Page 144 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

I stride into the adjoining bathroom anyway. There’s a tiny splash of water lingering in the shower, which tells me it was used. But when I run a finger through the remaining puddle, it’s cold.

She’s been gone for hours, at least.

“Fuck,” I growl. “Fuck!”

I head back into the room and check for what else is missing. Her clothes are still in the wardrobe. Nothing else seems to be amiss.

I don’t believe she’s run away. Not without Theo.

Which means she’s decided to go after him alone.

Figuring out what made her choose that route is a problem for a different day. Right now, I need to go after her. And there’s no fucking time for planning.

I tear out of her room and down the stairs. I catch sight of Konstantin at the entrance and I shout out my orders.

“Get one of the vehicles out,” I command. “Something bulletproof. Immediately!”

Konstantin wastes no time in disappearing back out of the door he was just about to enter from. I follow him outside and almost collide with Matvei.

“Jesus,” he breathes. “What the fuck is happening?”

“Elyssa is gone.”

Matvei frowns. “What do you mean, ‘gone’?”

“I mean she’s fucking gone. Up and left. Last night, or hours ago, I’m not sure. I was fucking sleeping.”

“Calm down,” he says in a measured voice. “We’ll get her back.”

“Get her back?” I growl. “She’s probably already with them—those fucking…”

“Phoenix,” Matvei says, putting his hand on my shoulder, “you’re not in any fit condition to go after her.”

“There’s no time to be cautious here, Matvei. She’s going to put herself directly in their path.”

“How do you know she’s going to them?”

“Because she knows they have Theo,” I tell him. “She thinks this is the only way.”

“Why would she do it alone?” Matvei wonders out loud.

I shake my head. “Because she felt she has something to answer for. She’s working off the guilt she feels. The guilt I made her feel for her part in all of this.”

Matvei looks worried. “But where do you think she’s going? Let’s say you’re right and she’s trying to get in contact with them, to trade herself in or barter for a deal or whatever. How would she even go about doing that?”

I stop short and consider this. The answer becomes obvious at once.

“Wild Night Blossom.”

Matvei closes his eyes as if the thought of that place alone hurts him. “Fuck.”

“She clearly hasn’t thought this through, Matvei. She’s doing this because of me.”

“Stop,sobrat.Blaming yourself is not going to bring her back.”

I hear the spin of wheels on gravel just as Konstantin rounds the corner in an armored black jeep.

“You’re going after her in that?” Matvei asks. “So I take it you’re not planning on flying under the radar then.”

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