3 C.R.I.M.E.S

Chapter 5

Jacqueline POV

"Natalya!" I squealed as I seen her little legs scurry towards me. With my arms open wide I ran towards her, meeting her halfway and grabbing onto her as I gathered her tiny form into my arms.

"Mama!" she exclaimed through a fit of giggles as I spun her around.

Today I had decided to go pick her up from my sister's and take her back to the hotel with me.

"I've missed you, my little angel," I said as I peppered little kisses all over her face.

She welcomed each and every one of them, giving me sloppy kisses in return.

"Hey, I want kisses too." I looked up and was met with my sister's pouting face as she held her arms open. I rolled my eyes at her antics but nonetheless walked to her and wrapped my other arm around her.

"Oh gosh, I haven't seen you in two months." She said as she stepped back and looked at me pointedly.

I nodded in understanding, playing with Natalya's short curly hair, "yeah, I was just trying to sort this whole... situation out."

"Natalya, why don't you go pack your stuff and then have some food before you leave with mama," Wendy said more than asked as Natalya slid down my waist and to the floor, the quiet patter of her feet was heard as she ran to her room.

"Let's go have some coffee," Wendy said as she turned and I followed behind her. "You look like you could use it."

I let out an exasperated sigh at that, "oh, you have no idea."

"Tell me everything," Wendy demanded as we reached the kitchen and I leaned against the counter, "and don't hold back on the details, girl."

I watched her as she started up the kettle, "well, we're going for couples counselling."

She laughed, "holy crap, this must be serious then."

I rolled my eyes at this, "shut up, he's trying to make things work-"

"Even after you testified against him in court? Damn, that guy is crazy for you, Jacky," she sighed as she handed me a golden tea cup that looked straight out of the royal house, containing coffee instead of tea.

"I don't understand why he doesn't get that I'm not doing this just to be spiteful and that I'm only doing this because I'm tired of Natalya seeing her dad in person like once every month and other times he's on a goddamn screen! I mean, literally until she turned 2 she thought her father was just a head and shoulders."

Wendy laughed at that, "then why don’t you just tell him what the issue is."

"You think I haven't tried? The more I tell him the angrier he gets," I groaned as I took a sip of the coffee, the caffeine in it soothing my overworked nerves.

"Oh damn, and we know what happens when he gets angry-" she began to sing.

"b***h, don't!"

"You guys get it on! Hard, wild and free!" She sang as she swished her head side to side and I rolled my eyes with a smile on my face.

"You know, when you act like this, I find it hard to believe that you're a 35 year old gynaecologist."

"It's all about what's in here," she said pointing to her head, "not what comes out of my mouth."

"You know, how's Andie?" I asked slyly.

"Oh gosh! His name is Andre firstly, and he's amazing," she said with a dreamy smile on her face.

"You guys have been dating for like 9 months now, when am I going to meet him?" I raised an eyebrow in question.

She cleared her throat awkwardly, "actually, he's met Joseph...but that was only because we all happened to meet coincidentally at the same place."

"I'm sure," I said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry! It was when he came to pick Natalya up, and Andre and I were planning on going out with her, but then Joseph showed up. Blah blah blah, long story short, they met but it was more like a 'hey this is him and this is him' situation."

"Well, I guess I have been scarce so it is technically my fault," I said softly looking down at my hands.

"Aww, don't say that..." She paused and I looked up at her waiting for her to finish.

"Well, are you going to finish that sentence?"

"Oh, no that was all," she shrugged in return and I let out a hearty laugh.

"So did you find out if he was lying about the job he had?" I inquired.

She giggled, "yeah I did. Only, he wasn't lying, he’s some shareholder at a law firm. And you know," she began as she got off the counter and seated herself on the stool instead, "I'm loving his children so much. There's Micah, who's 7 years old and DJ who's 10 years old. They're so lovely and they absolutely make my day."

I smiled at that, "that's wonderful, so am I going to hear any wedding bells soon?"

She returned my winks with a sassy nod, "that's all on Andre's part honestly but we've agreed to take things slow because of all this drama going on. I didn't want to jump into things until everybody has their problems all sorted out."

I looked down shamefully. Knowing that even after all this time she has to care for all of us before she can even enjoy her own life.

"Oh...Wendy I feel so selfish. You shouldn't worry about all of us. We're grown adults now. Just live your life, baby. You're the best big sister anyone could ask for and you always put others before you, but now that's got to stop."

She smiled sadly at me, looking back down at her teacup, "no, you don't understand. It's because I've been doing this for so long that it's hard to just suddenly not care about you guys. I mean, Quinn just had his seventh child from the fourth baby mamma so it's that kind of drama. Then you and Joseph, and I had to take care of Natalya. You know Idris is the only one with no issues. Mum is always here, and then grandma and grandpa come here with her too. So I never really have time to just be...Wendy, you know? But it's fine. I'm used to it."

We were quiet after that, both of us just drinking coffee.

Looking at my sister now and how we were 10 years ago you'd never think it was the same girl. She was the girl who never took care of herself, not because she didn't want to but because she was so busy trying to help out at home and bail Quinn out of jail. She had a lot on her shoulders at the tender age of 14 years old. I was 9 years old then.

We always knew she was destined for greatness and when Joseph met her, he thought the same too. At that point she was finished with her studying and was working. She was making money, supporting me at school and helping me pay for my studies as well as taking care of things at home.

When I met Joseph, she probably got the best of it because she was handling everything. He gave her whatever she wished for, she didn't even have to voice it and he would hand it right to her. She was the only one whom I had requested for him to give her whatever she wanted and he had immediately agreed.

Now she was all dressed up in a gorgeous floor length dress as though she was about to go for an awards ceremony. It was a stunning navy blue with silver beadings everywhere. Her dreadlocks had grown now. Her make up was done professionally and she looked damn gorgeous and simply perfect.

She was always a beautiful woman, proud and genuine and she's oozing with confidence and money. I mean honey, her nails...

We all knew that Joseph had the most amount of respect for her out of all my siblings. They were almost as tight as siblings could ever be.

I watched as one of her cleaners entered the kitchen, the girl was quiet as she quickly moved around cleaning around the kitchen.

"You do know he was coming to get her today, right?" Wendy asked as she watched the girl leave as silently as she came.

I nodded, putting my tea cup down, "yeah I know that."

"So you want him to come at me now?"

I frowned, "you and I both know he'd never 'come at you'. You and him get along like Peanut butter and jelly."

"So what do I tell him when he comes?" She asked me.

"Tell him that he better sign those papers."

She held her hands up in mock surrender, "oh no, no, I am not saying that. He's not just in the mafia...he is the damn mafia. I'm not about to disrespect him like that. He's the reason I have this huge ass mansion and I don't even make one payment a month, like not even one."

"Why do I feel like this whole family loves him more than me?"

"Uhm, have you bought any of us a mansion? I mean, I can't even call them maids or nannies or cleaners. I call them servants," she said leaning forward looking at me in the eye, "you want to know why? Because they tell me to call them that. I mean, hell, I dont even have to work a day! He gave me a Ferrari after your third date with him. If anything, Joseph is the reason I'm alive at this point."

"I could do that for you..." She gave me a look that just said 'b***h please'.

"Look, I'm not taking sides. You're my sister and he's like the best brother-in-law/best friend I could ask for. I tell him about my crushes and dates and stuff. So I don't want to get in the middle of this, but I just want to say all jokes, money, and illegal business aside. This is a marriage in which a child is born from, so whatever decisions are made should be thought through thoroughly, because it not only affects you, it'll affect a lot of other people as well," Natalya entered the kitchen but Wendy carried on, "so try whatever you can to work things out, Jacky. Don't just give up."

I nodded at her wise words only taking a second to absorb them as Natalya made her way towards me. Putting her arms out so I can carry her. I smiled as I picked her up and put her on my hip.

"Go on both of you and get out of here," Wendy ushered us out as she got up from her stool and began to lead the way.

"Have fun, demand ice cream and sweets everyday Natalya, remember with daddy there is no limits," Wendy whispered to Natalya not trying at all to be discreet.

"You're the best aunty ever!" Natalya said as she high fived Wendy.

Oh god.

~~~

Joseph POV

I was beyond pissed at the moment. I had arrived at Wendy’s to pick up Natalya just to find out that Jacqueline had been there before me and had already taken her along.

I flew all the damn way to America just to take her only to find out she wasn't here.

"Brother, you are breathing fire," I heard my best friend, Hedeon, speak up in his deep Russian accent.

I gripped the glass filled with whiskey and I felt it break in my palm. "What do you mean?" I gritted out.

"Do not be upset, brother. Jacqueline is a good woman, she'll come around," He said. His words were cold and so was his tone but I knew it was just his rough exterior and that there was actual comfort behind those words of his.

"When? Tell me. When?" I snapped as I got up, pacing around in the jet as we made our way back to Russia.

"She's a woman, they are...complex creatures," was all he could offer.

I looked down at my palm, blood seeping out as I looked at the cut I had inflicted upon myself. Instead of tending to it, I clenched my fist, welcoming the pain as I sat back down in my seat. Pouring whiskey in another glass, I tended to my haphazard tie.

"Have you caught more?" I asked him as I watched his watchful eyes on me.

He grinned like a Cheshire cat already knowing I was talking about the other people present at that courtroom.

"Oh, brother," I began with a grin as evil as his, "I hate how you have all the fun by yourself."

He chuckled in return. His phone vibrated as he pulled it out and held it to his ear. He turned to me with a grunt, "Bryson is waiting for you."

Immediately I groaned in protest, "that was someone I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with yet."

"Prepare yourself, brother. It seems he's heard of your situation with Jacqueline and he's here to talk."

"Brother, can I kill him?"

He chuckled, "he is our teacher, we can't kill him. I promise you brother, you'll find his advice most worthy and wise."

~~~