Page 39 of Auctioned to My Bratva Boss

"Don't be modest! Tell us, honey! What's going on between you and Mr. Bykov?" Their gossip-hungry expressions were identical.

I was almost dazed. How could they change their attitude so fast? Were these the same people who'd gossiped about me behind my back?

"We were blind before," another girl who'd joined Miranda in excluding me squeezed over and linked her arm through mine intimately. "Riley, you have to look out for us from now on."

Miranda was at her desk, keyboard clattering—at least she was consistent.

Honestly, I was more comfortable dealing with situations like Miranda. Not being surrounded by people who'd once isolated me, hearing them call me "honey."

Even the male colleague wanted to join their gossip circle. Several cups of coffee appeared on my desk.

And all these changes just because of one sentence from Matvey.

So ironic... but whatever!

Matvey

Dusk was falling. She sat in the passenger seat watching out the window, wearing my jacket.

In early spring, Manhattan got cold after sunset. It would make her sick. I didn't want that.

"Riley."

"What?" She turned immediately.

I glanced at her while checking the rearview mirror. Since that night, she'd been like this. Whenever I said her name, she'd look at me with those round eyes, like I was her whole world.

Honestly, if there weren't several suspicious cars tailing us, I'd stop and fuck her right here in the car, make those eyes go wet.

"Buckle up," I floored the gas, "hold on tight."

"Okay—ah!" Her hand just touched the handle when she slammed back into the seat.

Gunshots erupted behind us. The sound of bullets hitting the car body set my teeth on edge.

Riley looked terrified, hunched over in her seat. I didn't have time to comfort her—the road ahead was getting narrower.

I cranked the wheel hard. The tires shrieked on the wet pavement. I whipped through several turns and drove into a narrow alley. But those SUVs stayed glued to us. Another burst of gunfire, and the car lurched violently.

Fuck! The rear tire blew! The car spun out of control, heading straight for the brick wall at the alley's end. I slammed the brakes to the floor, but the front still scraped along the wall. The car was totaled.

"Get out." I kicked open the door and pulled Riley. "Stay close. Don't let go."

Her hand was shaking, but she followed desperately. Those men caught up fast. Bullets chased us.

"Don't be scared." I shielded Riley, then drew my pistol from my waist and turned.

The first shot tore through the leader's throat. The second hit another thug between the eyes. The third man had already fired at me. I dove with Riley in my arms, then took him down.

Headlights cut into the alley. More chaotic gunfire. When it ended, Anton walked over cursing.

"That fucking Victor!" Anton swore in Russian. "Because we terminated the partnership, this bastard pulled this revenge shit. He even ratted out our smuggling channel to the cops!"

"Pakhan, you okay?"

I shook my head. Riley suddenly gripped my shirt.

"Pakhan." She repeated the word, then looked up at me. "You're the bratva's pakhan?"