Page 103 of Auctioned to My Bratva Boss

R-i-l-e-y. My name. He was putting my name on his heart, beside the scar he'd earned saving my life. Tears spilled over without warning.

"Matvey, you..." My voice cracked. I couldn't finish.

"Riley." His hand wiped the tears from my face, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it. "I used to say you were mine. That you belonged to me."

He pulled my hand back, pressing it against the fresh ink.

"From now on, I'm yours." Each word fell with weight, his grey-green eyes solemn. "I, Matvey Bykov, belong to you."

I couldn't hold back anymore. I collapsed against his shoulder.

"I love you too, Matvey." Tears streamed down my face.

His powerful arms wrapped around me, holding me so tight we seemed inseparable.

He had many tattoos, each one meaningful.

I understood. He was carving me into his life in the most permanent way he knew.

That entire afternoon, I couldn't shake the intensity of that moment.

In the car heading back, he wore his shirt with a thin protective film over the fresh tattoo beneath the fabric. I kept sneaking glances at the covered spot.

"Want a better look?" He caught me staring, that wicked smile curving his lips.

"No. I wasn't—"

"Tonight," he leaned in close, his breath hot against my burning ear, "I'll let you look all you want."

My face caught fire.

This man always knew exactly how to make my heart race out of control.

Those impossibly sweet days kept coming.

Half a month passed in a blink.

Evelyn's recovery was progressing beautifully—more color in her cheeks every day. The doctors said she'd be discharged soon.

I was getting ready to visit her after work when Matvey stopped me.

"I'm coming with you."

I blinked. "To see Evelyn?"

"Yeah." He took my coat and draped it over my shoulders naturally. "She's your sister. I should meet her properly."

The words hit me square in the chest. I knew what this meant.

In our kind of family—just the two of us against the world—Evelyn was my only blood, the most important person to me. Matvey offering to meet her was tantamount to seeking my family's approval.

I nodded, my heart hammering.

The whole drive over, my palms sweated. I'd told Evelyn about Matvey before. In her mind, he was probably already labeled a bastard.

Matvey seemed composed, but when we walked into the hospital room, I caught the tension in his jaw.

Was he... nervous?