Page 176 of Theirs to Ruin

Hastily, I got dressed and put on my boots. I found the key to our old apartment and shoved it in my pocket then made my way quietly down the stairs where I heard Ty and Kage talking softly. My heart lurched at the thought of facing Ty after last night. Plus, if I told Kage where I was going, he'd insist on coming along. But my accusations against Silas were still on my mind; I didn’t want to tell Kage about my latest hunch until I knew it was justified.

Holding my breath, I grabbed my wool jacket and slipped out the front door, my heart racing as it clicked shut behind me. The chill in the air bit at my cheeks as I quickened my pace. Once I was at a safe distance, I pulled out my phone, typing a hasty message to Kage.

Went for a long walk. Needed some air. Be back soon.

I speed-walked to my old dorm and the apartment I’d shared with Ava. My old key slid effortlessly into the lock. I wondered if they'd forgotten to change it or just didn't care. The door creaked open, revealing the dim, stale air of our once-shared space. As was the case the last time I’d been here, only the furniture remained in my room. The same went for Ava’s room since Kage had cleared it out.

I began to search Ava’s room. First, that old familiar loose floorboard beneath Ava's bed. I pried it open, but it was empty. The vents were a bust too. I swore under my breath, frustrated and on the edge of giving up when I decided to try her desk, knowing Kage had emptied it but hoping to find something anyway.

Nothing. I stared at the large desk, pushed against the wall, then I shoved it into the middle of the room. I crouched and inspected the wall that had been covered by the desk. My breath caught when I saw the tiniest of seams. I pressed and pulled, and sure enough, part of the wall gave way.

I reached inside and felt around. At first I felt nothing. Then my fingers touched a sharp edge. My heart beating fast, I reached deeper, wrapped my fingers around a heavy object and pulled it out. It was a small, ornate wooden box, its edges weathered and worn. Slowly, I opened it.

I gasped. There were pictures. Ava and Silas, entangled in intimate moments. And one of Ava and me, hugging, laughing, caught in a moment of pure joy. It felt like a punch to the gut, knowing she'd held onto the photo even after she turned on me, that she still felt some connection to our friendship.

Under the photos was a small sheathed dagger. And a note. My eyes scanned the single word written in Ava's delicate handwriting:Petal.

The world seemed to tilt.

It was the word I’d chosen as the code to my safe. The one that had held my gold ingot.

My mother's voice echoed in my mind, that soft endearing tone she'd always use when she called me her little petal. I’d never told a soul about it.

A chilling thought crept into my mind. My dad, Bianca, and Elise were the only other people who knew about the nickname since they’d heard Mom call me that many times. Could my dad or Bianca be involved?

A mix of emotions—anger, betrayal, and fear—showered down on me. Each breath became a battle, each thought a sharp jab to the gut. Trust, it seemed, was even more than an illusion than I’d thought. It was cruel joke. The walls of the room pressed in and the air in the room felt thick, heavy, choking me. I felt like I was drowning again, the waters of deceit pulling me under. My knees wobbled, threatening to give way.

I couldn't think straight. My breath came in rapid, short gasps. I needed help. Now.

Reaching into my pocket, I fumbled with my phone. My fingers, slick with sweat, typed out a hurried message to Kage.

At old dorm.Help.

Almost immediately after I sent it, my phone buzzed with a call. Kage's name flashed on the screen. I tried to answer, but my throat was constricted, and my voice was just a strangled whisper.

"Camille? What's happened? Talk to me." Kage's voice was laced with urgency.

"I– can't..." was all I managed, my voice barely audible. “Kage… I…”

"Stay there. I'm on my way. Breathe. I'm coming," he commanded, a lifeline in the haze of my panic.

I clung to the phone and tried to catch my breath only I couldn’t. It was like the air in the apartment was suffocating me.

Kage was coming but I could wait for him outside.

I stared at Ava’s stash then grabbed it all—the pictures, the dagger, the note, and shoved them in my coat pockets before I ran out of the apartment.

Chapter 74

Kage

Ifelt my blood run cold the moment I heard her voice. The raw fear and pain in it echoed in my ears.

Ty, obviously having overheard, moved towards me, concern written all over his face. "What's wrong with Camille?"

"She needs me," I snapped, my voice sharper than intended, adrenaline pumping in my veins. "She's at her old dorm, having a panic attack."

I headed toward the door.

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