Page 93 of Ruin
“You are full of surprises, you know that?”
“Likewise. I was sure you’d push me away again when I walked out there last night,” I reply.
He shifts to kiss my forehead before I rest my cheek back against his chest and start tracing my finger over his abs, smiling at the trail of goosebumps that rise along it’s path.
“I just realised I can keep fighting this, or just accept that things between us were always complicated. It was gettingexhausting being in denial, so I decided to surrender and see how this all unfolds,” he replies.
“Good plan. Let’s just have fun and be honest with each other from now on, okay?”
“I can do that.” He kisses the top of my head as I snuggle further into his side, content just to exist in this moment for a little longer before we need to return to reality once again.
But reality comes along a lot faster than I expected when he lets out a long breath, and I look up to see a troubled expression on his face.
“What is it?”
He hesitates for a moment, long enough for worry to start to set in while I watch him go through whatever internal battle he’s fighting.
“Daniel’s visit wasn’t just a simple check-in.”
I prop myself up on my elbow again so that I can look down at him as my fight or flight reflexes kick in. “What happened?”
I already know what he’s going to say before the words leave his mouth, but I really hope I’m wrong.
“Joseph showed up and was threatening all sorts of problems for us if we don’t hand you back over to him.”
And just like that, all the progress that I’d made over the past two months may as well have never existed.
41
SLAY YOUR DEMONS
LILY
Sebastian is still pullinghis pants on when I burst out of my bedroom, wearing only the oversized jumper I wore last night. Daniel is sitting at the breakfast bar, drinking a cup of coffee.
“Oh, there you are, brother,” he says, smirking at Sebastian over my shoulder.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was Joseph who punched you in the eye?” I demand, not bothering to look behind me.
Daniel freezes as he lifts his cup back to his lips, his gaze sliding from Sebastian to my scowling face.
“I-”
“How could you keep this from me?!” I don’t wait for him to feed me some bullshit about protecting me, which I’m sure he was just about to do.
Daniel puts his cup back down before raising both hands in surrender. “Okay. I’m going to approach you now, and I’d really like it if my balls remain intact.”
I glare at him as he gets up and comes to stand in front ofme, placing both hands on my shoulders. It’s only once he touches me that I realise I’m shaking.
“Firstly, we had every intention of telling you once we had things sorted out.”
“Youbothshould have told me yesterday,” I reply, turning my glare on Sebastian as he comes to stand beside us.
“What good would it have done?” Daniel asks, and I gape at him.
“Are you seriously trying to tell me that you kept this from me for my own good?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what I’m saying. Look at how much better you’ve been doing since you got here. Do you think either of us wanted to bring all this up, knowing it will likely send you spiralling again?”
