Chapter ElevenIrina

Chapter Eleven

Irina

My dear husband is standing in front of the glass wall when I walk into our bedroom with my shopping bags.

He has a glass of bourbon in one hand, while the other is tucked in his pocket. He doesn't turn his head to look at me, which means he's probably pissed, just like I wanted.

Epic.

I kick off my shoes and set the shopping bags on the vanity table, and then I sit on the bed, sucking in a deep breath. It's exhausting climbing those stairs with all my bags.

Alexei finishes the liquor in his glass and finally turns to look at me.

My heart skips a beat when he does. His dark hair is tousled, and most of his white dress shirt is unbuttoned, leaving his chest exposed. He looks so indecent, and now my mind is filled with unholy thoughts. This Russian man is something.

"Enjoyed your day shopping?" he asks with a quirk of his brow. His voice is calm, and it's a struggle to read his expression. If he is angry, he doesn't give it away.

I nod, crossing one of my legs over the other. "I did." I pick up my purse beside me and pull out his unlimited Amex card. "Here, have your card back."

I swear he huffs as his gaze floats between the card and me. "You spent $95,000?"

I smirk at him. So, he is upset about it? He wouldn't be asking if he wasn't. "Yes. I was being considerate so I didn't spend more. Plus, I still need to redecorate our bedroom."

He's quiet as he watches me.

"I got you something." Standing up to my feet, I grab one of the shopping bags and walk to him. Holding the bag to him, I say, "This was really expensive, but I think you deserve this much."

Alexei takes the bag from me and brings out a maroon tie. "You got me a tie?"

"You like it, don't you? It cost $500 ."

His eyes widen as he looks at me. I'd spent a whopping $94,500 of his money on myself and got him a tie worth way less than that. That's an enough to buy a house and anyone would be upset.

"You can file for divorce if you don't like me spending that much money," I say, "I don't want to live with a man who can't take care of me."

I expect him to lose his shit right about now, but his dark eyes crinkle as he takes me in. "That wasn't enough?"

"Barely. I shopped on a budget." I chew my cheek. I'd bought a few clothing items to donate to charity. Mikhail and I had also visited a restaurant downtown and we'd gotten over a hundred meals for the homeless. It wasn't easy spending that much money.

I'd only done it to get back at him for last night, and to piss him off enough not to want to be with me anymore. I'm thinking about him a lot more than I should. My body is needing him a lot more than is necessary. The quicker we get this over with, the better it will be for both of us.

While I can initiate a divorce, a man like Alexei will probably kill my family to get back at me for walking away. Or maybe he won't and that is just an excuse I'm making up so I don't have to leave him first.

"Spend double that next time." He raises the tie. "Thanks for this, too."

My mouth falls open. I'm gaping at him like a stunned idiot. He's asking me to spend double what I spent today, and he's thanking me for buying that cheap tie for him? There's no way in hell he's that chill about this. "Wait, aren't you upset?"

It's his turn to smile now. His teeth are white and perfect. "Why would I be?"

"I spent enough money to buy a house on shopping, in one day." It's difficult to get the words out because I'm really surprised. His calmness is not what I anticipated.

"You're my wife, Irina. And I have enough money to spend." He inches closer, putting a finger under my chin and tilting my face up. "Did you think I would make a fuss over $95,000?"

"Yes." I don't bother lying. Either this man is stinking rich or he's crazy. "I expected you to be pissed, really pissed."

"Was that your way of getting back at me for last night?"

My cheeks burn. Heat radiates from his body and sears through mine. Every cell in me is unashamedly awakened by his touch. "I don't know what you're talking about."

His gaze dips to my chest. My breathing is labored, my chest heaving. "You're trouble, malyshka . I shouldn't engage with you, but I can't help it."

"You can get rid of me and move on with your murder spree." It's after the words leave my mouth that I realize how he might interpret it. "I don't mean kill me."

"Do you think I'll kill you if you asked?" he questions in a hoarse voice.

I shrug. "You hate my father, and by extension, me. There's nothing stopping you if you want to."

And for some reason, I trust that he won't. People fear this man and sing his name like a death knell. He's known as the Devil of New York, yet there's never been a moment where I was truly afraid he would harm me. Not even at our first meeting at the gala.

He angles over me, leaning so close his citrus and woodsy scent fills my nose. I'm getting sort of addicted to the way he smells. It's comforting and makes me want to wrap myself around him. "You're mine, malyshka . You do not have the right to ask me to end your life."

Fucking hell.

If someone had told me I would ever find a possessive man attractive, I would probably roll my eyes and wave them off. This man in front of me could even take away my basic human rights and I'd still find him so goddamn sexy.

I don't admit how hot the possessive side of him is, of course. I have a self-esteem to protect. "I'm not property, Alexei Vadim. I'm mine, and mine alone."

His eyes twinkle with mischievous intent, his lips curling into a smile. "Is it fun going against me at every turn, Mrs. Vadim?"

My spine steels, and a wave of static ripples through me.

Mrs. Vadim.

That is who I am now. I haven't gotten used to that yet. In fact, I'd despised the idea of it, but hearing him say it makes my stomach flutter.

He must've noticed my cheeks turn red because his smile widens. He steps back, but his eyes don't leave me. "I see you like the name."

I like it. I shouldn't, but I do. "Volkov sounds better."

He shakes his head. "I don't agree."

"Not my business." I grab my purse before my body gets a chance to react to him in other insane ways. "That reminds me, your brothers are joining us for dinner."

Alexei blinks.

I'm not sure he heard me so I repeat myself. "Mikhail and Nikolai will be joining us for dinner. I didn't know how to get to hold of Nicolai, so I asked Mikhail to pass on the invitation."

"And did Mikhail agree?"

I nod. "I didn't need to convince him. He jumped at the offer."

His throat moves as he swallows and my eyes are riveted. "Wow!"

I scrutinize him. I don't know what to make of his reaction. "Don't tell me you guys haven't had dinner together before."

"We have, but only when absolutely necessary." He pauses, clears his throat, and then he looks at me as if I just did something idiotic. "Don't get me wrong, my brothers and I love each other. We just show it in ways that don't really involve dinner or playing games together."

"Let me guess, taking bullets for each other?" Given their personality, and the environment they grew up in, it makes the most sense that their love language would include violence.

Alexei doesn't deny it, his eyes become cloudy. "Pretty much."

I feel a tug in my chest. It's hard to tell if it's sadness or pity, maybe it's both. "Well, I think it's time for a change. I'll freshen up, and maybe we can make plans for dinner together."

"You can cook?"

I laugh. "No. I almost burned down the house last time I tried to grill some bacon. What I mean is, we can choose what food Nina prepares."

"Sounds okay to me."

I wink at me, and smile. "Perfect! I'll be out soon."

He nods. "Irina?"

I lift a brow, waiting for him to say something.

"Thank you," he whispers.

***

"Do you have a death wish?"

Nikolai, the youngest Vadim brother, smiles as I take the flowers from him. "What's wrong with giving my sister-in-law flowers?"

Alexei frowns. The man doesn't put any effort into looking pleasant. "She's my wife."

Mikhail shakes his head. He covers his mouth to smoother a yawn. "We know, man. You've said that like a hundred times already."

Alexei scoffs. He shoves his hands in the pockets of his sweats. He's different from the Alexei who is the head of the Bratva. He's just a big brother and a jealous husband right now. I think I like this version of him better.

A part of me wishes this was all there was to him. Maybe I would allow myself fall for him if that were the case.

It beats me how someone like him can have such a scary reputation. I wonder what shady things he does behind the scenes that I don't know of yet. That nickname about being the devil of New York definitely came from somewhere.

I inhale the scent of the flowers. They're fresh roses, and they smell so good. "This is beautiful. Thanks, Niko."

He winks, flashing a boyish grin at me. No man will ever hold a candle to Alexei, but Nikolai comes close. Mikhail on the other hand reminds me of why girls like Russian men. His beauty is unearthly.

A blush caresses my cheeks as the thought of having a son who looks just like them flashes in my mind. He'd be a really cute baby with perfect parents and the best uncles.

"His name is Nikolai, not Niko," Alexei says, a hint of something I sense to be jealousy coating his voice. "And I can get you better flowers."

"Can you?" I lift my face so my eyes can meet his. "That's rich coming from a man who tossed an engagement ring at me."

"You did that?" Nikolai asks.

"He did."

Alexei rubs his chin. He doesn't say a word in his defense.

Nikolai tsks and brings his attention to me. "You won't know this since you haven't known him for long, but my brother is not a romantic. Trust me, I'm surprised at how he manages to have so many women swooning over him."

"Swooning?" I shoot Alexei a look. He gives me a not guilty shrug. "You can do better, Mr. Vadim. Learn from Niko here," I add, stressing Niko just to piss him off.

My eyes dart to Mikhail. He's quiet, observing the by-play. He's totally the type to read the room and notice everything no one else can. In my opinion, Alexei is the cruelest brother, Mikhail is the coolest, and Nikolai just happens to be the flirtiest. They fit in that order.

Our eyes meet, and he holds my gaze.

I'm the first to look away. The last thing I want is to enter into a staring contest with a terrifying six-foot five mountain of a man. "We should go inside before dinner gets cold."

The smell of fresh food filters through as we enter the dining room and I take the sit next to Alexei. Nikolai sits across from me, and Mikhail beside him. We fill our plates with food.

"I heard you two went shopping today," Nikolai says, slicing into his steak. He glances at me. "I heard you spent a lot of money."

"Gossip," I mutter to Mikhail before turning my attention to Nikolai. "Do you have a problem with that?"

He shoves his steak in his mouth, chews and sips from a glass of water next to him. "On the contrary, I'm proud of you. You beat my mother at the spending game."

I know he's not trying to be rude, but I can't stand being compared to the woman I met yesterday. He hates her, I can tell by the pure disgust in his tone when he mentions her.

Why do you hate her? I want to ask, but I figure it's best not to stick my nose where it doesn't belong.

"Nikolai," Mikhail warns, his jaw ticking.

"Irina is a member of this family, she should know that much," Nikolai says. "Don't you want to know about my mother? She was here yesterday, and I can tell you already know how much of a bitch she is."

My pulse races. I don't know how to respond to that. I look at Alexei, hoping he will say something, but he's busy shoving food in his mouth. He's unbothered by wherever this is going.

Mikhail's fork drops to his plate with a clank . "Shut your mouth, Niko."

"But—"

"Shut your fucking mouth," a deeper voice growls from the head of the table.

I turn my head to find Alexei wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"Eat or go back home. The last thing I want to talk about is your mother," Alexei says.

My mouth gapes. "You don't have to be so rude."

Nikolai shoots to his feet. "Right, we shouldn't talk about dear old Mummy at dinner." His scowl is directed only to Alexei this time. "That woman doesn't deserve to be around this family, you know that."

"She's your mother."

"She's not my mother," Nikolai retorts, his eyes red with rage. "She's nothing but my father's—"

"Before you call her names, remember she risked her life to give birth to you," Alexei cuts him off before he can finish. "Disrespect her somewhere else, not in my home."

"Fuck you." Nikolai pushes away from his chair and strides out angrily.

"Follow him and see to it he doesn't get hurt," Alexei orders Mikhail. He's back to his Pakhan self.

Mikhail nods at his brother and looks at me. "I'm sorry dinner was a disaster."

I incline my head because I'm afraid only air will come out if I try to speak.

Mikhail scurries after Nikolai, leaving the feast of food on the table behind. Alexei just goes back to eating, which makes my nostrils flare.

"Your youngest brother is upset and you're just going to go back to eating?" I ask, watching him carefully.

Alexei doesn't as much as spare me a glance. "What should I do? Run after him?"

"You can choose to care."

"I do care."

Is he joking right now? "You don't it."

"I do, in my own way," he says. He lifts a glass of water and brings it to his mouth. "Do not insert yourself in a discussion you know nothing about, Irina."

My nose scrunches up. "Is that a warning?"

He stands and pins me with a glance I can't read. I can't decipher the blank mask he's wearing. I don't think I've ever seen his eyes so empty before. "Make whatever you will of it."

With that, he walks out of the dining room.

My gaze follows him until he's out of sight, then I sink into my chair, trying to keep out the sinking feeling that I really don't belong here.