The Bratva King's Lost Bride

13 Strength

Meadow POV

For the first time in five years, guilt overwhelms me. I was in the firm belief that everything that I did was because Ivan cared more about his relationships with Dimitri and Danica than about me. That he would choose them over me and the baby growing in my belly. I deprived him of watching Ava grow because I let fear cloud my judgment. A warm hand on my cheek has my eyes meeting Ivan's.

"Tell me what you're thinking, malyska," he says. "I'm sorry for keeping Ava from you. I know you said you aren't angry, but you should be. I was so afraid of those two and that you would side with them. I should have been braver. I should have raged when I found you in bed with that b**ch, and you wouldn't have lost so much time with our daughter."

"No, don't do that. Don't second guess what you had to do to protect our daughter, to protect yourself. I should have shown you that no one was more important than you. It is my failure as your husband that led to your choices. I meant what I said. I am not angry that you chose to protect our daughter malyska. I love you, Meadow. You are far stronger than you realize," he says.

"I am so grateful that you are here. That I'm getting a chance to be the husband you deserve. A chance to make right the mistakes of the past. I know it will take time, but I'm confident we can move past this, Meadow. We can find our way to an even stronger love than we shared before I f**ked up," he says. Before I can open my mouth to tell him, he isn't the only one that f**ked up. A throat clearing has both of us looking toward the curtain dividing us from the rest of the plane.

A young blonde woman with her eyes focused on Ivan interrupts. She looks like she just stepped out of a magazine with her perfect cheek bones and perky breasts. Her shirt is open, revealing ample cleavage. "Pakhan, the captain asked that I interrupt. He would like to speak to you. The matter seems urgent," she says. I hate the flash of jealousy I feel as her eyes linger on my husband. It's surreal, but he is still my husband. My husband, who hasn't stopped looking for me for five years.

His hands tighten on my hips. When I turn, his eyes are focused on me, not sparing the woman a second glance. "I'm going to go find out what the hell is so important that he felt it necessary to interrupt us. When I return we will have breakfast with our little girl," he says. He presses a kiss on my forehead before he sets me on my seat.

He stands adjusting his suit jacket and moves past the woman again without sparing her a second glance. When my eyes meet hers I can see clear disdain in her features. I stand to my full height which is a few inches shorter than her. I move until I'm standing in front of her.

"Do we have a problem?" My question seems to startle her but she quickly schools her features. "Not at all Meadow," she says. I bristle at her disrespect. Normally I wouldn't care if someone called me by my first name but she is indirectly trying to put me in my place. She is letting me know she thinks I am unworthy of the Pakhan of the Petrov family.

She must be one of Danica's little cronies or she believes she has a chance at taking my place by Ivan's side. I take a step closer invading her personal space. "You will call me Madame Petrov. We are not friends and you are not my equal. I suggest if you want to keep working for my husband you remember your place or I will ensure you will be out on your a**." She goes to open her mouth but closes it just as quickly. She takes a step back and lowers her head.

"My apologies Madame Petrov," she says before turning and rushing away from me. A smiling Alexi steps into the aisle and moves closer to me. "That was f**king hot, Madame Petrov. Don't worry I will deal with her after the flight," he says with a huge smile on his face. "That isn't necessary. If I'm going to truly take my place as Ivan's wife I'm going to need to protect myself and my daughter from people like her and Danica. They saw me as weak and I let them." His smile fades and he moves to take the seat that Ivan vacated.

I sit next to him and he turns to face me. "Meadow, Ivan isn't the only one that failed you. I may have been a teenager but I knew that Dimitri and Danica didn't want you in Ivan's life. I never thought that they would be stupid enough to threaten you. I thought it was just jealous but I should have told Ivan. None of us will make that mistake again. You have a strength that is undeniable but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't always be at your back. You are my sister as much as Ivana is. I am no longer that lanky teenage boy that can't protect you. I will never let anyone disrespect you again," he says.

I reach out wrapping my arms around Alexi and pulling him for a hug. "Alexi, am I going to have to shoot you for trying to take my woman from me," Ivan says and I giggle. I release my hold and Alexi stands. "I think Meadow would be upset if you shot her favorite brother. The attendant disrespected your wife" he says. "Alexi," I say his name in warning. Ivan starts to turn but Alexi grabs his arm.

"She handled her brother but I will ensure she no longer works for the Petrov family. I am respecting the wishes of the head of our family and so should you. She is far stronger than any of us gave her credit for" he says as he steps past Ivan. He looks at me pride and love shining in his eyes. A sense that everything I once hoped for might actually happen settles in my belly.