Aurora
Tears filled my eyes and I tried to hold them in. There was no reason to cry. So she said some horrible things. They were the truth.
This was my life, all my life. Second best. Hated. Pushed aside. Forgotten. Unloved. I glanced down at my hands, trying not to let the emotion overwhelm me.
It was too much.
I felt like I was drowning.
Why did I feel this way?
These were not new feelings but old ones.
Slavik stood up, and I watched with horror as he escorted Bethany onto the dance floor.
Sinking my teeth into my lip, I couldn’t stand it. Turning on my heel, I headed off the dance floor, going straight to the gardens out back. There was a small patio area and while we’d been inside, rain had started to fall thick and fast.
My stomach recoiled. I put a hand on my stomach as my eyes swam with tears. I was going to be sick.
Gripping the edge of the rail, overlooking the garden, the rawness of the stone bit into my fingertips.
I closed my eyes, the first droplets of tears spilling out.
“Don’t,” I said.
I took deep breaths, but it was no good. They opened a flood of pain. This was not the time or the place to be crying, but I couldn’t stop them. I sobbed into the air, slowly sinking down to my knees, still holding on to the stone, trying not to let anything get to me, but it was no good.
This … hurt.
Slavik’s arms around Bethany. Slavik being inside her. If what she said was true, would he fall for her charms?
Arms surrounded me, and I gasped.
“I’ve got you,” Ivan said.
This scared the crap out of me, and I scrambled out of his arms, keeping my back to him, trying to hide my tears.
“I’m so sorry,” I said. This was … a nightmare.
“You don’t have to hide from me,” Ivan said.
I stayed tense, swiping left and right at my cheeks, trying to gain control. Nothing was happening, and I gritted my teeth. Anger rushed through me. This was … not right.
“Am I needed inside?”
“No,” Ivan said. “Andrei won’t leave his wife’s side. They’re dancing now.”
“Good. That’s good.” I had no idea what to say.
Silence fell between us. Ivan didn’t leave.
“You weren’t supposed to see that.”
“I’m glad I did. Is Slavik hurting you?”
“No.” I turned to Ivan and shook my head. “Of course not.”
“I didn’t think so, and now I can look into your face.”
Shame washed over me. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. What did Bethany say to you?” Ivan asked, arms folded.
“It was nothing. Just silly girl talk.”
“Silly girl talk has you crying at weddings?” he asked.
“I know, right? It must be all the emotions flying around. It’s fine.” I nodded my head.
“You know, Aurora, many people hate how I came to power. I was a no one. I was a fucked-up mess.” He took a step toward me. “People underestimate me.”
I recalled Cara’s words. She’d told me what happened. “Cara told me. She said how you and Slavik and she worked from the ground up.”
“Did she?” Ivan tapped his fingers on the stone railing. “Well, she’s not wrong. I was the stuttering bastard of the original Bratva. An embarrassment and a disappointment.” He chuckled. “He was far from those things when I killed him. I’m not like previous men in my place. I don’t follow the rules or the setup. I’m my own man.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.
“I see the way Slavik looks at you.”
I paused, not sure what to say or do. How did he look at me? Hopefully not like he wanted to kill me.
I tried not to panic. “He’s loyal to you.”
“I know what he is. I also know he will do anything within his power to keep you safe. You’re not alone anymore, Aurora.”
“You don’t have to say this to me.”
Ivan closed the distance between us. He was a giant of a man. As tall as Slavik and as muscular, but there was a reason he was the boss. This man was scary as fuck. I’d feel sorry for any person who captured his attention.
Was I judging him?
He once had a stutter. He’d been cast aside.
“I know what it’s like to be thrown away as if you mean nothing. This treaty was never about your sister. You were not our second choice.”
“You’re lying. My father made his choice.”
Ivan chuckled. “I’ve killed people for less of an insult.”
I tensed up as he reached out to touch me. I didn’t know what he planned to do, but he merely put a hand on his arm. “I knew immediately who he’d give to me, and I didn’t want a fickle bitch in my camp. I wanted a woman who’d been cast aside her whole life. Who had a reputation for being nice and kind, and loyal. I’m not a stupid man, Aurora. I take care of my men, and you were perfect for him.”
With that, he turned on his heel and left.
What the hell just happened?