Page 24 of Devil's Bride

“By somewhere, I suppose you mean home?” Mikhail asks after Igor leaves.

I grab my briefcase and phone. “Is there a problem with that?”

“I didn’t expect you to be this excited about becoming a husband.”

“I’m not excited. I’m only doing what’s necessary to keep my wife alive.” I find Irina very interesting. The way she talks back and tries to hide the dark longing in her eyes, and how she doesn’t hold back on calling me out. Honestly, I could spend a hundred years alone with her and never get bored.

My brother shakes his head. “You’ll fall in love with her at this rate.”

I pause and look at him. Love doesn’t exist in my world. Men like me are able to differentiate between fun and useless emotions like love. They don’t only make a person weak, they make them vulnerable.

My brothers already know better than to let themselves fall in love with anyone. I know better than that, too. We don’t have the luxury of any weaknesses. Men in our world are ruthless. They won’t hesitate to use wives and children against their rivals. I’ll never let them use my wife against me.

I tap my brother on his shoulder, a bit more harshly than I intended. “Do not ever use that word in front of me again.”

Because whatever I feel for Irina, it can only be nothing more than intrigue and lust. That I know for sure.

***

“Ms. Vadim was here today.”

My nostrils flare, my fists instinctively clenching at the mere mention of Sasha’s name. Mikhail and Nikolai’s mother. She was my father’s wife before his death and is our nemesis.

Sasha is nothing like a mother should be, at least nothing like I know my mother would’ve been if she were alive. Sasha had allowed our father to send me away, she’d allowed him to abuse my brothers when it meant she could save herself from his wrath.

I don’t hate her for it. She was a victim herself. Young and inexperienced yet was thrown in a dungeon with a monster. She couldn’t fight him. He had too much power, and he was physically stronger, but she should have tried. She should have protected her son the same way my mother protected me until she was murdered by my father.

After he’d died, her conniving began. She’s tried to have me killed at least three times since I became Pakhan, and she’s always shown her disdain for me. She thinks one of my brothers should be Pakhan, not me. Not because she loves her sons so much that she wants them on the throne. No. They’re just a means to an end to her. Tools she can use to gain power in the mafia world.

I don’t hurt women, and I can’t hurt the woman who birthed my brothers. That is the only reason I’ve let her get away with her sins so far.

But the fact that she was here, probably to torment Irina, has me trembling with rage. “What did she want?”

Nina recoils at the sharpness of my question. “She was upset you didn’t invite her to your wedding. She had a word with your wife, Irina handled her well.”

Of course she would. Irina is not the type of woman to be afraid of anyone. She’s strong and bold and fierce. Those are some of the things I like the most about her.

I scan the foyer and stairs for Irina. “Where is my wife?”

“In her room. She said she wanted to be left alone,” Nina answers.

I tug on my tie and loosen it. “Prepare lunch. Let us know when it is ready.”

Nina nods. “I will.”

I jog up the stairs to my bedroom. When I open the door, Irina is standing by the glass wall. At first glance, she looks to be watching the city, but I don’t think that is the case. Considering she hasn’t even noticed my presence, I think she’s lost in thought.

Leaning on the doorframe, I watch her. She looks goddamn sexy with my shirt on. Her long, slim legs are exposed for me to enjoy. Through the mirror, I can see her nipples hiding beneath the fabric.

So fucking beautiful.

I walk towards her and lightly touch her shoulder. She flinches, her eyes widening with fear before they meet mine, then she lets out a relived sigh. “Jesus, you scared me.”

I shrug off my suit jacket without taking my eyes off her. “I didn’t mean to, you were completely lost in thinking about whatever you were thinking.” I narrow my eyes on her. “You’re not thinking of how to escape, are you?”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m not a prisoner here, am I?”

I shake my head.

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