Page 108 of Cashmere Ruin

We let it hang in the air. Ivan’s been the last in a long, painful streak of betrayals this year. Tonight, I’ll ascertain if it’s really over.

A scantily clad hostess leads us to our table. Since Vlad was the one who picked the place, it’s only to be expected that it reflects his standards of class rather than mine.

When he sees me arrive, Vlad stumbles upright. “Son!”

I glance at the half-empty bottle of vodka on the table. “I see you started without me.”

“Nonsense. We’ll get more.”

That’s exactly what I’m worried about.“I hope you don’t mind if my brother joins us.”

“Of course not!” Vlad bellows. “But he’ll have to loosen up, too.”

“Sorry?” Yuri balks.

“Come on, you bastard, drink something!” Vlad drags him down to sit. “You aren’t pregnant, too, are you, boy?”

“He’s driving,” I cut in. “No drinks for him.”

Yuri shoots me a grateful look. By contrast, Vlad scrunches up his nose. “Kids these days. Back in my day, you didn’t leave the house without a nice bottle of vodka to warm you up.”

“Yeah, ‘cause you had to sleep in the trenches,” Yuri mumbles under his breath.

“What was that, son?”

“Nothing.”

I bite my cheek. “Get to the point, Vlad. I know you didn’t ask me here for the pleasure of my company.”

“So paranoid,” the old man sighs. “Always so paranoid. Very well.”

He motions for us to sit. I take my place in front of him; Yuri remains standing at my side. I can practically feel his dislike for Vlad oozing out of him. My brother has many fine qualities, but subtlety isn’t one of them.

Not that it matters. I’m the one who married his daughter. As far as Vlad knows, that’s my baby in her belly.

Which means I’m the one who has to endure him.

“Thevory, son… they’re concerned.”

“Oh?”

Vlad steeples his wrinkled fingers. “Yes. I’m afraid that nasty business with Ivan has left you looking a bit tyrant-like.”

“I didn’t realize I was running a group of Girl Scouts.”

“My boy, you really should take this more seriously.”

“And you should really stop calling me that.”

He raises his hands in surrender. “Fine,Matvey.But my point stands. Thevoryare afraid of you.”

“Good. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

“If they respect you, yes. But even that’s starting to falter.”

“And I assume you have some pearls of wisdom on that front?”

Vlad smirks, oblivious to my sarcasm. “Of course I do. Anything for my dear daughter’s husband.”

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