Her Volkovs #Book 4 novel Chapter 5

Belle's POV

"No! A bullet has just been removed from your thigh! You are not fit to stand let alone travel to another continent. Tell him, Dr. Marcus." I said firmly dismissing Nikolai who is now insisting to still leave for Colombia despite his wound. The man could not even stand without help from his brother. How does he expect to attend the Conglomerate meeting in his condition?

"Madame Volkov is ri-" Says the poor Doctor who is obviously halted by Nikolai's death stare. My husband's piercing green eyes instantly disconnected when he noticed that I caught him doing his 'I'm the Boss' thing again.

"Leave us." Ordered the stubborn man. Dr. Marcus and the other boys exited the room. Only me, Alexei, and Nikolai are left inside.

"This is not up for discussion Nikolai!" I exclaimed, standing my ground.

"Babe, come here." He says, tapping his uninjured thigh.

I wanted to protest but then I thought that I am the very reason why he's in this situation. Not to mention the bonus slap I gave him on the way to the clinic.

I slowly slid in between his thighs and sat on the other one carefully. He winced in pain but at the same time, he held me tight around my waist then planted kisses on my chest. I then wrap my arms around his neck as tears threaten to fall from my eyes. "I'm so sorry Nikolai. I never meant for this to happen. I swear it was an accident."

"I'm not sure baby. I was an inch closer to not having future Volkovs." He replies, referring to the wound very close to his balls.

"So fucking close to shooting blank rounds all your life, brother." Inserts Alexei, making light of the situation.

I know what's going to happen next. He's going to use the guilt trip on me so he can make his way. And he is going to do that through his beautiful dark green eyes plus the unwavering support of his brother, the other love of my life. I am not going to fall prey to this. I am not going to look straight to his eyes. I swear I'm not.

20 seconds and a jet plane ride later....

'Buenos dias! Welcome to Colombia!' Greet three women wearing teenie tiny bikinis and colorful flower garlands. And guess who's not ashamed to show his fascination towards the lady greeters?

"Dimi boy, I hope you listened to your teacher during Spanish clash." Said Alexei teasingly. Smiles are plastered on all of the boys' faces while looking at the women swinging their hips, dancing while putting the garlands around our necks one by one. Yuri, Boris, Dimitri, Alexei's men, and our remaining bodyguards, including their Bosses are clearly enjoying the view quite well. I just shake my head in defeat-- men.

"Nikolai, Alexei would you want me to practice shooting again?" I said calmly while giving them the crazy girlfriend glare.

"God I like it when you're territorial. Turns me the fuck on." Whispered Alexei.

"I think I already took one for the team. Your shooting practice is suspended indefinitely." Added Nikolai.

I just giggle inside. Who would have thought something good will come out in accidentally shooting your husband? It keeps them on their feet for some good reason. Not literally of course because-- injured. Geez.

After the short welcoming and warm reception, Nikolai nods to signal his men and just like that, the boys went back to business.

Until now I am still amazed at how Nikolai handles being a Boss to the Russian Mafia men. His command over them is truly impressive. Even Dimitri the playboy turned his back away from the women and went ahead to the reception of the Coco Cabana -- the name of this exclusive hotel and luxury country club -- to confirm our arrangements and to make sure that the demands of the Volkov Mafia have been met. Apparently, this place is owned by the host of this year's Conglomerate meeting, the De Alba's.

The top crime families are staying at the twin vacation houses next to each other while all other families will occupy the other houses situated inside the several hundred acres of this exclusive club. There's a whole exclusive street where the temporary residents are Bosses of gangs and criminal organizations and their families.

In the jet on the way here, while Nikolai was getting some needed rest, I had the chance to ask Alexei questions about the Conglomerate. He told me that Antonio De Alba, the former Boss of the Cabana Cartel and Papa Vyacheslav had a long-standing rift. Everyone in the underground criminal world knows about this. They are each other's worst nemesis. Antonio De Alba planted his roots first in the southern and western hemispheres of New York while Papa Vyacheslav, fresh from Russia, made his name as a contraband Kingpin in the Northern and Eastern part. They toppled every standing gangs and mobs going against them in their own respective hemispheres until they rose to the top. They made alliances with the surviving gangs which eventually resulted in many gangland and mob wars between the Volkov Mafia and the Cabana Cartel.

This went on until a massive crackdown on their businesses was made by the government, the target of which was Antonio De Alba and Vyacheslav Roustam Volkov themselves. This created worry and panic in the underground criminal world. New and old gangs scrambling to take advantage of the situation, the two Bosses did not have a choice but to forge an agreement. They agreed to stay away from each other's businesses and pledged to the mutual existence of the crime families. This marked the beginning of the Conglomerate. The Russian Mafia and the Cabana Cartel being at the top management have two votes each whenever the Conglomerate decides on something while all other criminal organizations have one vote each.

However, the bad blood between Vyacheslav and Antonio remained despite the facade of peace. They still hated and competed against each other. Alexei, with a hint of arrogance and pride, revealed to me that Papa Vyacheslav came out as the victor against Antonio because, for one, Vyacheslav has more powerful alliances, which means he gets to make crucial decisions backed by the votes of the majority of the Bosses. And two, as petty as it may sound, they competed on who gets to have a male heir first.

Nikolai was born several hours before Antonio's son was born as well. Like, they literally have the same birthdays, only that my husband was born first. I now completely believe Nikolai when he says Volkov always wins because he was for real born a winner.

Alexei told me that I should spend more time with Matushka so she can tell me more of these stories.

But then the conversation turned a little dark when it came to the point where Alexei had to recall the death of Viktor and Vyacheslav and how initially they thought that it was the De Alba's who had them killed in retaliation to the death of Antonio, whose body was found dead on a fishing boat.

Until now, Sebastian Axel De Alba, the son of Antonio thinks that Vyacheslav was behind the death of his father since no one except the Russian Mafia Boss had the resources, the motive, and the gut to kill another drug lord.