Page 34 of Devil's Bride

Nikolai, the youngest Vadim brother, smiles as I take the flowers from him. “What’s wrong with giving my sister-in-law flowers?”

Alexei frowns. The man doesn’t put any effort into looking pleasant. “She’s my wife.”

Mikhail shakes his head. He covers his mouth to smoother a yawn. “We know, man. You’ve said that like a hundred times already.”

Alexei scoffs. He shoves his hands in the pockets of his sweats. He’s different from the Alexei who is the head of the Bratva. He’s just a big brother and a jealous husband right now. I think I like this version of him better.

A part of me wishes this was all there was to him. Maybe I would allow myself fall for him if that were the case.

It beats me how someone like him can have such a scary reputation. I wonder what shady things he does behind the scenes that I don’t know of yet. That nickname about being the devil of New York definitely came from somewhere.

I inhale the scent of the flowers. They’re fresh roses, and they smell so good. “This is beautiful. Thanks, Niko.”

He winks, flashing a boyish grin at me. No man will ever hold a candle to Alexei, but Nikolai comes close. Mikhail on the other hand reminds me of why girls like Russian men. His beauty is unearthly.

A blush caresses my cheeks as the thought of having a son who looks just like them flashes in my mind. He’d be a really cute baby with perfect parents and the best uncles.

“His name is Nikolai, not Niko,” Alexei says, a hint of something I sense to be jealousy coating his voice. “And I can get you better flowers.”

“Can you?” I lift my face so my eyes can meet his. “That’s rich coming from a man who tossed an engagement ring at me.”

“You did that?” Nikolai asks.

“He did.”

Alexei rubs his chin. He doesn’t say a word in his defense.

Nikolai tsks and brings his attention to me. “You won’t know this since you haven’t known him for long, but my brother is not a romantic. Trust me, I’m surprised at how he manages to have so many women swooning over him.”

“Swooning?” I shoot Alexei a look. He gives me a not guilty shrug. “You can do better, Mr. Vadim. Learn from Niko here,” I add, stressing Niko just to piss him off.

My eyes dart to Mikhail. He’s quiet, observing the by-play. He’s totally the type to read the room and notice everything no one else can. In my opinion, Alexei is the cruelest brother, Mikhail is the coolest, and Nikolai just happens to be the flirtiest. They fit in that order.

Our eyes meet, and he holds my gaze.

I’m the first to look away. The last thing I want is to enter into a staring contest with a terrifying six-foot five mountain of a man. “We should go inside before dinner gets cold.”

The smell of fresh food filters through as we enter the dining room and I take the sit next to Alexei. Nikolai sits across from me, and Mikhail beside him. We fill our plates with food.

“I heard you two went shopping today,” Nikolai says, slicing into his steak. He glances at me. “I heard you spent a lot of money.”

“Gossip,” I mutter to Mikhail before turning my attention to Nikolai. “Do you have a problem with that?”

He shoves his steak in his mouth, chews and sips from a glass of water next to him. “On the contrary, I’m proud of you. You beat my mother at the spending game.”

I know he’s not trying to be rude, but I can’t stand being compared to the woman I met yesterday. He hates her, I can tell by the pure disgust in his tone when he mentions her.

Why do you hate her? I want to ask, but I figure it’s best not to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong.

“Nikolai,” Mikhail warns, his jaw ticking.

“Irina is a member of this family, she should know that much,” Nikolai says. “Don’t you want to know about my mother? She was here yesterday, and I can tell you already know how much of a bitch she is.”

My pulse races. I don’t know how to respond to that. I look at Alexei, hoping he will say something, but he’s busy shoving food in his mouth. He’s unbothered by wherever this is going.

Mikhail’s fork drops to his plate with a clank. “Shut your mouth, Niko.”

“But—”

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