The Bratva King's Lost Bride

8 Hard Decisions

Zakhar POV (Ivan's Father)

As soon as I disconnect the call, I take a few deep breaths. I meant what I said to my son. I will protect Meadow and my granddaughter from everyone that would want to harm them, including my wife. I knew the moment he brought Meadow home that my wife wasn't happy with his choice of brides. She made it very clear to me that she felt that Meadow wasn't worthy of ruling our family at Ivan's side. "That waitress is no better than the servants in our home. He should f**k her out of his system and send her back to America with a hundred thousand dollars. It's more than she would ever make in her lifetime," she had said.

I had never wanted to strike the woman I accepted as my wife before that conversation, but I found myself fighting the urge that day. Despite the family I was born into and the hardness of the men that surrounded me, women were to be treated with respect. Most arranged marriages grew into love and if they didn't, there was at least respect. My father decreed that women in our family were to be treasured after he watched his own father mistreat his mother as a small boy. He was a hard man, but my mother was his queen. I had hoped that Alexandra would become like my mother, but it seemed the more I tried, the less we connected.

She only cared about the prestige and money that being my wife gave her. After she had Alexi, I quit trying completely to have a real marriage. She only gave me children so she could remain the bride of the Pakhan of the Petrov family. I never broke my vows I made to her, so my duty to my family became my outlet. I made sure that I was more involved in collections and violence.

Ivana only exists because she went out with Sylvia one night and came home tipsy. I woke up to her in my room climbing on top of me. After not having the touch of a woman for so long, I gave into the feeling of her wrapped around me. The next day she acted like nothing happened. It wasn't until the family doctor called me about her trying to get rid of my child that I realized she was pregnant from our one night together.

All color had drained from her face when I stepped into the examination room. I convinced her to keep the child. Taking away her lifestyle and title were enough to make sure she never tried to get rid of my daughter again. After Ivana was born, Alexandra moved to the opposite side of the mansion, which was fine with me. I hired Miram to take care of my children. She was more of a mother to Ivana than Alexandra ever was. In fact, all my children treat her like their mother behind closed doors.

She was a beautiful young girl when I hired her at barely nineteen, but she has grown into an even more beautiful woman. If not for my vows, I probably would have pursued her. I shake the thoughts away because right now I need to deal with those three a**holes before Ivan returns with his family. I stand from my desk and straighten my suit jacket. I may have handed my title to Ivan, but I am still heavily involved with the family business.

I make my way down the hallway that leads to the large living room. I don't make it ten steps when I hear Syliva screeching about her babies. "You have to make him see reason, Alexandra. Dimitri has always been loyal to the family. This little b**ch is leading Ivan around by his d**k. She has been gone for five years, and he still refuses to see how worthless she is. Danica was always the better choice," she says.

Before Alexandra can answer, I step into the room. She seems startled, and her mouth snaps shut. Now I'm wishing I waited to hear what she had to say. "Sylvia and Maximus, I spoke to my son and his orders stand. I suggest you go home and make arrangements because I'm not sure either of them will survive when he returns." "You can't be serious. You would allow him to kill my children? Zakar, we have been friends for a long time. Surely you wouldn't allow such a thing to happen," Maximus says as he gets to his feet. His face a shade of red that I've never seen before.

"I am very serious. Your children betrayed my son. They hurt my daughter. There is no forgiveness for such things." "Zakhar, you can't just allow him to do this. Besides, she is not your daughter. She is some waitress that leeched on to our son for his money," Alexandra says, moving to stand next to Maximus. I can feel the anger from earlier bubbling to the surface.

"Are you suggesting I go against the orders of the Pakhan of this family?" "He is our son. You need to make him understand that family comes before a wh*re. He has known Dimitri and Danica all his life. He is allowing this woman to make a fool of him. He looks weak. What will his men think when they find out he turned his back on his second in command for a worthless woman. You need to do something, Zakhar," she says.

"You are absolutely right, Alexandra. I'm going to do something I should have done a long time ago." I pull the phone from my pocket. I push Vladimir's contact. It rings once and he greets me. "Vladimir, I want divorce papers drawn up today. She is to be given ten million dollars, not a penny more," I say, and disconnect the call. "Zakhar, you can't be serious. We have been married for over twenty years. You would divorce me over the American tart," she says.

I take a step closer to the group that is now all standing together. Sylvia's hand is on Alexandra's forearm. "Not only will I divorce you for my new daughter, but if I find out you had anything to do with her leaving five years ago I'll put the bullet in your head myself." "You don't mean that Zakhar. I am your wife. I have been a good wife to you," she says. I throw my head back and laugh. "Do you think I don't know about all your lovers you've had over the years after Ivana was born?"

Her face goes pale. "You will sign the papers and leave my home with the amount of money that Vladimir provides you, or you will leave with nothing." "Zakhar, please don't do this," she says, tears running down her cheeks. "Now the three of you can leave my home of your own free will, or I will have my men throw you out. Your choice." "Ivan won't allow you to do this to me, Zakhar. I am still his mother," she says as they start to make their way toward the front door of the home we've shared for over two decades.

"After I tell him all the things you have said about his bride today I wouldn't bet on it. I also bet you had a hand in what happened five years ago. If I were you, I would disappear Alexandra because, unlike me, my son loves his wife desperately. I know exactly who he will choose between the two of you." Tears roll down her cheeks as she steps out into the bitter Russian night. I thought I would feel something seeing her cry after all these years, but the only thing I feel is relief as she shuts the door.

Meadow POV

I'm just about to head back inside when my truck pulls into the driveway. As soon as it stops, I smile. When Alexi opens the door I can hear my daughter talking animatedly. Ivana helps her out of her seat, and she bounds toward me with a colorful cup. "Mama, we got your favorite. Uncle Alexi said that you used to eat chocolate icecream when you lived with him in Rusa," she says. "It's Russia sweetheart. He is right, I did. The only time I didn't eat chocolate icecream was when you were in my belly."

"Why didn't you eat it then," she asks. "You didn't like it. So mommy only ate vanilla when you were in my belly." "I love chocolate now," she says, bouncing on the balls of her feet. The sound of the screen door opening has all four of us looking toward the house. Ava squeals when Ivan steps out onto the porch. She rushes toward him, and he scoops her up in his arms. He starts talking to her in Russian.

He's shocked when she answers him in his native tongue. I'm not as fluent as they are, but I didn't want her to lose that part of who she was, so Ivana taught us both. When she came for visits she would only speak Russian. Ava was like a little sponge taking it all in. When his eyes meet mine, I can see unshed tears in them. "She speaks Russian," he says. "She does. It is a part of who she is. I knew you would have taught her, so Ivana helped," I say, in Russian.

"Papa, Uncle Alexi got you mint chocolate chip," she says with a gag. Ivan chuckles before pressing a kiss on her forehead. "I can't wait to eat it. That is my favorite flavor. Why don't you go inside while I finish talking to mama," he says. Alexi and Ivana immediately start walking toward the house. "Traitor," I whisper, and Ivana giggles. Once we are alone, Ivan closes the distance between us. "I know I have a lot to make up for Meadow. I don't expect you to forgive me today, but I'm asking for a chance to make things right. A chance for us to raise our daughter together. A chance for me to love you and show you that there is no one more important in my life," he says.

I want to say yes, but I'm terrified of getting hurt again. Terrified that once he gets me back to Russia, everything he just said will be a lie. Sadness flashes in his eyes when I don't answer. "Ivan, I'm not ready to move back to Russia." Hope replaces the sadness as he reaches for my hand. I don't pull it away as his big hand engulfs my small one. "Will you go back for Nickoli's wedding and to look at the house. Then we can come back here and figure things out," he says.

I look toward the house knowing that, despite everything, Ava deserves to know her family. Zakhar deserves to meet his granddaughter. If I really don't have to see Dimitri and Danica, I can survive having to deal with his mother for a few hours. Besides, I'm still in love with this man even if I don't trust him yet. I nod, and he pulls me into his arms without warning. Sh*t I am so screwed.