Page 172 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

He smiles. “Haven’t you realized by now? I’m immortal, Phoenix. I am a god. I am the powers that be.”

“What have you done to him?”

“Just what I said: I gave him a second chance.”

“I believed he was dead all this time…”

“That was what you were supposed to believe. So that I could orchestrate this little reunion when it suited me most.”

His expression is almost gleeful. I’ve never seen such blatant excitement on anyone’s face before. These are the games he plays to entertain himself. Because rape and murder have grown boring after so many years of causing that kind of suffering.

He’s no god.

He’s the motherfucking devil.

“You should be thanking me,” he goes on. “I will turn your little boy into the exact mirror image of me. And one day, he will stand in my place, walk in my shoes. He will make the decisions for Astra Tyrannis. You see? I’m giving him an empire.”

“I will kill you long before that happens,mudak.”

He laughs. “Says the man hanging from the ceiling. It’s a shame, really. You could have done so much. If you’d only chosen your friends more carefully.”

“I’d rather die than be a part of anything to do with Astra Tyrannis.”

“Then you will die indeed. But before you go, I still have games to play.”

“Master Viktor?”

I cringe again as Yuri appears. This time, he’s holding something carefully. He steps forward and my heart stops for a moment when I see the burden in his arms.

“Theo…”

Ozol throws back his head and laughs. “Isn’t it ironic?” he asks. “For all your strength and power, you couldn’t even hold on to your own sons. You couldn’t keep them safe.”

“Ty budesh' goret' v adu za eto!”I roar.

“So there we have it. Two Kovalyov boys are in my custody,” he says triumphantly. “Two little toys for me to do with as I please.”

“I will fucking murder you,” I say. “I don’t know how and I don’t know when, but you will die by my hand. I swear that to you.”

“It’s good to have dreams,” Ozol chuckles. “Hold onto them. But in the meantime, I’ll be making plans.”

He steers Yuri around and pushes them both out of the door.

“No!” I scream at their retreating backs. “No!”

But the only response is the clang of my cell door as it slams shut. I can only scream and struggle against my restraints like a fucking marionette.

The whole room shakes, but nothing gives way.

Not yet, at least.

But I meant what I swore. When I get out of this cell, Viktor Ozol is going to burn.

42

Elyssa

Phoenix’s Mansion

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