Page 80 of Auctioned to My Bratva Boss

I leaned back in my chair, idly adjusting my cufflinks. Her meltdown was almost refreshing. Gone was the poised, elegant mask she usually wore.

"Now I have nothing!" Her voice cracked into a sob. "Everything that should've been mine went to that illegitimate son. And that bastard's kicking me out of the family! Matvey, you destroyed me!"

"Consider it payback for what you did to Riley." I pulled a gun from my drawer and started toying with it.

Veronica went quiet for a moment.

"What do you mean?" She eyed the gun, forcing herself to stay calm.

"Think I didn't know you sent those scumbags after Riley?" I stood up, closing in on her step by step.

Veronica stumbled backward until her spine hit the wall.

"I—I was just trying to scare her."

"Scare her?" I let out a cold laugh, pressing the barrel under her chin. "You told them to 'have some fun' before they killed her. That's just scaring her?"

She shuddered. "I didn't mean to really hurt her!"

"Those three pieces of shit? Already dealt with. If Riley had lost a single hair, you'd be a corpse right now."

Veronica's face finally registered that the killing intent in my eyes was real. Her expression twisted.

"You've lost your mind! Over some bottom-feeder? Matvey, have you forgotten you still need my resources?"

"My problems are solved." My finger found the trigger. "You're useless to me now, Veronica. I don't need a damn thing from your family anymore."

It was true. Our channels were back online. I didn't need her. Didn't need to keep playing this ridiculous remarriage charade.

"No, that's impossible!" Her lips trembled. "You're lying!"

I didn't waste another word. My finger slowly tightened.

Click.

Veronica screamed and collapsed to the floor. Empty chamber. I'd removed the bullets earlier. But she still hadn't recovered. I hit the intercom button on my desk. Two guards pushed through the door immediately.

"Get her out," I ordered. "And I don't want to see her in this building ever again."

"Matvey!" She struggled as they dragged her away. "You'll regret this!"

The door closed. The world finally went quiet.

Veronica was finished. She'd never get close to Riley again.

The black Bentley tore out of the underground garage, heading straight for the little restaurant where Riley worked part-time. The sky hung heavy and gray, the air thick with the damp promise of rain.

When I pulled up at the corner, the sky started spitting drizzle. I checked my watch—Riley should be getting off soon.

A few minutes later, the glass door swung open. Riley stepped out in her oversized work uniform, blond hair catching soft light even in the dreary rain.

Then I saw Adrian. That damn kid appeared out of nowhere with a black umbrella, jogging over to tilt it over her head. He leaned down and said something. Riley laughed.

The sight nearly punched through my eyes.

They walked side by side through the rain, the umbrella forcing their shoulders almost together. Riley even nudged him with her elbow, those blue eyes sparkling with life. Then I watched that waste of space reach out like he was going to touch her hair.

My palm slammed the steering wheel. The horn blared.