Page 9 of Ruined

“Oh my God, I’m so sor—” The words die in my throat, choked by the rush of panic setting in. I look up, and my blood runs cold. The crazed brown eyes I prayed I’d never see again are locked on mine. Wilder stands before me, scruffier and older than I remember, but I’ll never forget him. I remember every time he hurt me. He didn’t rape me, but he beat me, and he’s the one who stabbed me. I feel a sharp tingle in my side, where his knife once sank into me, as if the wound is still fresh.

“Well, hello, sweet Minuet. Who is this little lovely?” His cigarette-roughened voice sends a shiver down my spine.

Instinctively, I push Sky behind me and step between him and the cart. I’m so close to him I can smell his sour, sweaty body, and I almost gag. My hand starts to itch, and I realize I want to stab him, just like he did me.

“They are no one. Go away.” My voice quivers, but I stand as tall as I can, my five-foot-four frame made a little taller by the three-inch heeled boots I’m wearing.

He looks down at me and smiles, revealing his rotting teeth.

“Now, is that any way to talk to me, bitch?” he growls, and I hear Sky whimper behind me. I need to get the kids out of here. Now.

Before I can make a move, he grabs my arm and pulls me close. My hands shoot up to push away from him. Just as I’m about to reach into my jacket for my gun, he leans down, his foul breath hot on my ear.

“Walk away. Meet me in Anchorage next week, or I’ll kill them…and that man you’ve taken up with.”

My heart stops, and tears burn at the back of my eyes. He knows about Dylan and will kill him.

“I can’t. I need more time.”

“You have a week. Call me.” He slips a piece of paper into the cleavage of my top, and then he’s gone.

“Who was that?” Sky asks, and I look down at her. I’m about to ask her to do something I might regret.

“You can’t tell anyone you saw him,” I say and hold up my pinkie. “Promise me.”

“But he was scary. My dad or Uncle Dylan can take care of him. Even Uncle Reaper could take care of him. My mom and Jinx could do it too.”

Sky’s voice is matter-of-fact. She’s so sure of herself, and them. Ever since she saw her mother fight to save their lives,she’s talked about how her mom is the best fighter, and how she wants to fight like her too.

“No, Little Bear.” I shake my head. “You need to keep this promise for me.” She doesn’t know what he said to me because he whispered it.

She finally wraps her pinkie around mine and swears not to tell. I lift Ryder out of the cart and leave it right there. I’ll make something else for dessert.

When I drop them off, I don’t stick around for Riddler to question me. Once I’m alone, I pull the slip of paper from my bra and look at the phone number. I know what I need to do.

I won’t jeopardize my new family. I send a quick text, telling Wilder I’ll meet him in Anchorage next week.

In the month since I’ve been staying with Dylan, we still haven’t fully made love. We’ve done so much more, though. We’ve gone down on each other. I loved tasting him, and now I won’t ever be able to do that again.

I have to walk away and take care of Wilder. I’ll be breaking the law by killing him. Dylan is a cop, and he won’t be able to just ignore that. I also can’t let my Handmaiden family suffer from my decision, so I have to walk away from all of them.

By the time I enter the house through the utility room, my mind is made up. I’m going to seduce Dylan tonight so I can make love to him once before I end us.

Dinner goes well, but I think everyone suspects there is something wrong with me. I can’t hide the pain I’m feeling. The fear that Wilder will come after them. That if I’m not strong enough to kill him, he’ll come back here and take them anyway.

“Honey, are you okay?” Vixen asks from behind me, and for once, I don’t jump. I turn around with a fake smile plastered on my face.

“Just worried about my classes. I have a big midterm before spring break next week.”

“Okay,” she says, hesitant, as if she doesn’t believe me.

I pull her in for a hug, knowing this will be the last time I get to hold her. The weight of it hits me, and I feel the tears start to burn at the back of my eyes. When I pull away, I force a smile and head for the bathroom, where I wash my face so she doesn’t know.

When they finally leave, Dylan is moving around the living room. “Want to watch a movie, baby doll?”

I take him all in. His six-foot lanky frame, the way his blond hair falls over his forehead, and those eyes that remind me of a clear blue sky. My breath catches as I move closer to him and take his hand in mine.

“No. I don’t want to watch television.” I turn and lead him to the bedroom.

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