Page 207 of Cashmere Ruin

“And I was under the impression you had a goddamn mafia at your beck and call.” I take a step forward. “But I guess all the good ones left you.”

“No one leaves me,” he growls.

“Right. You just do it before they can.”

“You know, I’m getting real tired of this,” he says. “Don’t get me wrong—I feel for you. It’s never easy to fall for the wrong man. But allow me to give you one final piece of advice. For your next life, shall we say.”

“Can’t wait,” I mutter.

He gives a deranged smile. “Next time, make sure you pick the winning side.”

Then he cocks his gun.

I should be afraid. No, scratch that—I should be goddamn terrified. But I’m not. All I feel is a strange sort of calm. “I’ve got some advice as well.”

“Oh?” he asks. “Let’s hear it then.”

“Next time, check for a pulse.”

I see the color drain from his face. It’s immensely satisfying, bringing a giant to his knees.

It all happens in slow motion.

I watch him turn, eyes wide, and meet the gaze of his son. “But you’re dead,” he blurts out.

“No,” Matvey replies evenly, showing off the tattered lapel of his jacket. Hisbulletproofjacket—the one I gave him to wear. The one I made for him, one careful stitch at a time. “You are.”

Then he fires.

I don’t avert my eyes. I don’t brace myself. I don’t even try to step out of the way.

I just cover up my baby.

Blood sprays me from head to toe.Carmineblood—talk about irony. I let it shower over me, disgust giving way to something stronger and far more intoxicating.

Power.

The second the body drops, Matvey rushes to my side. “Are you okay?” He pulls out a pocket handkerchief—also shot straight through the middle—and starts cleaning me up.

“Me? Sure.” I shrug. “I’m a futurepakhansha.What’s a little blood?”

He grins. “You learned how to say that one, too.”

“Took longer than I would’ve liked, but we got there in the end.”

“I’ll say.” He grabs my face and kisses me. I’m gross from head to toe, but it’s like he couldn’t care less. Like I’m all he needs and then some.

Lucky for him, he’s all I need, too.

“YURI!”

Our heads snap back in unison. Petra’s just dropped the last of Carmine’s henchmen to the floor—and she’s running straight towards the back of the room.

Oh, no.With everything that was happening, I completely forgot.

We both run after Petra. She’s kneeling in a pool of blood, her pristine cream clothes stained beyond repair, her fingers trembling as she drops her knives to the ground and grabs Yuri’s face with both hands. “Yuri. Wake up.”

Nothing.

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