The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 225

Vivian

For the past few days, I'd been like a ghost haunting the streets of New York. Every morning, I'd slip on my mask and wrap myself in an oversized dark coat, moving through the shadows as I tracked Dmitri Petrov's movements using the intel Orion had provided.

Three days of surveillance had revealed his pattern—every Thursday night, he frequented a private bar called "The Crimson Den" in Queens. It was the Iron Wolves' territory, a place where ordinary people feared to tread.

Today was Thursday.

The five million in cash sat heavy in my account. I still couldn't believe Orion had transferred the money so readily, no questions asked. Maybe my traumatic kidnapping had made him worry the same thing could happen to Aveline. Maybe she'd convinced him. Either way, he had no reason to refuse an opportunity to eliminate our common enemy permanently.

I chose a blood-red silk dress—body-hugging with a plunging neckline that showcased my collarbones, the fabric flowing like liquid fire with every step. My hair cascaded over one shoulder in glossy waves, and I'd applied my makeup with surgical precision: smoky eyes that could kill, lips the same crimson as my dress. I looked nothing like the broken victim they'd seen before.

Tonight, I was predator, not prey.

Orion's bodyguard waited by the black sedan, his massive frame shifting nervously as he gripped the briefcase containing the cash. I watched him eyeing the case and felt a cold detachment wash over me. Once, money had been everything—the ultimate aphrodisiac, the source of all power. Now it felt like nothing more than cold metal, useful only for buying death and destruction.

But when I thought about seeing Dmitri again, about that flame-red hair and those piercing green eyes... my heart raced with something entirely different. Something hot and dangerous.

"We've arrived, Miss," the bodyguard said as we pulled up outside The Crimson Den. The neon sign cast everything in bloody light.

I stepped out, extending my hand for the briefcase. "Wait here. I'll handle this alone."

His brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure? This place is crawling with Dmitri Petrov's crew—those guys aren't exactly trustworthy."

A smile curved my lips—sharp as a blade, cold as winter. "Don't worry. This isn't my first dance with them."

The moment I stepped inside, I could feel the shift in energy. The bar fell silent as heads turned, conversations died. I recognized several faces from my kidnapping—the same thugs who'd tied me up, who'd laughed at my fear.

Now they looked like they'd seen a ghost. A beautiful, deadly ghost in designer crimson.

The three who'd handled me during the kidnapping slowly approached, trying to play it casual but clearly rattled.

"Hey," one of them said with forced joviality, "about last time—you know we were just following orders, right? Nothing personal."

I let my gaze drift over them slowly, memorizing their discomfort. "Oh, I understand your position perfectly. You're small fish. Bottom feeders." My voice dropped to a whisper that somehow carried more menace than a shout. "But your standards were fucking disgusting. Trying to assault a helpless woman? If I were your boss, I'd have put bullets in your heads just for the embarrassment."

The temperature in the room plummeted. Their friendly facades cracked, revealing the animals underneath.

"Watch your mouth, bitch," the largest one snarled, stepping closer. "This is our territory. I don't care how connected you think you are—we could tear you apart right here, right now."

I didn't even blink. "Take me to Dmitri Petrov. I have business with him."

"You?" They looked at each other and laughed—harsh, mocking sounds.

I lifted the briefcase slightly, let them see the quality of the leather, hear the weight of what was inside. "Your boss has an appetite for money. Delay this transaction, and you'll be explaining to him why you cost him millions."

Before the situation could escalate further, several higher-ranking members of the crew materialized from the shadows. These men had actual brains behind their brawn—they took one look at my confident posture, the expensive briefcase, and drew the right conclusions.

"Ma'am? You are...?" the apparent lieutenant asked with newfound respect.

"Vivian," I said simply. "Dmitri Petrov's expected guest."

"Right this way, Miss Vivian. The boss is in his private booth."

As they escorted me deeper into the den, I heard the lieutenant bark at my former captors: "You idiots get out of the way! Don't interfere with Miss Vivian's business!"

The private booth was separated from the main floor by heavy curtains. Through a gap, I caught the glimpse of him—that unmistakable flame-red hair catching the low light, his broad shoulders hunched slightly as he nursed a glass of whiskey.

Two busty women draped themselves around him like accessories, but his attention was elsewhere, lost in some private darkness. Even surrounded by admirers, there was something achingly solitary about him.

My pulse hammered as the curtain was pulled aside fully.

Dmitri Petrov looked up slowly, those ice-green eyes taking me in from head to toe. A sardonic smile played at his lips as he gestured for his companions to leave. They scattered like startled birds.

"Well, well," his voice was pure velvet over steel, that slight Russian accent making every word sound like a threat or a promise. "Vivian. I was wondering when you'd show up."

He leaned back in the booth, the motion highlighting the dangerous grace of his movements. Even in repose, he radiated lethal potential.

"So," he continued, taking a slow sip of his whiskey while never breaking eye contact, "our business isn't finished, is it? After being rescued from your unfortunate predicament, did you spend sleepless nights thinking about revenge? Did you come here to settle the score with the man whose crew kidnapped you?"

I set the briefcase on the table between us with deliberate ceremony, my movements controlled and predatory.

"Our business is far from over," I said, my voice steady despite the fire racing through my veins. "But I'm not here to discuss the past, Dmitri."

I leaned forward slightly, letting him see the determination in my eyes, the steel beneath the silk.

"I'm here to make a deal."