Page 53 of Hating the Bratva

One week later

Delaney

I walk down the steps, my bare feet cold against the new hardwood. I haven’t left the house since marrying Alek. He’s straightening things out with the brotherhood, so until that’s over with, I can’t leave. It still doesn’t feel real that he’s my husband, this is my house, and the sinking fear I’ve had in my stomach since being told I was supposed to marry Ivan has disappeared.

A second knock sounds at the big wooden front door.

“Coming,” I yell out. I open the door to see my mom standing on the porch. Her makeup is perfectly applied, and her hair is twisted up in a neat bun. She’s not wearing that fake smile that’s usually plastered on her face.

I clear my throat. “Um…hi.”

Her eyes flicker to the diamond on my finger, and it suddenly feels heavier. The only person I’ve told about the marriage is Robin, but everyone knows by now. Word travels fast.

“Can I come in?” she asks. I open the door wider so she can step inside. She’s dressed down in flats today, so I don’t hear the familiar click of her heels that usually follows her steps as she walks into the foyer.

“This is nice,” she says, looking around at the newly finished room as I close the door.

“The construction is mostly done in this part of the house. Do you want something to drink?” I walk into the kitchen before she can answer. The awkwardness between us is so thick I can barely breathe. She follows behind me and takes a seat at the island.

“Water, please.”

I pour us both a glass of water before joining her. I take the seat across from her so that I can see her face.

“Delaney—”

“How’s Dad?”

We speak at the same time, and it’s quiet between us again before she says, “He’s…regretting everything. It’s part of the reason why I’m here.”

I take a sip of my water because my throat is suddenly dry.

“He regrets marrying me off to scum?”

She doesn’t look away from me at the insult. “I never wanted this to happen. I didn’t come here to argue or justify anything. I came to apologize.”

Well, that takes me by surprise.

“I fought with your father tooth and nail about this. I knew you and Alek were meant to be. You might hate this world we live in, but when it came to him, it’s like you didn’t care as much. Like you could forget about all the awful things for a while because you knew you’d end up with him. So I knew that when your father and Gavril decided Ivan would be your husband, it ruined you. I didn’t ask you to help with the wedding because I knew it would be like twisting the knife. I’m sorry, Delaney. I should have fought harder for you, but I convinced myself that maybe you’d be okay. That maybe you’d come around to enjoy your marriage to Ivan.”

I swallow the lump in my throat as my mom stares at me with unshed tears.

“Your father deeply regrets agreeing to the decision, but you know how he is. He’s stubborn and a rule-follower. It will take him a while to swallow his pride and say he’s sorry. I can understand if you aren’t ready to forgive me, but I want you to know that I did fight for you with all I could.”

I hadn’t realized how much I needed her apology until she gave it to me. I figured my relationship with my parents was as good as dead, but there’s a part of me that missed them. Even though my mom and I couldn’t be more different, at the end of the day, she’s my mom, and I want a relationship with her.

“I forgive you,” I say.

Relief floods her face, and she crosses the island to engulf me in a hug. The smell of her sweet perfume surrounds us and gives me a little bit of comfort. When she pulls back, she wipes a tear from my cheek that I hadn’t realized slipped from my eye.

“I still can’t believe he married you right after Ivan…” I can see the question lingering in her eyes. The question that everyone has on their mind. From what Alek’s told me, no one has asked him directly. That’s a good sign. It means they respect Alek enough to believe the Miami brotherhood acted on their own.

I let out a soft laugh. “He wasn’t going to let me go.”

She smiles and then looks around the kitchen. “Well, at least I know you’re well taken care of.”

“Yeah, the house should be completely done soon.”

“It’s beautiful.”

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