Page 70 of Devil's Bride

He’s reluctant, but he backs away.

Nikolai follows me out. He gets in the driver’s seat while I take the passenger seat next to him. My brain works fast trying to come up with something, I want to find Irina.

A phone rings in the console. It takes Nikolai picking it up and giving to me for me to realize it’s mine.

The number flashing on my screen is private. I know it’s from the Phoenix and I don’t hesitate to answer. “Where’s Irina?”

“A lovely way to greet your master after a near-death experience,” Paulo says sardonically.

I hold the phone a little tighter. “Where is my wife.”

“Here with me. Do you want to say hello to her? I’ll let you.” His feet sound against the floor of wherever he is as he strolls to Irina.

“Alexei,” she cries. Her voice cracks as if she’s been crying for two whole days.

“Malyshka.” My heart beats fast enough to explode. “Are you okay?”

“I am. He wants to use you, Alexei. Don’t let him.” She sniffles. “Don’t worry about—” She screams.

I lose it. He’s hurting her. My mind can’t stand that. I try not to lose my shit. I have to be more logical than emotional, because what Paulo wants is for me to be emotional. “Leave her alone and tell me what you want.”

Paulo sneers. “Good. I need a hunting dog, and I can’t think of a better person for the job than you.”

“Give me a name.”

“Elena Romano.”

“Elena. Dominic’s wife?” I rake my fingers through my hair. “Are you fucking insane? She’s pregnant!”

He laughs. “What is the problem? Would you rather your wife dies in her place?”

Paulo is playing games with me. He knows I would never hurt a woman let alone a pregnant one. This is his way of insulting me. Now it’s either I betray Dominic and my moral code, or I lose Irina.

I won’t choose. I won’t betray Dominic or hurt his wife. And I won’t lose Irina. I just need to buy some time.

“When do you need it done?”

“Tomorrow night at the latest,” he says. “Play games with me and I’ll cut off one of her pretty little fingers until there are none left.”

A knot forms in my throat. I swallow. “Tomorrow night is enough time.”

Enough time for me track down Irina and end him for good.

“The clock is ticking,” he tells me before he ends the call.

My brother looks at me. “What did he say?”

“He wants me to kill Elena.”

“She’s pregnant, man. Don’t tell me you agreed to it.” Nikolai actually looks concerned. It’s a first for him.

“I won’t, but I made him believe I will.” I peer in the rearview mirror. Mikhail and Dimitri’s car is behind us.

Nikolai wheels the car through the driveway of my manor. A good portion of the left wing has been destroyed by the explosion.

There’s a black S.U.V parked in the entrance.

We get close enough for me to see Matteo sitting inside.

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