Page 96 of Ivory Ashes

My hackles rise at the way he’s talking about Viviana. If he knew who she was, he wouldn’t be complaining. He’s the one who set her up with Trofim in the first place. The Giordanos would be a “good match” for our status, in his eyes.

Even still, the way he’s talking about my wife makes me want to cut out his tongue.

“It’s no longer any of your business who I’m seen with.”

“The only reason you have any business is because I built it and handed it to you.”

“I took it,” I remind him.

“So that means I should sit idly by and let you run it into the ground?” He pulls away from the phone to cough violently. When he comes back, his voice is hoarse. “You are thirty-five, Mikhail. It’s time to think about what comes next. You need to sire a legitimate heir, which isn’t going to happen if you’re out sticking your dick in everything with two legs. Believe me, that’s how things get complicated fast.”

Anatoly can’t hear what our father is saying, but I can tell by the strain in his face that he knows who I’m talking to.

“This isn’t complicated,” I tell him. “The woman is no one.”

If my father looks into Viviana, he’ll figure out who she is in an instant. He’ll realize I already have an heir with the daughter of Agostino Giordano and all hell will rain down. Helen Drakos and her father won’t take kindly to the insult, that’s for sure.

“If she’s no one, then keep her in your fucking bed,” he snarls. “There are eyes everywhere, Mikhail. If this gets back to Helen, our plans could go under fast.”

“My plans,” I correct. “Unifying with the Greeks was my idea.”

He sighs. “Then you should care more than anyone about seeing it through.”

The line beeps in my ear as it disconnects. I curse under my breath and pocket my phone.

“I assume our dear father knows about your house guests?” asks Nat.

“Just one of them,” I say. “But he doesn’t know about Dante or that it’s Viviana. I want it to stay that way.”

Raoul frowns. “For how long? You can’t keep them a secret forever.”

“Until I know who killed Trofim and can make sure they aren’t coming for Viviana or Dante next. That’s how long.”

Until I can get this ache in my chest under control.

Until looking at Viviana and not touching her doesn’t make me feel like I’m crawling out of my own skin.

“If you want her to want to stay,” Raoul advises, “maybe you shouldn’t use her kid to blackmail her into it.”

Anatoly winces in agreement. “It’s not a great way to get close to her.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not trying to get close to her.”

They both go unusually quiet. I feel them staring at me without even needing to check. They don’t believe a word out of my mouth.

“Viviana is here because of Dante,” I explain in an unconvincing monotone. “The only reason we’re married is so she doesn’t end up dead. I figured you, out of all people, would understand that, Anatoly.”

He flinches at the cruel, casual mention of what happened to his mother. I shouldn’t have thrown it in his face, but then again, they shouldn’t have backed me into a corner.

Before I can say anything else, Raoul steps between us, almost like he’s shielding Anatoly from me. “You’ve been through hell, Mikhail. We both know that and we understand it. But treating Viviana like shit isn’t going to undo the past.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.

Raoul lowers his voice. “It won’t bring them back. Nothing can undo the past. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

My molars grind together. “If you’re still here paying penance, you’re free, Raoul. I never forced you to stay.”

“Which is exactly why I have,” he fires back. “My family sent me here like I might be able to make up for the ones you lost. I knew I could never take their places, but I vowed to be loyal to you and try to undo the pain my family caused yours. I’ll be loyal to you until the day I die, Mikhail—but it still won’t bring them back.”

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