The Bratva King's Lost Bride

17 One Down

Meadow POV

I'm definitely confused when the caravan of cars heads down a street that is lined with beautiful brick houses. A few minutes later, the car pulls in front of the biggest house on the street. Ivan grips my hand and I look at him. Concern is still clearly written on his face. "Ivan, I'm fine. I want to do this. I need you to trust me." He lifts his hand to my cheek. "I trust you Meadow. I would trust you with my life. I know how strong you are. I just hate the thought of you being anywhere near those two ba**ards after what they have done," he says.

The door to the SUV closest to me opens and Zakhar offers me a reassuring smile. "Come my daughter, before my son simply takes you back to our home because he is afraid of you seeing him handle business," he says. I look back at Ivan who glares at his father. Does he really think that I don't know as the Pakhan he kills people?

I look back at Zakhar, who offers me his hand. I take it without hesitation. "What is this place," I ask no one in particular. "It's the first house our grandparents ever owned before they bought the castle," Alexi says. "When you said you were putting them in cells, this is not what I expected. I pictured a warehouse like in the mob movies."

Zakhar chuckles as he leads me up the stairs. "You will find that the Bratva is far more sophisticated than the Italian mob," he says teasingly. "I'll make sure I tell Leonardo Rizzo you think he is unsophisticated when we meet next," Ivan says and Zakhar glares at him. Once we step inside the beautiful brick house, Ivan pulls me into his arms. "Are you ready, malyshka," he asks. I nod, and he wraps his arm around my shoulder as we make our way through the lavish interior.

My mind can't wrap around this being a place where they bring people for interrogations. It's far too nice. That thought dies quickly when they open a large metal door that looks out of place. The smell of burnt flesh and human excrement fills the air. My hand goes to my nose and Ivan giggles. The man actually giggles. We make our way down the stairs and my steps falter when a scream tears through the open space.

There are three doors, but only two are shut. Another scream comes from the second door. "Which one would you like to face first, Malyska," Ivan asks. "Dimitri," I say without hesitation. I have far less to say to that pr*ck than I do his b**ch of a sister. He leads me toward the first door. When he pushes it open, the foul smell intensifies. My eyes move around the room until they land on the man that is strung up from chains that hang from the ceiling.

He looks like he went ten rounds with a prize fighter. Bruises cover his torso and one of his eyes is swollen shut. I don't know what comes over me, but I start to giggle. His head lifts, and his eyes meet mine. They quickly move from me to Ivan. "Brother," he says. Ivan releases his hold on my hand and stalks toward the ba**ard.

The punch he lands on his other eyes makes me giggle again. Ivan turns to look at me and I expect to see worry, but instead he smiles. He takes a step back and opens his arms to me. I close the distance, but my eyes never leave Dimitri. Ivan wraps his arm around me and presses a kiss to my temple before he turns his icy glare back to Dimitri. "You are not my brother. You are not my family. Hell you aren't even my friend. A f**king friend doesn't do the things you have done to my wife and daughter," he practically screams.

Dimitri looks startled by what Ivan just said. His eyes move towards me. "Bet you never thought he would find me." A smug smile spreads across his face. "I have known where she was for the last four years" he says, before spitting at Ivan's feet. I am pulled from Ivan's hold by strong arms. He begins to deliver blow after blow to Dimitri's body. The sounds of groans and bones breaking fills the air. "Meadow, perhaps we should step out and wait," Zakhar starts to say, but I cut him off.

"No, you were right, Zakhar, I am stronger than Ivan gave me credit for. This ba**ard is part of the reason that my daughter lost out on years with her father. I want to see him suffer. He threatened to kill my baby. He threatened to kill me so his wh*re of a sister could take my place. I want to see him suffer for f**king with my family."

Zakhar presses a fatherly kiss to my forehead as we both watch Ivan take a step back. He looks like a beast. I wondered if seeing him like this would change how I felt about him like he feared, but if anything, it makes me love him more. This is a man he once considered his second and a friend. Without hesitation, he chose Ava and me. I should have made him listen. I should have told him exactly what they were doing and saying, and maybe we wouldn't have lost so much time. We both made so many mistakes.

"Brother, I believe you may have punctured his lung. Are you looking for him to die now or should I have the doctor tend to him until you can get the information you need," Alexi asks. "What information?" Alexi and Ivan turn toward me. "I want to know who else was involved in their little plot to get rid of you and our daughter," he says. "I only need one of them alive, and I have a feeling his despicable sister will be easier to break" Ivan says.

"Sucks to suck Dimitri. Don't worry though, you've already been replaced. I'll be a far better number two to my brother. I will be loyal and protect his queen instead of being a jealous pr*ck," Alexi says. "F**k you, Alexi," Dimitri says through labored breaths. "No thanks. You aren't my type," he says with a smirk. "Papa, can you take Meadow outside. I won't be long," Ivan says.

"No, unless she wants me to," Zakhar says, startling everyone in the room, including me. "Papa, she can't," he starts to say. "Yes, I can. I may not be able to deliver the punishment myself, but I sure as hell want to see that ba**ard breathe his last. He threatened my daughter and for that his life is forfeit. Let him die in the knowledge that he didn't break us. We may have missed time, but we will spend the rest of our lives making up for it. A lifetime of happiness while he rots in hell,"

A smile spreads across Ivan's face before Ivan turns to face Dimitri. "Our queen has spoken," he says. He pulls a gun from his waistband and aims it at Dimitri's head. "Don't worry Dimitri, your sister will be along to join you shortly," he says before he pulls the trigger. Dimitri's body slumps and I wait for guilt or regret to flood me, but it doesn't. I am pulled from Zakhar's hold and lips slam down on mine. F**k, I've missed this.