Page 25 of Paved in Venom

I smile at Vitaly and then look at Matvey, knowing he’s dying for some good news and wishing like hell I could give it to him. “I didn’t see anyone I recognized. I’m sorry.”

His face gives nothing away. The same tortured look is in his dark eyes, and I hate that I couldn’t lessen it for him.

“You did great,” Danil says. “You may not have recognized anyone, but we got an invite to a private party, and it’s going to be filled with men who are heavily involved in all this, several of them were at the auction today.”

“You’re not going to that thing alone,” Roman says, looking back at us.

“Relax,” Danil says with a small laugh. “He said it would be fine if I brought some of my brothers.”

“You’re not going without me,” Emily tells Roman, and I can see the struggle written all over him. When he hesitates, she says, “What are you going to do if they offer you a woman?”

“Tell her to get the fuck away from me,” he says without hesitation.

She raises a brow as if he’s just proven her point. Looking back at the rest of the guys, she asks, “Think that might raise a red flag or two?”

Vitaly laughs. “Just a few.” He grins at Lev. “Looks like it’s me and you again.”

“You always take me to the best places,” Lev deadpans.

Vitaly’s smile grows. “I do, don’t I? I’m just sweet like that.”

Lev looks like he’s about to tell him to fuck off, but Vitaly cuts in and says, “I’m fucking starving, and there’s no way in hell Simona isn’t hungry too.”

As if on cue, my stomach growls loud enough for everyone to hear. Danil gives my thigh a soft squeeze. “Shit, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“We’ll hit a drive-thru,” Roman says, already starting the car.

“We’ll follow you,” Matvey says, walking back to his Camaro with Lev.

“Thanks,” I tell them.

“What are you in the mood for?” Vitaly asks.

“I could really go for a greasy cheeseburger.”

He laughs and looks over at Danil. “I like her. Greasy cheeseburgers and fries it is.”

Roman finds a place close by, and when they ask me what I want, I don’t hesitate. I haven’t eaten anything all damn day, and I’m starving. They’re all kind enough to not laugh when I order a large meal with a vanilla shake and then ask them to throw in a cookie for dessert. Might as well go all in.

I smile when Emily says, “Ooh, that sounds good. I want that too.”

Roman laughs and kisses the back of her hand. “Whatever my baby wants.”

We bring the food back and eat it together. The main living area is open, so it’s one big space for the kitchen, dining area, and living room. The wall of floor-to-ceiling windows spreads the entire length of the large room, and I can’t imagine how much they paid for this place. Danil sits next to me, making sure I have everything I need. I’m too hungry and tired to talk, so I just eat while I watch this odd family I’ve been brought into.

The brothers laugh and joke around, and they even end up getting a few small smiles out of Matvey, who’s sitting right across from me. I notice the scars on his hands when he takes a bite out of his cheeseburger and the tattoos that have been inked over them. I look away before he can catch me staring.

When I’ve cleaned my plate, Danil hands me my cookie. I push it aside with a groan. “I can’t,” I tell him. Usually, I’d be able to do it no problem, but after going so long without food and then basically inhaling the large meal, I’m whooped. I can’t do another bite of anything.

I see Matvey eyeing my cookie, so I hold it out to him. “Do you want it?”

He takes it, the corner of his mouth curling up in a very small smile. “Thanks.”

“I think you meant to say that he has to share it with me,” Vitaly says, holding a hand out to Matvey. “Right, Simona?”

“What about me?” Lev asks.

Matvey ignores them and takes a bite while I shake my head, making it clear I’m not getting involved in this cookie war.

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