Sold to the Mob Boss: A Mafia Romance (Lavrin Bratva), Nicole Fox [ebook reader 7 inch txt] 📗

Fuck.

Every head in the room turns to the back. To me. I look straight ahead and avoid the glances from those around me. I fight to keep my expression blank, controlled, all business. No chink in my armor must show to these people, though I know by jumping in I have just caused a stir in the atmosphere, especially since I never act on impulse.

Everything I do is calculated. Everyone knows that about me. It’s my lone trademark, the calling card that has taken me to the top. I’m just hoping that, instead of seeing a moment of weakness, they’re wondering what game I’m playing.

My eyes fall on the girl once more. The slight tilt of her head and the way her eyes narrow suggest she’s trying to focus, to see who I am. But I’m all the way in the back of the room. There’s no way she can see me through the glare of the lights.

“One hundred seventy thousand dollars,” Gino growls.

I’d almost forgotten about Gino for a moment. This is far from over. The man relishes a fight. And whatever his interest is in this girl, I know if he ends up winning, her life will be over. I won’t let her die.

Besides, I’ve just spoken up in front of a crowd cluttered with the city’s underworld elites. I can’t second-guess myself, can’t show weakness, can’t waver.

“Two hundred thousand,” I counter, refusing to look Gino’s way.

Eitan places his hand on my shoulder, his fingers gripping me hard. “Nikita, this isn’t a good idea. Going head to head with Gino is only going to piss him off. And remember, we still have the weapons meeting later. We’ll need his cooperation for that. Let him win the girl.”

Everyone in the room is murmuring. While Eitan is right, I can’t back down now. Not that I would, anyway. Not to Gino. But with the city’s worst surrounding me, I have to finish out the game I’ve hurled myself into the middle of. If I’m lucky, they’ll think I’m toying with Gino to continue to drive up the price. After all, the fool made a stupid move by offering such an outrageous bid.

Gino stands up and turns toward me, his face red and his brows pinched. “Two hundred ten thousand.”

“Two hundred twenty thousand.” The corners of my mouth curl up into a wicked smirk. Watching Gino’s face contort in a fit of anger is quite pleasing. After years of appeasing the asshole, it’s nice to finally strike back in a way.

The crowd gasps. It’s not every day they see the city’s two most powerful men go head-to-head over something so small and petty as a new slave. But I’m not backing down. A fire has lit inside me. One I’m not about to let die.

The girl is coming home with me tonight.

“Mr. Lavrin, are you truly interested in the slave or are you simply looking to pad your pockets with my money?” Gino sneers in his thick Italian accent. He’s careful not to disrespect me too openly. But malice trickles underneath his words. The crowd falls silent as they await my response.

Eitan clears his throat loud enough for me to hear, a clear warning to be careful. But I know Gino is baiting me, and I need to be careful with my response. “A slave willing to punch a made man could be useful. And a spirit like that would be interesting to break, wouldn’t it?”

Tension. Silence. I don’t blink. Neither does Gino. His eyes are endless black pits.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the moment ends. Gino growls but doesn’t say another word. Instead, he sits down. The auctioneer repeats my bid and asks if anyone is willing to go higher. Gino turns and looks over his shoulder but doesn’t raise his hand.

“Sold, to Mr. Lavrin,” says the auctioneer.

And just like that, the girl is mine.

I’ve bought myself a new slave.

I can feel Eitan glowering at me. So much for hitting our quota when I’m the one who just wasted a mountain of money. But it’s also a reminder to everyone in the room:

I’m Nikita Lavrin, and I’m not to be underestimated.

At least, I hope that’s the message they take away from it. Deep down, I’m nearly trembling. It isn’t often that I lose control like that. I did a stupid thing, and there may yet be consequences for it.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Eitan says, his voice ripe with concern and frustration.

“I do,” I snap. But when I meet my advisor’s eyes, they’re full of questions. Questions I’m not answering. Still, he knows better than to question me. I stare back, silent and defiant. He just grunts and turns back to his iPad.

“You know how much that just set us back, right?”

I wave my hand at him. “I have the money.”

When Eitan doesn’t press the issue further, I turn my attention back to the beautiful creature on stage. Her body trembles and she bites her lower lip, her chest rising and falling at a rapid pace. The men around me continue to gawk at her. I can feel anger rise in my chest. How dare they look at what’s mine? They need to respect their boss.

I turn. “Jimmy, take some of the men and get the girl cleaned up. I want her off the stage as soon as possible. No need to have Gino staring at what he lost. I need him calm for the meeting later.”

“Yes, boss.”

But the way Jimmy’s eyes narrow, like a predator focusing on his prey, tells me he’s interpreted the situation wrong. There have been times I’ve purchased a slave or two and turned her over to my men as a treat. A good boss likes to keep his employees happy. And for all their hard work, my men deserve to be rewarded. But the bird on stage isn’t for them.

She’s mine and mine alone.

“Jimmy, get her cleaned up and have Sophia pick out a dress. Something ... elegant. She’ll be