Page 136 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

“She doesn’t remember anything about him?” Matvei presses. “Where he went? If he’s still there?”

“He’s definitely not still there,” I say.

“How do you know?”

“I just do,” I reply stubbornly. “Gut instinct.”

Matvei sits there silently for a long time.

I shake my head. “This was a mistake.”

“Marrying her?”

“Yes.”

“No,” he says. “It wasn’t.”

“How can you say that?” I argue. “After what I just told you?”

“Because I know you, Phoenix. You’re angry now, so you’re saying shit. And breaking shit,” he adds, scanning the room. “But you’re in love with her.”

I glare at him. “Jesus. I take back the apology.”

“It’s true,” Matvei presses, refusing to back down. “You wanna deny it? Go ahead, deny it. I’m waiting.”

“You’re getting sentimental in your old age.”

He shudders. “God forbid.”

I raise my eyebrows and look at Matvei. “What do you think needs to be done?”

It’s a question I should have asked a long time ago. He’s my best friend and advisor for a reason. Because he knows me. He knows this world.

“You want my honest answer?” he asks.

“Nothing but.”

“Our priority now is getting Theo back,” Matvei says. “But I’m willing to bet he’s going to be closely guarded. They’ll want to keep him close. And safe.”

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

“Well, there’s no reason to believe that our main players won’t all be together.”

“Eiko and Ozol?”

“Not sure about Ozol,” Matvei says regretfully. “He’s a slippery motherfucker. But Eiko and Josiah might be in one place. Along with Theo.”

“These are just assumptions, though.”

“That’s all we have to go on.”

“Not quite,” I say. “I’ve got files. Details about the names of women and children who passed through the Garden. We also have Violet.”

“Has she given you anything of use?”

“She was going to be sent to Wild Night Blossom.”

Matvei leans in a little. “So it’s definitely an Astra Tyrannis spot.”

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