Page 148 of Cashmere Ruin

“Stay here,” I order him. “Call cleanup. Handle this mess. I’ll take the car.”

I don’t have time to call Yuri and update him. I don’t have time to think about anything else but the family I left at the penthouse, thinking foolishly they’d be safe without me.

But they’re not.

They’re in danger—all of them.

45

APRIL

When I wake up, there’s a note from Matvey on the table.

Business meeting over breakfast downstairs. Will bring muffins back.

PS. Your cat is a menace.

I shake my head and laugh. “What did you do this time, Buttons?”

A furry little head pops up from the crib, the picture of innocence. It would almost work, except for the blue tie in its mouth.

“You little plunderer!” I scold without any real heat. “Always looking for treasures to hoard. I swear, it’s like you’re an actual pirate.”

“Mrowr.”

I swipe the tie and check on my baby. May’s sound asleep, her tiny hands holding tightly onto Buttons’s tail. To his credit,Buttons hasn’t complained yet. “Fine. I’ll let it slide, but only this once.”

I give him a scratch behind the ears, then go wake up Charlie. “Rise and shine, sleepyhead.”

He groans. “Five m’re minutes…”

It’s such a domestic scene, I can’t help the stupid grin on my face. My cat’s antics, my brother’s complaints. My baby, sleeping the morning away just because. And then Matvey’s note, sweet and ordinary, like we’re just any other normal couple.

No Bratva, no fake marriages—just us.

I poke Charlie some more. When that doesn’t work, I pull out my secret weapon. “I heard there’s muffins on the way.”

His head immediately pops up from the blanket. “Chocolate or blueberry?”

“Knowing Matvey, probably both.”

“Can I have coffee, too?”

“Nope. You’re way too young.”

We’re interrupted by knocking on the door. “I’ll get it,” I tell him.

Then, once I’m there, I stop. My hand is on the doorknob, but something tells me to be careful. Call it a sixth sense, a mother’s instinct—whatever.

“Forgot your keys?” I ask through the door, putting on a carefree tone.

No reply.

“Matvey?” I try again.

The knocking resumes, more insistent.BoomBOOMboomBOOM.

“Sis?” Charlie calls over from the couch. “Something wrong?”

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