Page 216 of Ripped Veil (Ripped Bratva)

“No, you don’t.”

She laughs. “You’re right. I don’t.”

She cocks it. As she does, I realize how beautifully she’s played her cards all this time. After I’m dead, she’ll simply sound the alarm and play up the tears. I’m not sure what story she’ll spin to my men but I have no doubt it’ll be airtight.

I hope Matvei will see through it. But my hopes are slim. I never saw through her. Why would anyone else?

“Any last words?” she asks.

“Fuck you.”

“Disappointing,” she sighs. “Aurora said so much more.”

45

Elyssa

Somehwere In Las Vegas

I walk until my legs hurt and my back aches. Theo has been quiet since we left but now he’s starting to stir and whimper.

“Sorry, my boy,” I say, my voice shaking badly. “We just need to be brave a little while longer.”

He blinks at me and lets out a loud wail.

Instinctively, I glance back over my shoulder but no one’s following me. It’s just paranoia talking.

The one good thing about Las Vegas is that no matter how late it gets, it’s never truly dark on the streets. Then again, as Charity always said,“The road to hell is paved in neon.”She was right—it is a little spooky.

My heart throbs at the mere thought of her name.

I shake my head and focus on my surroundings. I’m waiting to cross a busy intersection when a tall prostitute in silver boots approaches me.

“Having some trouble, honey?”

“Um, I… I…”

Her face ripples with sympathy. Beneath the caked-on layers of makeup, I see the kinds of worn lines that suggest a hard life.

“It’s okay,” she says kindly. “Take a deep breath. You in some kinda trouble, baby?”

I nod after a moment. Theo’s still crying and I can’t seem to get him to stop.

She starts to say, “There’s a shelter a few miles—”

“No!” I blurt, cutting her off on accident. “No shelters.”

“Ohhhkay then,” she concedes. She gives me a funny look. “Whatever you want, doll. What do you need then?”

“A… a car,” I decide.

I want to get as far away from this town as possible. I have the cash I won from Phoenix tucked away in the duffel bag. God only knows how long it’ll last but that’s a problem for future Elyssa to worry about.

“A car,” she says, raising one eyebrow. “Even a shitty car don’t come cheap, honey.”

“I have money. Some money,” I add hastily.

She smiles. “There’s a used auto shop a few blocks up from here. It’s called Lowell’s. Go over and say Roni sent you. They’ll give you a good deal on a second-hander.”

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