Page 54 of The Bratva’s Monster

I decide to scroll on, looking through them until I get to the most recent one. It’s from Stefan and it’s short. All it says is,

“It was good seeing you today. Don’t worry about paying me back. You’ve got to get it together, though. A woman like Lizzy only comes once in a lifetime.”

—Stefan

It’s just three sentences, but I think it might be enough. It, at least, proves that Gedeon asked for a loan from a friend and not a payment for being a snitch.

My phone starts buzzing on the desk in front of me. I pick it up hoping to see Rikki’s name. It’s not him. It’s Yeva.

I answer it. I haven’t talked to her since she left for Europe. “Hey,” I say, trying to keep my tone bright.

“Hello from London,” she responded. “Where it’s rained for most of the time that I’ve been here.”

“Sounds thrilling.”

“It’s truly amazing,” she responds in a bland tone. “How’re things in Rostov territory?”

“Complicated,” I say.

“Ah. So the same as always. How are you holding up?”

There’s so much to tell her. We haven’t talked since the charity ride, and I doubt Rikki told her what happened between us. I probably shouldn’t tell her any of that, but… but I’ve been sitting with it all spinning in my head now for hours. I could use an outside perspective of some sort.

“I’m…” I start, trying to find a way around to bringing it up. There isn’t one. “I’m in deep shit, Yeva.”

She sighs hard. “What did you do?”

“In a nutshell, your brother.”

She pauses. “Which one?” she asks, her voice suddenly deep and conspiratorial.

“Rikki!” I say it like she should know, despite the fact that sleeping with one brother in this case isn’t really much more moral than the other. “I slept with Rikki.”

“What?” I can hear the smile on her face. “When was this?”

“Shortly before you left for Europe. The night of the Devils’ charity ride.”

She laughs. It’s loud and braying. “Holy shit. I knew you were going to end up fucking somebody in that dress.” I let her laugh for a second, then she stops abruptly. “Oh… oh, no. Liz…”

“I know,” I say. “Of all the horny guys in that room, I just had to pick my husband’s best friend. This is the kind of thing that Nona would call classless.”

She sighs. “Well, I mean, it’s not the best way to get your endorphins, but it’s a start. How’s Rikki doing with that?”

And here comes the complication. “He was dealing with it okay as far as I could tell… then I broke the news to him that I’m carrying his best friend’s baby.”

Silence on the other end. Oh, boy. I let it go on for about ten seconds before I ask, “You still there?”

“I’m here,” she says. “I’m just… stunned. Are-are you sure it’s Gedeon’s?”

“Yes. I knew about it before Rikki and I started sleeping together.”

“Holy shit, Lizzy. What did you tell him for?”

“I had to tell him eventually,” I say, trying not to sound as defensive as I actually do sound. “I mean, it’s getting to the point where it’s becoming harder to hide. I’ve been nauseous and throwing up all over the place. When he came over earlier, I actually fainted.”

“Wow. Okay, so, how’s he taking it?”

“How do you think?” I ask her. “And I can’t say as I blame him for being upset.” I scroll mindlessly back and forth on the email that’s up on the computer screen. “I should have told him before we slept together. Or maybe not slept with him at all. I was stone sober at the time, so there’s no excuse for my behavior. I don’t know why…” I stop myself. I’d been saying that to myself for a while now and it’s only until right now that I realize how untrue it is.