Page 28 of King of Ruin

Finally, Lucia’s voice rushes through my ears. “Maddie?” she asks, sounding breathless.

“You didn’t have to grab my phone like that,” the man rumbles in the background.

I swear I hear Lucia make a face at him. “Hey,” I gush, so glad to hear her voice. Much as I didn’t want the moment with Roman disturbed, it’s way better I talk with her. It grounds me and makes this whole thing seem way more…normal. “It’s me.”

“It is you!” She sounds relieved a moment before she follows up with. “What the actual fuck?”

I smile despite myself. “It was the longest, weirdest night of my life.”

“Maddie?” And this time she sounds scared.

“I’m all right,” I answer. “And I can’t wait to tell you what’s happened. You said I needed a bit of excitement, and I’ll have to remind you of that again before I tell you everything, but right now, the vet school should take the birds and squirrels, I’m not going to be home for…” I cock my head in Roman’s direction.

“A little while,” he whispers close to my ear.

“A little while.”

“You never leave your house. What the hell?”

“Like I said. It’s a long story.”

“I tried to call you like twenty times,” Lucia demands, not letting it go. “Did your phone die or something?”

I twist around, reaching for the nightstand but my phone isn’t there. All I feel is the hard wood surface. “Oh. I don’t know…I thought I had it.”

“Maddie, I was about to call the police when you didn’t pick up. That’s when I came here and found these people removing your rescues. I’ve been freaking out.”

Roman’s hand covers mine, giving them a squeeze. I swallow. “Roman,” I start. “Can you give Lucia your number so she can call your phone direct if she needs to contact me? Just until I find my phone.”

“Who is Roman?” Lucia’s voice is growing louder with every sentence.

But before I can answer, the line clicks. Roman starts to set the phone down, but I shake my head. “Don’t bother. Lucia?—”

The phone rings.

Roman just hands it to me.

I take it, squinting to see the answer button. It’s light enough, if I really try.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he mutters and then clicks the button himself.

But I cringe. Just when I was feeling like a normal girl…

“Hey…”

“Hey yourself,” Lucia bites back. She is the most wonderful person, and an amazing friend, but laidback is not her vibe. She’s an ass-kicker.

“Don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad. Just confused. And scared. And…”

“Vigo turned out to be the second biggest asshole on the planet.” I’ve got to short-circuit this conversation.

“Who’s the biggest?” she asks, her voice getting much softer, and I know she knows she messed up pushing me to go out with him.

“His brother, Vincent. Who was on the date with us.”

“Shit.”

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