Page 11 of Lords of Ruin: Cherished

I do.

And now, I know exactly what I need to do.

I take a step back, giving her a small nod. “Thanks, Lindsey.”

She huffs. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t go burning down the hospital in a grand romantic gesture, okay?”

I smirk, but there’s no real humor behind it. “No promises.”

I barely have time to process what Lindsey just told me before I hear heavy, angry footsteps storming toward me.

“Vincent!”

I turn just as Cast grabs me by the collar and slams me into the nearest wall. The impact rattles through me.

“What the fuck did you do to him?” he snarls, his grip like iron.

I shove his hands off me, stepping forward so we’re chest to chest, fury crackling between us. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

His bloodshot green eyes narrow. “Don’t play fucking dumb,” he spits. “I get a call from you saying Damien’s in the hospital, and now you’re just standing here like nothing happened? Like you didn’t put him here?”

I scoff, barely holding back a bitter laugh. “You’re fucking out of your mind Cast.”

His jaw ticks, but he doesn’t back down. “Swear you didn’t touch him,” he grits out, breath laced with alcohol and rage.

I meet his stare, unflinching. “I don’t have to swear on shit. If I wanted to hurt Damien, I’d fucking own it.”

For a second, neither of us move. The air between us is thick, pulsing with barely restrained violence.

Then Lindsey clears her throat, her voice edged with irritation. “You two really need to take your little testosterone battle outside before security gets called.”

Cast doesn’t take his eyes off me, but he finally steps back, exhaling sharply. His breath is thick with whiskey, laced withrage that he doesn’t know where to put yet. “If I find out you’re lying, Vincent?—”

“You won’t.” I cut him off, my voice cold, final. “Because I’m not.”

He doesn’t believe me. Not fully. But he doesn’t push it—yet.

Instead, he mutters a curse, rolling his shoulders back like he’s shaking off a fight that hasn’t happened—one he still wants to have. Then, with a sharp turn, he storms toward the front desk, every step radiating fury.

“That man,” he points a finger back at me without looking, “is banned from seeing Damien Sterling.”

The dark-haired receptionist behind the desk blinks, looking from him to me, clearly thrown. “Sir, he’s listed as Damien Sterling’s emergency contact, and you have no authorization to?—”

Cast leans in, voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “You let him upstairs and into Damien’s room, and I will force-feed you your own balls,understand me?”

The poor bastard swallows hard. “Understood.”

I let out a scoff from where I stand, folding my arms across my chest. “Intimidating the hospital staff? Real nice,Castillo.”

Castwhirlson me so fast that the receptionist flinches, like he thinks he might be next. His nostrils flare, his eyes dark and vicious, like moss-colored fire burning through him. The whiskey rolling off him is thick enough to taste, his hands twitching like he’s two seconds from wrapping them around my throat.

“Every single day you’re alive is because ofWillow,” he snarls. “But the second she gets rid of your ass, I’m going to skin you alive.”

I smirk, tilting my head, voice mocking. “Ooooh.So scary,Juan.”

The second the name leaves my mouth, I know I’ve struck a nerve.

His entire body goes rigid.

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