Page 73 of Ripped Veil (Ripped Bratva)

“I agree.”

“So should we…?”

“We’ll do what it takes to protect the Bratva, Matvei. I always do.”

A few minutes later, Roth walks out of the room.

“Well?” I ask.

“It’s not dementia,” Roth confirms. “It’s not psychosis, either. The man’s just wracked with loss. It’s become obsessive. Forced him to make questionable choices.”

“Like?”

“Popping anti-depressants like they’re Tic-Tacs, for one. I’m pretty sure he’s taking other stuff, too, but he wouldn’t say.”

“What did he say?” Matvei asks.

“That he needs to warn people about you,” Roth says. “That you’re a danger. That you get innocent women killed.”

“Fuck,” I growl, running my hand through my hair.

“Listen, he’s not insane,” Roth says. “But he’s not capable of being rational right now, either.”

I glance at Matvei, who nods imperceptibly.Fuck.I don’t like this. But I meant what I said: I will do whatever it takes to protect the Bratva.

And if Vitya is a threat… then he must be handled.

I sigh. “I need you to initiate a seventy-two hour psychiatric hold on Vitya. As long as you can get it extended for. I’ll work on getting a district court to arrange something more permanent in the meantime.”

“You’re going to commit him to a ward?” Roth asks, surprised.

“I don’t see that I have any other option. I can’t have him out there spewing lies about me. It’ll undermine the entire mission.”

“If you’re sure…”

“I’m sure. Get a couple of the boys in here. And a vehicle.”

“Yes, sir.” Roth takes Pyotr and Grigori to do as I ordered. When he’s gone, I walk back into the room. Vitya glances up at me from the corner of his eyes.

“Vitya,” I say patiently as I move to stand in front of him. “I know you think I’m the enemy. I know you’re angry. But I really am trying to help.”

“Help?” he scoffs. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

He raises his eyes. In them, I can see the pain of Aurora’s loss reflected back at me. It’s like no time has passed at all since her death.

For him, it may as well have happened yesterday.

“I’m sorry, you know,” I whisper in a harsh rasp. “I wish it hadn’t happened. Same as you.”

Vitya shakes his head. “You’re trying to take them down,” he says. “But Astra Tyrannis is a beast with ten heads. You’re just one man.”

“I’m more than a man,” I snarl.

Vitya just laughs. “You are a powerful man, yes. An important man. But still just a man. Still just one man, up against so, so much evil. They’re always going to be one step ahead of you. They’ve got spies everywhere. Even here…”

“Here?” I ask, surprised.

“In your home,” Vitya says simply. As if it’s something I should know.

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