Page 189 of Cashmere Ruin

“I mean…” I glance towards the four men limping out of the room. “Better than them for sure.”

“Bastards,” she bites out. “I had no idea—I…”

“I know,” I quickly reassure her. “This isn’t your style. Say what you will, but you’d have gotten me a suite.”

Her eyes flit guiltily to Matvey. “Is he…?”

“Just knocked out.” I exhale. “Let me guess: they were afraid he’d put up a fight?”

“Yeah,” she hisses. “Fucking cowards.”

Bet they regretted they didn’t knockherout, too.“I’m so sorry,” I murmur. “This must be hell for you. Your dad, and then…”

I still can’t say it. Despite all I’ve seen, I still can’t say it.

“Is it true?” she whispers. “Is Yuri really…?”

Luckily, I’m spared from having to answer that.

Because the man himself answers for me. “Petra…”

She whirls around like lightning. “You.”

“I’m sorry,” Yuri murmurs. “You weren’t supposed to be dragged into this. Are you okay?”

“Am I okay?” She laughs hysterically. “Do I look fucking okay to you?”

“I already told them off for?—”

“Is it true?” she cuts him off without mercy. “Did you betray your own brother?”

Short and to the point. Some things never change.

“I…”

“It’s a yes-or-no question, Yuri.”

“It’s not so simple.”

“Looks simple enough to me.”

“Petya…”

“Don’t,” she snarls. “Don’t you fucking dare call me that.”

“I did this for us!” he objects. “I did this for?—”

“Are you here to let us go?”

He blinks. “I… I can’t do that. If you’ll cooperate, then yes, but…”

“But not April?”

Silence.

Petra scoffs. “Go. Get out of my sight.”

“Please, just listen?—”

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