Page 53 of Devil's Bride

My cheeks burn and I know I’m blushing. “Am I?”

She nods. “I guess being a happy wife who’s having good sex can do that to a person. You’re so beautiful, and is that a Versace dress you’re wearing?”

“Alexei took me shopping, it’s one of the dresses we bought.”

It’s a nude, long-sleeve dress that stops above my knees. While I love the detailing on the dress, Alexei picked it out for me. He said it would look good on me and he was right. He has an eye for nice things.

“Sis, mafia boss or not, that man is a catch.” She sips her cappuccino. “Let’s place our order, then you tell me everything.”

I laugh. “Sure.”

Arielle waves the waiter over. He takes our orders and leaves.

“How are your parents?” she asks. “I haven’t had time to visit them since the wedding.”

“My Dad’s grumpy as always. My mom is still a golden ball of energy. Nothing has changed, and I like it that way. I only wish my father would keep less secrets from me. I’m really worried about him.”

Whatever Arielle is about to say is cut off when gunfire erupts. A bullet flies between us, shattering the flowerpot sitting on a window next to me.

Arielle and some of the other customers scream, but it fades to a mere ringing in my ear. I freeze for a second as I watch the chaos unfold in front of me. Everyone’s ducking and scurrying to safety, Arielle’s is reaching for me from under the table.

But I don’t move. My muscles are rigid and it takes a while for me to process everything that is happening.

“Irina! Snap out of it!”

I regain my senses when Arielle shakes me violently. She drags me under the table.

“Irina, you’re bleeding.”

I glance at my friend’s panicked face, then I follow her gaze to the blood on my hand. I can barely feel any pain. I didn’t even feel it happen so I can’t tell if I was grazed by a bullet or a shard of glass. I put my hand over the wound. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch.”

“No, it’s not,” Arielle cries. “There’s blood everywhere. You’re bleeding too much.”

Fuck, she’s right. Most of my dress is soaked with blood, and I’m starting to feel a throbbing pain. “I need to control the bleeding,” I say, trying not to panic. Arielle is doing enough of that for the two of us already.

She rips off her shirt and ties it above my wound. It’s tight enough to control the bleeding, but I’ve lost too much blood already and I’m getting dizzy.

Footsteps approach our table. A man in brown boots stops in front of us and shoves the table aside. “Stupid bitch!” he growls as he reaches for me.

“No, you can’t take her.” Arielle tries to fight him off but he slaps her so hard across the face she collides with one of the chairs and thuds to the ground.

The man grabs me by the hair and starts to drag me along with him, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.

“Let go off me!” I scream at the top of my lungs, fighting and scratching.

He doesn’t stop, even as I feel myself grow weaker and weaker.

“Get your fucking hands off my wife,” a deep voice that I recognize as Alexei’s, growls.

Chapter Seventeen

Alexei

I’ve never wanted to kill until now. But I’m boiling with fury at the sight of Irina in his grip.

The man grins maliciously. “What will you do, Alexei? Kill me like you did my other men?”

“You’re right, I’ll do just that.” I should keep him alive to torture and question him later, but I’m too angry to be logical. All I can see and think of is my wife fighting to free herself from his grip, and him grinning with amusement.

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