Page 52 of The Bratva's Auctioned Bride

“Who are you?” I asked, voice hoarse from my dry throat.

That grin only lingered as he looked at me, gray-blue eyes scanning my features. The way the corner of his lip turned up slightly made my skin crawl. “I’m Matvey Gromov…I’d shake your hand, but it seems you’re otherwise occupied.”

Something in me wanted to roll my eyes at his attempt to make light of the situation, but given that he was a Gromov, I didn’t want to provoke him or say something stupid that might significantly decrease my lifespan.

Not only was he an active enemy of Alex and my family, but from what I could tell, he had to be the kingpin. He had that quality about him.

He was still smirking, looking too smug for my liking. “Of course, there’s no need to introduce yourself, doll. I’m well aware of who you are. The little Levov Princess, back in my clutches again.”

The teasing lilt in his tone made me grit my teeth as I uttered, “Novikov.”

He quirked a brow at me. “Hm?”

“Lara Novikov—that’s my name.”

A trace of irritation moved through his gaze before he hummed and smirked again. “Perhaps. But not for long.”

I furrowed my brows at him, hating how he seemed so sure about it. “What are you talking about?”

Matvey leaned a bit closer, and the devious gleam in his eyes made my stomach twist. “You’re quite the catch in New York—there’s no doubting that. A prize such as yourself comes with notoriety and perks, so long as you know how to manipulate that status,” he murmured, taking my chin in his hand and forcing me to look at him. “I’d like to have those perks for myself. Even if you’re married to that Novikov scum, all of that can go away with help from the right people. He’s had enough time to have his way with you, don’t you think?”

Features tight with anger, I muttered, “You were the one who sold me to him in the first place…why take me back again?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” he questioned, grinning. “Alex has been the talk of the city lately, all thanks to you, but since I managed to capture you again, it’s only fair I have my turn in the limelight.”

“But the auction—”

Matvey scoffed. “I ordered your capture, but I wasn’t physically at the auction. You weren’t meant to go on that stage until I decided I didn’t want you for myself, but something got lost in communication, and my idiot brother sent you out anyway. Before I could do anything about it, the sale was finalized, and the transfer hit our account. I was pissed, but I can’t deny how the money helped us.”

More anger coursed through me then, realizing that not only did Matvey plan on potentially marrying me himself, but he had also pulled a fast one on Alex. From the sound of it, the money was already long spent.

“That small hiccup delayed my plans by a bit, but it doesn’t matter now…now, I can start taking everything Alex has, piece by piece. Starting with you.”

“Why?” I asked, feeling sick from having him so close to me, so near to my face.

He hummed in approval. “Because Novikov has been a smug asshole since the day he emerged on the scene in Victoria. With no experience and no right to anything, he jumped right in, acting as if he deserved the world. Like he was entitled to it all, even though he was just a kid.”

“It sounds like you were jealous he knew how to play the game better than you.”

Matvey’s smugness slipped then, and he scowled at me. “He was a sneak. A rat. I don’t know how he did it, but he climbed far faster than anyone else, and he shat on the rest of us in the process. Because of that advantage, he kept me and my family under his fist. Because of that, I decided to follow his lead—to follow his playbook page for page if that was what it took.”

“So you followed him here and continued being a generic brand version of him and his family?”

He gritted his teeth at me, tightening his hold on my chin. “Sometimes we have to sacrifice our dignity for the bigger picture—the ultimate payout. But I’m done picking up his crumbs. After tonight, the Gromovs will surpass the Novikovs…hell, maybe even the Levovs. And lucky for you, you’ll get to be along for the ride.”

Everything about that plan made me want to be sick. My insides turned and my skin grew cold.

I steeled myself against him, maintaining that bold gaze. “I don’t want anything to do with you.”

To my surprise, his smugness returned, and he stroked his thumb across my lower lip. “It doesn’t matter what you or anyone else wants…I’m going to marry you.”

Enraged by the idea, along with his overconfidence, I took the chance and opened my mouth, crunching down on his thumb.

At once, Matvey’s eyes widened as the pain set in, and he squeezed my jaw to force me to release it as he hissed in pain. He yanked his hand back with surprise etched into his features. “You bitch…”

Satisfied I hurt him, seeing my bite mark along with the skin I broke on his thumb, I smirked.

But my head jolted to the side as his palm collided with my cheek in a sharp slap that rattled my brain, forcing me to blink back my shock. It was hard enough to send pain cracking through my head. I pulled in a breath as I regained my bearings.

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