Page 11 of Made For Ruin

“Enzo Castellano.”

Shit.

Enzo Castellano isn’t just some bookie or small-time loan shark. He’s dangerous.

“Lainey, please.” His voice softens, and I can hear the desperation in it. “Enzo said if I don’t pay him back by tomorrow night, things will get ugly for me in here. You know what that means.”

I do know what that means.

Enzo Castellano has a reputation. I know what he’s capable of, the kind of power he wields behind bars. If Derrick doesn’t pay...

I close my eyes, my head spinning. The oven. The diner. Dad’s legacy. But Derrick... he’s my brother. My only family left.

“Fine. How do I get the money to Enzo?” I ask, already mentally calculating how much this is going to set me back.

“You need to meet him at the Summit tomorrow night. Give the cash to him there.”

“Derrick, no,” I say immediately, my voice trembling. “That place is dangerous. I can’t just walk in there with that kind of cash.”

“Look, Lainey. I know it’s a lot to ask. But you’re all I’ve got now. Mom and Dad are gone, and you’re the only one who’s ever stuck by me. I know I’ve messed up, but I swear, this is the last time I’ll ask. I just need to get through this.”

Those words crack something in my chest. He is all I have, too. Two more years and he’ll be out. Two more years, and maybe we can be a family again.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Thanks a ton, kiddo. I owe you one.”

“That’s what family is for.” I swallow hard, gripping the phone tighter. “Love you, big brother.”

The line goes dead before I can hear if he says it back.

I flop back onto the bed, my heart pounding in my chest. The ceiling above me blurs as tears well up in my eyes, and I let themfall. I miss my Mom and Dad so much it feels like a physical ache.

They’d know what to do. They’d know how to handle Derrick, how to keep him safe without putting me in danger. But they’re gone, and it’s just me now. Just me trying to hold everything together.

I think about the diner, about the broken oven and my dwindling bank account. About how nice it would be to pick up the phone like Derrick does and call someone who could fix it all. Someone who’d say, “Don’t worry, Lainey. I’ve got this.” Someone who’d swoop in and handle the mess without me having to beg or scrape or sacrifice.

Someone who’d take care of me for once.

But that’s not how my life works.

I wipe my cheeks with the back of my hand and take a shaky breath. “It’s going to be okay,” I whisper to myself. Then I stand up and head back to the living room.

Spike has migrated to his favorite spot on top of the TV, watching me with those unfathomable reptile eyes.

“Everything okay?” Ruby asks softly from the couch.

“Yeah.” I sink down next to her, trying to keep my voice even. “Everything’s fine.” But even I can hear the tremor in my voice.

Ruby mutes the TV. “What did he want?”

I pull my knees to my chest and sigh. “He owes a guy some money.”

“How much?”

“Five thousand. He wants me to meet someone at The Summit tomorrow night to hand it over.”

“The Summit?” Ruby sits up straight. “No way. That place is dangerous, Lainey.” She leans forward, her expression fierce. “And isn’t that what Carl said he needed for the oven part?”

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