Page 92 of Obsession of the Bratva

His expression hardened. “I did what was necessary for our survival. Adrian was helping me with business. The very business that had given her a good life. You wanted me to throw all of that away because she somehow fell in love with you?”

There it was. The justification. The excuse. The lie people like him always told themselves. That it was necessary for business, power, family, or stability. It was always necessary. Never right.

I sat back studying him. Waiting. Giving him every opportunity to become something better than I expected. Something human. Something resembling a father. But he failed completely.

“If I hadn’t taken her from that church...”

I let the sentence hang. His eyes remained fixed on mine.

“...you would have forced her to marry a man she hated.”

He did not answer because we both knew it was true.

“Wouldn’t you?”

Nothing. I nodded slowly.

“That’s what I thought.”

The conversation was over, not because I was angry but because I wanted revenge. Because there was nothing left to learn and nothing left to understand. I had spent weeks wondering what kind of man could do that to his own daughter. Now I knew. The answer was simple.

A selfish one.

I stood up from my chair, and Manny’s eyes followed me. For the first time, uncertainty appeared as if he finally understood that this wasn’t a negotiation. There would be no deal. No escape. No clever solution. No leverage. No daughter left to sacrifice and no future left to manipulate. Only consequences.

“You think you’re better than me?”

The question stopped me near the door, and I turned and looked at him. Really looked at him. I could see the fear and anger and desperation. The certainty that someone else should pay for his mistakes.

“No.” His confusion appeared immediately, so I continued. “I just love her more than you ever did and my idea of protecting her and giving her a good life doesn’t center around ordering her around and making her live a life according to my whims.”

The words hit harder than any threat could have. I saw it happen. I saw the truth finally land.

“Are you going to kill me now?”

“No. Not before Vera has a word with you. I cannot deprive her of that.”

The door closed behind me and I motioned for the guards to lock Manny Stavros up and bring him along. I could have killed the man right there and then, but it was Vera’s father and the decision was going to be hers. Not mine.

The operation had been successful and just this one last thing was left.

Dawn painted the horizon gold by the time I got home. The city looked peaceful. Almost innocent. Like nothing terrible had happened overnight and lives hadn’t ended. Like wars hadn’t concluded. The illusion lasted all the way to the house and then I stepped inside where everything changed because Vera was waiting for me.

Exactly where I hoped she’d be.

She stood barefoot near the living room window, wearing one of my shirts. One of her hands rested unconsciously against her stomach and the sight nearly stopped me in my tracks. She looked beautiful with faint sunlight on her skin and her hair caught up in a messy bun with strands falling out.

She turned before I even spoke, just like she somehow always knew when I was near. Our eyes met and suddenly the entire night felt distant.

The gunfire. The blood. The violence.

All of it was gone, and the only thing that existed was her. She studied my face as if searching for something. Waiting. I crossed the room slowly and when I finally reached her, I touched her cheek softly.

Like something precious. Her hand closed around my wrist immediately.

“Nico?” I could hear the question in her voice. I knew exactly what she was asking.

“It’s over.”