Third Person POV
Dimitri’s thoughts came alive like volts of electricity ran through his veins as he receives a text message from Yuri. He is sitting in the waiting area of the hospital along with Matushka, Boris, Andrey and the rest of their security details when he got the notification. The Madame Volkov is in the hospital to see Alexei and Nikolai.
He doesn’t know what to say or to think. For one second there, he thought that he’s in a deep and hyper-realistic dream. The past few weeks have been hell in the mansion. Being around the Big Boss was like moving in calculated fear. Both the Volkov brothers have become unbearably difficult to be around with. It’s as though, one wrong move and everyone is fucking breathing thin air or mostly no air at all.
Dimitri knows that Boris and Andrey received the same text message because the two stood up from their seats and alerted their men outside the hospital and the nearby buildings to make sure the safety of the wife.
He decided to let Matushka know about the news but when he came inside the room where the Boss and Underboss are, the Volkov matriarch is already sobbing. She covers her mouth as she cries, in a deep and sorrowful way, her phone is on her lap, looking at the text message sent by Yuri.
“Matushka…”
He knelt in front of her, trying to console the old lady. He doesn’t understand why she’s crying like it is the end when this should be a good thing. Baby Madame is coming to see her husbands, which to him is a sign that they are going to fix and mend their relationship despite what happened, despite losing their babies.
“They are going to fix this Matushka. The Boss will make this right when he wakes up and Alexei will recover because Madame is here.”
Matushka Irene forced a smile and pats Dimitri’s face. “Dimi boy, bless your innocence.”
He looked her straight in the eyes as if asking as to what she meant. “Your Bosses are going to lose her tonight. This is her, making her peace.” Matushka continued.
Dimitri wasn’t able to say a word as he tries to process what Matushka said. Andrey called on to him because Belle is already heading towards their floor. They waited at the receiving area, holding their breaths as the elevator dings.
They thought they knew what they were expecting, but nothing prepared them for what appeared right before their eyes the moment the entourage came out of the elevator. It is their Madame Volkov who is very much pregnant. She did not lose the babies.
Matushka looked stunned, her eyes widened in utter shock. Dimitri had to hold her as she was about to break down. Even Boris and Andrey looked like they have seen a ghost in obvious disbelief.
She kept from her husbands that she is still pregnant. His Bosses suffered day and night thinking that they have lost their wife and that they were the reason why they lost the babies. To Dimitri’s mind, this changes everything. Madame Volkov should not be given the chance to leave and make her peace bullshit.
As they were about to approach Matushka, Dimitri instantly took the chance to go inside his Bosses’ room to wake the Big Boss up.
“The fuck Boss, wake up! This is your chance to get your family together-get her home now! Wake up! She’s still pregnant with your babies. Can you hear me? She’s here and you can’t let her leave anymore. Dammit! Boss, you should see her eyes, they are not sparkling anymore. And her face-she doesn’t look like she has smiled for a very long time. Fuck! She doesn’t deserve to be sad like that. She’s happy with you and Alexei. Make that happen again.” Dimitri whispered to him in Russian, while trying to shake him to consciousness.
“Fucking hell Dimitri, you fucking squeal like a girl.” Answered Nikolai who is now slowly waking up from sedation.
Dimitri chuckled under his breath as he removes Nikolai’s oxygen from his nose. “Good to see you back, Boss. I’m guessing the drug hasn’t worn off completely? Did you hear what I said?”
“I heard you just fine.”
“Then why don’t you look happy?”
Nikolai clenches his jaw as he was about to lose his patience. “Don’t worry Dimitri, when I’m completely recovered, you get to test the same drug so you’ll know exactly why I don’t look happy right now.”
“Sorry Boss. This night is pretty fucked up, you know.”
“Get the doctor and ask him why the fuck is my head spinning like hell.”
“Might be a little too late for that.” Dimitri said as he sees through the glass that Belle is coming over.
“She mustn’t know that I’m awake.” Nikolai said closing his eyes once again.
In his mind, the reason why Belle went to the hospital is that she thinks that he and his brother are both unconscious. And that more than him, the very reason why she’s here is because of Alexei. He’s not about to ruin the chance for his brother to finally feel and hear the voice of the woman that he’s in love with. He believes that Belle is Alexei’s only cure.
For now, the Boss of the Russian Mafia opted to go against his instincts. His body will always crave for her. His heart will always beat because of her. She will always be the only one who can put him in his place and bring him to his knees. But tonight, he will do anything he can to not ruin the moment for his brother.
In Nikolai’s mind, the woman sure knows how to break his heart quite literally. He will not fault her for keeping the truth about her pregnancy from him because he knows that his wife is in the wrong belief that he and his brother are not in love with her but in the likeness of her with his sister.
Nikolai is certain that Belle has not read the letter he sent her. Nevertheless, he is resolved in making things right. He will get his family back together. He will take his wife home–after the fucking drug gets flushed out from his system, he thought.
–
Belle’s POV
I asked Devon to give me privacy so I can say my goodbye to the two. They stood outside the glass wall looking at me like I’m a fish in a friggin aquarium. Matushka and Nikolai’s men looked so dumb stricken until now. Although, I need not say anything to Matushka because she knew why I am here before I could even say a word to her. I tried to ignore them and slowly paced towards the middle of the beds of Nikolai and Alexei.
I had to swallow the lump in my throat as I feel like choking up. I can’t help but feel the guilt for ultimately doing this to them but at the same time, there’s a part of me that screams otherwise. Leaving my marriage is the right decision.
The doctor said that Alexei broke one of his ribs and only had minor injuries because of the crash. I thought that was a good thing because it means he can recover fast but what worried the doctors really is his brain. When he crashed he did not wear a helmet the reason why until now he is still unconscious. If he does not wake up in the next hour, he will be pronounced to be in a state of coma.
Looking at him like this, I feel like my heart is being slowly crushed into tiny pieces. What if I did not leave the way I did? What if I did not decide to divorce them? Would he even be in this hospital bed unsure if he still wakes or not?
No matter how hard I fight it, no matter how hard I try to be strong for myself and my babies, the truth is, every part of me still cares and loves every bit of this man.
I slowly climbed on his bed and carefully nestled on his side. I rested my face on his neck and embraced him. I felt his body gradually warm-up against mine. And If I did not know any better, I would have thought that his heart beats a little louder and faster this time.
“I have a secret to tell you but don’t tell Nikolai okay?” I looked around just to make sure no one is listening. “I lied when I said that he kisses better than you. I just said that because he’s got bigger ego.”
Recalling our happy moments together just made me feel far worse about the whole situation. Why am I doing this to myself? I am just supposed to tell them the truth about the twins and say goodbye to them but I ended up hurting myself by remembering one of the many times that the three of us were inseparable.
“Alexei, wake up please. Matushka and Nikolai need you, the Mafia needs you. Please, you have to fight. You have to wake up.” I kissed him on his cheek for one last time and tucked him back under the blanket.
I then went to Nikolai’s bed and looked at him intently. He is still unconscious because he was heavily sedated-that is why I had the courage to come here and see them. Apparently, the stubborn man refused medication for his wound and insisted to go home without getting some rest or sleep.
Before anything else, I first made sure that the man is really passed out because he has quite the reputation of pretend sleeping. I glanced at his manhood and saw it peacefully laden.
“Uhm B.. your father called, we have to go.” Said Amy knocking on the sliding door. I know the urgency of the situation and that we only have a small window before this man in front of me fully recovers from his forced sleep.
I focused my attention back as to why I am here. To check on them, let them know that I did not lose the babies and say goodbye to him and Alexei before we leave for Palawi. My father arranged a private plane for us to leave in just a while.
“Yes. I just need a minute A.” My best friend forces a smile on her face as she heeds my request.
I sat on Nikolai’s side, slowly took his hand and placed his palm on my abdomen. “I am sorry for hiding the truth about the twins. They are here and they are alive Nikolai. They will grow up in Palawi but they will bear your last name. They are Volkovs and you are their father. I am not going to deprive you or Alexei of that right. And if someday they want to see you and be with you, I will let them. But for now, I am doing what’s best for us.”
I removed his hand from me, carefully stepped down the bed and gave Nikolai one last kiss.
–
When Belle left the hospital, Matushka Irene found Nikolai in his bed, his eyes are shut but a tear is streaming down the side of his face. The Volkov Matriarch immediately caressed him, as the Boss of the Russian Mafia, the most feared man in the New York underground criminal world, sobs in her arms.