Page 5 of Bought & Bred By the Bratva

SIERRA

The air in the backroom is heavy, and I feel like I’m about to jump out of my skin. Women are being led out one by one, and each time the door opens, I get a glimpse of the stage. My hands are clammy, and I wipe them on the thin dress they put me in. It’s tight, and I feel exposed, like I’m on display. Which, I guess, is exactly the point.

The handlers keep giving us instructions—stand straight, smile, don’t show fear. But it’s hard to keep my heart from racing. I’m here because I have to be. I keep repeating it to myself like a mantra. We need that money if I want to keep myself and my siblings safe.

They call my number, and I take a deep breath. One of the handlers gives me one last look, nodding for me to go on. I force my legs to move. The closer I get to the stage, the louder everything feels—voices, laughter, the murmur of people with more money than they fucking know what to do with. My stomach twists, but I keep going.

When I finally reach the edge of the stage, I pause, taking a second to steady myself. The bright lights are blinding, and thenoise feels like it’s vibrating through my entire body. I want to run, but I can’t. Can’t back out now.

I step onto the stage, and the lights hit me full force. The room is a blur of faces, all staring up at me. My heart’s pounding, and I can feel my pulse racing. I keep my head up, trying to look like I’m not scared out of my mind.

Then my vision finally adjusts, and my eyes unexpectedly find a familiar face in the crowd…

Aleksander Maksimov is here.

For a second, everything stops. It’s like the noise fades, and all I see is him. He’s sitting in a corner, leaning back, his powerful legs spread like he owns this whole fucking place. His eyes are fixed on me, dark and dangerous. It’s like he’s seeing right through me, the nerves, the fear, straight to my core.

And just like the last and only time we met, he looks fine as hell. Black dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to show off the tattoos winding down his forearms. The fabric of his slacks clings to his muscular thighs, reminding me just how big and powerful this beast of a man is. The ink on his skin is fucking gorgeous, and the way the light hits it makes him look like he just walked out of my darkest fantasies. Making me forget for a second where and why I’m here.

My breath catches. His jaw is tight, eyes glinting in that way that makes me shiver. He looks big, powerful, and for a moment, I feel like we’re alone in this room.

I try to hold my composure, but it’s hard. All I can think about is the way he’s watching me, like he’s already decided I’m his. Oh My God! Am I really about to be bought by my ex’s dad?!

* * *

Aleksander

I signed up for this auction to find a distraction—some hot piece to fill the void. Someone to help me forget about Sierra. Thought maybe if I got myself a new toy, it’d help me move on, and shake off the obsession that’s been eating at me for weeks.

When I walk in, the hall is dark, packed with fucking pricks in expensive suits, their faces half-hidden in the shadows. It’s the kind of setup that keeps things discreet—no names, no faces, just money and bodies exchanging hands. I stick to the edges, keeping my eyes on the stage. My plan was simple—find someone, buy her, and get this shit out of my system.

Then I see her.

Sierra steps onto that goddamn stage, and it’s like a fucking punch to my gut. She’s wearing a tight black dress that hugs every fucking one of her curves, and she looks fucking magnificent with her hair and face all done up, her big brown eyes looking into the crowded room with an air of defiance that can’t completely mask her nerves. My chest tightens, and for a second, I can’t breathe. What the fuck is she doing here?

Rage roars inside me. I’ve tried for weeks to forget about her—to put that night, those eyes, that fucking sinful body out of my mind—but seeing her up there, for fucking sale… This wasn’t supposed to happen.

The auctioneer starts the bidding, and the first hand goes up. I don’t even think—I just react. My hand shoots up, and my voice comes out like a fucking bark when I raise the bid.

Another asshole near the front keeps pushing, and my blood boils hotter with each number. They think they can have what’s fucking mine? I’ll kill every single motherfucker who even dared place a bid on my girl tonight.

I raise the stakes again, and the room goes tense. Most of the other pieces of shit back down, but there’s one stubborn bastard left. He’s smirking, acting like this is a fucking game. He raises his hand again, and I fucking see red.

I throw out a number so high it’s damn near obscene. Ten million dollars. The auctioneer’s voice comes out a bit shaky as he throws a wide-eyed gaze my way, and the other guy drops his hand. That’s right, motherfucker. She’s mine.

The gavel hits the podium, and I shove my way through the crowd, every muscle in my body tight. I would’ve burned this fucking place to the ground if I wasn’t walking out of here with Sierra.

I reach the stage, and when our eyes lock, I see fear in hers, but also relief. She fucking knows. She’s mine now.

I grab her hand in a firm grip and pull her off the stage. She’s fucking shaking, her fingers trembling in mine. She should be scared. Baby, you have no clue what you just signed up for.

* * *

The town car’s waiting outside, sleek and black, my driver already holding the door open. I help her get inside, my hand at the small of her back, and the urge to pin her down rightthen and there almost takes over. I follow her, shutting the door behind us. The divide’s up, giving us some semblance of privacy.

Sierra sits with her hands clasped tight in her lap, eyes flicking to me, then back down. I can feel the tension radiating off her. But I also see the way her full tits rise and fall, how her breath quickens. All her fucking curves wrapped up in this tiny dress. Fuck.

The car starts moving. I can’t fucking stop staring. The dress shows off her thick thighs, and my cock twitches at the sight of her smooth brown skin. All I can think about is spreading her long legs and taking what’s mine right here in the backseat.

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