Her Volkovs #Book 4
Chapter 17

Part 1

In Full Circle

Belle's POV

All the Bosses of the Underground New York are right here at the Coco Cabana Hotel owned by the De Alba's. I'm about to meet the man himself- Axel, the Boss of the Cabana Cartel-the most powerful drug cartel in Latin America and also the one holding the eastern and southern part of New York underworld. From the stories that I have been hearing about him, I'm not really keen on meeting the man, just because somehow he might be still fixated on getting revenge for his Father's death in mistakenly thinking that it was Pa Vyacheslav who killed his father. I am well aware of the resolve of a son to avenge the honor and life of his father. I see that every day in the eyes of Nikolai and Alexei. It stays in them and it takes control over their lives. It is something I would never wish on anyone.

As we walk past the crowd in the huge Ballroom of the Hotel, it's pretty obvious that the Volkov Mafia-unsurprisingly turns heads and gets attention from almost everyone. I'm holding on to Nikolai's arm while Alexei is on my other side. I still get tickled pink when this happens. More so now that Nikolai is taking smaller steps on our way to our sofa because of his gunshot wound. I don't particularly enjoy getting this kind of attention when I'm with my boys. I still prefer low key- which at this point I know will remain a wishful thinking. The undeniable magnetic charm of the Volkov brothers of the Russian Mafia and their status in the New York underground criminal world is a combination that is pretty hard to ignore. Also, it does not help that almost everyone in Nikolai's entourage-Yuri, Dimitri, Boris and the rest of the men are pleasant in the eyes.

Looking around, I must say that the host of this year's meeting has gone all out in adorning this place with silver, black and the most prominent color, royal blue - Axel De Alba's official conglomerate colors. The different crime organizations have their own sections and tables on both sides of the ballroom representing their organizations. The crime families in alliance with Axel De Alba have a hint of royal blue or silver in complement to their own colors while crime families in alliance with Nikolai have streaks of gold and green in complement to their own colors as well. What took my attention however is the section of the Albanian Mob. Their tables and sofas are placed right next to what seems to be the Russian Mafia's side of the ballroom, and that gold accents are on the garlands and pocket squares of their people. Even the cute little princess Aria of the Albanian Mob has a gold ribbon tied in a ponytail around her wavy blonde hair. She's wearing a red ball gown and that cute and innocent smile as always. My heart fluttered with warmth as this could only mean one thing-Artan is still on Nikolai's side.

I instinctively squeezed Nikolai's arms in complete and utter joy. "Nikolai, thank you! I love you so much!"

He halted walking and tilted his head to face me. "Thank you for what baby love?" He asked, but with a small smile on the side of his lips. I know that he knows what exactly I'm referring to.

"You and Artan kissed and made up." I said teasingly.

"I'd rather kiss a chicken than kiss that bastard." He answered, looking all disgusted and annoyed.

I smack him on his shoulder but he just chuckles in response. "You really care for that Albanian fucker." He added.

"Nikolai, I care for both Artan and Aria. And I know that you also care for that little angel even if you don't say it." What I really wanted to say is that I can see it on his face whenever Aria approaches him and hugs him. His heart of steel softens the moment that angel hugs him. And I kind of have a feeling that the little girl is one of the reasons why the Albanians are still in Nikolai's good graces despite what happened.

It took us a while to reach our section because almost everyone we came across reached out for some pleasantries and short conversations with Nikolai and unsurprisingly the majority of women with Alexei. This other Volkov brother is really something when it comes to attracting women. I have proven that a few times before. And in those times, I was either threatened or attacked just because I was with his company.

"Aw look at that, they miss you Daddy Alex." I whispered. I can't help but roll my eyes in annoyance.

I hate it when this happens. Alexei is mine. He's my daddy. Nobody can call him that except me. I bet he has slept with these women one time or another. Ugh! I removed his other hand from the small of my back and slightly turn my back on him, facing Nikolai. My husband noticed my sudden change in mood but he just lets out a devilish smile just like his brother. I palmed his cheek and pushed it slightly. "You replace this amusing Nikolai?"

"I love looking at your pointy lips when you get jealous." Alexei inserts himself as he forces his hand on the small of my back then pulled me tightly towards him. He then connects his lips on me for a deep and sensual kiss. The heat on his lips instantly faded the raging jealousy I was feeling just a second ago. Damn you Volkov effect! Why do I get so weak when it comes to these two?

"Pointy lips?" I asked while touching my lips because I suddenly felt conscious.

"Yes. These sweet, supple and sexy pointy lips. Show daddy what these lips can do princess." He whispered too damn inappropriately.

I palmed and pushed his face as well just to end this sexy talk because to be perfectly honest, I am starting to get affected. Now is not a good time to be friggin horny.

"Behave." I whisper talked. It's a good thing we are already near our table.

Aria instantly ran in my direction and gave me a sweet sweet hug. "Hello my little angel. How are you?"

She just smiled and showed me a small red pouch and then took a cute little bedazzled flip phone from the inside. She opened it and showed me her wallpaper. It's a candid picture of me, her and her daddy from the time when Artan got shot which almost ended his life. Aria was showing me the bedazzled boxer shorts looking all cute and innocent while I looked so horrified because she wanted me to wear them. Her father, on the other hand, was half-naked, on his bed, with a huge smile on his face, enjoying the awkward situation I was in.

Dardan said that his Boss will be running late tonight as he has some business to attend to.

"Hey how about me?" Nikolai said as he slowly took Aria from my arms. Our baby girl is growing up and she is not as lightweight as before. I'm just glad that my husband figured quickly that I needed help in carrying her in my arms, even though he is injured himself. The little girl willingly hopped over Nikolai which made the man wince in pain. She then kisses him on his cheek and hugs him tightly.

To my horror, however, she also opened her phone and I think I know what's going to happen next. I feel like everything turned into slow motion. Please not now. Not this time.

It's as if Dardan read my mind. He abruptly took the phone from the little girl and slowly removed Aria from Nikolai. "I apologize Volkov, our princess can be a handful sometimes. Hey baby girl, let's go wait for your dad outside? I'm sure he will be here any minute now."

Nikolai looked at Dardan with those piercing green eyes and I think I know what's going to happen next. I instantly grabbed my husband's arm to get his attention. "Nikolai, I'm tired and my heels are hurting my legs. Can we sit down please?" I am so sorry Nikolai. I did not mean to do this to you. I promise I will tell you the truth later.

Good thing he listened and so we proceeded to sit down. I'm on his right side while Alexei is on his left side. We sat down and just observed the party going on. Dimitri said that the real party and drinking will happen later on, after the meeting of the Bosses.

"What was on Aria's phone?" Nikolai asked. Yup. He noticed. He kisses my fingertips, my diamond ring and the back of my hand.

"It was a picture of me, Aria and Artan the morning after he got shot. I mean, when you had him shot." I answered as a matter of truth.

"Hmm. Okay." He replied. I looked him in the eyes just to be perfectly sure that he really is okay. I touched his forehead with the back of my hand to check if he is having a severe fever or delirium or something. He shook his head as he removed my hand from his forehead and then placed it on top of his crotch. I instantly removed it and smacked him on his chest but he only chuckled again in response. Alexei just laughed at his brother's apparent naughtiness. "There are kids in this gathering for goodness sakes Nikolai!" I exclaimed.

I stood up to recover from the embarrassment and at the same time to replace Amy. Where in the world could that woman be right now?

And then I felt something wrapped around my left leg. Just like déjà vu I felt something cold and wet on my outer thigh.

A little boy is looking up at me with a funny smile plastered on his face, a missing front tooth, and an all too familiar face. Oh god. This is Jacob! The little boy who licked my leg the day when Nikolai and I met. What is this boy even doing here?!☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐