Page 92 of Ruins
She grins, leading me upstairs, her steps light and secretive. “I like to know about everything that happens in this house,” she admits with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Mrs. Keen hates it—scolds me all the time for gossiping—but I just can’t help myself.”
I’m not sure what to do with that information, so I just listen as she pulls me along, past grand hallways and polished banisters.
When we reach the master bedroom, she opens the door, then shuts it behind us with a soft click.
“This is the only room in the house without audio.”
I freeze. “…What?”
Lila laughs lightly, flopping onto the couch like she just told me something as simple as the weather.
“Oh yeah. The whole house has cameras inside and out. But this room?” She exhales in relief. “No audio. Just video.”
I scan the room, my pulse quickening. “How do you know that?”
Lila winks, tucking her legs under her. “A pretty face gets a lot of information around here.”
She tosses her hair over her shoulder, her voice turning coy. “You flirt a little, they give a little.”
I hesitate before sinking onto the couch beside her. Something about her confidence makes me uneasy—but not in a bad way. More like she’s… too bold for this house.
Lila suddenly turns serious, her tone dropping. “Not you though.”
I glance at her, confused. “Excuse me?”
“You shouldn’t flirt with the guards. Unless you want Santo to take care of them.”
I still.
“Take care of them?”
Lila doesn’t hesitate. “Yeah. Get rid of them. Kill them. End their lives.”
She says it casually, like it’s just a flippant fact.
“Anyway,” she sighs, stretching, “I heard Santo had Luca follow you around before you got married. Even took pictures of you.”
My stomach lurches.
“What?”
She nods, like it’s nothing. “One of the guards said he was pissed about… Peter? Pasco?”
My throat tightens. “…Pietro?”
Lila snaps her fingers. “Yes! That’s the one. And Jude—the mayor’s son, right?”
“Yes, Jude and I were together for some time,” I say quietly, avoiding eye contact as I pick at my nails nervously.
Lila’s eyes light up. Her lips curve into a devious little smirk.
“I hear he’s well-endowed,” she whispers, like she’s telling me a scandalous secret. “How was he?”
Heat rushes to my face.
I choke on air.
Lila bursts into laughter, the sound echoing around the room.
