Chapter 8: Visit From Ural

NIKOLAI’S POV

“My Lord.” Timur Leviticus the CEO of the boxing club bowed and walked toward me where I was standing by the empty boxing ring.

I turned around and laughed. “You have not aged a bit, Timur.” I walked over to him and placed my hand on his shoulder. Timur was my loyal friend. I had turned him into a vampire over twenty years back. He came from England and was suffering from cancer. I had drained his blood and given him a new life. He was built like an ox and was fit for the boxing ring. When I met Mikael, we had agreed that Timur would take over the boxing club as a way to watch over everything before the ten-year lapse that I had used to extend Mikael’s life.

“I never expected you this soon. I read your message a week ago when I was traveling for the championships in Japan. It's good to see you, Nikolai. You have created quite a buzz since you came.” He smiled. 

“It was an emergency. What happened?” I demanded. 

“I am still trying to find who ordered the hit on Viktor. But it came from within the gang. I have no idea why they targeted Viktor but it rattled Madam Irina,” he narrated. 

I nodded and then asked, “Has the will been read?” 

“Yes. It was read today,” Timur stated. “Ivan was named the new Odessa gang leader. He will be assisted by Anton and Sasha Eriks.” 

“Sasha?” I raised an eyebrow.

“He is not to be trusted, My Lord,” Timur growled. 

The buzzing on my phone interrupted our conversation. When I saw the caller ID I groaned. I connected the call. “What is it, Anna?” It was my sister calling.

“Nikolai, you better get to your mansion right now,” she seethed. 

“What? I am not in Ural,” I chuckled. 

“I am in New York,” she stated and disconnected the call.

I cursed and heard Timur chuckle. “It seems they have followed you to New York.” 

“I left in a hurry,” I snickered. “There was no time to inform them of my trip.” 

“What is your plan? The Coven will not go easy on you,” Timur stated. 

“Growl down at them and have my way,” I laughed, waved at Timur, and teleported into thin air.

I arrived in the mansion in seconds and sensed the presence of Vadim Fedor, my assistant. He was shorter than me and had long brown hair and hazel eyes. Anna Lev, my sister, had white hair, and beautiful green eyes. Many called her a beauty siren. Zane Tenora, the vampire council advisor, had black long hair that he had braided and broad shoulders. What stood out the most was his hazel eyes. 

“To what do I owe the owner of your visit?” I drawled as I walked majestically into the mansion where they stood waiting for me.

“Nikolai!” Anna yelled in a huff.

“Did you miss me?” I smirked at her. 

“Greetings, my Lord.” Both Vadim and Zane bowed.

“Why are you all here?” I demanded. 

“Nikolai.” Anna walked over and pulled me to sit down. “Why did you leave like that? Only to find out from Vadim that you are in New York, acting as a boxing coach. Why the hell would the Vampire Lord be doing such a low-life job?”

I chuckled and lightly smacked her head. “There is no such thing as a low-life job, Anna. I am here to fulfill a promise I made.”

“My Lord—” Zane was about to speak when I raised my hand to interject. 

“I know what you want to say. But my mind is made up. I will be away from Mount Ural for five years. I believe that I have set up everything to run well and if needed I can always visit once a month for any official duties. In the meantime, I am going to spend my time here and take a much-needed break.” 

“My Lord, the vampire coven will not buy it. You will only attract attention to the humans here and have everyone come to see what is happening.”

“Is that so? Send word back that If I find anyone in this territory, I will behead them on sight,” I snapped. 

Anna huffed and I heard a small chuckle from Vadim. 

“Since you are here Vadim, stay,” I pointed out, and Vadim nodded in enthusiasm.

“What about me?” Anna demanded.

“You are going back to Mount Ural. I need someone from my family to continue to watch over and run the business,” I instructed her. She seemed displeased by my words.

“Nikolai, we can't always keep defending you,” Anna scolded me. 

“Yes, you can.” My eyes twinkled at her. 

“We need to get back, Miss Anna,” Zane stated. “Before they all notice we are gone.” 

“Go.” I stood up and pulled her up with me. I pressed a kiss on her forehead. 

Once they had gone, I turned to Vadim and demanded, “What happened?” 

“Mila Anya caused trouble. She demanded to see you, My Lord,” Vadim reported. 

“What? Are you sure? That b*tch is something else,” I seethed. 

“And his father Gurikk Lurch is the one who pushed her. I suspect there was a spy who informed her to cause trouble. You do know that she thinks you are fated, my Lord,” Vadim reported. 

“Impossible” I snickered. 

“What is your plan, my Lord?” Vadim asked. 

“I plan to set up a new branch in New York. Open the new shipping lines from Russia and get Odessa to have a branch in Ural,” I informed him. 

“That will be a good move,” Vadim stated, but I could tell he was holding back his thoughts. 

“Just spit it out, Vadim. I hate it when you act like this,” I retorted. 

“I heard Anna's words before we came as they discussed why you left Mount Ural in a hurry. She is worried that you have fallen for the Old Madam Irina, My Lord,” Vadim confessed, his voice just above a whisper. 

“What?” I gasped in shock. For once Vadim had managed to render me speechless.

“I’m sorry, my Lord.” He bowed in fear. 

“Madam Irina? Are you guys mental?” I seethed. “Lift your head.”

“My Lord,” Vadim whispered and lifted his head, cowering in fear. 

“Relax, I am not angry at you. But let me make myself clear. I am not interested in women. Never have been, never will be,” I declared. 

“What?” Vadim’s jaw dropped comically, making me burst out in laughter. 

“Mmmh.” I waved my hand noncommittally at him and sat down, crossing one leg over the other. 

Vadim blinked once and then recovered his composure. “My Lord, we need to change the maids who have been here. I found them snooping in the house when we arrived. It would be better to be careful.”

“Take over the management of the mansion and handle most of my affairs while we are here. I would also like to get the files of information on Boris Eriks. I need to know what I am up against.”

“Yes, sir. Should I also look for office space, my Lord? It would be best to have our operations set up with an office in place,” Vadim asked. 

“That is fine. I want somewhere quiet and private,” I informed him. “I hate people prying into my business.”

“Noted, my Lord. I will be back with your meal.” Vadim smiled and turned to leave. 

“Have it served in the master bedroom,” I instructed. “And ensure the mansion is running and everything around it remains tightly guarded. I will create a ward for any vampire that tries to infiltrate. Liaise with Timur to also have any vampires who come to New York register with him. I don't want anyone to mess up my plans.”