Page 103 of Made For Ruin

“Pretty sure it stopped being secret the moment I carried you out of that club.”

His lips quirk as he sits beside me, the mattress dipping under his weight. One hand comes up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing over my skin.

“How are you really feeling? And don’t say ‘fine.’”

I lean into his touch, letting myself draw strength from his steady presence. “Honestly? I keep replaying everything.” My voice catches. “How did I not see it coming?”

“Because you trust people. You see the good in them.” Marcus’s jaw tightens.

“I know I should hate him.” I stare into my coffee, watching the cream swirl. Hot tears threaten, but I blink them back. “But he’s still my brother. Even after everything.”

“That’s because you have a good heart.” Marcus brushes a strand of hair from my face, his touch impossibly gentle for hands so strong. “It’s one of the things I love about you.”

The casual way he says it – like it’s the most natural thing in the world – makes my heart skip. Before I can respond, I hear the doorbell ring.

“That’ll be Ruby.” Marcus stands, dropping a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll let her in. You want anything else? Eggs? Those protein bars you pretend to hate but keep stealing?”

I throw a pillow at him.

“I don’t steal them. I confiscate them for your own good. No one should eat that many protein bars.”

His laughter follows him down the stairs.

Moments later, Ruby bursts into the bedroom like a tattooed tornado. Her hair is pulled back in a messy bun, and her mascara has left dark smudges under her eyes from crying. She clutches Spike’s travel carrier in front of her like a shield, her knuckles white against the plastic.

The sight of my best friend, normally so vibrant and full of life, looking small and scared makes my throat tight. Ruby sets the carrier down carefully and crosses the room in quick steps.

“I brought Spike,” she says, her voice wavering. “I know how much he helps when you’re stressed and I just…”

She stops, pressing her lips together as fresh tears spill.

I open my arms and she collapses onto the bed beside me, burying her face in my shoulder. Her whole body shakes with sobs.

“I’m okay,” I whisper, stroking her hair. “I promise I’m okay.”

Ruby pulls back, her green eyes swimming with tears. “When I saw Enzo drag you out of the diner... I thought... I don’t even know what I thought. My mind went to the worst places. I was so afraid something bad would happen.”

“But it didn’t.” I squeeze her hands. “Marcus found me. He brought me home.”

Ruby turns to Marcus, who stands quietly in the doorway watching us. The morning light catches the bruise on his jaw, evidence of what he went through to get to me.

“Thank you.” Ruby’s voice cracks. “For bringing her back.”

Something shifts in Marcus’s expression. A softening around his eyes that most people never get to see.

“Always,” he says simply.

From his carrier, Spike scratches at the plastic, wanting attention. Ruby wipes her eyes and moves to let him out, gathering him close. The familiar sight of her cradling our scaly baby makes me smile despite everything.

“And what about Derrick?” Ruby asks softly. “Is he okay?”

“He’s in the hospital. Enzo beat him up pretty bad when he wouldn’t cooperate.”

Ruby’s eyes widen. “But he’ll be alright?”

I nod, swallowing hard. “Yeah, he’ll live. Broken ribs, concussion, some internal bruising. But he’ll recover.”

Physically, at least.

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