Page 51 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

He rolls his eyes. “Does every office space you own have to be depressing as fuck?”

“Yes.”

He pulls the door shut and walks in. But he doesn’t take a seat and neither do I. The air prickles with unspoken tension.

“Well?” I ask. “Give me your report.”

“All of our prisoners have been confined to their cells in the bunker. There are armed guards stationed both inside and out.”

“And the man of the hour?” I ask. “Where is he?”

“In the basement cell here,” Matvei answers. “As per your orders, don.”

I ignore the touch of resentment in his voice. “How are his wounds?”

“Healing. I’ve had him checked twice today. He needs more time to recuperate, though. The journey here really tired him out.”

I scoff. “What a fucking pussy.”

“You might be underestimating him, brother. He hasn’t said a word in over twenty-four hours. Not even when the stitches ripped out and he started bleeding through his bandages.”

“But he’s alive?”

“Yes.”

“Then I don’t really care about the rest.”

“My point is that it might not be so easy to get answers out of him.”

“I’m not playing nice guy anymore,” I snap. “He’ll tell me what I want to know.”

“Or else?”

“Or else I’ll bury him like I plan to bury the men he works for.”

Matvei’s eyes grow distant. I don’t like the look on his face, but I know that asking questions is just going to lead to answers I don’t want to hear.

“How did the dinner with Elyssa go?” he asks, pivoting hard.

“It was fine.”

“Jesus, that bad?”

I grind my teeth together. “I can handle her.”

“Oh yeah, totally. You have my full vote of confidence in that department.”

“I detect a note of sarcasm.”

He holds up his hands in false innocence. “I would never.” Then he drops them at his sides and his voice downshifts. “What happened?”

I contemplate telling him. But the truth is, I’m not sure I know what happened, either. One minute, I was poised, composed, fully in control. And then, in the blink of an eye, I had her bent back over the balcony railing with one hand around her throat and the other in her pussy.

“Nothing happened.”

“Your mood suggests otherwise.”

“Do you always have to be so damn nosy?” I snap. “This is none of your business.”

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