Page 105 of Auctioned to My Bratva Boss

"As for that woman—she was a business arrangement I couldn't avoid. I never touched her. I did all that to keep Riley out of it."

Evelyn's expression didn't soften. I sighed.

"Evelyn, when I was kidnapped recently, Matvey risked his life to save me." I hadn't wanted to worry her with the dangerous details. "A gun was pointed at me. He took the bullet. If it had been an inch over, he wouldn't be standing here."

Evelyn's breathing hitched. She went quiet for a long moment.

"Taking a bullet for her shows you'd die for her." Her voice was rough but still stubborn. "But taking one bullet and protecting her for a lifetime—those are two different things."

"I don't care if you're a CEO or some bratva pakhan." Every word rang clear. "From now on, if you make Riley shed one tear or suffer even a little, I'm taking her away. That's a promise."

I looked at Evelyn, moved and amazed. Moved that she still played the parent, still protected me. Amazed that she was actually accepting him.

"I promise." Matvey's voice was low and firm. "Ms. Quinn, I give you my word on the Bykov name. I'll spend the rest of my life making up for everything she's been through. She won't cry another tear."

Watching his serious profile, hearing him make that vow, I almost cried again.

That night, the three of us talked for hours in that small hospital room. Matvey patiently answered every tough question Evelyn threw at him.

We didn't leave until late.

Outside the hospital, the night air was cool.

"Riley." Once we were in the car, Matvey spoke suddenly. "I'm not taking you back to the apartment tonight."

I blinked. "Then... where?"

He lifted my hand and kissed it softly.

"I'm taking you home."

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Riley

"Home?" Confusion laced my voice.

"Our home." His voice dropped to that low register that always made my heart race. "Our manor."

Our home. Those two words filled some long-empty corner inside me.

This wasn't the first time he'd tried to get me to move into the manor.

He'd been trying to pry me out of that crappy little apartment for weeks, to tuck me into his estate with its gardens and doctors and armed guards at every corner.

But honestly? I was still freaking out. I'd had my fill of depending on others.

I was terrified of giving all of myself to this man, terrified that if he changed his mind someday, I'd have nowhere left to go.

"Why so quiet?" He caught my silence, his hand covering mine where it rested on my lap. "Still don't want to?"

"That's not it."

"Then what is it?"

His palm's warmth seeped through my skin, straight to my heart. I bit my lower lip and finally said what I'd been holding back.

"I'm just scared." I stared out at the thick darkness beyond the window and sighed softly. "I'm scared I'll get used to how good you are to me, get used to having you around, and then... what if one day you don't want me anymore? What do I do then?"