Page 94 of Made For Ruin

“Why is her head bobbing like that?” Ruby wails. “Has she been drugged or something?”

“Definitely,” Reign says grimly. “Look at how they’re handling her. She’s out cold.”

The SUV peels out of the parking lot, tires squealing against the asphalt. The timestamp on the footage shows this happened three hours ago.

A police officer who entered the office during the playback speaks up.

“I’ve called in the plate number. We’ll put out an APB immediately.”

Ruby’s sobs fill the tiny office as she collapses against Axel. But beneath my fear, something darker rises. Something primal and violent that I haven’t felt since my last deployment. Something I’ve kept carefully caged for years.

I catch Reign’s eye, and I know he’s thinking the same thing. We’ve been here before, in other countries, other wars. This is what we’re trained for.

“Let’s go,” I growl, already heading for the door.

“Wait, where are you going?” Axel calls after us.

I don’t bother to answer. There’s no time to explain, no time to wait for the cops to bumble their way through this. Every second counts.

Reign and I storm out of the office together.

“How much gear you got in the truck?” I ask Reign as we sprint down the hallway.

His lips curve into a smirk. “Enough to start a war.”

Good. We’re going to need every weapon, every tactical advantage we can get our hands on.

“Dad, wait!” Axel’s voice cuts through the chaos. He jogs up to us, his face flushed and eyes wild. “I’m coming with you.”

For a second, I almost consider it.

The determination in Axel’s eyes reminds me of myself at his age - headstrong, desperate to prove himself. But there’s no way I’m going to risk losing him too.

“No,” I say, gripping his shoulder. “I want you to stay here with Ruby. She needs you right now.”

Axel’s jaw clenches, ready to argue, but I cut him off.

“Listen to me. I promise you, I’m going to bring her back. But I need to know you’re safe. Can you do that for me?”

Something in my tone must get through to him because he nods reluctantly.

“Okay,” he says, swallowing hard. “But you better bring her back.”

I pull him into a fierce hug, something I haven’t done in years.

“I will,” I whisper roughly. “I promise.”

As I release him, I see the sheen of tears in his eyes. It hits me then - how much Lainey means to both of us, how she’s become the heart of our fractured family.

Axel’s voice cracks slightly.

“And you better come back too, old man.”

Despite everything, I manage a small smile.

“Count on it, kid.”

TWENTY-THREE

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