Page 146 of Cashmere Ruin

Never again will I leave April to deal with her ghosts alone.

Clearly, Yuri’s dealing with ghosts of his own, too, no matter what he says. He can refuse help all he wants, but that doesn’t mean it’s not needed. I’ve known my brother long enough to know what the circles under his eyes mean: he’s exhausted, physically and mentally.

And I can’t let that go on any longer.

“Stay on Vlad today. Let’s give our suspect a break.”

“A break?”

“Make him think we’ve abandoned him.”

Yuri nods. “That makes sense. He’d be more willing to talk after that.”

“What about me?” Grisha asks.

“You’ll stay on April. After what happened yesterday, I want you with the other guards as often as possible. Keep them in line. Remind them it’s not just Carmine they have to protect her from.”

“Yes,pakhan.”

We break it off there. Our coffees have long since gone cold, but I swallow mine anyway. The bitterness helps. Grounds me in a way nothing else can.

I watch Yuri leave, then stop Grisha from going up. “I’ve changed my mind. I need you to drive me somewhere first.”

“What about April?”

I hesitate. I want her to be safe, but this is important. “Have your men call if anyone comes,” I decide. “And I do meananyone, Grisha. I don’t care if it’s the fucking Tooth Fairy—I want to know about it.”

“Noted.” He types a quick text, then turns back to me. “Where to?”

The warehouse is exactly as I left it: rust-eaten, rank with the smell of blood and disinfectant. Half-hospital, half-prison.

Only, there’s no chance of getting out of here.

I find Anatoly in Room A, as expected. He’s been roughed up. Half his face is swollen, almost unrecognizable. If he’d been able to escape like that, I’m not sure I could have found him.

“Hello, Anatoly.”

His head snaps up. “Pakhan.What… are you doing here?”

“I’m here to get answers.”

I glance at the tools. Either they’re untouched, or they’ve been cleaned spotless, because there isn’t a speck of blood on them. I wonder if this is why Yuri couldn’t get this guy to talk—if he didn’t go hard enough on Anatoly for one reason and one reason only.

Kindness.

“Please, wait?—”

I land the first punch in his gut. “Who are you spying for?”

This thing with Vlad must’ve been getting to Yuri more than I thought. He doesn’t want to ruin that man’s life—Petra’s life—without hard proof. That must be why he’s been going soft on Anatoly. Subconsciously, he’s been linking the two together.

I should’ve known it would be too much for him. This isn’t just his mess—it’s mine as well. And now, I’m going to clean it up.

Anatoly spits out a mouthful of blood. It’s a while before he stops choking enough to answer, so I grow impatient. I land another blow, this time with the back of my hand to his face. “Who put you up to it? Who’s been working with the enemy?”

“I already told him!”

I blink. “What?”

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