Page 210 of Cashmere Ruin

“I wish?—”

“I know. Me, too.”

Petra doesn’t seem to be paying attention to our conversation. She just bends over on Yuri’s chest, smothering her cries in the crook of his neck. One last hug, one last time.

“… dandruff…”

Wait, what?

Petra’s head shoots up. “Yuri?!”

There’s no mistaking it: that’s his voice. Rough and breathless, but still, it’shim.

“As long…” He coughs, blood splattering all over his front. “… as you don’t call me… dandruff…”

“He’s alive…?” April sniffles. “I’m not imagining this? He’s really…?”

“Oh my God,” Petra exhales. “Someone! Anyone!”

“I’ve got him.”

I put all mypakhanauthority in my voice. At the sound of it, both Petra and April make way automatically.

Then I crouch down and scoop Yuri up.

“Motya…”

“Don’t speak,” I order.

“I’m s-sorry… I’m really, really…”

“I said shut up. Or did the blood loss make you deaf as well as stupid?”

A weak laugh. “You’re always… such an ass…”

Of course I am. How else am I going to cope?“Grisha, call an ambulance. We’ll figure out a cover story later.”

“Yes, boss.”

I lift my brother up and carry him out of the room. There’s another tunnel, one that leads to the surface. With April holding down the fort and Petra stuck handling business with her new men, we’re finally alone.

For a while, neither one of us speaks. It leaves me with time to think—about the past twenty-four hours. About everything. About the betrayal.

And about the one part that doesn’t add up.

“Is…” Yuri coughs as I carry him out. “Is Petra… okay…?”

“She took out damn near fifty guys. She’s just peachy.”

Another coughing fit shakes him, but he still manages to croak out, “What about April… ? And May…?”

“They’re both fine.” My throat goes tight. “You saved them.”

“I didn’t. I put them in danger.”

“No,Idid. And I put you in danger, too.”

“Motya…”