THE VOLKOVS I - VELVET SCARS

Chapter 4

IVAN POV

Volkov Estate

I grabbed the laptop and slammed it hard against the wall.

“What do you mean it was deleted!”. I yelled at Ryder.

“It seemed they knew you would be there. The file was deleted before we could load it in”. Ryder responded rather calmly,

I ran my hand through my hair.

“You should take a chill pill. We'll find something to do about it”. Michael spoke up. Sensing my rage.

“How could they know we had the USB, weren't you careful enough?”. I turned my head towards Michael.

“Don't doubt my skill brother, it's obvious It was a trap. No one would leave a USB filled with so much information you could benefit from except they wanted to toy with you”.

“How could they find out except–”. I turned to Michael.

The realization hitting me hard.

There's only one person.

Viktor.

I clenched my jaw.

There are a hundred percent chance Viktor had a hand in this.

If he does then Amelia certainly knows about it too.

Father was right.

Michael chuckled, unbothered.

His nonchalance boils me sometimes.

“Any news on the S group?”. I turned to Ryder.

He nodded. Bringing out his iPad. “There's signs they're spying. They made allies with a small gang group near the school”.

I grabbed the iPad from him, scanning the map.

They had been expanding their territory. And I can't do much because I haven't fully taken over.

“Why am I just seeing this now?”. I dropped the iPad.

“They just started recently. Lucien gives them drugs in exchange of information. While they sell it to students at your school”.

I rested my hands on my desk.

If they started recently that meant I still have time to know what they really wanted.

Knock.

I stared at the door.

“Come in”. Michael yelled.

The guard walked in, standing at the entrance of my study.

“Mr Volkov. Madam Amelia asked to see you”. He informed.

“Tell her I'll be there”.

He nodded before leaving.

“Ryder,any signs of harm on her?”. I tapped my hands.

If Lucien's purposely sneaking near my territory then there's something else.

Someone else.

Someone behind him that's as big and powerful.

Except there isn't.

I paced around the study. The truth sucked like a lump in my throat.

There's an insider.

Ryder shook his head. “No, but they would find out about her sooner or later. He would”.

I bit my lips.

"Who is this mysterious her you always talk about?". Michael asked. Looking between me and Ryder.

Jennie.

I didn't want Jennie to be involved in my business.

Jennie Carter wasn't part of the plan.

She never was.

That was why i didn't think it was important to let Micheal know.

Actually no. My half brother is a bastard.

He could do something stupid if he sees her.

But all that doesn't matter, now I have to protect her because of my own greediness.

I didn't respond.

Michael took the document on my desk.

“Four years before divorce?”. He glanced at me.

I didn't respond.

“Are you sure about this?”. He asked again.

"Worry about yourself man".

Michael shook his head.

That file was the least of my worries.

I've made my decision long before Amelia could pressure me.

I can never be pressured.

I did it because it's my responsibility.

“I'll be back”.

I left the study and went downstairs were Amelia was sitting gracefully.

One would think she's an angel with the way she looked.

But I knew better.

She stood up the moment she saw me. “Hey darling. I've been waiting”.

I shifted my gaze from her to the jewelries on the table.

“I had some issues to deal with”. I said neutrally.

“Of course you do”. She walked towards me. “Have your dad contacted you yet?”.

I looked at her. “He's your husband”.

I sat down.

“Yes of course he is. I'm just asking if he had contacted you about anything recently. You know about the welfare of Volkov in Russia”. She rushed.

I studied her for a moment.

Amelia was supposed to be with him in Russia. Yet she made up an excuse about looking out for me here in New York.

A f*****g bullshit she thought my dad would believe.

It was obvious.

She knew what she was doing. And get I haven't figured out what exactly.

Vladimir did.

If she's asking if my dad contacted me then there's something wrong.

“Ah. Just forget about it. How's the preparation with Selene going?”. She changed the topic at the lack of response.

“Fine”.

“She's such a good girl. Rosa raised her to be so beautiful….”. She continues praising her.

Selene.

That was the least to worry about because it was predictable. Everything was planned already.

I have other days to worry about her.

Unlike Amelia and Viktor.

After talking to Amelia I went back to my room, not bothering to go back to my study.

The Volkovs estate was too big that walking from the living room to my study felt like an unwanted exercise.

I laid on my bed. Expecting the normal calmness.

But it didn't come.

Neither did sleep.

It had been an issue for me ever since the stakes of Viktor taking over got higher. Ever since I realized I had fallen in love with a girl which world is different from mine.

My mind wandered off to Selene.

The day was getting closer.

I wasn't supposed to have second thoughts.

It was stupid. Because I wanted this.

That was the main reason I approached Jennie.

But the confusion came because I wasn't expecting to fall for her.

Confusion is never in the Volkov blood. Not in mine.

Those are weakness.

I'm always a step ahead.

Unpredictability was my strength.

But for the first time I had a second thought. Because of Jennie.

The sound of my phone ringing cut sharp through the silent room.

Vayne.

“Sir. There's a problem”. He said the moment the line connected.

“Vayne. What's wrong?”. I asked.

“An attack. Some of our men was injured”.

I sat up. Letting the information settle.

Vayne had to be careful when talking. Not everything could be said through the phone due to the sneaky moves happening inside the Volkovs.

I clenched my jaw.

If there was another attack again that meant...

“My father..”.

“Missed. They were too slow. Just slightly injured. Nothing serious”. He responded.

I hunged up.

Vladimir is a stubborn old man.

But I knew what to do rather than worrying.

If this keeps happening they might have a successful operation.

Then it hit me.

This was why Amelia asked about him earlier.

Fucking woman.

She knew. Of course she did.

I needed to move with my plan faster.

I couldn't be a second late.

The next morning I was already at Jennie's.

I didn't even bother to look descent.

Seeing her had been a way to escape from the storm I knew would come.

The urge to get my hands on those files and kick Viktor out was killing me.

Not only that ,my father had been injured.

Another reason to get things done faster.

Because what if they didn't miss?

This is the third time they're trying this month.

There's no mistaking that they wanted him gone for good.

My hands was slightly sweaty.

The fear of losing another parent gnawed me.

I took Jennie to a private estate that was passed to me.

A place where my dad and mom built together. A place my mother loved so dearly until Amelia.

Somewhere In the middle of the calm I almost told her.

I didn't even know what to tell her exactly.

Me? Selene? My love for her?

Whatever it was, I told my self telling her was for her good.

But I couldn't. The words got caught in my throat when I tried to speak up.

I looked at her.

She looked peaceful and happy.

It was as though she also needed a break from everything just like I do.

I loved seeing her like that. This was the only time she looked peaceful this week.

I noticed it. The storm in her eyes, especially yesterday. Something was wrong. Atleast that's what I thought.

I couldn't risk such moment.

I can't risk to see the pain in her eyes.

So I changed my mind. Plan B.

I had spent months convincing myself that Jennie was temporary.

A part of my plan.

But f**k was I wrong.

Somewhere between her smile, her eyes,and the way she looked at me like I was someone worth trusting, she had become something I couldn't afford to lose.

And that terrified me more than Viktor ever could.

I didn't want to ruin what we have even though it was all a plan at the beginning.

I would think about how to keep things together tomorrow. But for now I wanted to forget everything-the raging storm that could be seen from afar. The Volkovs. Even myself.

Going to the family house tonight didn't sound pleasing to me. I wanted to spend the last normal night with her. Because I knew what was coming after this.

Because Vayne had informed me about what was going on in Russia.

I knew the storm coming would be hard to survive.

I knew things could south if care isn't taken.

But care was thrown out the window the moment my lips was on her's.

The moment we were both naked on the bed.

We forgot the ourselves.

Maybe I that was the mistake.