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H e’s back to being a complete overbearing ass.

“You have to help me here, Elana. If I don’t get out of this house, I’m going to lose my shit.” I follow her around the living room as she does her best to ignore me while texting her little boyfriend.

“If I help you, Alexander will put me in the pit.” She spins around so fast, I don’t have time to stop, and I barrel right into her. “Is that what you want?”

My abduction has scared Elana into never taking me out of the house again. While I’m grateful for the concern, I need to get out of here.

I could threaten to tell her brothers about her secret boyfriend, but that would just be low. Besides, she’d know I was lying.

“Of course not. And he wouldn’t, by the way,” I point out. “He’s closing off that room down there.”

He wants no violence in our home. Somehow, the man still thinks he can put me in a cage to protect me from the world.

But since I won’t have to worry about what horrible things are happening down there, I’m letting him.

“You’re as impossible as your brothers.” I plop down on the couch and pull out my phone.

“I would hope so. She’s a Volkov after all.” Alexander stands in the doorway, arms folded over his chest and a heated glare settled on me.

“Good, you’re home. Entertain your wife. I have plans.” Elana pats Alexander’s shoulder as she passes.

“Who are your plans with?” he calls after her.

“None of your business!” she yells back.

“Artem will drive you.” He turns to confront her as she hurries to the front door.

I don’t need to see her to know she’s rolling her eyes at him.

“The DeAngelos are still a problem,” he reminds her.

“Yeah. Yeah. He can drive me. But he stays in the car!” The door slams shut after her demand, and Alexander’s shoulders drop.

“Between you and my sister, I’m going to become a cranky old man before my time.”

“You mean you aren’t now?” I tease from where I’m lounging on the couch. “Seriously, Alexander. I need to be useful. I need to get out into the world. I know the DeAngelos are angry, but let’s face it. There’s always going to be someone who hates you.”

“Thanks.” He frowns. “But you’re right.”

“You don’t need to sound so grumpy about it. You agreeing with me was bound to happen.”

“I’m not grumpy.” But his frown intensifies so he doesn’t really pull off the lie.

“If you say so.” I’m learning which battles to pick, and this isn’t one of them. Especially if I want him to open the prison door for me.

“I’ve decided to let you go back to work.” He puts a hand up before I can even react. “But not at Cinders Industries.”

“Okay.” I push up from the couch and go toe to toe with my husband. He may dwarf me with his size. He may make the ground shake with his glare. But I’m standing my ground.

“First of all, you don’t allow me, Alexander. That’s not how this is going to work. Second, I wouldn’t ever want to go back to work there. Besides, Mr. Carmine is still grieving his wife’s suicide.” I smirk.

“You saw that, did you?” His eyebrow arches.

“I get the news on my phone, of course I saw it. Potassium cyanide in her martini? It was clever.”

“She was overwhelmed with guilt from killing her lover.” He shrugs like it’s all just a big game.

“I’m not sure how you got anyone to believe that, but I’m just glad you’re on my side.” I sigh. “Now. About the ‘allowing me comment.’”

“I know. I used the wrong words, but the sentiment is the same. Nothing’s changed here?—”

“Megan!” someone yells my name from the foyer. “Megan!”

“Who is that?” I step around him and hurry into the foyer just as I’m tackle-hugged and fly back into Alexander.

“Megan! Oh, thank God! Are you all right?” Mira pulls back from me with just enough space to look me over.

“Mira!” Emotion fills me, making it impossible to get any words out beyond her name.

“You look okay. I’m so sorry. But you have to help me! He’s a barbarian. And crazy! He’s insane!” She catches a glimpse of Alexander, and her mouth drops open. “Holy shit, you’re just as massive as him.”

“As who?” I ask, grabbing at her arms, trying to make her settle down. Her panic is palpable.

Alexander gets between us and pulls Mira off me.

“What is going on?” he demands.

Another figure walks through the door Mira threw open when she arrived.

“Rurik,” Alexander says.

With a severe frown and a deep crease in his brow, Rurik steps farther into the foyer, taking in the scene before him. Alexander is practically holding Mira up with one hand and me steady with the other.

“Alexander, I would appreciate it if you got your hands off my wife.”

Continue reading the Vicious Sinners series with Book 2, Devious Madness.