Page 9 of Devil's Bride

Fear bleeds into her eyes, but she doesn’t back down. She’s brave for someone so petite. “You’re lying.”

“I don’t lie.” Unless to my enemies, but there’s an exception for everything. Just like my obsession with her from the first time we met. I find it odd that I even remember her name and smell, especially since I never remember the names of the women I’ve been with.

She straightens up and folds her arms. Some of the anger in her expression melts away, but I still get the feeling she’d prefer me dead than alive. “Call off the wedding.”

“I can’t, even if I wanted to.”

Her eyes widen, as if with surprise that I’m using the word can’t. “What do you mean you can’t? No one will force you into a wedding you don’t want, especially with your reputation.”

Hearing her talk about my reputation piques my interest. “And what reputation do I have?”

“You’re the head of the Russian mafia, everything I hate and work against,” she says angrily. “I’d rather throw myself into a pit full of shit than marry you.”

My jaw clenches. I’m close to losing my self-control and telling her the father she loves so much is not any different, but the thought of seeing her sad makes my chest tighten. “You don’t have a choice.”

“I can run away.”

“I don’t care where you run to, I’ll look in every corner of the word if I have to.” I brace my hands on the edge of my desk and stand. “I have something for you.”

She squints at me. “What is that?”

I open my desk drawer, take out a jewelry box, then hold it out to her. “Why don’t you see for yourself?” I’m baiting her. She won’t take the box from me if she knows what is inside.

Sighing, she takes the jewelry box from me and opens it. “What is this?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I ask. I had my best friend, Dimitri, buy it this morning. It’s worth a fortune, and I didn’t mind spending that as I figure Irina likes flashy things. I intend to spoil her with more expensive things once we’re married.

“I told you I’m not marrying you,” she snaps, closing the lid and tossing the box at me. “Do you think you can buy me by offering me an expensive diamond ring? Think again, Alexei. I’m not broke and needy for your trinkets.”

“Trinkets?” I laugh. “Someone’s playing hard to get.”

“I’m not playing.”

I round my desk and walk over to her.

She smells like vanilla and roses.

Her breath hitches as I lean toward her and she stiffens when I cup her cheeks. Her skin is so delicate in my hands, so silky and smooth. Her lips look even better, I bet they’re delicious. It’s an effort not to kiss her when I’m this close and I know she’ll be mine in a couple of days. “Wh-what are you doing?”

“We’re getting married in six days, Irina. Your opinion does not count.” I put the ring in her hand. “Wear this, and don’t expect a grand proposal from me. I’m just as upset about getting married to a Volkov.”

I pull away from her and return to my chair. I expect her to leave, instead, she asks, “What will it be like if I agree to this marriage?”

“I’m also curious. What do you think?”

She clenches the box in her hand. “I hate you, but I’ll only agree to this to protect my family. First, you must promise not to hurt them.”

“I don’t make promises, malyshka,” I say dryly. “The only thing I can promise you is that you’ll have to make arrangement for funerals if you don’t agree to this marriage.”

She snorts. “Bastard, I hope you rot in hell.” She spins around and storms out.

I stare at the door until Dimitri comes in. He collapses on the chair across from my desk, glances at the door, and then at me. “Looks like your bride didn’t like whatever conversation you two had.”

“She’s such a cranky woman, not much pleases her it seems.” I lean my hips on the desk. “What do you want?”

“I tried tracing the source of the video that was sent to you, it showed was sent from Italy to Japan,” he says. “Both were from a public computer where there is no CCTV footage of who sent them.”

I clear my throat. “And the number?”

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