Chapter FiveAlexei

Chapter Five

Alexei

Looks like I've gotten myself a feisty wife, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't like my women docile, I like them fierce and wild, just like the little Ms. Volkov who is now Mrs. Vadim.

I don't like my women to cower from fear in front of me, though I'll admit most women I've met can't help it. Even most men. Everyone sees me as the ruthless Pakhan of the Bratva, it's an identity I carefully crafted for myself.

Marriage will be no fun if she's afraid of me, and it's even better because she just laid her claim on me. This petite woman will have me wrapped around her pretty little fingers in no time, and I wonder if she realizes it yet.

When I look up, I see Matteo staring at me with hate and disgust in his eyes. I smile at him and he seethes even more. What good is a viper without fangs or poison? His daughter is under my care, and he knows it's in his best interest to behave appropriately.

My attention comes back to my wife. She's wearing a beautiful wedding dress, that's made more of crystals than silk. It's befitting a queen, and she's an absolute stunner in it.

I escort her down the aisle and into the waiting SUV. The short trip to the hotel where the reception is being held is filled with weighted silence. All I can think about is getting her alone. I rein in my lust-filled thoughts. I need to hold back until we are truly alone.

Security is tight when we arrive and we are quickly ushered in.

"How about I introduce you to my guests?" I ask, snaking my hand around her waist. She stiffens, but she doesn't shake off my touch.

"I don't make friends with murders," she says dryly.

"Seeing as you'll be sharing a bed with one, it's best you get to know some of the people I work with." I tighten my grip and lead her toward my brothers first.

Nikolai has the broadest smile on his face when he sees her. I swear that psycho can't choose whether to be intimidating or friendly.

"My brothers." I point to Mikhail first, and then to Nikolai. "Mikhail and Nikolai."

Mikhail dips his head. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sister-in-law."

Irina narrows her eyes at him, as if trying to decide how to respond. "I can't say the same, but I'm Irina."

Mikhail nods. "Welcome to the family, Irina."

She sighs. "We'll see how welcome I am."

"I already like her," Nikolai says. "She's a fearless one, brother. She'll be fun to have around."

She scrutinizes him. "At last, someone who is honest. I think we'll be friends."

"We will, if you give me permission to stride over there and put a knife in your father's heart." Nikolai says the darndest things whenever he opens his mouth.

"You're weird," Irina says. She walks off toward her family.

"Watch that tongue of yours," I warn Nikolai before I trail after her, grab her arm and lead her to Dimitri who's standing in a corner, observing everyone, watching for anything suspicious. "Meet my friend, Dimitri. Dimitri, my wife, Irina."

"She's a beauty." Dimitri reaches for her hand and surprisingly, she lets him kiss the back of it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, lady."

Irina smiles. "I'd love to say the same, but you're Alexei's trusted soldier. That makes you my enemy."

A smile flickers on Dimitri's face. "You're his wife, which means it's my job to protect you."

"The only ones I need protection from are you men." She turns and walks away before Dimitri can muster a reply, not that he would. He's not much of a talker around women. Forty years in the dark mafia world had taught him that.

Our next stop is Dominic Romano. Irina behaves in his presence, and I sense her fear of him. Irina seems to wilt so I don't bother to introduce her to anyone else.

I nod at Dimitri to watch her when she goes to speak to her friend. I can't hear whatever it is they're talking about, but her friend places a reassuring hand on her arm and says something that makes Irina throw her head back and laugh. She's pretty when she laughs.

Footsteps approach me from behind. I turn around to see Matteo standing in front of me, he still has that ridiculous scowl on his face. I plan to make him even angrier for dragging me into this marriage.

"Are you here to give me a heartwarming speech on being a good husband?" I say, smiling slightly. "If you are, then I'm sorry to inform you I don't take advice from hypocrites."

"As much as I want to punch you in the face, you're my daughter's husband—" he trails off as if there's a lump lodged in his throat. "I'm here to ask a favor from you."

I tilt my head to the side, scrutinizing the man in front of me. Usually, he has no problem throwing barbed comments my way, but now he's nothing more than a meek animal at my mercy. "I don't do anything for free, Matteo. You of all people should know that."

"I do know, and that's why I'm offering you something in return," he says, his eyes meeting mine. "I'll no longer target your business and the Phoenix will stop invading your territories."

"We both know you don't have the power to do that. You're nothing but a lapdog."

His nostrils flare, but he knows better than to pick a fight with me. "I may be a lapdog as you call me, but I hold a lot of power in The Phoenix."

His words are not convincing enough, but I'll hear him out for the sake of it. "And what do you want in return?"

He twists his head to Irina and his eyes droop with sadness. "Please take care of my daughter. She lives in her own world and by her own rules. She'll defy you because she is not happy about being forced to marry you, but I'm asking you to please overlook her mistakes. She's young and foolish."

Interesting. He thinks I'm going to break his daughter, and I definitely will, but not in the way he thinks. "I don't hurt women. Just don't make her report my business to you."

"That's what the Phoenix wants, for her to be their spy."

"And you don't want that?"

He shakes his head. "She doesn't even know the Phoenix exists, and I'll never drag her into this."

I snort. "You dragged her into it when you made us get married. So much for being a good father."

The lines on his face deepen as he frowns. "I know what I did, you don't have to rub it in."

I ignore the anger is simmering in my own stomach and say, "Because you asked nicely, I'll see to it that no harm comes to your daughter. In return, you'll grant me a favor whenever I ask."

"What favor?"

"You'll find out when it's time." I stride off before he can ask more questions. I'm too disgusted by him to even stand next to him for long. I stop next to Mikhaila and Nikolai. "Have you gotten anything?" I ask quietly, keeping my gaze on Irina. But it's not because I suspect she'll run or do anything stupid, I want to make sure she's safe.

"Nothing, Pakhan ," Mikhail answers. "But we found a list. Something about embezzling funds."

"We'll talk about that later."

***

Hours later, we're home. I show Irina to the bedroom. Tomorrow, the housekeeper will show her the rest of the house.

"Can't I have my own room?" she asks, folding her arms over her chest. "We're strangers, we shouldn't be sharing a bed."

I shrug off my suit jacket and throw it onto the chair in the corner, then I take off my tie and do the same. "We're married, wife. Married people share a room, don't they?"

"My parents don't," she argues, taking in the large bedroom. "And this is not my idea of what a bedroom should look like. It looks like a funeral home."

I scoff, but a part of me agrees the décor is lacking. My eyes travel from the gray walls to the bed with its white sheets. The only thing she might find interesting in here is the glass wall overlooking the city. "I have no problem with you redecorating this room."

A wicked smirk forms on her beautiful lips. Static shimmers up my spine at the thought of kissing her again, with my hands buried in her luscious hair as she moans into my mouth. But that's the least of the things I want to do to her. Even backing her up against the wall and pinning her hands above her head as I fuck her won't satiate the primal hunger growing inside me.

This woman is intoxicating me in way I hate and like at the same time.

"Something tells me you'll regret that decision," she drawls, lifting a brow. "Don't complain when you come home one day and don't recognize your room."

I cup her cheeks, biting back a smile as her breath hitches. "I'll be looking forward to that, wife."

She's still frozen as I leave the room and join my brothers downstairs. Dimitri followed us home as well. "What was that about embezzlement?"

Dimitri is the first to answer. "Looks like Matteo is keeping a list of politicians who're involved in shady businesses."

"It means one of two things," Mikhail says. "They're either part of the Phoenix, or they are about to be initiated into the Phoenix."

I rub my jaw, thinking of the possible ways I can put the list to good use. "If they're already part of the Phoenix and he's digging dirt on them, we can use the list to our advantage."

"What if they're not?" Nikolai asks.

"Then we'll find them before the Phoenix does." I turn to Mikhail. "Did you get the list?"

"I'll sent it to your email," Mikhail replies. "We also checked the CCTV footage. There was nothing suspicious besides Matteo being away from home on the same day every single month."

My brows knit. "What date is that?"

"Fourteenth." He shifts his weight to one leg. "I think it's the day they all meet."

"Find out whatever you can about where he goes to on those days," I say to Mikhail. I take my attention to Dimitri. "Find the people on that list and watch them closely. Make sure to report to me if anything out of the ordinary happens."

Dimitri nods.

"Good, now get out. I'll like to be alone with my new bride."

Nikolai's face lights up mischievously. "Someone wants to fuck his new bride. Won't you at least let us listen?"

I frown at my youngest brother. "I'll let you, only if you allow me to kill you afterwards. Is that something you could agree to?"

His smile vanishes. "Easy, man. I was joking. You hate her yet you're already so protective of her."

"She's my wife now and a part of this family, you will protect her with your life as well." I look at each of them. "No one is to disrespect her or allow their hatred for her to show."

They all nod. I know from this moment onward, that they would risk their lives to protect Irina because she is now a part of me.