Page 21 of Devil's Bride

“I’ve had enough for today.” My voice echoes in the room. It’s large and has almost nothing in it. “I’d like to rest now.”

“Aren’t you curious?” Nina asks, her eyes following me as I walk to the door.

I stop and give the instruments one last stare. I’m never coming into this room again. “No, I’m not.”

I barely make it to the foyer when I hear heels clicking on the marble floors. A woman in an expensive black dress and fur approaches. She’s wearing sunglasses. I can’t exactly make out who she is, but the scent of her strong perfume fills the air. My eyes water and my nostrils tickle as I fight back a sneeze.

She stops in front of me and removes her sunglasses, exposing bright blue eyes. She scrutinizes me from head to toe as if measuring an opponent.

Who the hell is this woman?

“You’re Irina Volkov?” There’s a bite of condescension in her voice. It’s the same way I imagine an arrogant boss would speak to their employee. I’m not sure since I’ve only ever worked for my father.

If she didn’t look to be in her late fifties, I would honestly assume she had a crush on Alexei. I mean, that is the only reason she’d be rude to a strange.

“Yes.” I cross my arms over my chest and square my shoulders. “And you are?”

She frowns. She probably thinks my question is an insult, but I’m only asking because I’m genuinely curious. “I see your husband didn’t teach you any respect.”

I step back as if I’ve just been punched in the face. “What?”

“If he bought a new dog, he should train it better,” she says, folding her sunglasses.

“I am not a dog, and honestly, if anyone needs to be trained, then I think it should be you.” Her jaw drops and my brow lifts. “If you do not tell me who you are, then I’ll have you thrown out of this house.”

I’m not bluffing, I mean it. Being married to Alexei against my will is one thing, it’s a completely different matter when someone treats me with such disrespect.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” she yells.

“Irina Vadim, wife of Alexei Vadim.” I bite back a smile, that feels kind of cool to say. “And the lady of this house.”

“I am his mother,” she retorts angrily.

I scoff. “Alexei doesn’t have a mother.”

“Stepmother,” she corrects herself. “You know what that means, don’t you? You’ll have to apologize to me.”

Ice coats my veins. Literal ice. I just made an enemy out of my mother-in-law on my first day of marriage.

Way to go, Irina.

My throat goes dry and I swallow. “You were rude to me first, and you knew who I was.”

“So, you’re not going to apologize?”

I would, if she didn’t sound so fucking annoying. “Only if you do so, first.”

She laughs. “You have no idea where you are, do you, child?” She steps forward and grabs my jaw with her cold fingers. “You’re married to Alexei, do you know what that means?”

I don’t try to answer. But my fists clench. It’s taking everything I have to maintain my self-control.

“The Bratva will swallow you whole, ragazza.” Her long, red nails trail down my throat. “Alexei will use you, and then he will toss you out. That boy is a monster, just like his father.”

For some reason, my anger melts away. I’ve heard stories of Alexei’s father and how brutal he was. And not only with people who owed him something. This woman in front of me is a victim. She must’ve been through so much if she carries this much hate in her heart.

I gently pull away from her grip. “I’m sorry I was rude to you, but I think you should sort out your problems with Alexei, not me.”

“You’re his wife, his problems are your problems. Surely you see that?” she says bitterly. “As a matter of fact, I’m about to bring hell to you. Alexei, however cruel he is, won’t break or bruise you.”

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