When he’s gone and I’m alone, I stare into my glass, then bring the rim to my lips for a sip. It’s good, but right now’s one of those moments when I wish it was something harder.
A new anger takes hold of me. Whatever the hell is going on, I’m going to find out, one way or another.
The lies end tonight.
CHAPTER 31
SASHA
“What the hell were you thinking, Ruth?”
I don’t shout. Shouting would be unnecessary. But I’m goddamn furious.
The private corridor outside of the ballroom is quiet, aside from the jazz and laughter seeping in through the walls. Ruth stands before me, perfectly composed, coiled like a serpent.
Her lips curve into a satisfied smile. “Oh, Sasha, love, always so dramatic. You’d think I shot someone in there.”
“You might as well have,” I snarl. “You donotbring her into this like that. Not in public, not here.”
She chuckles in response, unfazed. “Relax. I was going to savor the reveal. But something about the moment felt ripe. I couldn’t help myself.”
I step closer, just enough to make her flinch, though she tries to hide it. “You need to leave. And I anticipate you listening to me.”
She stays still, smiling. “I plan on leaving. But there’s a reason I came, Sasha. I have some news for you.”
The way she’s drawing everything out sends a pulse of rage through me. I don’t give her the satisfaction of letting her see it.
“What is it?”
“It’s about our dealings. Congratulations on the merger and all, but I’ve been doing some thinking, and I believe this is a good place to mark the end of our business associations.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Go on.”
She tilts her head, diamonds catching the low light. “Peter Morozov and I have been in conversation. A mutually beneficial one, in fact. As you can imagine, he didn’t take the news of the merger well. Put yourself in his shoes, after all—being told by your own son that he’s been all but cut out of the family business and too late to do anything about it?”
“Get to the point.”
“Of course, love. What you and little Johan didn’t know, however, is that Peter has operations neither of you know about. Call them side hustles, if you like. Drugs, weapons—all that good stuff. He’s been making some serious money, carving out a little empire. So you didn’t cut him out completely.”
“But he’s out of the legitimate affairs—he’s got nothing but criminal operations.”
“And that’s how it should be. You and Johan are ruining a good thing, neutering what our parents and their parentscreated. So when Peter came to me with the idea of working together, I was more than interested.”
Every word is a nail in the coffin of the fragile equilibrium I’ve spent months building. I’d anticipated Peter to kick and scream a little bit, but to ultimately understand his place. And, foolishly, I’d assumed Ruth would favor whatever would make her the most money.
“You’ve chosen your side.”
Her smile widens, all white teeth. “I prefer to think of it as diversification. Peter may be losing the heir to his empire, but he’s gaining an ally who understands the value of tradition. Together, we’ll do what you couldn’t—create a true underground empire.”
“Then that makes you my enemy.”
A shrug. “Whether we’re enemies or not depends entirely on you, love.”
“I’m still at war with Peter. Surely I don’t need to spell out the implications.”
“No, you don’t.” Her tone is almost playful. “Which means you’ll have to learn to play nice or finally settle things between you two the way men and women in our world do.”
I narrow my eyes. “What do you know about Gabriella?”
