Page 59 of Ripped Veil (Ripped Bratva)

It’s not absolution I seek. Nothing can redeem me after Aurora, after Yuri. But it’s all I have left.

I wouldn’t have been able to admit that to anyone else. But Matvei is different. He’s the friend I can tell my darkest thoughts to, and he won’t judge.

Probably because the same darkness I sense in myself lives in him, too.

“What happened after that?” Matvei asks.

“Ozol set his men on me,” I explain. “I told her to run. I told her to meet me at the diner. But when I managed to make my way there, she didn’t show. That was that. Until a couple of hours ago, when I followed Murray to this shelter on the edge of town and find her there. With my… my… with the baby.”

Matvei’s eyes flicker around the room as though he’s putting together a mental puzzle. “The math adds up.”

“I know.”

“And the child looks like you.”

I’d noticed that, too. I hadn’t realized that Matvei had gotten a good look, but I’m not surprised. The man has an eagle eye. It’s all the more impressive because it never appears that he’s watching you.

“What’s the situation with the two women?”

“I have no fucking clue. Apparently, they don’t either. Murray was there for the brunette. Charity.”

“And your girl?”

I cringe. “She’s not my girl.”

Matvei raises his hands, but I notice a tiny smile playing across his lips. “My bad. What would you like me to call her? Your baby mama?”

I glare at him. “You’re not funny. Don’t try to be,” I tell him. “You can call her by her name. Elyssa.”

“Elyssa,” he repeats solemnly. “Pretty. Just like her.”

“She’s beautiful,” I say before I can stop myself.

“You know, Phoenix, it’s okay to want her,” Matvei offers gently. “You’re not betraying Aurora if you move on.”

My hands curl into furious fists. I’m not mad at Matvei, though.

I’m mad at my whole fucking life.

“Move on?” I repeat darkly. “There is no ‘moving on’ for me. Not until I get justice for her death. For my son’s death.”

“You have another son,” Matvei points out. “One that’s right here in this house.”

I slam my fist down on the table. Matvei doesn’t bat an eye. “What are you saying?” I demand. “I have a replacement now, so why bother with the son I lost?”

“You know damn well that’s not what I meant.”

I turn my head away so he doesn’t see the raw emotion on my face. “It doesn’t fucking matter,” I snarl. “The only thing that matters is the man in the basement.”

“Really?” Matvei asks incredulously. “He’sthe one that matters?”

“Nothing has changed. Not a single fucking thing. I’m still taking them down, Matvei. I’m going to make those fuckers pay for all their crimes.”

He leans in. “And I support that mission. I’ve been with you every step of the way, haven’t I?”

I give him a grudging nod. “You have.”

“But there’s a difference between focus and obsession.”

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