Page 178 of Cashmere Ruin

You wouldn’t have seen it. You didn’t want to see it.

That’s right: I didn’t want to see it.

And now, April and May are in danger because of it.

“You’re threatening me?” I hiss. “You? When I’m the one who taught you how to hold a fucking gun in the first place?”

“Yes. And you taught me well, so don’t make me take it out.”

“We both know I’m the faster draw.”

“And we both know I’m not dumb enough to come alone.”

I grit my teeth. He has me.God fucking dammit.Of course I didn’t think to bring reinforcements—I thought I was meeting mybrother.My own flesh and blood.

But it turns out I didn’t know who I was meeting at all.

“Fine. If you’re gonna talk, then talk.”

I dig my nails into my thigh until I can feel them through the fabric of my suit. All I want right now is to grab him again and punch him until he sees sense. But I can’t. No matter how badly I want to teach him a lesson, I can’t do it while cornered.

And I certainly can’t do it at the expense of my family.

He has them hostage: my woman, my daughter. And my hands are tied. If there’s even the slightest chance we’re being watched, I have to play by the rules.

Hisrules.

For now.

“Release my family,” I growl. “Do that and I’ll spare your worthless life.”

He clicks his tongue in distaste. “‘Family.’ How quickly you crossed me out of that. So I was right all along.”

“After what you did? You’re lucky you’re still fucking breathing.” I glare at him with all the hatred I feel. “You lied to me. You manipulated me. You made me kill a friend and now, youkidnappedmy woman and my daughter!”

“I didn’t make you do anything,” he replies curtly. “And the girls will be fine if you do as I say.”

Carmine is here.Finally, the true meaning of Ivan’s last words dawns on me. It wasn’t a threat—it was a warning.

He knew. During our fight, he must’ve realized what truly happened. He used his final breath to warn me.

And I killed him.

“You have three days to surrender yourself,” Yuri says. “If you do, no harm will come to your family. They will be released and provided for.”

“I can damn well provide for my own family.”

“No, you can’t,” the traitor replies. “But you have my word. They will lack for nothing.”

“Some fucking word that is.”

“And yet, it’s all you have. So take it or leave it.”

He rises. I immediately regret not punching him harder when I had the chance to. But there’s something else I regret, deeper and sharper, buried under the fire of my rage.

The fact that it had to come to this.

“Here’s the address.” Yuri slides over a business card. “In three days’ time, at dawn. After that, I can’t protect your family anymore.”

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