Belle’s POV
The private plane Artemis, is now at the tarmac as we wait for our turn to take off. Seconds from now, I am finally free. My life in New York is coming to a bittersweet end — bitter because of all the things that I went through for falling in love with Nikolai and Alexei and sweet because of the tiny little angels in my womb that I will never regret having.
I will protect them the best way I know in Palawi and I will raise them rightfully as their last names, Volkov. I will be fair to them and I will not deprive them of the fact that their fathers are Nikolai Vyacheslav Volkov and Alexei Viktor Volkov. They will grow up with so much love surrounding them. They will have the most amazing grandparents, uncle Devon, Aunt Amy and a mother who will never give up on them no matter what.
“Artemis is such a hot name. I think it’s a name built under the foundation of testosterone and strength.” Said Amy, breaking the silence inside the plane. “I wonder what Artemis looks like. Artan is such a daddy. He must have got the good genes from him.”
I just shook my head on her. I know she’s trying to make light of the situation but I am honestly not in the mood. I feel like my insides are twisting as I sit anxiously.
“I got to give it to Mr. Bogdani though, drunk and broken-hearted or not, the Albanian Mob Boss always comes through for you B.”
Amy told me on our way to the airport that Artan was out of reach since our last conversation. His men were worried because he kept himself in his room, not talking to anyone except when he orders them to bring alcohol. Dylan said that after Aria was brought to the hospital to check on her uncles, she was immediately sent to the safe house. This usually happens on two occasions, one if there is a mob war going on, or Artan is going through something that he doesn’t want Aria to see. Dylan thinks both reasons are equally true. They are preparing for the consequences of the fallout from the Russian Mafia and Artan doesn’t want Aria to see him in this situation.
When my father asked help from him, he never thought twice. He immediately sent help without regard to the consequences. That man is so stubborn I honestly don’t know what I will do with him anymore. If I know that Pa will ask help from him, I would not have agreed to it. It will just cause unnecessary harm to the people who will get involved.
Sooner or later, I know I have to thank him for doing this huge favor for our family. As for now however, I don’t think I can forgive him just yet for lying to me all this time. I trusted him with all my heart and yet he betrayed me just the same.
My heart started to beat at an abnormal pace as the plane approaches the runway for takeoff. I don’t know what exactly to think much less to feel. I close my eyes as uncertainty seeps into my veins like gravity that is pulling me back.
Am I doing the right decision? Is leaving my marriage with Nikolai and Alexei the right thing to do? Is abandoning them while they are both in the hospital, a decision that I will regret someday?
I took a deep breath and tighten my grip around the armrest of my seat as I try my very best not to give in to my doubts. I am leaving New York City. I am leaving my life away from the Russian Mafia and away from Nikolai and Alexei.
–
Meanwhile at St. Michael’s Hospital
Nikolai is lying beside his brother while reading the book for expecting dads that his brother bought for him in Colombia. He is talking to him in Russian as if Alexei could hear him.
“Can you believe that brother? Babies will poop four to five times a day? That’s so much poop! Fucking hell. I have twins.”
“What’s that?” He continued, as he connects his ear close to his brother’s mouth as if he could hear him whisper. “That’s what I’m thinking. It’s on page 9. It says here that sometimes, mums will have an excess amount of breast milk. And you know what they do? They use this device called a breast pump to calm the titties. I don’t think our queen will need this device often, yah? That’s what husbands are for. To help and give the wife all the comfort she needs. If both titties need comfort, you take one side and I’ll take the other. If only one titty needs comfort, we take turns.”
“Boss, we have a small problem.” Says Yuri as he enters the hospital room interrupting Nikolai’s one-sided conversation with Alexei.
“We have traced five private planes all taking off at the same time bound to Palawi in different locations in New York. We don’t have much time to pinpoint the exact plane or airport.”
Nikolai stepped down from the bed and put his jacket on. He then sat down calmly while crossing his arms over his chest. “Do you think my wife is in one of those five planes Yuri?”
“No. I think the five planes are decoys.” He answered with a tone of certainty.
Nikolai walked towards the window and pulled the blinds to have a view of the New York skyline. He thought to himself that Yuri might be right, the planes are just decoys to distract them from finding the right place where the Galves’ will take off. But that’s not about to stop him from getting his wife back. “Papa’s good. The old man walks his talk.”
“What’s the plan?” Asks Yuri, obvious sense of urgency on his tone.
“Make the call. Ground every single fucking plane leaving New York in the next 10 minutes.”
Yuri was taken aback at first as he knows the extent and seriousness of what his Boss is trying to say. Nevertheless, he obliges as he also thinks that this is the best chance they have at the moment to stop Belle from leaving. If they do not make it on time, they will have to take down a whole nation just to get the wife back.
This is the most efficient and urgent way. Grounding every single plane even if that means pulling some major strings that the Russian Mafia holds. It’s a genius idea, Yuri thought to himself. One of the reasons why Nikolai is the Mafia Boss that everyone fears in the underworld. Perhaps the one man who thinks beyond evil and exactly does what he means.
–
5 minutes later….