Belle’s POV
The next morning I woke up realizing that Nikolai and Alexei are not in our bed anymore. The whole mansion is so quiet-more like somber silence. Today, Yuri will leave the mansion. I did not see him or even Tatyana around anymore. The only people I see are the mansion’s security and my I. V.
My husbands left me voice messages saying that they will be back as soon as they can. This is the part of the day that I actually don’t like. Waking up alone and waiting for Nikolai and Alexei to come home safe as the day ends. Usually, they stay in for breakfast and until I wake up before leaving the mansion. But when important things are happening in the mafia, they leave early and go home late.
I spent the day starting with my regular home check-up with the ob-gyn. I am seven weeks pregnant, she said that I can actually hear the twin’s heartbeats this time. I got excited at first but then I remember Nikolai. I know this moment is as special to him as it is to me. So I held it in abeyance. I want to do it with him and Alexei beside me.
I read books and articles about pregnancy in the pantry the rest of the day until eventually, I realized that it’s already dusk. I was about to go upstairs to take a bath and prepare for dinner but then I was halted when I noticed someone’s petting Petrushka and Valkyre. He’s with Ivan and Vasily in the grand foyer. He’s wearing a black leather jacket and jeans. His luggage is being taken by one of the men towards the rooms down the hall where Boris, Yuri and Dimitri’s rooms are located.
“Hello Madame Volkov. It’s nice to see you again.” He said with a smile on his face.
“You are Yuri’s brother.” I am actually surprised that he is here. I know that he is the one in charge with our business in Russia. What is he even doing here?
“It’s Andrey, Madame.” He replied.
“Yes, Andrey. You’re coming to visit Yuri?” I asked as I think I have an idea why he’s really here.
“Ugh, maybe.” He answered with a naughty smile on his face.
“Where is he taking your luggage?”
“He is taking my things to Yuri’s room. I was informed that it’s vacant starting today.” He replied.
“Yuri might come to visit, so his room is not vacant. There are plenty of rooms in this mansion. I’ll have one of the rooms prepared for you.” I know it’s far from possible but still, I don’t want him occupying Yuri’s room.
The man chuckled like he found my statement ridiculous. “Madame Volkov, when a man is banished from the mafia, he is not coming back ever. There are no visits. When the wolf has been burned, there’s no turning back.”
“What do you mean by when the wolf has been burned?” I asked curiously.
“The burning of Yuri’s wolf.” He said while showing me his tattoo of the monogram V on the back of his right hand — the one peaking behind the sleeve of his jacket. The same exact tattoo I see on Nikolai, Alexei, and their men.
“They are going to burn Yuri’s tattoo?” I asked.
“They are going to get rid of them Madame.” He replied.
I feel like I am going to vomit just by the thought of it. Exactly how they are going to do it, I do not want to know. I have been trying to embrace my life as the wife of the Russian Mafia Boss and Underboss but there times that I feel like I am in over my head.
I so wanted to take a calming hot shower but it’s not advised by my doctor as it will raise my internal temperature which is not good for the twins. So I just took a quick normal shower and changed to some cute bodycon drape champagne satin dress as I await for my husbands to come home. And then I saw Andrey about to go out with the other men. I asked if I could talk to him in private in which the man gladly obliged.
“Uhm, I want to ask a favor. Please don’t tell anyone, including Nikolai and Alexei?”
“It depends on the favor. Let me hear it first.” He retorted.
“Well, I have a voice recording. I want you to translate it for me.”
“If it’s the Bosses’ conversation, the answer is no Madame. You know there is a reason why the brothers talk Russian when you’re around. They just want to protect you.”
I placed my index finger in the middle of his lips to shut him up because I. V can hear him. “Quiet Andrey! This is not my husbands conversation. It’s, well, it’s Yuri and Tatyana’s conversation.”
His eyes widened like he has seen a unicorn. A smirk slowly grew on his face. “Madame! Oh my god! Why would you do that?!” He said. Acting all surprised and scandalized. He covered his mouth pretending to be horrified of what I did.
“Are you gonna help me or what?” I asked borderline irritated.
“Let me hear it first. Then I decide.” He said. He sat on the chair and waited for me to hand him the phone.
– Scene when Belle was recording Yuri and Tatyana’s conversation –
Tatyana: (Sitting on the corner of the bed while Yuri packs his things) You’re in love with Madame Volkov?
Yuri: I am not paying you to ask questions.
Tatyana: We don’t have to leave the mansion this soon. (hugs him from the back)
Yuri: (Removes Tatyana’s arms from around his waist and pushes her to the bed) This is not happening Taty. The deal is you do as I tell you to do. I give you a second chance in life to leave Zora. We will leave the mansion.
Tatyana: You will not be part of the Mafia anymore! You will be dead! All your enemies will come sneaking at you every day of your life. No one is going to help you. You won’t have the protection of the Russian wolf anymore! You can’t do this. It’s suicide!
Yuri: I made a mistake! It’s fitting that I face the consequences of that mistake.
Tatyana: What mistake? Is it about Madame Volkov? If it’s about her, maybe she’s the one who can change everything.
(Both hear a light screeching of the door, they did not realize that it was slightly open all this time)
-end of scene-
_-_
Belle’s POV
I am in the SUV with Andrey and I. V on our way to the location where they will do the burning of the wolf on Yuri. I did not realize the seriousness of the implication of Yuri’s decision to leave the mansion until now.
Tatyana is right. Once Yuri leaves the mansion he will become an easy target to his enemies. The enemies he accumulated over the years he’s been in the mafia. And I know for a fact that the Russian Mafia is his whole life. He will not have the protection of the organization. He will be on his own fending off enemies from every direction.
He paid Tatyana to pretend to be his fiance because he felt compelled to face the consequences of his mistake. And I think I know what he is talking about. Still there are a lot of things that I do not understand. No matter, I think that he is making a huge mistake in leaving the mansion.
I hope that we are not too late. Andrey said that once the burning is done, it’s done. There is no turning back. He is permanently banished from the Mafia.
We arrived at a boat=house inside a fish port somewhere. There are several cars and SUVs already parked outside and judging by the amount of security placed around the boat-house, I think that Nikolai and Alexei are here. When our SUV pulled over, I immediately stepped down and went past the men who are guarding outside. I walked as fast as I could. My heart is already beating a million times praying to the heavens that I am still not too late.
When I entered inside, I feel like my heart is going to burst out of my chest when I saw the hot iron they usually use in branding cattle on the farm. Only that, this one is customized for human torture. It’s already molten hot and is about to be used on Yuri. His hand is shackled on top of the table to put it in place while he is biting on to a towel.
Yuri is half-naked, all bloody and sweaty. He looks like he has been beaten up badly. I could not understand why they have to do this. I looked at Nikolai and Alexei disappointingly. I am so mad at them right now! It’s not like Yuri betrayed the Mafia. He just made one simple mistake. He fell in love! But that does not mean that he deserves to be treated like this after all he has done for the family.
The people inside were halted and waited for Nikolai’s signal on what to do. So before he could ever decide, I walk up towards Yuri, sat on his lap, and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“No! Nikolai, Alexei stop this! Please!” I screamed.
“Madame. Please don’t do this. This has to be done.” Yuri said almost whispering. He then spoke to Nikolai in Russian but my husband did not seem to hear or care about what he just said.
“No! You said you love me right? Do you love me?” I asked as I turn his head to face me. Everything and everyone inside the boat-house stood still. It was dead silent like everyone is holding their breaths. Even Nikolai and Alexei seem to be just waiting for things to unravel in front of them.