Page 49 of Hating the Bratva

Delaney

“Can you tell me something, please?” I beg the man that’s driving me back to Alek’s house. A moment ago, I told Ivan that he could fuck off, and then the next thing I know…he’s dead. He has to be. That’s why Alek told me to close my eyes. But who would kill him? Especially on his wedding day in a house full of Bratva men?

The man glances at me in the rearview mirror before focusing back on the road. I don’t recognize him, but he has to be a Bratva member if he’s driving me to safety. I think he’s going to ignore my question, but then he speaks. “I know as much as you.”

“That can’t be true. What did Alek tell you? Who are you?”

He shakes his head. “I see why he calls you a handful.”

I scoff.

“You can call me V. I came because Alek called. He told me we were under attack by the Miami brotherhood, and that I needed to stand up at his wedding. That’s all I know. No more than you do, so you can stop asking questions.”

My mouth falls open. V looks at me in the mirror again and lets out a string of curses.

“If you didn’t notice, my wedding was back there!” What the actual fuck is going on? V doesn’t say anything. In the silence of the car, my gears start to turn. Under attack by the Miami brotherhood? Is that who killed Ivan? But we weren’t under attack before, not until we went to Miami. No, there’s no way. Alek is loyal; he wouldn’t have betrayed them like that. But didn’t the Bratva betray him first? By giving me away to Ivan? I remember waking up in the hotel room in Miami. Alek was gone, but I never asked him where he went. Now I know. The Miami brotherhood killed Ivan. No, no, no.

We pull up to Alek’s house, and I get out before the vehicle fully stops.

“Hey!” V shouts, trying to get out to catch up to me. I’m suddenly very aware of the fact that I’m still in just my bra and panties. I take the steps two at a time before bursting into the front door. An older man standing in the foyer jumps at the sudden intrusion.

“Oh, hello. Mrs. Vasiliev?”

“What did you just call me?” I ask again to make sure I heard him right. He adjusts the cufflinks of his suit before clearing his throat.

V steps around me and into the house.

“Father,” he says, slightly bowing to the man. I stare at V with wide eyes. Someone needs to tell me what’s going on and right fucking now! I’m going to lose my mind.

“Can you give us a minute?” V asks the priest. The man nods and steps out of the room.

“Alek will be here soon. Until that happens, can you just sit and wait?”

I let out a short laugh. “Are you going to tell me what the hell I’m waiting for? Is Alek…are we…”

V runs a hand through his short dark hair. He’s attractive and looks to be about Alek’s age. I wonder why I’ve never seen him before.

“You’re not from here,” I say.

“Seattle.”

“But you belong to the Boston brotherhood?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“It’s complicated.”

I cross my arms over my chest. V is a complete gentleman; he doesn’t even glance at my half-naked body. That’s when I notice the small ring on his finger.

“I should change,” I say quietly. I don’t wait for his response before going upstairs to the bedroom that used to be mine. When I open the door, the entire room is bare as if someone has already thrown away all traces of my presence. Ouch. I close that door and head down the hall to Alek’s room. I’ll have to borrow one of his shirts. When I open the closet door that’s attached to the master bedroom, I’m surprised to see all the clothes that he bought me hanging neatly next to his. I snatch a sundress off the hanger and slide it on. It’s way too cold for this, but I don’t care. It’s not like I’m going anywhere. Am I?

I pull on a pair of socks to cover my bare feet but don’t bother with shoes. When I come back down the steps, Alek is standing next to V. They’re talking in hushed voices so I can’t hear. Alek turns when I hit the bottom. His face is so soft. I can’t remember a time when I’ve seen him so completely soft and gentle. A lump forms in my throat, and I have no fucking idea why. I should be yelling at him and demanding he tells me what’s going on. But instead, tears well up in my eyes. I thought he’d left me. I should have listened to him. I should have trusted that he’d never leave me. He says something to V before V leaves us alone in the foyer.

“Delaney,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. I cross the space between us so fast I don’t even remember doing it and fall into his arms. He holds me as I let my tears stain his nice shirt. His hand runs over my hair.

“Shhh,” he coos into my ear. His spicy cologne surrounds me. The warmth I feel by just being in his arms is enough to comfort the turmoil inside me. I’m not sure how much time passes before we finally pull away.

“What’s going on?” I ask as he wipes a tear from my cheek.

“I told you that you’re mine. This is the only way I knew how to keep that promise.”

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