Chapter OneAlexei

Chapter One

Alexei

"I find everything about you annoying, Mr. Vadim."

It's strange I'd take such rudeness with Nina, but my lips curve as I tilt my head to the woman in front of me, my chest warming with amusement as I look at her heart-shaped face and stare into her fierce, sapphiric blue eyes. Her wavy, red hair falls to the side, casting a shadow across her face.

My gaze dips to her chest. I take in the full swell of her breasts and the way her nipples poke against the silk fabric of the gold dress she's wearing. It's simple and elegant, hugging tightly against her petite body and highlighting her soft curves.

Christ , she's easily the most beautiful woman in this godforsaken gala room. I really can't help the way my cock swells in my pants as I imagine fucking her pretty face.

As the head of the Bratva and d'yavol of New York, as my enemies like to call me, it's not often someone dares to me rude to me. But this woman, Irina Volkov, only daughter of my sworn enemy, Matteo Volkov, dares to run her mouth in front of me.

Interesting.

I grab a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, twirling it in my hand. I don't drink at parties. I have too enemies to relax and enjoy myself like everyone else. Still, it's fun to hold a glass and wonder if any of the enemies around are holding their breaths, waiting for me to drink to my death.

"Did you hear what I said?" she asks, her face scrunching up. "I said I find you really annoying, and you look like a pervert just standing there and staring at me."

"Is that so?" A full smile slips past my rigid control this time. I tuck one hand in my pocket, my interest piqued. I suppose her dislike for me has nothing to do with my enmity with her father. "And why do you find me annoying?"

She sighs, taking a sip of her drink. My insides twitch as her lips press against the rim of the glass. I wonder what they'll feel like wrapped around my dick. "You're asking the wrong question, but I'm happy to indulge you. You're a monster, everyone in this room knows that you are."

My brows quirk, but I let her continue.

"You're the head of the Bratva, the most brutal crime family in New York," she says, her eyes gleaming with nothing but hatred for me. "Girls go missing every day. Dead bodies keep appearing from who knows where, and from what I've heard, your territory has the highest rate of these…crimes."

I tighten my abdominal muscles to stop my jaw from clenching because she's right.

I climbed to the Bratva throne after Dominic, the Capo of the Cosa Nostra, killed my father ten years ago.

During my father's reign as head of the Bratva, his territories were known for brutality, with a high crime rate, murders in broad daylight and many things much worse. His thirst for brutality was his downfall, and I hated him all my life. I still do.

My father killed my mother when I was five because she'd fallen in love with another man and wanted to leave him. In less than a month after he murdered her, he married Sasha who was already pregnant with my half-brother, Mikhail.

You'd think he'd be a better husband after what he did to my mother. He wasn't. He abused Sasha and my two younger brothers, chased me out of the city when I turned eighteen because he was afraid I would kill him and take his place.

And he was right to fear me. I'd have killed him sooner if he hadn't forced me from the city with no money. I moved to Albany where I worked for a drug cartel for six years before I decided to take my fate into my own hands. I was going to kill him, free Sasha and my brothers from him, and become the head of the Bratva.

But Dominic found me the second I stepped into New York and we made a deal. He'd kill my father and allow me to become the new head of the Bratva. In return, we'd become allies and I'd go to his aid whenever he needed me.

As much as I wanted to kill my father myself, I'd agreed. It was a good deal, and I wouldn't have my father's blood on my hands. That was ten years ago, and I've worked hard to reclaim the city, putting a stop to the kidnappings, murders and other things my father allowed. That was until a year ago, when a new organization found their way into my territory.

The Phoenix.

I have no idea who they are or why they're so obsessed with claiming what is mine, but they blackmailed me into silence and are destroying everything I'd worked for.

While I may not be certain of anything for now, I'm sure of two things. Irina's father works for this new organization, and I'm going to do everything within my power to bring them down.

A chuckle rumbles deep in my chest at her words. She definitely has no idea who her father is, not yet. "Is that what your father told you? That I'm a monster?"

She seethes and hisses, "I'm a grown woman, and I do not need my father to tell who you are. Everyone in this city knows about you and your brutality."

I take a step toward her, expecting her to back down. Instead, she holds her ground, glaring at me with those fierce eyes. "Yet, you dare to speak to me like that?"

"I guess you're used to everyone kissing up to you." She places her glass on the table behind her and crosses her arms over her chest. "I hate to burst your bubble, Mr. Devil, but I'm not afraid of you. I'll stop at nothing to see that I drive you and your minions out of this city."

A woman who makes threats. I like her already. I can imagine breaking her little by little. It will be fun. "And how exactly do you hope to do that?"

"Just watch me." A beautiful smirk plays on her lips. "I know men in your world are misogynistic. I guess your worst nightmare is being taken down by a woman."

I nod curtly. "You're right."

She frowns at my answer. My indifference is getting to her, pissing her off. "Do you think this is a joke?"

I shrug. "Isn't it?" I ask, just to make her even more angry. It's either that or I back her up against the wall and kiss her like she's never been kissed before. A cocky grin plays on my face.

"No, it's not." She pouts and shoots a venomous glare at me. "What's with that smug smile? I'm talking about all the crimes you've committed and how you've endangered the women in New York, and all you do is smile? What's funny?"

I sigh. "To be honest, I'm barely hearing a word you're saying over the thought of kissing you."

Her spine stiffens and her jaw drops. She looks like she's about to cuss me out, but she's somehow too stunned to say a word for a moment.

My grin widens. I have her right where I want her. A soft waltz plays in the background, intensifying the tension between us.

"Cat got your tongue, malyshka?"

Her cheeks turn a bright red. "Don't call me that! I am not your baby."

"You are to me whatever I say you are." I close the remaining inch between us. She smells like flowers on a sunny spring morning, so seductive and sweet that I want to inhale it and keep her scent with me forever. "Consider this as advice, do not go looking for trouble."

She breathes. "Is that a threat?"

"A warning. Advice. Threat. Whatever you want to call it, as long as you don't stick your cute nose where it doesn't belong." My fingers itch to cup her face. I curl my hand into a fist in my pocket. "It was nice meeting you."

"I can't say the same about you," she snaps, rolling her eyes. "I hope never see you again unless it is you being taken away in cuffs."

I chuckle. "Wish for something better and I'll make your dreams come true."

One of her perfectly arched brows rises. "Are you a genie or something? How about I wish for you disappear from this world?"

"How about you wish for something even better?" I angle over her, inhaling her that intoxifying scent. "Like me kneeling between your legs and making you feel everything no man has ever made you feel?"

She steps back, flushed. "Pig," she spits at me.

My laughter reverberates across the room, ringing over the music. I can tell from how much harder her nipples are now that her body is reacting to me in ways she does not like.

"Alexei Vadim."

My laughter fades at the sound of that voice, my spine steeling as I turn to face Irina's father, Matteo. Her brother is standing next to him. "Well, well, look who we have here."

"Dad," Irina calls out to her father from behind me.

Matteo ignores his daughter and pins me with an angry stare. He doesn't like the fact that I was getting along so well with his daughter. "Shall we have a word outside?"

I nod. "Lead the way, Matteo."

Matteo's gaze slides to his daughter, and then back to me. He starts off toward the balcony and I follow, but not before winking at Irina and smirking at her idiot brother.

The sky is starless tonight, and even the full moon barely has a glow to it. At least there's a cold breeze whispering in the night.

"I don't have all night," I say as we reach the balcony and I rest on the intricate railing. "Make it quick."

"What the hell were you doing with my daughter?" Matteo demands, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. I don't like his tone one bit. No one talks to me like that and gets away with it.

"At least we weren't fucking."

He scowls at me and opens his mouth to say something.

I raise a finger, stopping him. "I suggest you watch your tone and next words carefully, Matteo. Men have died for far less than speaking to me with disrespect."

He closes his mouth, probably rethinks his words before he says, "Did you get the video?"

Anger boils in my stomach. He's talking about the video I received minutes before I decided to come to this gala. A video of me murdering a top politician in the city. Even with my influence and power, a video like that would have me arrested and earn me a few years in jail.

"Did you send it?" I ask, my voice dangerously low.

He takes a step back, noting the rage in the eyes. He knows his answer will determine whether or not he gets out of here alive. "No, I didn't." He swallows. "The Phoenix did, and they have a demand."

"Let me guess, they want easy access to my territories?"

"They want you to…" He sucks in a breath, as if he's about to say something that will damn him forever. "Irina. They want you to marry my daughter. That way they think they can keep you under control."

I snort in derision. "And you're ready to sell your daughter out to keep me under control?"

"It's not that simple," he retorts.

"For a greedy man like you, I suppose it's not." My voice trembles with fury. How can a girl so pure have a serpent like him for a father. She's busy trying to stop organized crime, but her father is no better than the people she hates. "Does she know this is who you are?"

"That's for me to worry about," he says. "It's either you comply or you lose everything."

I think for a bit. As much as I would like to find whoever is behind that fucking organization and rip them apart, they're still hidden behind the shadows of their lap dogs. I can't attack if I don't know what I'm up against. Not yet.

On the other hand, taking Matteo's daughter under my wing isn't such a bad idea. I expect she'll be their spy, but I can use her to bring Matteo to his knees and find out everything he knows.

Not a bad idea at all.

I try not to show how interested I am in the offer as I square my shoulders, staring at Matteo with a masked expression. I need to discuss this with my second in command, Mikhail, and my friend, Dimitri, before I decide. I've already made my decision, but I'd like to hear their opinions. "I'll need a few days to think about it."

"Fine." Matteo squares his shoulders. "But the wedding must happen in two weeks."

If he and the Phoenix think they can order me around, then they have no idea what they're up against.

"Hmm." I flash a smirk at him. "We'll see about that."