Page 53 of The Arrangement

“Good to know. I’d hate to see my mother’s niece being done wrong,” Anton said lowly.

“And what about yours, Boss?”

Anton jerked his head up, meeting the other man’s gaze. “What do you think?”

“Just wondering how the honeymoon phase is coming along for you, that’s all.”

“It’s coming … every damned night.”

Loud, masculine laughter echoed through the club’s empty floor. Before long, the conversation below had turned to Russian mutterings Viviana couldn’t understand let alone hear. When a black case was pulled out from beside the younger man’s feet, Anton seemed to turn a little excited at the sight.

“Bo, you didn’t have—”

“I absolutely did, Boss. Besides, after last month, I kind of owe you, okay? Happy fucking birthday and all that stupid crap. This piece cost me a fortune and took some serious wrangling to get. I might have heard you were looking for something with a specific set of specs, so take a look and tell me what you think. If you like it, I can get a good order in for more—lots more. This one is all on me.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. Stop your bitching and open it up.”

With both men standing again, Viviana watched as the case was set down carefully on the table. Locks were unlatched, the top of the case popping open with ease. Anton ran his hands over the inside, whistling a quiet, appreciative sound under his breath as a cuss left his smirking lips.

“Goddamn, Bo. This is something else.”

The weapon that was plucked up from the case had Viviana’s heart racing.

Under the lights, it shined with brushed, blue metal from the very tip of the barrel all the way to the wood grain of the butt. Clearly the rifle wasn’t meant to be just any ordinary gun, considering the level of scopes it sported. It was a custom gun, even she could see that from her hiding spot, and one Anton seemed to thoroughly enjoy as he shook his head again.

“We’ve never gotten them like these,” Anton said.

The gun was raised a little more, the butt coming to rest at Anton’s shoulder as he took an aim to the wall and glanced through the scopes. Viviana couldn’t deny the strange sensations that passed through her at the sight. It made her hotter than it should have considering her fear of guns, but who was she to deny his pleasures, or hers?

“No, this one is just for you. The blue is specially manufactured, and that snake skin design costs one hell of a dime to get done, but it looks fucking sweet under the sunlight.”

“I bet. All Russian, too. Shit, we’re looking at a sniper here, yeah?”

“Like I said, I heard you needed something particular. This is very particular with a bit of pretty to liken it up. Can’t have our Bratva prince handling something unworthy of his attention, now could I?”

Anton cleared his throat, placing the gun safely back into the case. Viviana stayed hidden at the top of the stairs as he turned and gave the younger man a one-armed hug, whispering words into his ear.

He raised a hand, patting Bo on the back of his neck before their eyes met and a nod was exchanged between both men. Then Anton released him just as quickly, his stance straightening.

“You’re forgiven, Bo. Don’t let last month happen again.”

“Not a chance, Boss.”

Chapter Twelve

As the young man disappeared from the club, Viviana heard Anton’s heavy sigh from down below.

“I know you’re up there, Viviana.”

Shit.

She couldn’t even have tried to move fast enough if she wanted to. Anton was suddenly at the bottom of the metal stairs with that gun case tight in his grasp.

“I’m—”

“What, baby, sorry for eavesdropping? You know better, Vine.”