Page 98 of Ripped Veil (Ripped Bratva)

I freeze. Phoenix’s voice.

I race down the staircase, terrified of what I might find when I get there. But I keep going anyway.

The basement is a large, open space with stone walls, cement floors, and low ceilings. The light is poor, but I’m willing to bet that’s a conscious choice. The place is clearly intended to intimidate.

A door set in the far wall is hanging open. Shadows move inside it.

I want to call out his name, but it feels too intimate somehow. Like I haven’t earned that right. Or maybe my brain is just short-circuiting on adrenaline and fear.

Whatever the cause, I inch forward instead of calling for him. I stop at the threshold.

My eyes spot the dead body in the corner first. I recognize Detective Murray instantly. His vacant eyes stare at the ceiling. There’s a jagged red slash across his throat, soaked in blood.

My stomach roils. I turn away from him and notice Phoenix kneeling beside another body.

Unlike Murray, this one is breathing.

I rush forward, recognizing the good-looking man who came to pick us up from the shelter. He’s been stabbed in the stomach.

“Move aside!” I order automatically, switching into Nurse Elyssa mode. At least, that’s what Charity used to call it when I was attending to injuries in and around the shelter.

Phoenix looks up at me in shock. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Trying to help,” I reply. “Now move. I need to put pressure on the wound so he doesn’t lose more blood.”

He hesitates for only a second as I drop to my knees. I press my hands on the wound as he gets to his feet.

“What do you need?” he asks quietly.

“Water and clean cloth. Lots of it.”

He doesn’t question me. Just turns and strides out of the room, leaving me alone with his friend.

The man’s eyes flicker towards me. I can tell the drowsiness is setting in. His body is going into shock.

“Hey,” I coax. “Stay with me, okay? Stay awake.”

He nods slowly. I notice how blue his lips are. Not a good sign.

“What’s your name again… Matteo?”

“Matvei,” he rasps softly.

“Nice to officially meet you, Matvei.”

His face contorts into something that could be a smile. But it fades quickly. He’s paling faster with every passing second.

“I need that stuff now!” I yell over my shoulder.

Right on cue, Phoenix shows up with a bucket of water and a bunch of clean cloth and bandages. He sets in down in front of me and I get to work.

First, I put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. My hands are drenched in blood, but as the minutes tick past, I notice that the flow of it has slowed.

After five minutes, I notice Matvei’s color is improved. Not by much, but it’s something.

He’s awake, at least. And he can still speak.

“Don’t worry, man,” Phoenix says. “Dr. Roth is on his way.”

---