Page 49 of Ruger's Rage

With each detail, Ruger's expression grows darker. "Did Ellie see him?"

"No, she was in the office."

He's silent for a moment, thinking. "He'll be back. Or someone else will."

"I know."

"You should stay at the clubhouse, with me."

The suggestion makes me stiffen. "I'm not running to you for safety like some damsel in distress."

"This isn't about being a damsel, Tildie. It's about making smart choices when someone's hunting you."

"I've been hunted before," I remind him. "I survived."

"By running." His voice is gentle, not accusing. "Is that what you want to do again? Leave Ellie? Leave everything you've built here?"

The question hits where it hurts most. "No."

"Then let me fuckin’ help, darlin’. God, let me help."

Something inside me crumbles—not from weakness, but I think from exhaustion.

Six months of looking over my shoulder, jumping at shadows.

Six months of pretending I'm fine when I'm terrified out of my damn mind.

"I don't know how to let people help me anymore," I admit, the words barely audible.

Ruger moves closer, slowly, like approaching a wild animal. "Then we figure it out together. One day at a time, remember?"

I find myself nodding, tears threatening to spill. "The pie's probably getting cold."

He smiles, the tension breaking slightly. "It's apple. Tastes good cold too."

We settle at my small table, eating pie straight from the box with forks from my drawer.

The dessert is delicious, but I barely taste it, too aware of Ruger's eyes on me.

"Tell me about him," Ruger says finally. "About Marco."

I set down my fork, the sweetness turning bitter in my mouth. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything. How you met. How it got bad. How you got away."

"It's not a pretty story."

Ruger knows a little bit, but he doesn’t know everything.

There’s something in his eyes, almost like he understands how cruel the nitty gritty is. "Few of mine aren’t either."

Something in his words loosens the knot in my chest.

So, I tell him everything.

About meeting Marco after my father racked up gambling debts he couldn't pay.

About how Marco swooped in like a savior, paying off the loan sharks, making me feel indebted to him.

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