Page 152 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

I knock twice. The door swings open.

“Mabel,” I say to our resident safehouse keeper.

She’s an older woman, pushing sixty and trying hard to fight it. She’s dyed her hair jet black and she wears way too much makeup. But she’s loyal as hell. And that’s my only requirement.

“Master Phoenix!” Mabel says, looking delighted to see me. “What a surprise.”

I blow right past her with a wordless grunt.

“Oh dear,” she murmurs. “What’s happened?”

“Same old shit. Astra Tyrannis trying to fucking destroy my family.”

She turns around, looking between Matvei and me with a warm look of concern on her face. “Shall I put on some coffee?”

“Did any of the boys come by here today?” I ask, ignoring her question.

“No, I believe they’re all at the main compound. Didn’t you put them on alert this morning?”

“That’s right,” I say. “But the plans have changed. Matvei?”

“I’ll sort it out,” he says, taking his phone out and walking into an empty room. Mabel is staring at me with concern, and that’s the last thing I need right now.

“Don’t worry, son,” she says gently. “You’ll get her back.”

I frown. “How do you…?”

“Women have a bad rep, but it’s men that are the real gossipers,” she remarks with a wink. “All your men know how obsessed you are with your new wife.”

“Fucking gossipy little schoolgirls. I don’t pay them to talk. I pay them to follow orders.”

“And they do. But they have to keep occupied somehow.”

“Preferably not with my fucking personal life.”

She smiles, not at all fazed by my anger. A moment later, the doorbell rings. I rush to answer it. Konstantin is standing on the other side—with the package in hand.

It’s smaller than what I was picturing. The size of a ring box. I snatch it from his hands without a word. Rip it apart. And inside, I find…

A lock of curling blond hair.

Fury surges through my veins. I sense Matvei come up behind me.

“Is that…?”

“Elyssa’s hair,” I confirm. I’d know it anywhere.

I tear open the letter, hands shaking with rage.How dare he?I’m thinking.How dare he fucking touch her?

“Phoenix Kovalyov—We have danced this dance for long enough. It’s time we talked face to face. Come to Wild Night Blossom as soon as this letter reaches you. Bring no one. If you don’t follow my instructions, the part of your precious little wife I send next will require a much bigger box.”

The letter flutters from my hand like a fallen leaf. It takes a long time before I stop seeing red.

The only way I’m able to contain my anger is the knowledge that getting Elyssa back is within my power. But only if I stay calm. Only if I act smart.

“Phoenix?” Matvei asks. “What did it say? Was it really from Ozol?”

“Yes,” I answer. “Matvei, I need to speak to you privately.”

---