Page 166 of Ripped Veil (Ripped Bratva)
“I saved your life!” I cry out, anger momentarily overtaking the hurt. “If it weren’t for me…”
“I would have won that fight.”
“That’s your pride talking,” I snap. “He had his hands around your neck. He was going to strangle you. He would have, too, if I hadn’t stopped him.” I pull up my hands and shove them in his face. “Look at my hands! That’s blood.Hisblood. I did it for you.”
He hasn’t said anything. But I can see that he’s still not convinced.
I shake my head. “Why are you letting me stay in your house if you really believe I’m a spy?” I demand. “What’s the point of all this?”
He exhales slowly. “Elyssa, just get back into the car.”
“No.”
“Elyssa—”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
He looks surprised by my raised voice, my rage. It’s strange for me, too. But part of it feels shockingly good. Like I’ve repressed this aspect of myself for so long that it’s finally getting to relish its time in the spotlight.
“You have to come with me.”
“Why?”
“Because I have your son.”
My anger deflates almost immediately.
My son.
Theo.
And Charity…
My complete and utter helplessness slaps me across the face. I was a fool to have followed him tonight. I should have left well enough alone and stayed put. Stayed with Theo and Charity—the only people in this world who truly matter to me.
“Hey…” His hand brushes against my arm and I flinch but he doesn’t pull back. “It’s been a difficult night. Let’s get you back to the mansion.”
I raise my eyes to meet his. I so desperately want to trust him. But now, I’m not so sure I should. If he thinks of me as a threat, how much longer before he takes measures to make sure I’m taken care of?
“Elyssa, Hitoshi Sakamoto leads the Yakuza. They’re going to be thrown into disarray after tonight. And they’re going to want revenge. We have to get back to the mansion. It’ll be safe there.”
I nod slowly as he takes my arm and leads me back to the car.
The drive back to the mansion is silent. Phoenix parks in the garage and comes around to open my door. “Come on,” he says impatiently, gesturing for me to follow him.
“Where are we going?”
“Just hurry up.”
The exit of the garage opens onto a meandering cobblestone pathway that feeds into the gardens that surround the mansion. The mansion looms silent and intimidating in the night, a block of glass and shadow.
Phoenix strides ahead of me. I don’t bother trying to catch up to him. The part of the garden he leads me to is shrouded in darkness. But I notice the dark fire pit sitting in the center of the space.
He sets to work quickly. Within minutes, Phoenix has a roaring fire going. Warmth spreads across my limbs and I move a little closer.
But when Phoenix approaches me, I back away from him. “Are you going to kill me?” I ask.
He looks startled by the question. “No,” he says at last. He doesn’t bother giving me any other reassurance.
