Her Volkovs #Book 4 novel Chapter 45

TV News Report

The owner of Volkov Holdings, one of the most successful investment firms in New York City and Russian Billionaire Nikolai Volkov was arrested this afternoon for money laundering, drug trafficking and multiple counts of murder. A video of his arrest surfaced online where he is seen with a pregnant woman right before he was taken into the custody of the FBI.

The woman was identified later as Mary Arabella Volkov, Nikolai Volkov's wife and daughter of the former President and despot of the Republic of Palawi, General Galves.

Nikolai Volkov according to the FBI is allegedly linked to the underground Russian organized crime group operating not only in the City of New York but across the United States of America. More on this developing story after a short break.

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Interviewer: This arrest has shocked the business community because Nikolai Volkov is a known businessman and his investment house Volkov Holdings has been one of the strongest investment houses in the country.

Person 1: That is correct. Nikolai Volkov has quite the reputation as one of the very few bachelor billionaires in New York City. Let me just be clear. Nikolai Volkov owns VH or Volkov Holdings in full, he does not have partners, he is not the CEO, his house does not rely on stockholders because the man literally owns VH. He does not answer to anyone but to himself. This means, when he invests on businesses, the money comes from his own pocket. How deep is that pocket? We will know in the days to come as the case develops.

Person 2: If the case even progresses. Let's not forget that we are dealing with a very powerful man, with very powerful friends and basically unlimited and overflowing coffers. The FBI must have a very strong case and sufficient evidence to have him arrested like this.

Interviewer: How do you think will this affect his businesses and his investments in various companies?

Person 1: Well as of now, there will definitely be a standstill in terms of Nikolai Volkov's external investments, meaning the ones that the VH has stakes and investments in other businesses and companies. As to the VH internal operations-his investment firm was raided and it was reported that the FBI had simultaneous raids all over his properties. This is just the beginning said the Director of the FBI.

Interviewer: Now let me just talk a little about the drama that unfolded before the arrest. You said a while ago that Nikolai Volkov is quite popular as one of the very few bachelor billionaires in New York City. Apparently, the woman in the video was in fact Nikolai Volkov's wife. What can you say about this?

Person 2: This came as news to some mostly because Nikolai Volkov may be a popular figure in New York City but he is a very private individual. He has never granted interviews, he's rarely in the public eye which I believe worked out for him well as we are only finding out now that he is no longer a bachelor but an expectant father.

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Belle's POV

"Ara! Listen to me! What you did was insane and careless! You and your babies could have been badly hurt! Are you even listening to me?!"

"Devon, I'm okay! Nothing happened to me. I'm safe. The babies are safe! What I need to do right now is to see Nikolai. Where did they take him? I need to talk to him!"

"He knows what to do. And he wants you to leave New York for now. The plane is ready. Artan has arranged our safe exit to Palawi."

I know that Nikolai wants me to leave New York because he wants me and the babies to be safe, but what about him? And what about Alexei?

"I am not leaving."

"B, you can't go back to the mansion. They have arrested Matushka, they have Alexei, the FBI is all over the mansion, there are news people outside, cameras everywhere, helicopters hovering. It's crazy out there." Amy said worriedly while watching the news on her phone.

Devon is already talking to Artan's men and I have a strong feeling that he is going to insist on leaving. I can't let this happen.

"Ara, come on. Let's go. Papa will take the other plane. We have to leave now."

I turn my back on him and looked outside because to be honest I feel like I am going to run out of breath. "I will stay."

My cousin forces me to face him and held me firmly in my arms. "Are you really out of your mind Arabella? Your husband's empire is going down and believe me it's going to get ugly! Do not put yourself and the babies in this situation."

"You don't understand Devon. Nikolai has no one but me! He has no one! Alexei-his brother and his best friend are still unconscious, Matushka-the woman whom he treated as his mother betrayed him, his sister committed suicide and until now he still blames himself for what happened, his father was murdered and he has to fill the biggest shoes Papa Vyacheslav left, and he once thought that we lost our babies because of what he did. I made him believe that lie Devon! He signed our divorce papers because of me! I made him do it. He's always protecting the people important to him even if it will destroy him-even if it ruins him! And If I leave now, no one is going to be there for him. I don't want to leave. Nikolai needs me. My husband needs me."

Devon held me to a tight embrace begging for me to calm down which is very much impossible given the current situation we are in.

"What do you want to do?"

"I want you to take Mama and Papa home. Papa cannot be dragged into this mess. The media and his enemies in Palawi will surely use this against him."

"It's too late for that Ara, every media outlet here and in Palawi are going to be digging information about you. They are going to twist every angle to fit what they want the people to believe about you. Papa and the family are preparing for it, we are ready for it, what we are worried about is you. Your whole life, Pa made sure to give you a sense of normalcy and kept you away from the prying eyes of the tabloids and the media. But what is happening right now-of this magnitude, we can only do so much. If you stay, you'll have to prepare yourself for the blowback. This is something that is not gonna go overnight."

I understand Devon and I'm willing to face whatever it is that comes my way. I will not be able to forgive myself if I leave Nikolai to face this by himself. He needs us as much as we need him. I can't just leave while he's in this situation.

Papa arrived from where was Nikolai detained and somehow I felt a little relieved knowing that Nikolai's lawyers are with him. My husband begged my father to take me back to Palawi until this whole mess dies down but I told him exactly what I said to Devon. I am not leaving.

I asked my father to go back to Palawi because I know that they will connect him to the Mafia which they had nothing to do about. It was me who fell in love with Nikolai and Alexei and I must face the consequences of my actions without dragging them into this. My father has our family name and our country to protect. There are millions of people who believe in him and I am not about to let his sacrifices be put to waste just because I knowingly involved myself with the Boss and the Underboss of the Russian Mafia.

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As I was anxiously awaiting news about Nikolai, Artan sent word to Amy to answer his calls. Apparently, the man has been calling me but I have not been paying attention to my phone. I just noticed that I have so many missed calls and messages already.

One text message from him however, caught my curiosity.