Page 154 of Ruby Mercy

Thatis real sacrifice.

“You’re sure about this?” Kirill asks.

“I’m sure. My mom didn’t have the strength to see Leonid for who he truly was. She didn’t have the strength to take this necklace off and move on. But I do.” Once again, I thrust the necklace in Viktoria’s direction. “This is yours.”

Viktoria takes the necklace with an eye roll. “So glad I was here to witness this emotional triumph. What a successful therapy session.”

I wave her towards the door. “Again, no one asked you to come in here.”

“Fine. I’m gone,” she says. “But keep in mind, I now hold a rather large secret of yours. A little respect will go a long way in making sure I keep my mouth shut.”

Before I can even drum up a response, Kirill surges forward and towers over Viktoria. She has to bend backward to see his face.

“A little accident would also go a long way in making sure you keep your mouth shut,” he growls. “Dead women keep the best secrets.”

Viktoria swallows nervously, but her expression remains unmoved. “At ease, lover boy. I can keep a secret. You know that.”

“See that you do,” he snarls. “This one isn’t yours to tell.”

She tucks the necklace into her clutch and holds up her hands in surrender. “Consider this all as good as forgotten. All of it. The secret. The two of you. If you are willing to kill me over her, then I am—I’m fucking done. I won’t be following you around anymore, Kirill.”

“About time,” he says. I think I catch a hint of fondness in his voice. I understand. Viktoria is just a victim in this system. She’s doing what her dad told her to. Kirill understands that, even if he doesn’t like it.

“My dad wants an heir to his legacy? He’s going to have to get real used to the idea that he’s already looking at her. I’m not putting up with anymore of you asshole men.”

Viktoria gives us one last look before she turns and walks back into the party, leaving us alone again.

I stare after her. “Wow. Weird night.”

Kirill shrugs. “Par for the course, I’m afraid.”

I chuckle. “Is this what I have to get used to? Attacks and public speeches and resurrected family secrets?”

“Do you want to get used to it?” His arm loops around my waist, securing me against him.

I fall into his body with no resistance. My heart is thundering against my rib cage, beating with a new kind of adrenaline. “Is that an offer?”

“Are you going to keep answering my questions with questions?”

“You started it.”

He bends his head and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Guilty. I mean, you were late on your first day of work. I should have fired you then and cut this all off at the pass.”

“Who knows where we’d be now if you had?”

“Who knows, indeed,” he murmurs wistfully.

I know he’s thinking of his brother. I’ve long since forgiven myself for my part in Ilya’s death, and I know Kirill has, too. But I still hold him a little tighter.

Suddenly, he smiles. “There’d be no Yuliana.”

My throat clogs. The thought of the last five years without my girl is incomprehensible. What would I have done if I wasn’t taking care of her?

“What a terrible world that would be,” I say.

“I know from experience.” Before the guilt can settle in my chest, Kirill stares into my eyes. “I can forgive you keeping her a secret from me as long as I’m in her life continuously from this point on.”

“Really? You want that?” I ask. “Because believe me, I know how hard parenting is. It’s not a small responsibility. I’d understand if you were hesitant at first about telling her who you are. You know, just in case you change your mind.”

---