By evening of the following day, Yuri sat before Mr. Jucef at his building in Crying Sun. “Mr. Yuri, I’m surprised that you really want to meet with me so badly. Is there a business proposition?”
“You are holding Natasha in your custody. Might I remind you that Mr. Dmitry Pushkin did not renounce his protection over her. By laying your hands on what’s under Mr. Dmitry’s Pushkin protection, you are seeking for… war.”
Mr. Jucef smirked, “we are already at war, son.”
“I demand you release Natasha at this moment,” Yuri commanded.
Mr. Jucef bursted into a loud laughter, he almost spilled the wine he was sipping. “Are you joking right now, son?” He laughed even more.
“Do you know how protected I am? I don’t care how much power Dmitry thinks he holds but over here in my territory, in this city of Crying Sun, you will be losing a lot trying to fight me.” Mr. Jucef said.
“In that case, you won’t blame us for the calamities that’s about to befall you,” Yuri said and stood. “Take care, Mr. Jucef.”
Then he walked away.
When Yuri met with Dmitry, he reported how things unfolded with Jucef. The truth was, As at then , Yuri didn’t even have any proof that Natasha is with them, he had only pushed it to the man as if he was sure and the man fell into it. At least, they now know where Natasha is.
Dmitry remained quiet for a while, for he was inside a hot pool at the moment, taking a hot shower.
“All you have to do is give the command,” Yuri said. For they have more than enough men to wage war against Jucef.
“And let innocent men lose their lives?” Dmitry asked rhetorically. “We can’t wage war loosely. Our men didn’t come this far just to waste their lives for a woman.”
Yuri sighed. “I thought she was more than a woman to you, sir?”
He added, “you’ve done things to her you will never do for anyone. And I think I know you better than others. This woman has a place in your icy heart, irrespective of whether you accept it or not.”
“I know you want to save her so bad. So stop punishing yourself and just do it, sir.” Yuri said.
Dmitry got water with his palm and splashed it on his face as if trying to cool himself. Took many seconds before he spoke, “Kidnap Pavel. He’s all that Jucef gets.”
Yuri nodded, “Indeed, they will be expecting to charge with hundreds of men, they will never expect we’ll be taking what’s most valuable to them.”
Dmitry nodded and dismissed him. He exhaled as soon as Yuri left. It seems Yuri may be right with his assertions regarding Natasha. Indeed, he not only wants to save her so badly, he wants to murder Pavel and his father for daring to kidnap her. No matter how much he tried to hide his emotions, it seemed as if Yuri could easily see through him. He’s less surprised since Yuri had been with him for more than a decade.
Pavel went out to see for himself the newest mega construction of his father. While he was driving back, he couldn’t stop thinking about how life would be when he eventually takes over from his father. Truth was, he didn’t like that world but it seems it’s his fate to live in that world.
All of a sudden, a car hit his car and he lost control, his car went to crash on the side wall. Fortunately for him, he wasn’t injured. He Turned off the ignition of the car and stepped out angrily. He wants to see who dare to mistakenly hit him in this city. Whenever it is must pay. For everyone in Crying Sun knows better now to mess with with any member of the Jucef’s family.
As he stepped out, two men came out of the car that hit him and sprayed a chemical towards his nose, he reflexively breathed it in a few times and he lost all consciousness. Before he could drop to the floor, the man carried him to the booth of the car and took him away.
Mr. Jucef was celebrating with his friends when his assistant came to him that he had a call, he told the assistant to ignore the call but the assistant said the call had been coming in repeatedly.
Jucef collected the phone and spoke through it, “better be money related.”
“It’s not.” The person on the other end spoke.
The voice sounded a little familiar so Mr. Jucef excused himself from his friends, “who is this?”
“Pavel is our custody. You have one hour to let go of Natasha or he will be killed.”
“And I’ll Natasha too.” Jucef fired back.
“A deal then,” then the call came to an end.
“Fuck!” Jucef shouted. His friends inside heard it and they all walked to him, asking what was wrong.
Jucef went back to his seat and ordered for the music that was playing to stop. He needed time to think.
Ten minutes later, he commanded, “send that woman alone to Lead City. I want her children and the nanny to remain here. But before you release her, ensure Pavel is released.”
“Got it,” his men answered.
A few hours later, at Leaf City, Yuri and a few other men of the underworld drove over to the meeting point. This was where Yuri was to meet with Jucef’s men.
Jucef’s men brought Natasha forward while Yuri’s men brought Pavel forward. All of the men were holding weapons of course.
“We are not ready to engage you people but if there’s a single shot from any of you, I can guarantee you all that you’ll die here. We have many men laying ambushes all around here.” The last statement wasn’t true, Yuri was only trying to avoid a blood bath.
The exchange happened and once Natasha was inside the car, she said to Yuri, “Naomi and her children are still there.”
This time, Yuri’s car was already driving away.
“Naomi and her children have no use to Mr. Dmitry,” although Yuri knew the kids were for Dmitry, he played along as if he had no idea. As long as Natasha refuses to reveal the truth about the kids to Dmitry then she better be able to protect them herself.
“Indeed. But can you please help me, Mr. Yuri.”
“I can not.” Yuri answered bluntly.
Natasha wished she didn’t bring Naomi into this mess. Who knows what they will be doing to Naomi right now? And her kids? How will she get them? Although she was released, she didn’t feel like it at all.
“Can you take me to Dmitry, please? I need to see him.” Natasha didn’t just want them to drop her at her apartment, it’s of no use. She’s unhappy, sad and incomplete.
“Alright,” answered Yuri.
A couple of minutes later, Natasha sat with Dmitry at the little garden outside the central building of the mansion. “Thank you so much.”
Dmitry shrugged. His eyes on the magazine in his hands.
“Erm… Naomi and her kids are still there. I brought them into my mess. Please… I know you have already tried for me but I beg you to save them too.”
“You are acting entitled,” Dmitry said. “It’s disgusting!”
“Oh my! Of course I’m not entitled to your protection. You are only helping me out of your kindness. I do not even deserve it.” Natasha cleared it. “It’s just that I do not have anyone else that can save Naomi and her kids.”
“Why did you leave the city in the first place?” Dmitry asked.
“I… “Natasha stuttered. “I thought you would take your protection off me.”
“Cause you couldn’t heal my mother?” Dmitry asked. “But I’ve helped you even when you’ve done nothing for me.”
Natasha exhaled, “I was just scared. It’s impossible for me to know what your decision will be.”
“I can’t help Naomi and her kids. If I try, many people will lose their lives in the process.”
Natasha wasn’t ready to give up as this was about her twin. “Is there something I can do that can make you save them?”
Dmitry dropped the magazine on the table and said, “don’t you get it? I’ve never helped you cause you’ve done anything to me. I’m helping you cause I chose to.” Or cause his heart couldn’t watch her suffer, anyhow.
Dmitry relaxed back, “Naomi and her kids will be released in no time. They do not have a problem with them.”
Indeed. That would have been the case but that is if Pavel did not know the kids are for her. There was no way Pavel would let go of those kids since he knew the truth about the parents of the babies. He will even use her babies to threaten her.
“It’s logical,” Dmitry added. “He wants you, not them. He has nothing to profit from keeping them unless of course, there’s more to your relationship with them.”
Natasha’s pulse quickened at his last sentence, it seemed as if she had no choice but to reveal the truth about the baby’s father to him. She can’t afford to let her baby suffer because she’s trying to keep the truth. Is it not better for the kids to be in their father’s custody than for them to be in Pavel’s custody. Pavel is a beast, a monster who has mastered the act of pretending. He looks like a sheep on the outside but in fact, he’s worse than a wolf on the inside.
“The kids…”her heart began to pound heavily, as she was now about to reveal the truth to him. He will definitely be disappointed at her and probably angry at her for keeping the truth from him all these while. But can he blame her? ‘He rejected the pregnancy so technically, he doesn’t deserve the babies.’ That will be her defense mechanism. “You are the father of…”