Page 79 of Paved in Venom

“I didn’t know you went to the after-auction parties,” Danil says.

Chris smiles and takes a drink. “Tom’s an old friend, and he said he was going to be sharing his newest purchase, so I was hoping I’d get to go. I also wanted to see the woman who went for $3.5 million,” he says, giving me a wink. “I”m guessing Danil wasn’t willing to share you, though.”

“No, I was not,” Danil says. “I don’t share what’s mine.”

“No one taught the Melnikov brothers how to share their toys,” David cuts in with a laugh.

I know how pissed Danil is getting at the idea of sharing me, but he hides it well and laughs along with the rest before saying, “I did meet the man who lost the bid to me. He wasn’t happy about it.”

“I should think not,” David says. “It’s the first time he’s ever lost one. He usually has his pick of the women.”

“Dominic was very pissed when I told him I wasn’t interested in selling her to him,” Danil says.

“Dominic Alessi?” Chris asks. “You’ve made yourself quite the enemy, my friend.”

“Alessi?” Roman asks, shooting a quick look to his brothers. “As in the Italian crime family who runs the East side of the city?”

“That’d be the one,” Chris says. “I have to mingle with them occasionally, but for the most part they stick to their side of the city and stay out of politics. Dominic likes the trafficking side of things, though. His dad runs the family, and rumor has it his son is more than ready to step in and take over.”

“Well, they better fucking stay out of our business,” David says. “Dominic likes to come to the auctions, and we’ve allowed him to do so because he has money to spend, but so far he’s been content to just buy and leave.”

“And he buys a lot,” Aaron says, “and once he’s bought a woman, they’re never really seen again.”

“He must go through them like you tend to do,” Chris says, smiling at Roman.

Roman gives a good-natured laugh while David says, “We don’t give a fuck what he does with them, but if his family starts butting in, it’s going to really piss off some people.”

“And we don’t want them pissed off,” Chris says with a harsh laugh.

“The Bratva in charge of all this, you mean?” Danil says and then gives a soft laugh at the surprised look on David’s and Aaron’s faces. “Oh come on, we’re not stupid, and we’re Russian, remember? We know how these things work.”

“You might want to forget that you know anything at all,” David says. “They’re very dangerous men.”

“Aren’t we all?” Danil says with a smile. “But don’t worry, we’re happy to sit back and buy the women they get for us.”

“Fuck yeah we are,” Lev says, raising his shot before downing it in one go.

Chris notices Lev’s bruised knuckles. “What the hell happened to you?”

Lev gives a big smile that stretches his lip ring to the side. “I’m involved in a bit of underground fighting.”

“You fight with piercings?” Aaron asks.

“I do.”

“Damn,” David says.

“Is there betting involved?” Chris asks.

“There is, yeah. People place bets all the time.”

The men think for a second, and I can see the greed coming to the surface and taking over. Finally, David says, “I might know of quite a few men who would like to get in on this. Give me a call when your next fight is scheduled. We can set it up so you get a cut of all the money.” He smiles and adds, “If you win, of course.”

“I always win.”

There’s no bravado in it, just plain honesty, and David’s about to ask something else when another voice cuts in.

“What are you guys doing hiding up here?”

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