Page 51 of Devil's Bride

He gives me the most seductive smile ever, his eyes flickering with mischief. “I don’t care.”

I roll my eyes. “I do. I’m leaving.”

He walks me to one of the black Mercedes parked in front of the entrance and holds the door for me to get in in the backseat. Illya gets in the driver’s seat, while Viktor and Twinky take the car in front of mine.

“Stay safe, okay?” Alexei’s forehead is creased with worry.

I nod. “I’ll be safe. Make sure you come home early.”

“I will.” He closes the car door and takes a step back.

I wave at him as Illya drives the car away from the entrance. I rest back in my seat, my mind heavy with thoughts. For two people in a forced marriage, Alexei and I are sure acting like we’re a couple in love with each other.

A while later, Illya brings the car to a stop in front of my father’s mansion. The house is quiet when I enter. I look around for a sign of my mom or one of the housekeepers. Besides the security men outside, the entire place feels like a ghost town.

“Mom! Dad! Damien!” I call out from the bottom of the stairs. I grew up in this house, and I’ve been gone for only a few weeks, yet it feels strange being here. This no longer feels like home. Alexei’s home is my home now.

“Mom!”

“Darling.”

I turn around to face my mother. A wide smile splits her face, and her eyes are gleaming with genuine happiness to see me. I’m happy to see her too. I’ve missed her.

“Mom!” I throw myself into her arms and hug her really tight. I squeeze my arms around her and inhale. My mother’s lavender scent has always been a source of comfort to me. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, baby.” She pats my back lovingly. “How have you been?”

I pull away from our hug. “I’ve been good.”

“How is he treating you?” she asks, examining my body as if looking for injuries or a sign I’m being mistreated.

A chuckle ripples from my throat. “Relax, Mom. I’m fine. He treats me well enough.”

She doesn’t look like she believes me. “He’s not hurting you? Did he threaten you to say that?”

“No.” I take her hands and squeeze them lightly. “Alexei is good man to me. I’m really fine, I swear.”

She heaves out a relieved sigh. “I’ve been so worried, but your father doesn’t want to get involved in your marriage and he doesn’t want me getting involved, either.”

A pang of sadness splinters through me. So, he wouldn’t care if Alexei was hurting me? All that matters to him is what he stands to gain from whatever deal he made to marry me off.

“Where are Dad and Damien?” No doubt my brother would have hurried down the moment he heard my voice. The only reason he isn’t down yet is because he’s not home. I know him well enough.

“Your father went to meet some business partners. He took your brother with him.”

I narrow my eyes. “Business partners?”

She huffs out a breath. “He wouldn’t tell me anything more, and I wasn’t in the mood for an argument, so I let him be.

I try not to think too much of my father’s supposed business partners, but he’s always been open with me when it comes to his business. The fact he didn’t tell my mother what it was about is enough grounds for suspicion.

Since I married Alexei, I haven’t been able to shake off the thought that my father is involved in something deeper and deadlier than he lets on. I want to find out what it is, but it’s not like he’d tell me if I simply ask.

My mother notices the worry etched on my face. “Are you okay, darling?”

“I’m fine.” I draw in a breath and force a smile. “Is Dad coming home soon? I’d like to see him before I leave.”

“Um—I’m not…” She glances over my shoulder and sighs. “Well, it looks like he’s back already.”

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