Second Best (Volkov Bratva Book 1) Read online

  My loyalty was to him, and if he thought for a second it was swayed, he’d take Aurora away from me. That, I couldn’t allow.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Aurora

  I hated weddings.

  I’d hated my own wedding.

  When I’d been the bride, I shouldn’t have been alone and yet, I had been. So alone. Always alone. At this wedding with Adelaide, I managed to still be alone. Slavik had been taken by Ivan and were currently at the table, talking. They appeared to be talking business, so I stood in the corner of the room, nursing a glass of water at Slavik’s insistence. He didn’t want me to get drunk. The champagne looked tempting. I couldn’t deny it, but I sipped at my water, being ignored.

  Adelaide kept trying to come to me. Each time she did, Andrei was by her side, holding her close. Had Slavik told him how she struggled with this entire wedding?

  No one had tried to calm her down, given her points to hope for. Bethany had taken a sick kind of pleasure in taunting her little sister, and it pissed me off. The dance floor had filled up, and as it did, Bethany took Andrei, giving Adelaide the chance to leave his side. She came to me and instantly wrapped her arms around me.

  I wasn’t used to this.

  “Thank you,” Adelaide said. “Would you stay? Live with me? We could run away together.”

  I laughed, rubbing my good hand on her back in an effort to comfort her. “You’re going to be surprised. Andrei might be an amazing man.”

  “Really? He swapped my sister for me. She was his first choice.” She pulled back and I saw tears in her eyes.

  An answering ache bloomed in my chest. “My sister is normally the first choice, but my dad … you know what, you don’t need to know the details. I was given to Slavik and it has been good. He’s good to me.”

  “I heard what happened,” Adelaide said. “How he didn’t kiss you at your wedding. Bethany … she said some pretty nasty things about you.”

  “They’re not true, at least I hope not.” I shrugged.

  “I like you,” Adelaide said. “I … I don’t have any friends. Bethany tends to…” She glanced at her sister. “She likes to take them, you know? She’s the most popular one. The person everyone likes. I’m just me.”

  I took her hand. “I can’t stay here. I’ve got a life with Slavik, but you can call me anytime.”

  Adelaide nodded and took a deep breath. “Bethany said Andrei beats his women. I’m … I don’t like pain, and I’m a virgin. I don’t think I could … I feel sick.”

  I took Adelaide to the bathroom. She did indeed throw up. I pulled her hair back as she emptied out whatever was in her stomach.

  I felt for this woman. Her life as she knew it was over. I had no idea about Andrei.

  “I’ll be right back, honey.”

  “Please, don’t leave.”

  There was no way I could let her feel this way. “Trust me, okay.”

  “Aurora.”

  I let her go. There was only going to be one way to solve this.

  Entering the main dance floor again, I saw Bethany all over Andrei. This wasn’t my business, but I wasn’t about to have another woman feel in any way like I did during a marriage.

  I walked onto the dance floor and grabbed Andrei’s arm. “Can I have a word?”

  He immediately let go of Bethany, who protested.

  Without looking her way, I took Andrei off the dance floor toward the bathroom.

  My hands were clammy now that I had him alone.

  “Do you beat your women?” I asked.

  The smile on Andrei’s face disappeared. “Does Slavik know what you’re doing?”

  “Your wife is currently in the bathroom throwing up. Bethany has been whispering lies or truths into her ear, and I don’t know what they are. You can hate me, and to be honest, I don’t care. She’s petrified you’re going to hurt her, and this is all Bethany’s fault. All she is doing is following orders.”

  Andrei looked toward the bathroom. “She should come to me.”

  “Try being a young, virginal woman who has been swapped for her sister. I’m sure you’d go and tell your intended exactly how scared you are.” Sarcasm dripped from my tone.

  His jaw clenched. “Thank you,” Andrei said.

  I didn’t trust him.

  He brushed past me and entered the bathroom. Had I just fucked up?

  I stayed. Holding the bathroom door slightly open and listening.

  They … talked.

  Andrei asked her what Bethany had said and she answered. I heard his responses.

  When they left the bathroom, I made sure to hide in the shadows.

  Adelaide spotted me and gave me a smile. I followed them out, going to stand in my secluded section of the dance floor. Bethany approached me, and I tensed up, waiting for the impending fight.

  “You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” Bethany asked.

  “No. I think I’m kind and you’re cruel.”

  “Oh, please, you saved me. Andrei is an old fossil. If you think I can’t have him again, you’re wrong. I can. Men are so easy. They like pretty women, Aurora.” She scoffed. “But then, you wouldn’t have the first clue about that. You’re the pity fuck. The one who was given away by her own family because they couldn’t stand to send their special one. No wonder you and my sister get along. She’s a monstrosity.”

  “You tried to ruin your sister’s day.” I turned to look at Bethany. “And you failed. Go away. No one wants a spiteful bitch.”

  Bethany smiled. “Let’s see what you’re saying when your husband can’t get enough of me.”

  She spun on her heel and left.

  My hands clenched into fists. Deep in my heart, I knew she was a nasty piece of work. The way she flirted with Slavik drove a pain deep and sharp into my heart, making me feel sick.

  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.�
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  “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?

  ****

  Slavik

  Bethany was a viperous bitch.

  Her claws were out.

  “I can’t believe Aurora would lie about me. I’m a good woman. A much better match to Andrei than my sister. She doesn’t have what it takes to please a man like him. I know how to.” She tried to press her body against mine. “I can do things that will blow your mind, Slavik. There is nothing I won’t do for you.”

  For the past five minutes, she’d been offering her body up to me. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To think you won. That you took Aurora’s husband from her. I know who you are, Bethany, and to be honest, I don’t like what I see or what I hear.” I glared at her. I was done playing nice. “If I ever hear you talk about my woman, or you hurt her like you did the last time, I will fucking kill you. Do you understand me?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Aurora is a liar. She can’t stand to have friends, and her aim is to make everyone feel sorry for her.”

  This time, I smiled. “You’re wrong, and do you know how I know this? She heard you, Bethany. At the last lunch you shared together. She heard the nasty shit you said about her. I’m telling you to be glad you’re a guest at this wedding, and I’ve promised to be on my good behavior. For insulting my wife, I’d make you pay for that. I’d make you scream and beg, and I wouldn’t stop until I carved up your face and tore you to pieces.”

  With that, I released her and went out of the room to where I saw my wife disappear.

  Ivan came back through the door.

  No sign of my woman.

  “Aurora’s outside. You do know she’s in a great deal of pain,” Ivan said. “The shit that happened long before you ever met her. It plagues her.”

  “Stay away from my wife,” I said.

  “Or what? You’re going to keep more secrets from me?” Ivan asked. “Like … the baby?”

  I glanced over his shoulder. “It’s not a secret.”

  “She has no idea she’s carrying your baby.”

  “She’s not ready to know and you know she thinks I do everything out of duty.”

  Ivan chuckled. “If you do everything out of duty, then follow this order. Tell your woman how you feel and end this misery between the two of you. She’s yours, Slavik, you just have to take her.”

  He brushed past me, and I turned toward him. “I can’t kill her.”

  Ivan smiled. “I never said you had to.”

  He walked away, and I left the building, finding my wife on the porch, her body pressed against the stone railing. I stepped behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. I heard her sniffle and knew she’d been crying.

  “Do you want me to kill him?” I asked, brushing my fingers against her shoulder.

  “No. He didn’t make me cry. How was your dance with Bethany?”

  “I made you cry?”

  “No, not really. I guess you did. Seeing you with her hurt.”

  “I never want to cause you pain.”

  She sighed. “You can’t make promises like that. I’m … I’ve got a lot of … issues.”

  I chuckled. “We all have a lot of issues.”

  “All my life, all I’ve ever been told was that I don’t measure up. I am second best. I am not liked. I’m unlovable, and seeing you with Bethany after she said that you will be with her, that you’d make love to her, it hurt.” Aurora turned toward me, tears glistening in her eyes. “I … I can’t stand the thought of her or any other woman being with you. I know I’m not perfect.”

  “Don’t,” I said. “I don’t want to hear another word out of that mouth of yours that makes the claim you’re not good enough. Screw them, Aurora. You think I don’t know how you feel? I was left to rot in the dirt for years. I fought my way. That fight you witnessed, that was fucking clean compared to the shit I’ve put up with. I am loyal to Ivan, but I’m also loyal to you. There isn’t going to be another woman. I have no desire to screw around.”

  I ran my fingers through my hair. Talking like this didn’t come naturally to me, and seeing the pain in her eyes renewed my rage. “I can’t promise your life is going to be easy, but I will do everything I can to make you love this life.”

  “Will you be happy?” Aurora asked.

  I was confused. “Me?”

  “Yes. Will you be happy with me?”

  “Have I given you the impression I’m not?”

  She smiled and shook her head. “No.”

  “Then I’m going to be happy.” I kissed her head. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so. I just, I don’t know what came over me. I’ve been getting so emotional lately for no reason at all. I don’t understand it.” She shrugged. “This … wedding. I don’t know what it’s doing to me, but it’s like I can’t stop the pain, and it’s morphing into anger. I’ve never felt this way before.”

  There was no one around, and the last thing I wanted to do was join the wedding party again. Adelaide had stuck by my wife, pulling her away from me. I’d never thought I was the jealous type until Aurora. “Talk to me.”

 
She sighed. “You know most of it. My dad offering me in place of my sister. Not even asking me what I wanted. Years and years of not measuring up. Of being second best.” Tears swam in her eyes, but I recognized another emotion, anger. I’d rarely seen it in Aurora’s eyes. “Adelaide feels something similar. It’s not exact, but it’s close. The pain is like more than she can bear. She doesn’t know if she’s terrified of her new husband, or angry that she is just a replacement for Bethany.”

  Her teeth sank into her bottom lip. “All my life, all I’ve ever been is second best to my sister to everyone around me, including my own family. I’ve been gone nearly ten months and other than one dinner, no calls. No celebration. Nothing.” Tears fell from her eyes, and she spun away from me. “Just ignore me. I don’t know what’s wrong. This is all too much.”

  I knew what to do.

  Taking her hand, I led her out of the wedding party, away from any prying eyes. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and called Ivan.

  “We’re leaving the party early.”

  “Did I give you permission for it?” Ivan asked.

  I didn’t even hesitate. I kept on walking. “My woman needs me.”

  I hung up my cell phone but sent a quick text to my men waiting at the hotel.

  “Wait, what about Adelaide?”

  “She’s got people. I’m taking you. No questions asked.”

  The driver was smoking as we approached, leaning on the car, glancing down at his cell phone. He laughed before looking up, and the cigarette was gone, cell phone away, and the door was held open for us.

  I told him to take us to our hotel.

  “Slavik, what’s going on?”

  “Trust me.” I took her hands, kissing the knuckles.

  My cell phone went off, and I pulled it from my pocket.

  Ivan: Tell her about the baby.

  I didn’t know why my boss was meddling. Ivan rarely interfered. This was the first time I’d kept anything from him.

  “Are you okay?” Aurora asked.

  She’d been having a meltdown but asked about my well-being. This woman, she was … I had no words. Cupping her face, I tilted her head toward me and brushed my lips against hers.

  She moaned my name, kissing me back, and damn it, when did a kiss have to be so addictive? I licked across her lips, sucking the bottom one into my mouth, using my teeth to pull it from between hers.