Page 14 of Auctioned to the Bratva

I paused as I considered his invitation, “No shop talk?” I asked.

Roman laughed, “No shop talk, I promise, just you and me like old times.”

Hearing the calmness in his voice, I agreed, “Just give me half an hour. Send the address, and I’ll meet you there.” Roman chuckled as he hung up. Shortly after, my phone pinged as his message came through with the address.

I quickly ate my meal, enjoying the steak which was perfectly done, and paid the bill. I stopped and leaned in as I moved past the two women at the table next to me. “Good evening, ladies,” I said. They both smiled and nodded. “I hopeyou have a great evening.” I continued before heading out to meet Roman.

Seeing that I caught their attention, I felt it necessary to at least greet them.

As I stepped outside, the Ferrari was waiting. I tipped the man as I got in and loaded the address to the GPS console. “Good evening,” the car responded. “You are heading to Club Flames. Take a right at the next intersection.”

The night was still young as I headed to my destination. I didn’t intend to visit a club again. But I wanted to spend some time with Roman while I was here. Finding time alone with him these days wasn’t easy, so I would take what I could get.

I noticed a string of people standing outside as I arrived at the club. I wondered how Roman intended to get us in with such a queue but felt intrigued. I pulled up to the door where the valet parking assistant was waiting.

Handing him my keys, I saw it was just before nine. Scanning the crowd, I noticed Roman waving at me from a side door and headed over. Shaking his hand before we entered, I saw the red touching his cheeks and wondered how many drinks he had while waiting for me.

The outer appearance of the place was dark with only the big-name sign lighting up the front of the building. It had a fascinating look. I would have mistaken it for a storage facility if I had passed here without the sign-on.

But once we stepped inside, the club vibes hit us. The music was deafening, and the variety of lights hanging from the ceiling lit the place up. On one side was a long bar counter with a dozen barmen and women. There were small tables scattered throughout, and I counted about five small stages.

On the opposite side of the room was the main stage, where a band was set up. The place was packed with people moving in all directions. We made our way through the crowd to a table between two smaller stages. As I looked up, I noticed what appeared to be the bottom of a kind of cage hanging in the ceiling.

“Do they have exotic dancers here?” I asked Roman as I pulled him closer so I would not need to scream at him. I pointed up as his face drew a blank. Looking up Roman shrugged, “Not sure, remember, it’s my first time here.”

We settled at the table, and a skinny blond waiter came pushing through the people toward us. “What can I get you boys to drink?” She asked as she stood between us.

Roman ordered two whiskeys on the rocks and two vodka shots. I observed that less than half the people appeared to be younger as the waitress moved back through the crowd. The majority of clubgoers were our age class and older it seemed. The club's music also fits our era. This was the extreme opposite of the couple of clubs I visited last night.

The waitress returns with our drinks. Roman lifted his shot, “On family,” he said as he extended his arm towards me. I picked up my shot and met his hand halfway. After downing them, we grinned at each other. This was something we always did when we went out.

The music suddenly died as two men walked onto the stage. The older man picked up the mic and tapped it. “Evening, brothers and sisters, family and friends.” His voice echoed through the building.

Roman shifted to look at the stage. His expression changed as he turned and saw the men on the stage. “We need to leave,” he spat over his shoulder at me. Then we noticed thetwo cages coming down from the ceiling to the sides of the stage. They were covered in red and gold curtains keeping the content hidden.

“Tonight, we have two special items on auction.” The older man said as he turned, indicating the one and then the other cage. Roman downed his glass and slammed it on the table as he moved toward me.

“What is happening, Roman?” I asked as he grabbed me by the arm. As he looked at me, I saw rage filling his eyes.

“We must leave, now.” He sounded provoked, and I wasn’t sure what had caused this change.

I swallowed my drink and placed the glass down. As I turned to leave with Roman, the curtains were pulled open around the two cages. “Here in this corner,” the man proclaimed. “We have the lovely Ms. Petrov, and if you turn your attention to my left, we have the shy Ms. Gusev.”

Roman froze and turned rapidly, almost pushing me over. I looked from the right cage and then left. When my eyes settled on the left one, I saw her. There, in the middle of the cage, sat Irina. My mouth fell open as my breath disappeared.

She was wearing a white satin see-through dress that prominently displayed her perfectly formed curves. It seemed a bit too extreme as it basically exposed her entire body. My heart stopped for a second as I tried to catch my breath.

I felt my feet moving of their own accord as Roman started dragging me forward. I have never seen him like this, he appeared to be steaming from anger as we pushed through the crowd. As we neared the stage two large men stopped us in our tracks.

Roman looked from one to the other as he spoke, “I demand to see Caleb now.”

The two men glanced at each other before replying in unison. “He’s busy, can’t you see.”

“Well, well, look at what we have here.” The large man on the stage said as he handed the mic to the guy standing next to him. He came down from the stage and walked toward us. “Morozov brothers,” he said as he stopped just behind the two bodyguards.

I felt rage building within me, but before I could get a word out, Roman shoved forward between the two men. He rammed the older guy backward. “That’s Irina,” he spat, pointing at the cage to the left. “What do you think you are doing with her, Caleb?”

“Well then, calm down now.” The man Roman called Caleb said as he smoothed out his suit jacket. “I am owed some money, and one way or another, I am going to get it.”

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