Page 49 of Ripped Veil (Ripped Bratva)

“Give me the short version.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because he does,” I say, gesturing to Murray’s back. He’s face-down on the ground. I’m pretty sure he’ll wake up to a mouth full of dirt. It’s the least he deserves. “He came to the shelter in search of you. Why?”

Confusion and fear flickers across her face. “I wish I knew. The only reason I can think of is the man that did this to me must be important.”

“Who is the man that did that to you?”

She hesitates. “Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because maybe I can stop him coming after you.”

She studies me carefully. “Right. Phoenix Kovalyov,” she murmurs. “I’ve heard of you.”

I’m surprised to hear a faint hint of reverence when she says my name. Or is it fear? Doesn’t matter either way, I suppose. I’ve never really cared about the difference.

“Yeah? I’m flattered.”

“Don’t be. I just couldn’t have imagined that you of all people were Theo’s father. Wonders never cease.”

A jolt of adrenaline surges through my body when she says his name. I echo it unthinkingly: “Theo…”

“Your son.”

I nod and clench my jaw, trying to act as though this information means nothing to me. That’s when I hear the rumble of an engine. A fast-moving vehicle.

“Stay here,” I order Charity.

I step out from behind the hedge and go stand at the edge of the road. The car is a black SUV. Nice and big, just like I requested. One look at the license plate tells me it’s one of the Bratva’s plethora of cars.

Matvei cruises to a stop right in front of me and reaches across to throw open the passenger side door.

“Thank fuck. Been waiting long?” he asks.

“My whole goddamn life,” I grumble. “What took you so long?”

“I was at the safehouse,” he says. “And I wouldn’t have needed to come get you at all if you’d just taken me with you.”

I roll my eyes. “Let’s do this later. I got Murray.”

“No way. Where is he?”

“Rotting away over there.” I jerk my thumb back at our little alcove near the hedge.

“I’ll get him,” Matvei says, putting the car on park before he leaps out.

“I’ll help.”

He leaves the car in the middle of the road like he owns it. In a sense, we do. Then he follows me back to the shadows.

“Wait, is there someone else there?” Matvei asks as we approach Murray’s near-lifeless body.

“Yeah,” I sigh. “Long fucking story.”

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