Page 13 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

I take a look at the terrified people being dragged from their pews at gunpoint. I’d grown up in this place. We’re just a small village, cut off from the rest of the world. The people here may be guilty of questionable customs, of antiquated thinking.

But dark secrets?

“I—er, well, you seem to be—”

“Answer the fucking question,” Phoenix growls.

“I am the leader of this community,” Josiah replies. His tone manages to hold strong. “But I have no idea what you mean about the rest of it.”

Phoenix turns and looks as another man joins him at the bottom step. I recognize those broad shoulders. Sure enough, when he tugs down his tactical mask, I see that it’s Matvei.

“The man knows how to lie,” Phoenix remarks to his colleague. “I’ll give him that.”

Then he turns back to us. The smirk dies on his face.

“What else are you lying about, Josiah?”

“You know, you’re trespassing on private property,” Josiah balks, trying to infuse some authority into his tone. The fear in his eyes makes the words fall flat.

“Oh, I’m aware,” Phoenix replies. “But I’ve never been one to play by the rules.”

“You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” Josiah hisses suddenly. His face purples with venom.

I frown. Something about the way he says that doesn’t sound right.

“Actually,” Phoenix chuckles, “I know exactly who I’m dealing with. Which is why I’m here.”

Then he turns his gaze to me, piercing me through with his dark, intoxicating eyes. I hate that my heart beats a little faster and my pulse starts racing the moment we make eye contact. After everything that’s happened between us, I can’t deny that my heart still feels something for him. My body still craves something from him.

“Elyssa, tell me something: is this the man who raped you the night we met?”

Josiah’s eyes snap to my face. Even Brother Raj does a little double take. But I stay still, caught in a trap sprung by two men so much more powerful than I am.

“I… I…” I can’t seem to get the words out.

Suddenly, Phoenix bounds up the steps, grabs my face in one huge hand, and wrenches my jaw to the side so I have no choice but to look at him.

“Tell me!” he orders. “And don’t you dare fucking lie.”

The mere touch of his hand—even if it’s an angry grasp, a furious grasp—has my brain short-circuiting. The truth slips from my lips despite myself.

“Yes.”

He pushes me backwards. I stumble and almost trip over my skirt before I manage to grab hold of the pulpit and keep from falling.

The icy stare is back on his face. He meets me with that cold gaze before he turns it on Josiah.

“Ask me again who I am,” he says to Josiah.

Josiah has paled considerably now. The sweat on his brow glows like translucent pearls. “Who are you?” he whispers.

“I’m the man who’s coming to take back what’s his.”

Then he moves, and it all happens so fast that it takes me a second to process what’s happening.

His hand finds a sheath on his hip.

Withdraws a dagger.

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