Page 28 of Emerald Vices

“What is the fucking point of you?” I shoved him away from the door just as another scream tore through the silence.

Everything in me wanted to tear into that room, to hold her. To save her from the monsters in her own head.

The problem was, I might’ve been one of the monsters.

Instead, I dragged Leonty further down the hall and grilled him on the secrets he’d apparently seen fit to keep. There was a lot to tell.

Natalia had been having nightmares every night. She’d wake up screaming, and only Remi seemed to be able to calm her back to sleep. On the nights when even that didn’t work, she’d turn all the lights on and sit in her room for hours until she crashed out around dawn.

How the fuck am I supposed to handle attacks on my house when I don’t even know what’s happening inside the walls?

“Let Mila and Katya worry about Natalia,” Shura says in answer to the question I didn’t ask. “Misha is here for her, too.”

“I’m her husband. I should be there for her.”

Shura cocks an eyebrow. “I get that you’re concerned, but we’ve got bigger problems.”

“Nothing is more important than she is. Do you understand?” We’re so close now that our noses are practically touching.

His eyes spark violently, but in the end, hierarchy wins out. Shura steps back. “I understand.”

“Speaking of which: did you get into contact with?—?”

“Done,” he assures me. “She doesn’t usually make house calls, but she’ll make an exception for you.”

I nod, reasonably satisfied. I won’t be completely satisfied until Natalia simply accepts that I know what’s best for her.

“When are you going to tell her?” Shura asks, eyeing me skeptically.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who predicts Natalia won’t make this easy. “Tonight,” I decided on the spur of the moment. “But first, I’ll need to get her in a good mood.”

“I’d suggest you make yourself scarce then,” he mutters.

Flipping him off, I sit down behind my desk. “Invite Mila and Katya over for dinner. And arrange for Aunt Annie to surprise her. We’re going to have a dinner party.”

Shura looks like I’ve just told him I’m running away to join the circus. “A dinner party? Now?”

I tell myself that this makes sense. An apple rots from the inside out. If I want to get a handle on things, I need to start with Natalia.

I nod. “She’s happiest and most compliant when she’s surrounded by her friends and family.”

Shura sighs. “Ah, the subtle art of manipulation.”

Blunt honesty and directness haven’t worked for me so far.

Might as well give this a shot.

12

ANDREY

The night has unfolded perfectly. Natalia wasn’t sure about a dinner party, but Mila and Katya were so excited that she couldn’t refuse. They’re the ones who coaxed Natalia into the gold wrap dress I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of all night.

Her dark hair is draped over her shoulder, and the neckline dips low across her chest, flashing a teasing amount of cleavage.

I could’ve attempted to look unaffected, but I played my hand the second Natalia walked into the room, so I didn’t even bother. She’s caught my eyes on her time and time again throughout the dinner, but she seems pleased by the attention, smiling quietly to herself from across the table.

Good.

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