Page 65 of Devil's Bride

“We do.” I place the drinks on the table behind me and follow up the stairs Irina and Paulo had disappeared from.

There at least twenty room on the floor, but I know which one Irina is in, because she left an earring in front of it.

As we approach the door, I take a deep breath and grasp the handle, my heart pounding in my chest. This is it, the moment we've been waiting for. I twist the handle and nudge the door open, revealing a dimly lit room with a large four-poster bed in the center. Irina stands at the far end, her back to us, and Paulo is standing close behind her, his hand resting on her waist. Nikolai and Dimitri follow me inside, their faces set in grim determination.

“Paulo,” I drawl my voice low and dangerous. “What do you think you're doing with my wife?”

The old fart is already half naked, he’s wearing a boxers that looks more like a skirt on him.

Nikolai chuckles behind me. It’s so like him to find scenarios like this amusing.

Paulo turns to us. Color drains from his face. His eyes wide with fear. “Alexei…” He drags his gaze to Irina. “You fucking whore.”

“Watch your tone when you speak to my wife, Paulo. We don’t want your death to be any more painful than I have planned.”

“You won’t get away with this,” Paulo yells. “The Phoenix won’t let you get away with this!”

“That is exactly why I am here. To gather all the information I can on the Phoenix. I heard you were one of the leaders.”

“Fuck you.” He shoves Irina and tries to run, but Nikolai grabs him by his arm before he can reach the door.

My brother wraps his arm around Paulo’s neck, choking him until he passes out.

Holding Irina by her shoulders and steadying her, I search for injuries. “Are you okay? Did that asshole touch you?”

She shakes her head. “I’m fine. He didn’t get a chance to.”

“Are you sure?”

“I swear I’m fine.” She stares anxiously at the closed door. “Is there someone outside?”

“No, is something wrong?”

“I feel there’s someone there, but maybe it’s because I’m nervous.” Her gaze returns back to me. “Other than that, I’m fine.”

I sigh with relief. “Good, because I’m very mad at you right now.” I hold her hand and look toward the emergency exit Mikhail found yesterday. He’s parked outside the exit with some of my men waiting for us.

“Can you two carry him?” I ask Nikolai and Dimitri.

They both nod.

“Let’s get out of here.” Taking Irina with me, I lead the way. My brother and Dimitri follow. We burst out of the exit, shove Paulo in the backseat of one of the cars and drive away. No one follows us. It would seem they’re too busy having fun to be bothered by anyone leaving early.

By the time we get home, Paulo has regained consciousness. He’s strapped to a chair. Irina goes upstairs while we stay with Paulo in the basement.

His eyes crack open and he slowly takes in his environment, scanning each of our faces before he grins. “Alexei, we meet again.”

“I guess this is the part where I say, ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you again’.” He lets out a laugh that sears through me in the worst way possible.

“You think this is funny?” I ask, my brows raising to my hairline.

“Isn’t it?”

“Let’s see.” My fists clench and I punch him in the jaw.

His bones rattle and he whimpers. “Fuck, that was a hard—”

I punch him again before he can finish his sentence, and then I take a fistful of hair and pull it.

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