Chapter 4: Mount Ural

“What? That is what I come to ask of you as per what Greb narrated to me as Mikael’s plans. I am wondering why you would agree so easily.”

“Why waste each other’s time when I know your reason for the visit? And I know that I can protect the Erik’s as I had promised Mikael.” His eyes bore into Greb who looked away in fear.

I can’t help but wonder why Greb would be afraid of Nikolai.

“Excuse me, I need to make a few calls.” Nikolai stood up and walked to the far end of the room by the window.

I beckoned Greb to come close and he complied. “What is the promise Mikael made?” I demanded.

“Madam, I am sworn to secrecy. But just know that Nikolai is more powerful than Odessa,” Greb whispered.

“More powerful? Can you explain? Why I am in the dark about this?” I growled at him.

“Give me six months and I will tell you. For now, we need to get back to New York. I already contacted my team that is in New York to be on standby and offer protection to the boys. They will be guarding the Manor from a distance.” Nikolai’s voice rose over our heads, and we turned around in surprise to find him standing next to us. How the fuck did he move so fast and stealthily?

Greb took a step back while I stood up from the couch. There was something more to Nikolai. Mikael never trusted anyone and for him to have so much faith in Nikolai told me that he was not a simple man.

“Six months?” I raised my chin in defiance but Nikolai seemed unperturbed.

“Yes.” He nodded.

“I suggest that Nikolai takes over as the new boxing coach so that we don't arouse suspicion. This is what Boss Mikael wanted. Odessa is strict about allowing outsiders into the circle. We can argue that he is an old friend of Boss Mikael. I would expect resistance from Mikael’s brothers and old friends,” Greb explained.

“How about Lev Industries gives you more shipping routes from Russia to New York? I can bring more business into Erik Investments LTD, and place double the orders. This way there will be little eyebrows raised since more money will be coming into the Odessa gang.”

“That is an excellent idea. I can prepare the paperwork in advance to ensure that there no one will question it. I will also add a clause that this was one of the late Boss Mikael’s instructions,” Greb added, looking pleased with himself.

“Do I have a say in this?” I injected, frustrated at being kept in the dark.

“No,” Nikolai and Greb all responded in unison.

I huffed. “Fine. I am ready to return to New York.”

***

I slept through the journey back to New York. Once the jet landed, we got into the awaiting cars. Nikolai and I entered the Chrysler and Greb got in the escorting cars. I switched on my phone and found missed calls and messages from the boys.

“I am sure they are worried out of their minds,” I muttered as I dialed Ivan’s number.

He answered on the first ring. “Where the hell are you Ma! Do you know how worried I am? How could you just disappear like that? Leaving just a text message with a few words. How did you expect us to understand that?”

I could hear Viktor’s voice in the background saying, “Cut the crap, Ivan. Can you ask if she is okay?”

“I am fine. I am back in New York. Let's meet at the boxing club in an hour,” I stated. Nikolai’s interest in my conversation doesn’t go unnoticed by me as he looks at me out of the corner of his eye.

“Ma, are you sure you are okay?” Ivan had lowered his voice.

“Ma, something is wrong, right?” Anton’s voice came through.

“Ma, you are fine, right?” Viktor’s worried voice followed.

“I am fine. Do as I say. I am headed to the boxing club. There is little traffic from the airport. Meet me there. Where is Igor?”

“Here, Ma,” he responded.

“Don't worry. I am fine. I had to run a little errand with Greb,” I tried to explain without letting on too many details.

“Ma, you are being too tight-lipped for our good, right? See you there” Anton stated, and I heard the call disconnect. I sighed as I returned the phone to my handbag.

“They are worried.” Nikolai was the first to speak.

“I made them worry. It was a rushed trip, and I had no time to explain it to them,” I confessed.

“Mmh, tell me more about them.”

“Ivan is the eldest. Anton and Igor are twins while Viktor is the baby. Each one of them has a different temperament. Ivan is calm and decisive. It comes with the fact that he is the eldest. Anton is straightforward and impatient. Igor is quiet but firm. While Viktor is sensitive and emotional. They took on boxing since it was Mikael’s hobby. I would say Ivan is a talent but because he is the eldest. Mikael pushed him into the business. Anton followed suit since so much was demanded of Ivan. But Igor and Viktor are the ones who attend the championship matches and excel at it,” I narrated to Nikolai while I faced him in the car.

“Sounds interesting. Your life is envious. Most of us wish to have a family like that.” Nikolai smiled politely as his head tilted while he stared at me.

“I never got to ask, do you have family?” I blurted out.

“I have a younger sister and two cousins,” Nikolai responded. “You might have come across my cousin Alexa Dani, the chairperson of the Boxing Association of New York.”

I gasped at Nikolai and responded, “Alexa is your cousin?”

“Yes,” Nikolai nodded.

“I could tell your body is suited for boxing but to have Alexa as your cousin makes things easy for me to announce that you are the new boxing coach for my boys. Is this why you accepted the offer without question?”

“Yes and no. Your late husband owes me,” Nikolai asserted.

“As much as that statement makes me scared, I am more comfortable in trusting you than the geezers in Odessa,” I confessed.

“The lust for power is most humans’ weakness,” Nikolai snickered.

“I would say that evil resides in those who lust for power. To send an assassin to shoot my baby Viktor was the last straw.”

“You do you know that your sons are all grown up,” Nikolai chuckled.

“Yes, I know. But they are still my babies. Losing Mikael was hard enough and if I lose even one of them, it will break me completely,” I whispered.

“You can relax. As long as I am here, you will never lose them,” Nikolai vowed, a confident edge to his tone.

“What about your family? Are they okay with you coming to New York?” I asked.

“There will be some objections, but I already called Alexa in advance. He will inform them once I have settled in.” Nikolai raised his chin in defiance.

“I have interpreted that you are being defiant,” I giggled in response.

“I have been in Mount Ural for too long. It's about time I stepped out of my comfort zone,” Nikolai responded with a shrug.

“Do you have a house in New York?”

“Yes. I have a mansion in Fairfield,” Nikolai responded casually.

“What? We live in Fairfield.” My eyes widened.

“I know. You do remember I set up a security team to protect your mansion. They will shadow you and your family from now on. And I set one up at the boxing club and the company building.”

My eyes bore into him. He’s a well-organized man. “You are too scary, Nikolai Lev.”

“So I have been told,” Nikolai drawled as we sped down the highway. “But I bet you will be glad you came to me once the six months are over.”