Page 184 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

“When did you take up smoking again?” I ask.

“Since you started stressing me out.”

I smile. “Touché.”

Matvei glances at me out of the corner of his eyes. He’s been keeping his distance lately. At first, I hadn’t even noticed. I’d been busy dealing with domestic life. I’d gone from a single man with no children, to a married one with two in the span of days. It’s been a lot to juggle.

Then, when I had started noticing that he was keeping his distance, I’d just assumed he was trying to give me and my new family some time and privacy. Now, I’m beginning to think it’s more than that.

“Is there something you need to tell me?” I ask.

Matvei looks out into the throng of people gathered outside the site. The street has been cleared for the demolition. The only people on site are the ones who wanted to be present to see this fucking black hole of a building go down.

“Can’t believe your father came,” Matvei says, purposefully ignoring my question and confirming my suspicions.

“I think it’s his way of saying I did good,” I reply. “Although I’m guessing my mother was the one that pushed him into it.”

Matvei smiles. “She dotes on those boys, doesn’t she?”

I roll my eyes. “She spoils them rotten, you mean.”

Matvei shrugs. “They both deserve it. Especially Yuri.”

He does deserve it. He’s had a hard time adjusting. Not because he doesn’t enjoy being with us, but because a part of him is terrified that the whole arrangement is just temporary.

The first week after the fight at Wild Night Blossom, Elyssa slept with the boys in the room next to mine. He trusted her right off the bat. It’s taking him more time to accept me again.

I tried not to take that personally. I’m still trying.

Then again, I can’t really blame him.

Elyssa was born to be a mother. She’s loving and caring by nature, and her favorite thing in the world is to spend the day in the garden with both boys. That’s what he needs—healing. Hope. Happiness.

“He’s getting better,” I tell Matvei. “We started the counseling sessions last month. They seem to be helping.”

“Are they?”

I shrug. “That’s what Elyssa tells me.”

“She’s right,” Matvei says. “I dropped in yesterday and I saw Yuri playing in the garden with Cillian and Kian. It was like the old days.”

“Nothing will ever be like the old days,” I say at once. “But this… this is good.”

“I can see that,” Matvei replies. “And I’m glad for you, Phoenix. After everything you’ve been through. You deserve this.”

“It’s not over, you know,” I say. “Ozol might be dead. His goons might be dead. This building will be nothing but dust and ash within the hour. But Astra Tyrannis is still alive and well.”

Matvei looks at me with raised eyebrows. “You’re not going to stop going after them?”

“Elyssa and I discussed it at length,” I admit. “But in the end, we decided we can’t just let them get away with the atrocities they commit every day. It wouldn’t be right, and we’re the only ones with the power to stop them. We saved thirty-three women from that hellhole. Shit, half of them weren’t even women—they were little girls, no older than thirteen. We can’t just let that kind of shit continue.”

Matvei nods. “I knew you’d say that.”

“And you don’t approve?”

“On the contrary, I completely approve. I just want you to keep your family safe.”

“Oh, trust me, I’ve made all the arrangements. No one is ever going to get near any of them ever again.”

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