I grab a beet slice and walk into the open den. She has been telling my brother and I our entire lives about love at first sight. Bullshit. It doesn’t exist.
As the leader of the American Bratva, I have seen love at its worst and best and believe me, none of it is worth it. Hell, it would be more beneficial for me to pay a woman to be my wife in name and public only. My mind spins around that thought, giving it some room. That could work. I mean, in the long run my mom still won’t be satisfied with no grandkids coming because I won’t be having children with anyone, but it could be a reprieve. Hmm.
“Brat.” my brother addresses me as he walks in the door. He has been calling me brother since he could talk. I shake my head. “Vastiya has offered his daughters for payment.” he says sitting in the chair in front of me lighting a cigar.
“He what?” I ask him, not sure I heard him correctly.
“Yes. But get this, the oldest came to my office and offered to pay his debt in full.”
“So, we are taking rusty pussy as payment now?” I ask him, incensed at the thought of a young girl being used in such a way.
“Hell no. Who do you think I am? I am just telling you what happened.”
“I presume you put him in his place and gave him the allotted amount of time. No?”
“Yes. His daughter, I gave five days.” what the fuck has the world come to when a young girl has to pay the debt of the man that created her.
“Did we even know he had daughters?”
“No idea. She is definitely noteworthy, but a bit too young for me.” My brother likes his...seasoned, if you will.
“The fuck, Len. How the hell did this piece of shit slip by us?” shouting as I throw the contents of my desk on the floor. There is nothing I hate worse than being made a fool of.
“It’s the docks, Vik. I told you the dock is the black zone. We don’t have enough eyes and ears there.” Fuck.
“Do you have anything on him?” I ask, trying to calm myself. I have always been a gut man. My father told me that every man has something in him that tells him what his mind doesn’t want to see. For me, it is my gut, and my gut is telling me he is not working alone.
“I can have something by tomorrow night.”
“Great. Hey, do you have the number for that woman Lilith?”
“You mean the one with the escorts? You finally need to stroke that monkey?” he chides me as he reaches into his pocket.
“Fuck you, Len. I need to get mama off my back, and I figure if I buy a wife, I can set the terms and make it work for me.” he looks at me like I am crazy. Like it is a joke. When my eyes don’t shift, he leans forward, his elbows on his knees.
“You’re serious. Wow. Ok. Well, you might be in luck. She is actually having an auction in five days where guys can buy a virgin for one night. I am sure with a little finesse, you can set different terms.” handing me the card, he walks into the kitchen to greet our mother and I hold the card in my hand. Rolling it back and forth, I hesitate before picking up the phone.
“Virginal Acquisitions. What can I book for you tonight?” Jesus, am I really doing this?
“This is Viktor Semenov.”
“Mr. Semenov, what a pleasant surprise. How may I be of service?” she asks, her voice drops attempting to be seductive. Bile rises in my throat at the implication.
“I understand you have an auction coming up. Is this so?”
“Yes. It is in 5 days.”
“I am in need of a wife in name only. I presume you have a list of girls already lined up for your event?”
“I do as a matter of fact.”
“Good. Then how do we proceed?”
“I will send you a private access card the day before the auction. This will be how you gain access to your blacked out room the day of the auction. Everyone bidding is anonymous. You will wait in the parking garage in your vehicle. I ask that your license plate be obscured before arrival. One by one, each of you will be blindfolded and taken to your private room an hour before the auction is set to begin. I will give you a catalogue of the girls up for bidding and allowed time to put in a presumptive bid beforehand if you find someone you like in the catalogue.” Jesus. This sounds like trafficking, almost. “Once bidding begins, the girl will come to the stage one at a time. You will have a button on the table in your room, where you will view the auction from a monitor. There will be a button to press when you would like to bid, so we will never hear your voice. It is all very discreet.” Sounds like it, but it still seems…off.