Page 146 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

I glance at him, making sure to meet his eye. “I don’t. But it doesn’t matter.”

Matvei raises his eyebrows, but his nod is full of understanding. “You’re sure?”

“A hundred percent,” I say. “Elyssa is my wife. And Theo is my son.”

Fuck, that feels so good to say.

He claps his hands as if that settles the matter. “Alright, good. Glad we got that figured out. Next question: Do you think we should call in reinforcements?”

“Meaning my father?”

“Yes.”

“He already knows too much.”

“He should know more.”

“This is my fight.”

“Asking for help doesn’t make you weak, you know. In fact, I would argue the opposite.”

“We don’t have time, Matvei,” I tell him. “I’m not too proud. But I don’t think they’ll be here in time to make a difference. This is up to us.”

Matvei nods and drops the subject. I keep glancing at the time. It’s only been nine minutes since we left the compound, but somehow it still seems like we have forever to go.

The feeling rising in my chest feels like, of all things, déjà vu. I remember that sinking feeling of loss that accompanied the realization that my family was missing. It chipped away at my soul. The helplessness. The uncertainty.

The difference here is that I know who’s involved. And it’s not too late to stop it.

Which means, if I fail, it’s all on me.

When I blink, I see a flash of Aurora’s tortured body the way I found it. It was clear she had suffered in her last moments. Her mouth was open in a permanent scream and tear tracks were practically tattooed in her cheeks.

I don’t want to relive that moment with Elyssa. I cannot handle another dead body. Another lost wife. Another lost future.

“Stop reliving it,” Matvei interrupts. “That’s not gonna help you now.”

“How do you know what I was thinking about?”

“I know you,” he says simply. “And I saw that expression a lot in the days following Aurora’s funeral.”

“Sometimes, I forget how much you were around for.”

“Everything,” he says. “I was around for everything.”

I glance at him. “I’m glad you’re around for this.”

He smiles. “I thought we did the sentimental stuff already?”

“Fair enough. Fuck you, then.”

Matvei grins at me. “Fuck you, too, brother. Forever and always.”

I press the pedal down and hurtle us towards the destination. My resolve is iron. I failed once before.

I am not going to fail again.

36

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