Page 51 of Silent Snowfall

My skin crawled with an unholy terror as I hurried down the upper hall of Raven Manor. The ancestral home was piping hot as stuffy air croaked through the vents. The garland on the banister, the twinkling lights in the foyer, and the jazzy holiday music did nothing to elevate the suffocating feeling.

Dio sopra, let her like me.

This might be her house someday. The tomblike halls were waiting to be filled with childish shouts and laughter. Rose wasn’t going to see that tonight. What was I thinking? That she would visit one of the oldest, grandest houses in this part of New Jersey and feel at ease? Especially with the downstairs packed with assassins and their tactical crew celebrating the holidays!

Adjusting the watch on my wrist, I stepped into the foyer as the door pushed open to reveal the red, glowing faces of Ivry and her soon-to-be husband. Demyan and I shared a tight look as Ivry peeled off her sparkly silver coat and handed it to the maid.

A stone sank in my gut.

Demyan had been hired by the Trenton Russians to kill me. Luckily, he fell for my cousin before he had the chance to pull the trigger, but he’d still canceled the contract. And now I’d invited those same bratva fuckers to join in the festivities.

Someone is going to get shot tonight.

That wasn’t unusual at a Ravello event. But there was no way in hell Rose would ever approve. As I embraced my cousin, an idea formed in the back of my mind. If Demyan was worth his salt as a hitman, he would never have revealed his identity to the Russians.

But I wasn’t taking any chances.

He needed to leave.

Excusing myself from hosting duties, which earned me a scathing look from my sister, I disappeared into the library. This was the only room in the house that wasn’t overflowing with guests. An order I’d placed on purpose. The twelve-foot tree stood ready, braced to the floor so it wouldn’t tip. I flicked a glance at it as I went to the wall safe, unable to help the dark smile that curled over my lips.

I selected a vial of liquid from the safe and purposefully spilled three-fourths of it onto the rug. I didn’t want to kill Demyan.

Just make him miserable enough to go home early.

Hurrying back to the ballroom, I intercepted my cousin as a maid was passing out flutes of champagne. The tall glass wasn’t ideal, but I could work with it.

“You’ll be pleased to know, my groomsman suit is ready for next weekend,” I told Ivry.

Her smile rivaled the sparkle of the snowflake clip nestled in her short, pixie haircut. “It’s going to be a magical day!”

Demyan chose that moment to look down and give her a rare smile. I was happy for them. Truly. Ivry deserved the world, and if that meant accepting this brute of a killer into the family, then so be it.

He just needed to leave the party.

“Are you wearing those boots to the wedding?” I asked, inkling my chin to Ivry’s itty bitty silver shoes.

The happy couple looked down as one.

I tipped the vial into the ex-hitman’s flute.

“No! Why?” Ivry gasped, looking up at me.

I pretended to scratch my chin.

“My wedding shoes are satin!” She paused. “Lucian?”

“Yes?”

Her brown eyes narrowed at me. “Since when do you care about my shoes?”

“Those look like wedding shoes,” I deadpanned. “It’s a winter wedding, and it would make sense that you’re breaking them in now, so you don’t slip on ice.”

“Those do have a better tread,” Demyan murmured and took a sip of his drink.

The tightness between my shoulders eased.

Until I looked back at Ivry, who was still staring with suspicion at me.