Page 182 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

A foul voice emerges from the shadows at the mouth of the staircase. “As it turns out, you’ve already run out of time.”

We both pivot in place to find Ozol stepping out into the cell space. Yuri is standing in front of him and a guard approaches on his left—with Theo bundled in his arms.

“Theo…!”

I take a step forward but Ozol stops me in my tracks by raising a gun to Yuri’s head.

“Now, let’s all calm down and have a little chat,” he says with his signature snaky smile. “Or else you’ll have to watch while I shoot the brains out of both your little runts.”

44

Phoenix

I didn’t know I could hurt this much and keep moving.

But I can. I have to. For my boys.

Elyssa looks beside herself with worry. Ozol keeps his pistol pressed to the back of Yuri’s shaved head. The guard holding Theo stays close at his side.

“Now,” Ozol says, “let’s talk like civilized people, shall we?”

To my surprise, Elyssa pipes up before I can even formulate a response. “Fuck you,” she spits.

I almost laugh. Hearing her curse is still strange and new. But the venom, the fire in her voice? That’s here to stay, I think.

Viktor simply grins. “Elyssa, my dear, I must say—this life seems to suit you. More than I would have ever thought. It’s a shame your road ends here.”

“You’re delusional,” she snarls viciously. “Your men are dying by the dozens upstairs right now. It’s your road that’s ending.”

He waggles his eyebrows. “That may be true. But I have the only gun that matters. Right here.”

As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. We could have every Bratva man in the country here with guns pointed at Viktor’s face. And the pistol he has against Yuri’s skull would still protect him forever.

“So let’s talk business. We have played this game a long time,” he says to me. “And I have to admit, I’ve even enjoyed it at times. But now I’m getting tired. Impatient.”

“Because you can sense your own death on the horizon.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Hardly.”

“You know what’s coming,” I say. “And there’s no way out of it. So look at me, Victor Ozol. Look at me well, because I am your death.”

I want to cross the space between us and murder the motherfucker with my bare hands right now. I’m itching to act. To break him again and again until there’s nothing left to break.

He just sighs, though. “So many promises you’ve made. I’m getting tired of those, too. Now, here’s what’s going to happen: we’re all going to walk out of here together like one big, happy family. You’re going to tell your men upstairs to let me pass through—because if you don’t, both of your boys will end up as roadkill. Do you understand me? Both of you?”

I’m at a loss for words. I’ve told this motherfucker that I will kill him. I meant it. But how? How can I do that without losing my sons—again?

Elyssa looks like the same thoughts are running through her head. I reach out and grab her hand in mine. She clings to me, strong but desperate. Hoping for something to happen that will change the calculus here. For one last chance at a future.

And it comes.

But not how I ever expected.

From the staircase we came down, I notice a blur of motion.

And then, of all people, Josiah leaps forward with a rabid yell. For one wild moment, I think he’s come to attack us. But it’s not Elyssa or me that he’s after.

It’s Ozol.

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