Page 139 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

“Shut up,” I mutter again. “Please just… let me think.”

I walk to the window and sit down on the cushioned ledge as I look out into the gardens.

I’d spent the first day curled up in a ball on my bed, cursing myself for the horrors I’d committed without my knowledge. The second day was mostly occupied with pacing the perimeter of my room, having imaginary conversations with my parents, and raging at them for being so blind, for raising their daughter to be a foolish, mindless sheep like themselves.

The only interruption to my isolation came when Matvei knocked on my door to tell me that the prisoners had been returned to the Sanctuary.

All except my parents—who had been given quarters in this very house.

“What? Why?” I’d asked, too shocked to formulate anything longer than a one-word question.

“Because they’re your parents,” he replied. Simple as that.

I’m still trying to make sense of it.

Oh, for Pete’s sake, don’t be such an airhead. It’s because Phoenix ordered it! They’re your parents and you’re his wife. Of course he wanted to protect them from all the shit everyone in the commune was giving them.

“That can’t be it,” I whisper softly to the empty room. “Phoenix doesn’t think of me that way. As his wife. Not anymore.”

He’ll forgive you eventually. He just needs time.

“I saw the way he looked at me. It was… Let’s just say I know how he feels about me now.”

No, you’re assuming you know. And I wouldn’t assume if I were you.

“It doesn’t matter. He deserves better.”

Stop it.

“I’m being serious. He may be a Bratva boss. He may have done bad things. But he was doing them to bad people. We’re different.”

In a hundred different ways. But not in the ways you’re implying.

“Can you be quiet now?”

That is all in your control, sweetheart.

I sigh and stare at the beautiful gardens sprawled out before me. I catch sight of a tall man in the distance and my spine stiffens instantly.

I force myself to snuff out the hope when I realize it’s not Phoenix. I’d know his stride, his posture, from a thousand yards away. The disappointment stings.

You miss him. There’s no crime in that.

“I think I’m going to have to get used to missing him. But is it any wonder…?”

What do you mean?

“Love is a luxury. I was raised to be a good wife. To listen. To obey. Love doesn’t factor into that.”

Fuck all that nonsense. You’re more than just a glorified doormat.

“I have to fix it, Charity. My son is still with them. I handed those monsters so many little children and now they have mine. But I’m going to get him back.”

I know you are. And when you get Theo back, you can tell him all about me. His brave and beautiful and extremely attractive Aunt Charity.

A bittersweet tear slips from my eye. “You can count on it.”

I get off the window seat and head for the door. Matvei told me which room my parents were in. It’s on the floor below mine, the room in the far corner. It’s been locked from the outside, so all I need to do is unlock it and walk in.

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