Page 126 of Emerald Vices

“Of course I do,” he splutters. “I am simply being practical. You need a successor.”

Shura’s jaw is a hard line. He holds my gaze, and I can hear the words he can’t voice. You promised Natalia.

What I promised her was to keep our children safe.

Which is what I intend to do.

“I’m winning this war, brothers,” I proclaim, addressing all the men standing around me. “And I also plan on living a very long time. But since this seems to be a matter of some concern, let me clear your minds…”

The room goes silent.

“I have a successor. My son, Grigory Kuznetsov.”

53

NATALIA

Andrey is like a physical shield against all my worst thoughts and all my scariest nightmares. I’ve gotten used to his weight and warmth beside me. Come to depend on it, really.

So when I reach for his side of the bed and find cold sheets, my heart drops. My drowsiness fades as I bolt up, my eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness.

The twins’ cribs are a few feet away in a pool of moonlight slanting through a crack in the blinds. There are patches of shadow here, there—and then one that moves.

“Andrey,” I whisper.

He raises his head. “Lastochka. Did I wake you?”

I slip out of bed and pad across the carpet. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, leaning over the chair he’s slouched in. “No, I was just missing you.” He presses a kiss to my wrist but there’s something about the distracted flutter of his lips that gets to me.

“Why aren’t you in bed? It’s late.”

“I just got home.” His voice is tired, somber.

I grip his shoulders a little tighter. “Is it done, then?”

Andrey’s head drops lower. “I disowned him in front of the entire Bratva.”

“Are you okay?”

“It had to be done.”

I walk around him so I can see his face. “That’s not what I asked.”

He takes a deep breath. “It was harder than I expected it to be. Despite everything…”

“He’s still your brother.”

“Not anymore.” His gaze slides to mine. Shadows have carved out hollows in his face. He looks haunted. “Natalia, there’s something I have to tell you.”

The tone of his voice has me taking a step back. “What?”

“Disowning Viktor has… consequences. The Bratva—my allies—they wanted stability. They needed it after what they saw.”

I frown. “Things are more stable without Viktor. You gave them that.”

He shakes his head. “It’s not enough. They needed… They wanted… I had to tell them about Grigory.”

I swivel towards the crib, half-expecting to see Grigory’s side of it empty. “You didn’t.”

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