Page 172 of Cashmere Ruin

I stretch out both hands through the bars, but I’m too far away.

Yuri isn’t, though. His palms immediately shoot forward, ready to break my baby’s fall, ready to…

“Just kidding.” Carmine smirks, grip growing firm again. “Oh, loosen up, you two. I wasn’t going to actually drop her.”

With a snarl, Yuri’s arms fall back to his sides. “Quit fucking around,” he snaps. “No harm must come to them. That was the deal.”

“And I’m a man of my word,” Carmine agrees, his cheerful lilt suddenly sharpening at the edges. “So why don’t we watch that tone,consigliere?”

Yuri’s face drains. It’s just for a heartbeat, but the fear there is unmistakable. And yet, instead of reaching for his gun, all he does is hang his head in defeat. “Yes, boss.”

Boss.No. It can’t be.

“Yuri?” I murmur. “That’s… that’s not true, is it?”

His lips press into a tight line, but he stays quiet.

“Tell me it’s not true.”

Nothing.

“You wouldn’t do this to us,” I stammer, hands tight around the bars. “You wouldn’t do this to Matv?—”

“Don’t,” he barks. “Don’t say his name.”

“Why?” I ask. “Why can’t I say his name, Yuri? Why are you doing this?”

But he doesn’t answer.

This is a nightmare.It has to be. Because there’s no way Yuri would turn traitor, right? There’s no way he’d ally with Carmine. That he’d kidnap me and my kid, bring us into the den of the enemy, and then…

I’m sorry. I had no choice.

“The mole,” I realize, pieces finally falling into place. “That was you. All along, you’ve been working withhim?”

Again, silence.

This can’t be real. This is Yuri we’re talking about—ourYuri. The same Yuri who’s always had my back, who helped me hide when I needed to… Who brought us food, sang lullabies to my daughter when I was too tired to do it…

Matvey’s little brother, the person he trusts most in the world…

I can’t believe this. I don’twantto believe this.

“Say something,” I beg, voice breaking. “For God’s sake, just say something!”

But his silence is more damning than any excuse.

“Does Petra know?” I ask finally. “Does she know you betrayed everyone? That you betrayed your ownfamily?”

“I didn’t betray my family!”

His outburst catches me by surprise. He steps forward and I reel back on instinct.

For the first time in my life, I’m afraid of the person in front of me.

“I didn’t betray my family,” he repeats, lower. “They’re the ones I’m doing this for. So don’t come for me, April. Not when I know you’d do anything to protect yours.”

“Yuri…”