Page 83 of Ruthless Serenade

I take a deep breath and dial the one person who might be able to help: Alexis. We’ve been growing closer these past few weeks, but there’s still a lot we need to work through to rebuild our relationship. Even so, she’s the only one I can turn to right now.

"Hey, Mindy, what’s up?" she answers. Her voice sounds stronger than it has in years.

After exchanging some formalities, I get to the point. "Look, Lex, I won’t beat around the bush. I need your help. Tania is leaving to start University and I need someone to watch Sharon a few times a week."

Alexis cuts in, her excitement clear. “Are you serious?” she exclaims, and I can hear genuine joy in her voice. “Mindy, thank you for thinking of me. You don’t know how much this means to me. I’ve been wanting to spend more time with you and Sharon anyway.”

This gives me a glimmer of hope. "Seriously? You’d do that for me?"

"Of course! We’re sisters, Mindy. And I miss having you two around. Bonus points: I’ve got a remote freelance gig with flexible working hours. I can hang around almost any time. It’s a win-win."

A rush of relief settles over me. Forget Maron and his cruelty. Having Alexis back in our lives, especially after everything we’ve been through, feels like a second chance. With her steps toward recovery, maybe things are finally starting to look up for us.

Maybe, for the first time in a long time, the three of us can finally be the small family I’ve always dreamed of.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Maron

"Don’t worryPakhan," Igor says. "We’ll handle this,"

He’s slouched in my office on the couch with a cigar between his fingers, the smoke curling lazily up to the ceiling. His hand shakes slightly as he lifts it to his lips and he taps the ash off a little too often. I can see the tightness in his jaw, the way his foot bounces lightly against the floor. I am making him tense and I can’t really blame him. He should be anxious after a shitshow like this.

"Just how the fuck do you plan to handle this, Igor?" I snap. I’m pacing like a caged animal, clenching and unclenching my fists as I walk. "She’s on fucking national TV, Igor. Morning shows, CNN, Fox. The whole fucking country is watching her!"

Igor shakes his head and leans forward. "With all due respect,pakhan... you’re Maron Korolev. You can hire the best lawyers in the country. And I’m confident that my team and I are close to finding a legal replacement for astoasium."

"Then fucking find it, Igor!" I roar.

By the time Igor leaves my office, I regain a sense of control. Maybe he’s got a point. With the best lawyers on our side, we can keep the press at bay until we adjust the formula. Then we can resume business without a having herd of journalists knocking on our door, fishing for the next headline like hungry vultures.

I sink back into my chair, taking a slow swig of the scotch in my hand, letting its warm burn anchor me. Just as I finish the glass, I hear a sharp knock at the door.

"Enter," I call out. Pavel pokes his head through the doorway and moves into the room with a crumpled newspaper clutched under one arm.

"Morning, boss."

"Morning, Pavel. Before you tell me why you’re darkening my doorstep, have a drink with me."

Pavel’s face brightens. He loves his booze. "What’s the occasion?"

"No occasion." I pour us both a glass and we clink them together. "Na zdarovye."How is your wife doing?" I inquire.

Pavel drains the last of his scotch in one swift gulp, then sets the empty glass down. "Getting there, boss. She’ll be on steroids for a while." He looks at me. "The bonus you gave me helped a lot."

"Good," I tell him. "That’s what money is for. And now, tell me why you came and what’s that paper doing in your armpit."

Pavel mutters something under his breath, tossing the newspaper onto my desk with a thud. He glances at me, expectant, as if he’s bracing himself. "Hate to be the one to break it to you, boss," he says.

I sit up straight, my eyes locking onto the headline on the front page. My goddamn heart almost stops.

"Tramoxine Claims Another Victim: 27-Year-Old New York Woman Found Dead

In a tragic development, Eva Anderson, 27, the twin sister of renowned psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Anderson, was discovered dead at her sister’s home. Initial reports confirm that the cause of death was Tramoxine, an over-the-counter medicine that has already claimed multiple lives across the nation.

Tramoxine, frequently purchased to treat common mental health conditions, has become a growing concern for law enforcement and public health officials. Despite efforts to curb its distribution, it continues to wreak havoc, leaving a trail of fatalities in its wake. Miss Anderson’s death underscores the urgent need for more aggressive action towards substance regulation…

I raise my gaze to meet Pavel’s. "Shit," is all I say.

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