Page 68 of Unwilling Bratva Bride

I want my happy ending, dammit.

“Hey,” Parker took my hand as she sat on the bed beside me. “I know this has been a lot. And if your situation is anything like mine, I understand how it feels to be on the receiving end of the Vadim family’s unique ‘wooing’ techniques.”

That one actually got me to laugh. Parker’s insight was great, and it felt really good to know that someone else knew what I was dealing with and how overwhelming it could be.

“That is so true.” I nodded, wiping under my eyes again. “Is it…is it wrong of us to want them? To be okay with all that comes with who they are?”

A long sigh dragged out of Parker, and she scoffed lightly. Looking down at our hands, Parker chuckled lightly, just a bit of air rushing out of her nose, and then she glanced up at me with a sympathetic smile.

“I’m not going to say it’s not complicated, but wrong? No, I don’t think so. These men…well, they’re criminals, yes, but they’re also humans. They have wants and needs and lives that they want to protect. Since being with Lev, well, I’ve seen the difference between brutal and evil. Does that make sense?”

I considered her words, and after laying out what I knew about Ivan in my head like an invisible conspiracy board, it did.

Ivan and his brothers, the Vadim family, were criminals. They didn’t take shit from anyone. But they were also fiercely loyal to each other, they didn’t go out of their way to hunt down women and children, and they had their reasons for choosing a less-than-legal career.

Nodding, I squeezed Parker’s hand. “Yes. Could you…could you find Ivan? I want to talk to him.”

“Of course. I know he’ll be thrilled to hear you’re awake.” She raised her brows at me. “I’d prepare yourself for one hell of a hug.”

I laughed, and then Parker was going somewhere in this strange house to find Ivan, myhusband.

Chapter 26 - Ivan

The door slammed against the wall behind it as I ran into the room, my eyes searching for Adley’s. I needed to see that soft blue color like I needed air.

“Adley?!”

As I rushed in, she looked up, her eyes finding mine, and relief like nothing I’d ever felt coursed through my veins. I was immediately intoxicated by the potency of it, and I hurried to Adley’s bedside and wrapped my arms around her.

Pulling her against my chest, I breathed in the scent that was distinctly her and clutched her hard enough to make my fingers ache, the feeling of her long hair against my palm grounding.

“I-Ivan,” she squeaked, “you’re crushing me.”

I relaxed my grip—only a hair—and then yanked Adley’s face up to mine, crashing my lips against her mouth. She tasted like she always did, that sweetness I’d never get enough of, and I didn’t give a single fuck that my hands shook as I held her or that my concern was as noticeable as a neon sign.

After a moment, I pulled back, resting my forehead on hers. “Don’t fucking do that to me again.”

Adley chuckled lightly, her hands coming up to my chest and gripping the fabric of my shirt. “I’ll try not to. I promise.”

Meeting her eyes, I held Adley’s stare for several long moments. I couldn’t look away. I needed to know that she was really here, safe and whole.

“I’m okay, Ivan. I swear. Parker did a good job.” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

My stomach clamped down, my pulse kicking up again. “What? Is it the baby? Is it—”

She shook her head, her brows raising. “No, no. It’s fine. As far as they can tell, this early in the pregnancy, anyway.”

Relaxing a bit, I cupped Adley’s face, stroking my thumb across her cheek. “Then what? I can see you’re upset. Is it just…all fuckingthis?”

I gestured around us with my head as I asked. It would make sense if Adley was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. I was, and I hadn’t been the one to get shot, for fuck’s sake.

“A bit, yeah.” She nodded slowly. “I’m…shit, Ivan. I’m bad at talking about my feelings on a good day. This? This is…”

The words drifted off, and a profound ache set up shop behind my ribs. She wanted to leave. Thiswastoo much. Fucking hell. I couldn’t blame her. I’d want out if it were me. Between nearly getting killed and enjoying my sunshiney presence on the regular, I’d understand if Adley was over all this.

And I wouldn’t stop here. I…couldn’t.

Slipping back, I looked down at the bed before raising my eyes to her face again. I kept my expression neutral, relying on my years of experience to school my features into something that didn’t reflect the massive crack that had formed inside me.

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