Page 181 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

Taking advantage of my isolation, I rush towards Phoenix’s cell. I grab another gun from one of the fallen Yakuza guards, mimic Konstantin’s entry from earlier, and shoot the lock twice.

When I kick the door, it collapses inwards.

“Phoenix…”

“El… Elyssa,” Phoenix murmurs dreamily, taking in my appearance as though he can’t quite believe his eyes. “Is it really you?”

“In the flesh,” I say. “Come on. We’ve got to go.”

I look up at the rope that has him partially suspended above the ground. I pull out the knife Matvei had given me and start cutting through the stubborn bonds.

It takes my full effort to saw through the thick rope, but eventually, the last thread parts and Phoenix collapses to the ground. He groans, but swats away my offer of a hand up to stand on his own power.

Even beaten, even bloodied, even dragged to death’s doorstep, he looks magnificent.

“Who’s with you?” he says in the low, rasping voice that makes my blood run hot even now.

A lump forms in my throat. “Konstantin…”

“Good. Where is he…?”

“Dead,” I say with a catch in my voice. “I’m sorry. It happened when we were trying to get in here. He saved me.”

I grab hold of him, wanting to make sure he’s really here, really with me. He looks as solid as ever, despite the fact that his body is riddled with the signs of torture.

“It’s okay,” Phoenix says, reading the expression on my face. “I’m okay.”

I nod and pass him a gun. “Let’s go get the boys,” I tell him.

He takes it from me and checks the chamber with expert efficiency. He’s recovering rapidly now that he’s back on his feet. “Do you have any idea where they are?”

“Yuri might be down in the other block of cells,” I reply. “That’s where I first met him. But Theo… I have no idea.”

“That means we need to move fast,” Phoenix says, instantly going into alpha mode.

You can kick the life out of the don, it seems.

But you can’t kick the don out of the life.

Taking the lead, I navigate us down the dark corridors until we hit the staircase that leads down to the lower cells. The door is wide open. I sprint straight through and down into its depths.

I take the steps two at a time until I emerge into the dimly lit room. The cells are all full, except for the one in the corner that I used to occupy. The women in them leap to their feet when they see who it is. The redhead who’d scoffed at me earlier looks positively dumbfounded.

“Don’t worry,” I tell all of them. “We’ll get you out one way or another.”

“How?” the redhead demands. “You don’t have the keys.”

“I’ll find them,” I snap. “Where’s the little boy? Yuri?”

“The master came down minutes ago and took him.”

The hope drains from Phoenix’s face. I’m sure I look the same—like I’ve just seen death itself. Phoenix sags against a moldy stone wall, his eyes unfocused and scarred.

“Phoenix,” I say, “we should get you out of here.”

“I’m not leaving without those boys,” he growls.

I grab a hold of his hand. “Neither am I. But we’re running out of time…”

---