The Emperor (The Tarot Club 2)

“I may not have made this clear previously, but in my absence, Corinne runs things around here.” Dimitri’s words were quiet and lethal, and I watched Eli’s eyes flare in surprise.

“Dimitri.” Eli’s tone was admonishing, as if he could not believe what he was hearing. “While I am filled with joy that you have found someone with whom you wish to spend your life, you of all people should know that this won’t be accepted.”

“She is to be my wife, and she is the Bratva’s Vedman. Do I make myself understood?”

Eli couldn’t stop the scoff that escaped his lips. Dimitri stiffened beside me, his gaze narrowing on the man before him.

“Is there something you would like to say?” My hands grew clammy as I felt the promise of violence swirl in the air.

“You weren’t protected.” Eli seethed. “You should never have been injured in the first place - if she was a true Vedman, none of this would have happened.”

His words fell as he intended as I sucked in a breath, willing my body to stop shaking - willing myself to feel less like a failure in the face of this conversation.

“On the contrary.” Dimitri held his body motionless as he spoke. “She is the only reason that I survived - the only reason I am alive and seated before you today is because of her and her magiya.”

In response, I held myself in equal stillness, allowing Dimitri’s words to radiate through me.

“Now.” He whispered. “I am only going to say this once. Corinne is to be my wife, and she is our Vedman. Any affront to her, is an affront to me, and it will not be something I will accept, nor will I tolerate. Any transgression - no matter how small - against her, will see me acting swiftly and decisively, as I eliminate those traitors in our midst.”

Eli’s brow grew damp, his skin paling before us, and I watched his throat bob as he swallowed, nodding once in understanding.

“Have I made myself understood?”

“Yes, Pakhan.” Eli’s response was swift before Dimitri nodded in dismissal.

Stepen remained behind as Eli slid out the front door, and suddenly I felt as if the air itself had become lighter, and I could breathe easier again.

I left to fetch the carefully labelled protection bracelets, and when I returned, Stepen engulfed me in a congratulatory hug, his black shirt doused in that school-boy smell of Axe body spray.

It took only a heartbeat for Dimitri to yank me backwards away from Stepen, pressing my back against his chest. Stepen didn’t seem to notice as he beamed up in giddy delight.

“The Pakhan is finally settling down! This is cause for celebration! When did you get the ring?”

He was worse than a squealing teenage girl, and I wondered if Ravi would have the same reaction once he woke up.

“My Australian diamond contact sent me Corinne’s ring as a sample.”

Stepen’s eyes ignited with interest as he snatched my ring finger towards him, examining the ring on my finger.

“Pink?” he questioned.

It had been one of the things I adored about the ring - it wasn’t a run-of-the-mill diamond; it was a pink diamond. I wasn’t sure why I expected anything else from Dimitri, he liked things done in a uniquely traditional way.

“Pink argyle.”

“Your contact deals in quality.” Stepen offered, finally releasing my finger with a sheepish smile.

“We only deal in quality, so when scouting a potential partner, I’d expect nothing less.”

Stepen nodded in understanding, suddenly seeming far wiser than his nineteen years.

“Your parents must be thrilled.”

I groaned, pressing myself against Dimitri’s broad frame. His fingers danced along my forearm in question.

“I have to send my mother a photo.”

Wordlessly, Dimitri handed Stepen his phone, motioning for him to take the picture so we could move on.