Page 154 of Ripped Veil (Ripped Bratva)

“Phoenix, come in,” Matvei says in my earpiece. “Can you hear me?”

“I hear you loud and clear,” I inform Matvei.

“Good. I’ll be your fairy godmother for the evening.”

“Then for my first wish, I want you to shut the fuck up.”

“No can do, brother. Wishes are for genies. Fairy godmothers do whatever the hell they want.”

I shake my head and laugh. But it’s time to be serious now. So with a sigh, I crack my neck and slip into my persona for the evening.Phoenix Kovalyov. Don of the Kovalyov Bratva. Stone-cold killer.

Matvei says in my ear, “Alright, you’re good to go. The boys have eyes on the entrance elevators that lead to the ballroom floor. Sakamoto still isn’t here.”

“Where is he?”

“No more than fifteen minutes away.”

“And so it begins,” I mutter to myself. I hope to fucking God this ends how I want.

I take one step towards the glistening hotel when I hear a noise that sounds like it’s coming from… the trunk of my BMW.

“What the fuck?” I growl. I pause, turn, and approach the car slowly.

“Phoenix?” says Matvei in the earpiece. “What’s wrong?”

I pop open the trunk and whip my gun out in the same motion. My finger is on the trigger and I’m ready to start blasting…

Until I see a waterfall of blonde hair.

Then Elyssa pops upright and swings her legs out of the trunk.

“Phoenix? All good? Do I need to come out there?” Matvei asks.

I check the angles. From where he’s situated in the back seat of the jeep, Matvei won’t be able to see us. And for some reason, I’m not ready to hear his thoughts on this development just yet.

“No, everything’s good,” I lie. “Just waiting for the right opportunity to move in.”

“Right. Okay.”

I turn a furious gaze onto Elyssa but she just stares at me sheepishly. When she opens her mouth to speak, I force my hand over her lips. Her eyes go wide.

I drag her down the road and make a left behind a catering van. Once we’re out of sight of the jeep, I pull out my earpiece without jostling it too much.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I hiss.

Elyssa cringes back from my anger but she still stands her ground. “I knew you were going to do something dangerous. And… I came to stop you,” she stammers out.

“Are you fucking serious?”

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

“You’re insane is what you are. You can’t be here.”

“You shouldn’t be here, either.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re going back right now.”

She reaches out and seizes my hands. There are several people walking by, and every one of them glances at us as they walk past.

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