Page 28 of Cashmere Ruin

“That’s not what I mean. You… truly believe me?”

“Yura, Yura, Yura,” I sigh. “If I really thought you’d been fucking my woman, do you think you’d still be standing on two legs?”

His face drains of all color. But that finally seems to convince him, because he leans in to take the bundle from my arms. “You trust me with her?” he asks in disbelief.

I watch him pick her up slowly. Carefully. “All these years you’ve stood by my side… don’t think I didn’t take notice. I know I can be kind of an asshole?—”

“You can lose the ‘kind of,’” Yuri mutters.

“—but I know you’ve always been in my corner,” I continue, pretending not to hear him.Cheeky brat.“You may have fucked up this time, but I know that, in your own misguided way, you were doing this for me, too.”

“I…”

“You got in too deep. Didn’t understand what the fuck you were doing. And how could you? You’re not a father yet.”

“Matvey…”

“But you will be. And I’ll be by your side for that, too.”

Yuri’s eyes are wet. Jesus Christ, could he be any more of a crybaby? “So you forgive me?” he croaks.

“This time, yes” I answer. “But there won’t be a second, Yuri. If you ever lie to me again…”

He looks like he’s choking on something. Words, maybe—or regrets. “Matvey, there’s something I need to?—”

“You don’t need to say anything,” I cut him off. “You’re forgiven.”

“But I?—”

“After all, we’re blood.”

He stops. “That’s… why you’re forgiving me?” he stammers. “And why you won’t forgive…?” Wisely, he doesn’t say her name.

“That’s right,” I growl. “You’re my family. She is not.”

If I ever need proof of my credo, April is the living, breathing thing. The wolf in sheep’s clothing who snuck past my defenses.

I won’t let her take another bite out of my heart. Never again.

“Regardless, she’s family to my daughter. Arrange for both of them to be moved back to the penthouse. I want them there asap.”

“Right,” Yuri mumbles. “Right, I’ll… get on that.”

I frown. “Are you feeling alright, brother? You didn’t get shot out there in the woods, did you?”

“No, no, I just… I’m a bit overwhelmed, I guess. Need to take this all in.” Then he hands me back my kid.

I shake my head and smile. My first real smile in a long, long time. “Go. Double the guard around the penthouse. Remind everyone you’re still my number two.”

With a nod, he stands up to carry out my orders.

“Oh, and brother?”

He turns back to me. “Yes…?”

“Never betray me again.”

I watch his lips press into a tight, scared line. “Yes,moy pakhan.”

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