Page 144 of Cashmere Ruin

I realize he’s asking me. “Oh! No, no, we don’t think so. It’s probably just the eye.”

“It looks worse than it is,” Charlie adds helpfully.

“I doubt that,” Matvey comments. Then he moves his hand to the top of Charlie’s head…

Andpats it.

I’m speechless. It’s such a one-eighty from what the old Matvey would’ve done. Sure, he was good to Charlie back then, too, but not before he took his pound of flesh out of me. And now…

Now, it’s like watching someone else entirely.

“You did the right thing coming here,” he says. “I’ll have the guest room made up for you.”

“Th-That’s okay!” Charlie waves his hands. “Things have probably calmed down at home. I should?—”

“Stay.”

They both turn to me.

“Stay,” I repeat. “Seriously. I’d feel much better if I knew you were here tonight.”

I glance at Matvey for confirmation. The corner of his lips curves upwards, imperceptible to anyone else.

But not to me.

IknowMatvey,I remind myself.I don’t have to be afraid of him anymore.Because this is the new Matvey, the one who’s been changing for my sake only. AndthisMatvey?—

This Matvey, I’d trust with my life.

Just like that, my anxiety melts away. “I’ll throw in pizza and a movie to seal the deal?” I offer.

Charlie’s eyes light up. “Is that really okay?”

“Of course,” Matvey answers. “You’re family.”

Family.Once, that six-letter word meant nothing to me. Not in the way it usually meant something to other people. But now…

Now, it’s something I have. The side I chose and the side I didn’t—two halves of my heart, now beating in unison.

I couldn’t be more grateful.

44

MATVEY

That morning, I leave April and Charlie snoozing on the couch and head down to the lobby.

Yuri and Grisha are already waiting for me. I told them to meet here—I didn’t want to be away from the penthouse any more than I had to. Not after yesterday’s pop-up visit by April’s harpy of a mother.

“Who was on guard duty yesterday?” I ask first thing.

“Taras and Shura,” Grisha replies.

“Fire them. I want someone more capable next time.”

We head to the restaurant area. The waiter’s eyes go wide at the sight of me. “S-Sir! If I’d known you’d be here, I would have?—”

“Are you telling me I need a reservation to have breakfast in my own hotel’s restaurant?”

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