Page 116 of Cashmere Cruelty

“And kept the money,” I guess.

“And kept the money. Every last cent.”

I need Grisha to keep this file locked away from me. This thing has addresses, workplaces, license plates—everything I need to turn these motherfuckers’ lives into hell. If I have to look at this for one more second, I won’t be responsible for what comes out of my mouth next. Maybe it’ll be a kill order—maybe it’ll be worse.

So I snap the folder shut and breathe. “Grisha.”

“Yes?”

“Keep this for me. Don’t let anyone see it.”

Grisha bows. “At your service.”

A shitty family. Two shitty parents, two shitty step-parents. A sea of half-siblings who got everything April didn’t. And one woman—only one—who took pity on her and raised her as her own: Maia. Her grandmother.

So of course April twitches at every loud noise. Of course she rushes to clean up after herself and others, trembling at thethought of consequences. Of course she was scared to tell me she was pregnant—who knows what I would’ve done? How couldsheknow?

I want to go scorched earth on these fuckers. I want them to pay for every tear they’ve made her shed, every invisible scar they’ve given her.

But why do I want that?

April’s my co-parent. Knowing about this is enough for my purposes: keeping my child safe. Everything in these pages has already happened. I can’t turn back time for April to grow up safe, loved, wanted—and I shouldn’t even care.

So why do I?

Suddenly, I feel like a kid again. I’m back in that shed-turned-house, buried in the snow, a weak fire flickering over ashes. My mother, coughing her life away; her child, powerless to do anything.

It’s been a while since I’ve felt that: powerlessness.

I shake myself. I shouldn’t be thinking like this. April’snothingto me.

The thought scrapes like nails on a chalkboard, but I swiftly bury the noise.

There’s one last problem, too: April hasn’t told me any of this. I can’t possibly bring it up. She’s already scared shitless of every shadow—what am I even going to say?

Good evening, co-parent. I went down the rabbit hole of your past and found out your parents are horrible and the onewoman who ever loved you is dead. Wanna fuck your troubles away?

I rise from my chair. “Let’s go.”

Yuri frowns. “Go where?”

“Out,” I say, impatient. “We have work to do. Don’t make me say it again.”

“But—”

“Yura.”

Yuri swallows his words. “Yes,pakhan.”

Then he’s at my heels, Grisha in tow, and we’re out of the office and into the city, thinking no more of April Flowers.

And then, several hours later, I see the bodyguards’ calls.

35

MATVEY

I rush to the penthouse with my heart in my throat. I didn’t think I had one, but there’s nothing else this lump could be—this wild hammering in my veins.

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