Page 38 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

“It’s Asher Milov now, Derick, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m looking to help some old friends part with art they no longer want. I’ll take ten percent of the sale but connect you with legitimate buyers. Is that something you would be interested in?”

“Actually, I have a few Regency pieces that I’m looking to get rid of to make place for more modern pieces. I’ll send you the details. If you can find buyers for the right price, I’ll part with the ten percent you want, Asher. But now low-balling me.”

“I know what Regency pieces are worth, Derick. And I know who’s looking for them.” I hang up and scroll through my phone again. I phone another person, the exact one I need.

“Hey! Wendy! Are you still in the market for some Regency pieces?” I ask. “I haven’t seen them yet myself, but I know for sure they have papers and are authentic.”

“Hey, Asher. I didn’t realize you were still dealing with art. I’m always happy to look over some Regency pieces. What’s the catch? What do you get?” she asks.

“Ten percent of the sale goes to me. I’m just trying to drum up some more business, so if you know anyone who wants to buy or sell art, put me in touch because I probably know where to get it.”

“I will keep that in mind. Send me the details of the Regency pieces, and I’ll see what they’re worth. No ripping me off, though,” she adds.

“I know, don’t worry. I will keep it fair and square for both parties involved.” She hangs up and I scroll through my phone again. I’ve phoned four more people by the time Danil is ready.

I hang up on the last one as he comes downstairs. “Are you ready?” he asks.

“As I’ll ever be,” I sigh.

He seems a bit cold and distant himself. I wonder if he spied on me making the calls. He leads me out of the house and toward a black Landrover. He opens the door for me, and I climb in as he shuts the door without a word. In fact, he doesn’t say anything on the drive over there. This has me really worried because I don’t want him to figure out what I’m doing and put a stop to it.

We park outside Le Catterina. It’s exclusive and hard to get into, but I know Penny used the Milov contacts to get us a private table where we can talk freely. I don’t even know what to talk about.

We walk from the parking lot to the restaurant. We are passing three guys when one deliberately bumps into Danil. Suddenly, they are in each other’s faces, and I’m confused as to what is actually happening.

“You got a problem, Russian?” the Mediterranean man says, standing up to Danil, who is a good head taller than him.

“Perhaps you’ve forgotten which side of town you’re on,” Danil growls. “I’d think twice if I were you.”

As Danil says that, Renat and another man step behind the three men. “Is there a problem?” Renat asks.

The men grumble and excuse themselves. I look at Danil. “What was that about?”

“Nothing,” he says stoically, and I’m worried the evening is now ruined, and he’s going to be an asshole all night. I really don’t want to deal with that.

Danil guides me in and steers me to our table by placing light pressure on the small of my back. Penny and Kervyn are already there, both with a glass of wine in front of them. They are talking animatedly.

We stop at the table and Penny gets up to hug me while Kervyn shakes Danil’s hand. Such a sweet family we make… not.

I sit down opposite Penny, and Danil sits beside me, opposite Kervyn. Penny flags down the waitress and I order a glass of wine.

Danil nods. “I’ll have the same.”

We sit there for a moment in awkward silence when I see Danil visibly relax and smile. What is going on?

He slides an arm around the back of my chair and looks at Penny. “I actually think you’ve grown on me now. Because you brought Asher into my life.”

Penny looks dumbfounded, and so does his brother. I look at him curiously. He said he would burn the world to embers for me, and I believe him. I really think he would.

“What?” Danil asks as the waitress puts down our wine.

“Nothing, you just seem awfully cheery,” Kervyn says, taking a sip of his wine. “Check the menu quickly. I’m starving. I missed lunch because of Penny.”

Penny smiles mischievously, and I don’t actually want to know what she was up to that they missed an entire meal.

Danil chuckles. “Alright, alright. I’m hungry, too. Asher made me work up my appetite.”

Kervyn chuckles, and I blush crimson. I hit his arm. “Danil!”

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