Page 80 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two
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I throw myself into work. Both Oliver and Elliot volunteer to transcribe the audio from the bug, but I brush them off. This is something I have to do.
My anxiety over my brothers’ safety is only quelled by distraction. It’s like I’m seventeen again, desperately searching the streets and calling out Sammy’s name. Except now, I’m looking for some way—any way—to save Benny and Andrew. Forget that I threatened Andrew’s life. He’s on thin ice—anyone who tries to hurt one of us is—but he was scared. Trapped. He doesn’t understand we’re the ones on his side, not Ludo.
And as for Ludo…
Hurting him means hurting my brothers—shit, I have brothers.It means everything is different. Our entire plan is as stable as a house of cards, and Ludo just came through with a fucking leaf blower. He’s corrupted everything like the vile, wretched snake he is. Now we’re left to pick up the pieces in the wreckage he’s left behind.
As I listen and type, I’m peripherally aware of Elliot making Wren eat her leftovers from the restaurant. I don’t think she’s able to finish them. Somewhere in the back of my mind, my concern for her grows. When she’s about to leave the table, I tear my attention away from my laptop.
“Sweetheart.” My gaze catches the bandage on her arm.Fuck,how did I already forget Andrew did that to her? “Wren, come here.”
Hesitantly, she moves closer to me, but she stays out of reach. She’s hugging herself, almost like she’s afraid. Afraid ofme.
Immediately, all thoughts of my brothers vanish. Is she still worried about everything that happened last night?Why do I have to be such an ass?I turn away from my laptop to face her completely. “Do you think I’m still angry with you?”
Her eyes widen at my forwardness. “I’m sorry, I—”
“No. I said it was okay. I said I understood.I meant that.”I’m vaguely aware that my tone is probably too harsh, but I need this to hit home for her.
She wrings her hands while she stumbles over her words. It takes a minute for her to get a full sentence out, even though it’s short. “Are you sure?”
“Wren. Of course I am. I willnevermake you beg for my forgiveness. Never, sweetheart.” I’m standing and moving toward her all without proper thought. My hands cup her cheeks, and I lean down to rest my forehead against hers. “I’m the one who was in the wrong, not you. What I said… it wasn’t true. You mean more to me than avenging Sammy. I’d drop everything for you if I had to. For any of you.”
“Please—”
“No.”Again, my tone is too strong, and I feel her wince. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I just need you to know. I need you to understand. I’m not angry with you, sweetheart, I swear. Even last night, I was angry withmyself.I never should’ve taken it out on you.”
“I know.”She clutches my arms and looks up at me with so much sadness in her eyes that it makes my chest ache. “I just… I know feelings can linger sometimes, and it can take a while to process things. Or…” She looks away. “I don’t know.”
I wait for her to continue, but she doesn’t. “Wren,” I say, managing to keep my voice gentle this time.
She meets my gaze.
“It’s in the past.” My thumb strokes over her cheek. “We never have to bring it up again.”
That seems to make her fully relax. “Really?” she whispers.
“Really.” Slowly, giving her time to pull away, I move to close the distance between us. When my lips brush against hers, her arms come around my waist, and she kisses me back.
Thank fuck.
“I told you once that I always mean what I say.” My voice is quiet as I murmur the words against her lips. “I’m sorry I went back on that. It won’t happen again.”
Her arms tighten around me. “I know. And… Rhett?”
“Hmm?”
“You don’t have to beg for my forgiveness, either.” She pulls away so she can look at me. “I’m not going to hold this against you. I hate it when people do that. And I don’t want to be like that.”
“Thank you.”
Despite the sadness in her eyes moments ago, her face lights up with a smile, and she pokes me in the side. “What’s that thing you said to me a couple days ago? Don’t thank you for the bare minimum? That should go both ways.”
“Mmm.” I dip my head down to kiss her again. “I suppose so.”
We hold each other for another minute before I eventually remember what I was doing before I got distracted. I need to get back to transcribing the audio from the bug.
