Page 93 of Obsession of the Bratva

“Dad?”

“He is outside with my guards. If you want to go see him, you can. If you don’t want to see him, we can do whatever you decide with him. The choice is yours.”

“I can talk to him?” Her eyes were wide.

“Of course.” I kissed her forehead. “Come with me.”

I took her hand as she slipped on her sandals and walked outside with her. Manny Stavros was handcuffed in a military-grade jeep, terror written all over his face. A couple of guards opened the doors for us and Vera stepped inside while I stood right beside her. I didn’t trust Manny enough to leave Vera alone with him. It was true he was her father, but a man like that could do anything to bargain for his own freedom.

“Dad?” Vera called out and Manny opened his eyes to look at her.

“Vera.” Tears flooded his eyes and I immediately knew he was faking it. “Vera, you have to let me go. You know I never meant any harm to you, my child. Everything I did was for your betterment only.”

“Threatening to kill the only man I have loved if I didn’t breakup with him and marry the man of your choice was for my betterment?” Vera asked, her tone hardening.

“I had my reasons, Vera. But none of it worked out. You are back with Nico now and Adrian is out of the picture.”

“Only because Nico kidnapped me from the wedding and Adrian is out of the picture because he attacked me and I was shot because of him and because of you.” I had half expected her to give in to her emotions because that is just who Vera was. I had never seen her angrier.

“I wasn’t a part of that attack, my child. I would never do anything to hurt you.”

“You are only saying that because I hold the keys to your life right now, Dad. If you were in the position of power, I would not have mattered to you.”

“My child, list—”

“No, you listen to me,” Vera said, her voice painfully calm. “You have done nothing but try to control me all your life and have treated me like an object born to benefit you and your whims. I have never mattered to you and I never will. Hence, you have stopped mattering to me as well. I don’t care if you live or die because you are dead to me.”

“Vera!” Manny shouted as Vera stepped out of the vehicle, her gaze falling on me. Tears ran down her face.

“Do whatever you think needs to be done,” she said and quickly marched ahead and back inside the house.

I motioned to my guards, and they knew exactly what needed to be done. I could have been merciful and could have let him go, but after everything he had done, I wasn’t going to be. I walked back towards the house as a soft, silent gunshot sounded and I knew that it was done.

Everything was over.

I walked inside and took Vera in my arms at once. There was silence, and she closed her eyes briefly. Relief washed across her expression. It was not joy because some part of her heart might have loved her father just a little bit. But I could see relief. The kind that came after carrying fear for too long.

She didn’t ask what happened or any details. She didn’t ask for names or locations or explanations about the execution. She didn’t even blatantly ask me if Adrian and her father were dead. She already knew enough, and I could see that was enough for her.

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her scent engulfing me completely.

“I am,” I replied, sighing deeply. Hugging her felt like coming home. “Are you? I can talk about it with you if you want.”

“No,” she shook her head against my chest. “I know enough. I don’t think I can stomach knowing any more than that.”

“Whatever you say, baby,” I smiled at her.

I buried my face against her hair and for the first time in months, for the first time since she walked into my office and shattered both our lives, for the first time since I kidnapped her from a church, for the first time since this entire disaster began, I finally allowed myself to believe it.

We were going to be okay. Not because the world had become safer. Not because violence had disappeared. Not because our problems were magically solved. But because nobody could take her from me anymore. And nobody would ever force her to survive again. Not while I was breathing.

Chapter 22 - Vera

“Stop looking at me like that.”

I looked up from the mirror and found Nico leaning against the doorway of the bridal suite. The sight of him stole every coherent thought from my head. He looked perfect in his black tuxedo, his hair perfectly done and his gorgeous eyes sparkling with a mixture of happiness and mischief. Nico Romanov was a heartthrob, and he was all mine.