no one will help us here. Even your other Boss boyfriends Artan and Axel combined will have a hard time dealing with the consequences if Nikolai finds out that they had a hand in helping you leave. You will cause another mob war and lives will be lost. I mean, do I really need to remind you as to what level of evil your husband is?"

If I did not know any better, I would think that the people around me are so hell bent in making me feel like I have nowhere to go. Regardless, I have already made up my mind. I will leave New York and divorce Nikolai and Alexei and my father and Devon will make that happen for me. I just need to find a way that in doing so, I don't cause the downfall of the Russian Mafia.

-

Third Person POV

Dimitri's thoughts came alive like volts of electricity ran through his veins as he receives a text message from Yuri. He is sitting in the waiting area of the hospital along with Matushka, Boris, Andrey and the rest of their security details when he got the notification. The Madame Volkov is in the hospital to see Alexei and Nikolai.

He doesn't know what to say or to think. For one second there, he thought that he's in a deep and hyper-realistic dream. The past few weeks have been hell in the mansion. Being around the Big Boss was like moving in calculated fear. Both the Volkov brothers have become unbearably difficult to be around with. It's as though, one wrong move and everyone is fucking breathing thin air or mostly no air at all.

Dimitri knows that Boris and Andrey received the same text message because the two stood up from their seats and alerted their men outside the hospital and the nearby buildings to make sure the safety of the wife.

He decided to let Matushka know about the news but when he came inside the room where the Boss and Underboss are, the Volkov matriarch is already sobbing. She covers her mouth as she cries, in a deep and sorrowful way, her phone is on her lap, looking at the text message sent by Yuri.

"Matushka..."