CHAPTER 52: ROMAN’S ARMY
CHAPTER 52: ROMAN’S ARMY
NIKOLAI’S POV:
I left the mansion after breakfast to clear my head and think straight. Since Lily and I came to Russia, everything just seems rushed. Roman was the first to get on my nerves, how dare he look at Lily that way. Anastasia was the next, trying to start up a fight with Lily, I’m only being kind to her because of my Aunty, her mother.
Lily did well in answering their questions and avoiding Anastasia’s remarks. I have to admit, placing portions of food on her plate felt strange, it was something I have never done before but I was willing to. I only did that to play the part of a ‘perfect boyfriend’ and just for Roman to see that Lily was off limits.
Well, so I told myself.
Watching Lily interact with my family, especially my mother, seeing my mother care for Lily and smile at her steered up something in my chest.
I sighed as I drove around without anywhere in mind, Anastasia caught me off guard when she mentioned Elena. I didn’t want to say it but the mere mention of Elena still makes me feel some type of way.
Anastasia and Elena are best friends, they grew up together, went to the same middle school and high school. They were only separated when Elena went to college in London. Anastasia was present the time Elena and I dated.
‘Is Elena back?’, I asked myself.
I drove for about 30 minutes and stopped at a private beach, I took the bottle of whiskey and a glass and hopped out of the car. I sat in the open space where no one single soul could be found. I hated the cold weather and would rather be inside the comfort of my room but I can’t face Lily.
I poured myself a glass and drank all the content in one go.
I understand Anastasia is rude to Lily because of her relationship with Elena but she doesn’t know the whole story, she shouldn’t be coming after Lily.
And about Lily… “Lily”, I whispered her name with my eyes closed, thinking about the countless kisses we have shared.
It’s like my mind is stuck on repeat, replaying those moments over and over. I’ve tried to tell myself it was just a physical thing, but deep down, I know it’s more. I can’t get her out of my head – her smile, her laugh, her eyes that seem to see right through me, the way she pouts, they way her mouth moves when she talks, I’m caught between feeling comfortable with my usual emotional numbness and feeling alive when I’m around her.
The idea that I might actually have feelings for her is scary, but I can’t deny it. I’m stuck in this confusing place, unsure of how to deal with these new feelings.
My phone rang, bringing me back to reality, I checked the caller ID and it was Lev, my face went back to its usual fierce state. I picked it up and place it on my ear.
“Yes Lev”, I said.
“I have found some things about Roman you need to know”, He said over the phone.
“How bad?”, I asked.
“It is not a phone conversation boss”, He replied and I know it wasn’t something small he found.
“Okay. I will text you an address, be there in 20”.
“Okay boss”, Lev responded and ended the call, I stood up and headed for the car. Even though I drank a few glasses of alcohol, I was in my right sense to drive. I got into the car and texted the address for Lev to meet me there, same for Ivan.
Immediately we landed in Moscow, I had Lev tail Roman, I need to know why he was back in Russia after so many years, why he had a conversation with my father that left him unconscious, what he was planning at the moment and what was his next move. Lev was the right person in finding such informations.
“You better not prove me right brother”, I said and zoom off.
***
I got to the place and Lev has already arrived, it took Ivan three minutes after I arrived before he came.
This place was located far from the town and it was safe, it is one of my many property I bought that my family wasn’t aware of.
“Report”, I demanded once all three of us were present. Lev passed me a file and an envelope with pictures, I opened the file and read through the content and my eyes grew darker.
“Fucking bastard!”, I shouted and threw the papers across the room.
“What is it man?”, Ivan asked in confusion, Lev tried to gather the papers that was all over the place.
“Roman is supposedly building an army of mafias”, I said.
“What?!”, Ivan exclaimed.
“According to what I gathered and reports from my intels, He is recruiting people who are Mr Vladimir former workers, people who were wronged by Mr Vladimir and those who you have bad history with”, Lev explained more and I scoffed.
“He can’t do that!”, Ivan said.
“He already is”, I said and took the envelope, I opened it to see photo proof. There were pictures of more than fifty men in training, all wearing black.
“How were you able to get this photo?”, I asked Lev.
“This place is called Verkhoyansk, in northeastern Siberia… I couldn’t use a drone in fear of getting spotted, I had to pay a native of the village to take them, he said he climbed a tall tree just for the pictures”, Lev explained.
“Apparently they call themselves Krovaviye Koshki – Blood Cats… interesting name”, I read through the papers and said then I scoffed.
“Get this, from what my close contacts told me, Roman is trying to fight you for your inheritance as the heir”, Lev said.
“That doesn’t make any sense, he is the first born after all”, Ivan uttered.
“True. But rumor have it that Mr Vladimir is planning on making you the next CEO and not the first son, Roman. Mr Vladimir wants you to inherit the mafia gang”, Lev said again, everything was more surprising than the first.
“So, is he building an army to kill Nikolai? His own brother?”, Ivan asked.
“Wouldn’t be the first time he is trying on taking my life”, I said absentmindedly, I was already plotting if I should disrupt his plans now or wait and watch.
“Oh come on Nikolai, that was years ago, he should know better by now”, Ivan said, referring to the incident that happened to me years ago.
“You are right, that was years ago… and Roman is more thirsty for my blood”, I said and looked at Lev, “Is that all?”, I asked and he shook his head, he took out a flash drive and gave to me.
“There is a video here with Roman in it, watch it in your alone time”, Lev said and I nodded.
“Thank you Lev, burn everything you showed me today, leave nothing… and continue in tailing Roman”, I instructed and left.
My dear brother still thinks I’m that little kid he pushed into the freezing river and left to die? He must be a jokester. The bastard was forgetting one thing, I am a man now, the leader of the biggest Mafia gang, Bratva and a fucking beast.
***
I drove back home and it was already pass noon, I went upstairs to my room but Lily wasn’t in there, I went to Galina and my sister was alone.
“Where is Lily?”, I asked her.
“Oh, you are back… She said she was tired and needed some rest, have you checked you guys room?”, She said and my brows furrowed.
“I just came back from my room Galina”, I said.
“Oh, then I don’t know where she is”, She replied.
“But you are supposed to be with her!”, I was loosing my patience already.
“Hey, don’t yell at me! I’m not a babysitter you know”, Galina said and I felt bad for raising my voice.Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.
“I’m sorry… do you know where she might have gone?”, I asked again.
“No. Can you please let her breathe, she’s not a kid, stop suffocating her with your presence”.
“You know how big this house is, I don’t want her getting lost”, I found a lie.
“Well, that’s true… but I’m sure she is around somewhere, she a smart girl and she can find her way around. Maybe she wants to be alone after finding out about you and Elena–“, Galina immediately palmed her mouth before she could spill everything out but I heard her.
“What was that?”.
“Nothing!”.
“You told Lily and Elena and I?!”, I roared and Galina shivered.
“I promised not to let you know she asked”, Galina pouted. My sister was one person you shouldn’t keep your secret with.
“For fuck sake Galina!!”, I shouted.
“I’m sorry! Lily was really persistent!… and her doe eyes were so pitiful”, Galina said. I sighed and shook my head, now wasn’t the time to scold her, I need to find Lily.
I don’t want her roaming around the mansion and stumbling into things she shouldn’t, like Anastasia and Roman.
I left Galina there and went to look for look for Lily, but where will I start?