Page 39 of Devil's Bride

Stopping in front of a red door with the restricted to customers sign in front of it, I press my ear against it and listen for voices inside. I don’t hear anything. I pull back and twist the handle of the door, it flies open and heads swirl in my direction.

Among the eyes glaring at me, there’s a pair of dark browns ones I’m familiar with, and they belong to Alexei.

Blood drains from my face. It was so quiet that I hadn’t expected there would be anyone inside, much less this many men. I chew my lip, thinking of a way to deal with the situation.

Alexei’s eyes meet mine. The blank look on his face is unnerving, it isn’t helping that Nadya’s words are choosing this moment to flash like neon lights in my head. The thought of his big, rough palms riding up her thighs or his big dick fucking her, makes my chest heave. I shouldn’t be jealous of Alexei’s premarital fling, but I am.

Who gave him the permission to be with another woman before me? Ugh.

“Are you okay?” he asks, searching my face.

I realize I’m still standing by the door, and that the many eyes are still on me. I nod. “Yes,” I croak. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come in here.”

Alexei ignores that I told him I’m fine. He lifts his brow. “Is there something you want?”

A knot forms in my throat. Swallowing doesn’t help. “You’re busy, we can talk later.”

I’m reaching for the door to shut it when his voice makes my hand freeze midair. “Come here, Irina.”

I snap my head to him, my eyes widening.

Is he really giving me an order in front of all these men? In such a deep, sexy voice?

My stomach flutters, and my legs almost buckle. A retort dances at the tip of my tongue, but I don’t voice it. I know better than to argue with a Pakhan in front of his men. I’ve spent years learning all I could about them. After all, knowing your enemy is the only way you can take them down.

If I argue with him, it’ll reflect badly on his ability to rule, and he’ll lose the respect of his men.

Squaring my shoulders, I walk to him, only looking down when I’m in front of him.

“Sit,” he says with that same voice that weakens me all the way down to my bones. There is no humor in his eyes, no gentleness. The man sitting in front of me is not the Alexei I’m familiar with; it’s the Pakhan of the Bratva.

My heart pounds against my ribcage as I lower myself on his leg.

“Good girl,” he purrs.

Electricity ripples through me. My mind fills with a million dirty scenarios. Him pinning me against the wall and making me come before calling me his ‘good girl’. Or taking him in my mouth and—

“You were saying?” Alexei says, his attention fixed on one of his men. He looks older, at least fifty.

The man’s gaze darts to me. The look he gives me is disapproving. “In front of her?” he asks condescendingly.

Alexei nods. “Do you have a problem with my wife being present for the meeting?”

“She’s an enemy’s daughter, Pakhan. What if she tells him what we say?” the man asks. He doesn’t give Alexei a chance to reply when he adds, “For all I know, a woman like her should be nothing more than a whore to warm your bed, a breeding mare to bear your heirs.”

My lungs deflate as shock pulls the air from my chest. I want to get angry, but I’m too distracted by the predatory smile on Alexei’s face. He moves in one fluid motion, and the next thing I hear is two gunshots.

I scream, covering my ears as the smell of gunpowder fills the room.

When I dare to look up again, there’s a gun in Alexei’s hand, and a puddle of blood beneath the man. He’s clutching his leg and arm, groaning in pain.

Alexei tosses the gun on the coffee table beside him like it’s a toy. His voice rumbles from his chest as he asks, “Does anyone else want to have a go at insulting my wife tonight?”

Chapter Thirteen

Alexei

None of my men so much as move.

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