Page 179 of Cashmere Ruin

“You never protected them,” I spit. “You sold them out.”

For a moment, Yuri’s eyes cloud over with emotion. It’s too quick to grasp, but in that split-second, he almost looks like he’s back to his old self again. Almost.

“I did what I had to do.”

Then it’s gone.

“Three days,” he repeats as he fixes his shirt. “Don’t forget.”

“You’re dead to me.”

“I know.”

When he passes me by, he hesitates. Just for a second. Just enough to make me wonder if his hands are really shaking. “Goodbye, Matvey.”

Then he walks away.

I wait for his steps to fade. For his presence to disappear. Afterwards, I tap my earpiece. “Did you get all that, Grisha?”

“… Yes. I did.”

“Good.” I rise. “Gather thevory. This ends now.”

53

APRIL

Ever since I saw the third man, I’ve been pacing like a lion in a cage. Not just because they took my daughter—the thought alone is unbearable—but because of what they’re using her to do.Whothey’re using her to get.

Which is why I have to warn him.

Matvey will never see it coming. I have to get to him before they do—before they manage to blindside him. This conspiracy runs so deep, he’ll have no idea what hit him.

Not until it’s too late.

Think.I force myself to breathe, to calm down my body and mind. Right now, I can’t afford to lose my head. I need to focus, to find a way out of this.

For my family.

So I think. I take in my surroundings. The cell isn’t too small, but there’s nothing in it. Certainly nowhere to hide. It’s a smart move on their part, I’ll give them that.

That just means I have to be smarter.

What can I use?I rack my brain to find something, anything I can turn into a tool.

Then my eyes meet my guard’s.

A young man, no older than eighteen. Probably a fresh recruit. He’s leaning on the opposite wall, stealing glances at me as he plays on his phone, engrossed in some kind of game. I can tell he’s nervous: the way his gaze darts between me and the screen gives it all away. It’s also clear that he’s bored out of his mind, but that he doesn’t want to mess this up. Maybe it’s even his first assignment.

Too fucking bad.

“AHH, IT HURTS!”

I throw myself down to the floor and curl into a ball. I keep my eyes shut, pointedly ignoring any reaction, because I know it’ll give me away. I only get one shot at this—better make it count.

Three, two, one…

“M-Miss?”

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