Page 29 of Ruling Scar
Meanwhile, I’m just little Lennie. I might belong to a family of ruthless cutthroats, but unless I’m hangry, I’d rather be off reading.
There won’t be any reading if that asshole has anything to say about it.
A shiver runs down my spine. I don’t have to think long to know how he’d treat his wife.
There will be no peace so long as Leopold remains a threat.
“You want to stay the night?” Ren offers.
I shake my head, despite being touched at the suggestion. I’ve never stayed at Ren’s and I can’t imagine she invites people over lightly. But I want nothing more than to curl up in bed. I should’ve never left it to begin with.
I crawl into the same car that drove me into the city. There’s no comment from the driver about my location.
The night full of hope turned out to be a lie.
My phone flashes with a message.
Adeline: You’ve been out a while. If you’re going home with this new guy make sure to use protection. Call me if you need anything.
A heavyweight burns into my chest. For all her annoyingness, Adeline cares about me.
I can’t imagine her lying down and taking this if she were in my situation.
Swiping away from her message, I realize there’s a thread of unread texts from Elijah.
Elijah: Ate dinner with my sister-in-law. She’s doing very well by the way.
Elijah: She asked about you, you know. She wondered if you’d be her friend.
Elijah: I suggested we invite you to our next pizza night.
Elijah: You’re not even leaving me on read because you’re not even reading my texts.
Elijah: Why aren’t you checking your phone, Leonora?
It hits me then.
Isolde thinks I should turn into the devil and scare Leopold away.
But I don’t need to become the devil. I just need to ask him for help.
Lennie: Do you have Elijah’s address?
Dots appear. Ren keeps an eye on everyone in the city even if she doesn’t admit it.
Ren: What exactly happened in the five minutes since I last saw you?
Lennie: I came up with a plan. Do you have the address?
Ren: Oh lord.
She doesn’t tell me to piss off, though. A second later a new text pops up.
I direct the driver, who eyes me curiously in the rearview mirror. Especially when we pull up to an abandoned-looking brick warehouse.
Ren’s intel is credible, but I’d never in a million years believe this dilapidated building belongs to Elijah. As a kid, for his birthday, he asked for a pocket watch to go along with his three-piece suit.
“I’ll go in,” the driver suggests.
