Page 10 of Emerald Vices

With an abrupt knock, I let myself in before anyone can reply. Natalia, Misha, and Mila are sprawled across the bed, eating from the same charcuterie board.

“Hey there, big guy,” Mila greets in a teasing lilt. “Come to join the party?”

Based on the way Misha doesn’t look up and Natalia frowns, I’m not sure I’m invited.

“Misha, Mino is here for your physical therapy appointment.”

Remi perks up from where he’s napping on the floor when Misha climbs off the bed gingerly. He gives the dog a gentle pat and slinks out of the room without acknowledging me.

Mila hesitates for only a second before she too jumps up, grabbing the tray of food as she goes. “I just remembered I have some… laundry to do.”

“Since when?” Natalia hisses.

Mila offers her only a meek wave before disappearing through the door. Remi takes her place, nuzzling his head in Natalia’s lap.

She avoids my eyes as I round the bed and sit down at the edge of it, far from her. “How are you feeling today?”

“Misha’s acting like everything is fine, but I know it’s not.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Intuition.”

“He had a big shock yesterday,” I say, reminding myself once again that I need to give her a calm and nurturing environment. “Just give it time.”

She shakes her head. “He’s angry at me. He’s just not admitting it.”

“Leave the kid alone, Natalia?—”

“He’s in pain, Andrey!” she snaps. “Maybe you can ignore it, but I can’t.”

I grimace. We’re off to a great fucking start.

“Maybe I should speak to him.”

She eyes me suspiciously. “No offense, but you’re not exactly great with emotions. Or other humans.”

I fall back, biting down every snap and retort that’s circulating in my head. It’s amazing how, even now, she can push all my buttons.

“Where’s Katya?”

She picks at the comforter, her lip curling. “Avoiding me, obviously.”

“Don’t be mad at her. She did the right thing by telling me where you were.”

“She should have done what I asked her to do without involving you.”

“So you could leave? Again?”

Remi’s looking up at her with those bright, brown eyes of his. Almost as though he knows what we’re discussing.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that. You’ll break my heart.” Sighing, she drags her eyes back up to mine. Any trace of affection she had for Remi is gone when she looks at me. “It was the only way, Andrey. The only way.”

“To do what, exactly?”

She throws a hand up. “To protect myself and my children. And yes, I understand why Misha would be upset by that—but I didn’t leave him behind because I wanted to. I had to.”

“And what about me?”

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