Page 148 of Ripped Veil (Ripped Bratva)

“Sakamoto is not going to be an easy target,” Matvei argues. “He’s going to be surrounded by security. Not to mention he’s going to be at a gala for every rich bastard in the metro area. The place is going to be crawled with armed goons.”

“Your point?”

“You have no strategy and no time to come up with one!” Matvei yelps, grinding his teeth together. “This gala is less than five hours from now.”

I smirk. “I’ve always liked a challenge.”

“Apparently, you like death wishes, too.”

“I like revenge, Matvei. That’s why I’m doing this. To make things right again.”

He screws up his face in distaste. “I’m coming with you.”

“You’re in no condition for a field mission,” I snort. “You’ve got enough bandages around your torso to pass for the Michelin Man.”

Matvei grits his teeth. “I’ll manage.”

“It wasn’t a question. You’re staying put. In any case, I need you to run interference and coordinate with me from here.”

He growls in wordless anger. But I know him well enough to know that he understands I’m right. His ego just doesn’t like being left behind. Even if there’s a perfectly good reason for it.

“Okay, I’ll humor you. Let’s say you somehow manage to get into the gala,” Matvei says. “Then what?”

“Then I hone in on Sakamoto, get him alone, and beat some answers out of him before I kill him.”

“That’s a lot to accomplish in one night.”

“You doubt my abilities?”

“No, but I do question your logic. What if he doesn’t talk?”

“I’ll make him talk.”

“What if he gets the upper hand on you?”

“Then I deserve to die.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Matvei says, throwing his hands up in frustration. “You’re not going to back down, are you?”

“Not in the least.”

“Phoenix, this plan is reckless, even by your absurdly reckless standards.”

“Yes, it is—which is exactly why it’ll work.”

Matvei narrows his eyes at me. “What does that mean?”

I take a breath. “I’m starting to think that Vitya was right when he warned me of spies among my men.”

Matvei frowns, but he doesn’t say anything.

I continue, “If there is a mole in our midst, then any plans I make are at risk of being discovered and passed on. But if I act off the cuff, then there’s no time and no opportunity for the mole to inform on me to his superiors.”

“Orhersuperiors,” Matvei amends.

“You suspect Elyssa?” I ask, trying not to sound affronted by that fact.

“Not necessarily. It could just as easily be the other one.”

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