Page 51 of Hating the Bratva

Alek

I slip the previous ring off Delaney’s finger and set it down on the foyer table. She looks down at her finger with unshed tears. I wonder if she’s sad for him or if these are happy tears for her newfound freedom. I reach in my pocket and open the black velvet box. She gasps as she sees the large diamond. I asked for the band to be left plain so that all the attention would fall to the fifteen-carat diamond on top. Once it’s in place, she flexes her hand as if trying to get used to the weight. This ceremony, the rings, and the piece of paper we’re about to sign are all necessary so that she can never be married off to some scumbag. But I don’t need any of it to claim her as mine. I never did, but now everyone else will know, and once I’m Pakhan, she will be treated like a queen, just like she deserves. The priest clears his throat.

“Mr. Vasiliev, you may kiss your bride.”

Her eyes widen before I tangle my hand in her hair and bring her lips to mine. She giggles against my lips. Vladimir claps loud enough for the sound to ricochet off the walls. When we come up for air, Father Tom, who I paid a hefty amount of money to pull this off, has the marriage certificate laid out on the foyer table.

“If you will just sign here, we can all get some sleep tonight.”

Delaney picks up the pen first and signs it before handing it to me. I don’t take my eyes off her as I scribble my signature next to her perfect cursive. V signs next. Father Tom grabs the paper and pen before tucking them away in his jacket pocket.

“You two have a good night.”

He leaves out the front door. V comes over and slaps a hand on my shoulder.

“Congratulations, you two. I’m happy for you, but I should probably get some sleep.”

I finally take my eyes off my wife and look to V. “I need you to stay here tonight and keep watch.”

His lips flatten into a straight line before he nods. “I’ll get my stuff from the car.”

“You’re leaving?” Delaney asks once we’re alone.

“I have to clean up the mess I made.”

Her face falls, and I grab the bottom of her chin between my fingers and lift her head. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Until then, V will be here. You can trust him. I’ve known him my whole life.”

“Okay,” she says quietly. I kiss her again before leaving.

*****

The air in the clubhouse seems thicker as I walk the halls to Gavril’s office. I’ve been up all night pretending that I don’t know what is going on. Miami owned up to the hit on Ivan just like we’d talked about. Now I just have to see what Gavril has to say. The clubhouse is empty since all theVory are busy guarding central locations in case of another attack that will never come. I rap my knuckles against the wooden door to find that it’s cracked open. Gavril sits behind his desk with a glass of amber liquid in his hand. His tired eyes watch as I step into the room and close the door. He knows. That can be the only reason he’s looking at me like this.

“Boss—”

“You know I’ve been up all night trying to rationalize it.” Fuck, fuck, fuck. “You’re supposed to take my place, no? So can you tell me why you’d risk your life to kill another member of your own brotherhood?”

My heartbeat pounds in my ears, but I don’t show any reaction. If he expects me to deny it, he has another thing coming. Ivan deserved what he got. I did what Gavril was too weak to do. When I don’t immediately respond, he takes another swig of his drink.

“If you’re going to kill me, you’re dragging it out.” I shouldn’t provoke him, but Gavril’s inability to do what needs to be done in the organization is why we’re sitting here in the first place.

His eyes cut to me. “I should do more than kill you. I should tie you to a chair and let each man take their grief out on you.”

“Then why aren’t you?” I challenge him.

He runs a hand over his stubble jawline. “Because you were right. I’m too old for this shit.”

“I didn’t—”

He holds up a hand. “You didn’t have to say it. I know I’ve gotten soft over the years. I can’t go to war again. If the men find out what you did, it will start a war within our organization. Most of the men are loyal to you. They won’t challenge you, but the older Vory wouldn’t take that news so lightly. Most of them are already looking to go head-to-head with Miami.”

“So what are you saying?” I ask.

He takes a final gulp of his drink. “I’m stepping down. We’ll start the transition process soon.”

I let my shoulder relax a fraction. “And where will you go?”

“Nina’s had her eyes set on Florida, but it doesn’t look like that’s happening anymore,” he says with a light chuckle. “I’m thinking somewhere quiet but with a beach. Maybe Carolina.”

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