Page 95 of Ruins
I don’t.
He shuts the door behind us with a quiet finality.
“Did Lila mention anything else?”
His voice is measured now, slower, like he’s leaving room for me to reveal something I shouldn’t.
I swallow.Take a gamble.
“She warned me.” I hold his gaze. “That there’s more to this house… and to you… than meets the eye.”
The silence stretches.
His expression doesn’t shift—not immediately.
Then, to my utter surprise, a low chuckle escapes his lips. It’s soft. Almost indulgent.
He runs a hand through his dark hair, shaking his head slightly. “She’s quite imaginative, isn’t she?”
His calmness unsettles me more than anger would have. I don’t know if I feel relieved or even more wary.
Letting out a slow, careful breath, I try to gather my thoughts. “Santo…”
I don’t know what I’m going to say, but he doesn’t let me finish.
His fingers brush against my arm, light, warm, grounding.
“Vasilisa.” My name is a murmur, spoken softly, pulling me closer despite myself.
His hand moves, tilting my chin up. Not forceful, but commanding. His touch lingers. I’m forced to meet his gaze.
His dark eyes are no longer stormy, but warm. Pulling me in.
“If you have any questions or doubts, ask me directly.”
His voice is softer now. Intimate.
His fingers fall away, leaving behind a phantom warmth on my skin.
For a moment, I lose myself in the quiet between us. The grand library fades into the background, Santo standing before me like something carved from shadow and fire.
And then, his tone shifts, pulling me back to reality.
“Just one more thing.”
I brace myself.
His next words send a chill down my spine.
“There is surveillance all over the house, including the sitting room in the master bedroom… audio included.”
I still.
“…Santo.” His name escapes me in a whisper. My mind racing to recall every word I spoke in there. But beneath the rush of thoughts, something else blooms.
Trust.
He didn’t have to tell me. He could’ve let me stay in ignorance. But he chose to warn me.
