Page 156 of Ivory Ashes

“Manipulated him.” Mikhail paces away from the bed. His body is tight. His hands ball into fists at his side. “The same way you’re manipulating me.”

“What?” I breathe. “No! I didn’t?—”

“Raoul said they found a woman’s hair clip in his bed.” He snatches my golden claw clip off the nightstand and flings it at me. “I bet it looked a lot like this.”

My eyes close to hold back the hot tears. “I didn’t touch him, Mikhail. As soon as I got there, he was on top of me. He thought you’d sent me there to live in exile with him. He thought?—”

“He thought you were trustworthy,” Mikhail hisses.

This isn’t about Trofim. I know that. Mikhail knows who his older brother was. After what he did to Anatoly’s mother—after what he would have done to me—there’s no way he actually feels sympathetic for how his brother’s life ended.

“Trofim practically herded me to his bedroom. He was drunk and muttering about finishing what we’d started. If I hadn’t had the knife strapped to my thigh, I wouldn’t have been able to fight him off. He would have?—”

“Enough!” Mikhail roars. “At least when I kill a man, I’m honest with myself about it. I have a good reason.”

“Dante is a good reason!” I yell. “He’s my only reason. And if you could forget about your wounded pride for half a fucking second, you’d see that!”

Mikhail’s hand is around my neck in a heartbeat. He angles over me, pushing me back into the mattress. “If you think I’m going to let you manipulate me the way you do everyone else, you’re very fucking wrong.”

I can’t breathe. Can’t move. Mikhail is clenching my throat too tight. For the first time, I’m not sure he’s going to let go.

Finally, just as black begins to creep into my vision, he throws me back on the bed. “You’re my wife in name only. This arrangement between us exists only to protect Dante and ensure no one questions his parentage.”

“Mikhail,” I plead, “let me explain everything. Please, just?—”

“Give me a reason,” he barks. “Why should I give you another second of my time?”

“Because you…” A few minutes ago, I thought I knew the truth. I thought Mikhail and I were both fighting back the same feelings. But looking into his cold face now, I’m not convinced Mikhail has any feelings. Still, I say it anyway, praying saying it out loud will make it true. “Because you love me.”

He laughs—actually laughs. His face is twisted into a cruel mockery of a smile. “I don’t love you, Viviana. I don’t even fucking know you.”

“You do know me! I’ve told you everything now. There are no more secrets. Please.” I can’t see him through a haze of fresh tears. “Mikhail, please let me explain. I didn’t even?—”

“Dante is my responsibility now and I’m going to send him away. I’m going to keep him safe, from my enemies… and from you.”

He turns towards the door. The tears run unchecked down my cheeks.

“Are you going to kill me?” I ask weakly.

I know how these things go. He might keep me around for a little while, but eventually, he’ll get tired of me. If Mikhail really hates me as much as it seems like he does, I don’t stand a chance.

His back stiffens. “I don’t know yet.”

Then Mikhail pulls my ruined door closed behind him as I drop to the floor and sob.

57

VIVIANA

I open my eyes and see a figure standing next to my bed.

I jolt awake, my heart slamming against my ribcage as my spine slams against the headboard. This is it. He’s here to kill me.

“Mama?”

The little voice scatters the cloud of panic. I blink and see Dante staring up at me, wide-eyed.

“I’m sorry,” he blurts. His eyes are shiny like he’s been crying, too. “Mama, I didn’t mean to?—”

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