Page 67 of Made For Ruin

The guard goes limp within seconds.

I slip past them into the bathroom. Castellano stands at the sink, washing his hands with deliberate care.

His eyes meet mine in the mirror.

“Mr. Ruins.” He reaches for a paper towel. “I wondered when you would show up.”

“Stay away from Lainey Daniels.”

His lips curve into an amused smile.

“Straight to the point. I’ve always appreciated that about you.” He turns, studying my face with genuine fascination. “Though I must admit, I didn’t expect you to be quite so... invested in the charming Miss Daniels.”

“I’m only going to say this once.” Everything in me wants to wipe that smile off his face. But this isn’t about my pride. It’sabout keeping her safe. “Whatever you’re planning, whatever game you’re playing, you leave her out of it.”

“How fascinating.” Castellano’s eyes gleam with newfound interest, like he’s just discovered something valuable. “The great Marcus Ruins, brought low by a girl who serves coffee for a living.” He adjusts his cuffs, supremely unconcerned by my presence. “Tell me, does she know what you really are? What you do for a living?”

“You go near her, and what I do for a living becomes your primary concern.”

“Protective. Possessive, even.” His smile widens, genuinely delighted by this turn of events. “I have to wonder what your son would think about this... development.”

Of course Castellano knows about Axel. He would have done his research, traced every connection to Lainey. The brief relationship between her and my son would have been easy to uncover in a town this size.

The knowledge should bother me. Should make me question what else he might know, what other cards he holds. But right now, all I feel is cold certainty. Let him dig up whatever dirt he wants. Let him try to use Axel against me.

“Her brother seems to enjoy our little games.” Castellano smooths his tie. “High stakes. But then, some things are worth the risk.”

“Cut the bullshit.”

“Such hostility.” He moves toward the door. “When I’m merely providing what he asks for. The chance to play. The money to stay in the game.” His smile sharpens. “Family obligations can be so complex.”

My hand catches his shoulder. Not rough, but firm enough to stop him. “You even look at Lainey again, there won’t be enough money in the world to fix what happens next.”

Castellano glances at my hand, then back to my face. His amusement finally fades. “Careful, Marcus. Love makes men do foolish things.”

“So does greed.” I release his shoulder. “Remember that.”

He straightens his jacket and slips out the door. I give him thirty seconds, then follow. Reign stands in the hallway, his back to the wall, looking bored. The guard’s nowhere in sight.

“Everything settled?” Reign asks.

“For now.”

We move through the dining room. The lunch crowd has thinned, but heads still turn as we pass. Castellano sits at a corner table with his security team, already deep in conversation. He doesn’t look up as we walk by.

SEVENTEEN

LAINEY

Marcus pullshis black truck into a spot near the mall entrance.

The Cooper Heights Mall stretches before us, its limestone facade gleaming in the afternoon sun. The west wing houses all the luxury boutiques where Cooper Hills wives spend their husbands’ money. I usually avoid that section, sticking to the affordable shops on the east side.

“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing at the mall on a Tuesday afternoon?” I ask as he kills the engine. “Or did you just miss watching me squirm?”

His lips curve into that dangerous smile that never fails to make my pulse race.

“I always like watching you squirm.” He comes around to open my door, his hand finding its usual place at my lower back. “But today isn’t about that. Today, we’re here to shop. You need something special for tonight.”

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