Page 35 of Cashmere Ruin

“I spoke with thevory, too. It appears this won’t be a friendly meeting.”

I told you so.“Grisha.”

“Yes?” he asks innocently.

God fucking dammit.And they say wives are passive-aggressive. Whoever “they” are, they’ve never had Grisha Aldonin drive their car.

“… Thank you,” I grit out. “For your continued loyalty.”

Grisha’s eyebrows arch skeptically in the rearview mirror. “I wouldn’t dream of being anything but loyal.”

I told you so.“And I appreciate that. What you’ve done so far… and what you’ll continue to do.”

“You sound confident that I will.”

“Yeah, well, you haven’t given me cause to be disappointed yet.”

“‘Yet.’”

I roll my eyes. “Can we drop the fucking act already?”

“What act?”

“Jesus fucking—alright, fine: I was wrong.Happy?”

For a moment, Grisha doesn’t say anything. Then: “You know, you have the same uncanny ability your grandfather had.”

“And that would be…?”

“Saying ‘sorry’ without actually speaking the word.”

I snort. “Your father told you that?”

“He did. Several times.” For the first time since the ride began, I glimpse the hint of Grisha’s old smile in the mirror. “Must be a family talent.”

Grisha’s father.That’s how I found him all those years ago. I wasn’t looking for him—I was looking for Yakov Aldonin. My grandfather’s second.

But he was dead already.

His son, however, was interested in what I had to say. He was the first to join my cause after Yuri. The first tobelieve.

He’d grown up watching his father kick ass. More than that, watching him protect hispakhanand being protected in return. That’s what people looked for in a Bratva back then: a bond. A pack.

A brotherhood.

Lacking any parents or elders, Grisha took his role in that pack seriously. He was the lowest-ranked, but the oldest in age. I have no idea if he was always the mother hen type, but with us… Let’s just say that, after we found him, we didn’t have to raise ourselves anymore.

If I were a better man, I’d acknowledge how shitty I’ve been to him. As hispakhanand as his friend.

But I’m not a better man. Everything good I had in me has been turned to ashes along with my heart. If I ever had anything to give, it was forher.

Now, I’m empty.

Luckily, Grisha seems content with his lot. Has to be, really. How else would he have put up with me all these years otherwise?

“I hope this means you’ll listen to me every now and then,” he quips.

I bark out a laugh. “Now, where’s the fun in that?”

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