Page 24 of Ruthless

Stupid me.

I blinked back tears that threatened to fall, and thankfully, I knew most camera imaging was too grainy for him to see that part of me. I tried to save my breakdowns for the shower, but tonight it all just felt…heavy.

My mind drifted back to my brother—and then Lucas, wondering if he was working as hard as I thought he was to find me. We had always vowed to each other that if anything were to ever happen like this, we wouldn’t stop searching. However, that was before one of the men had told me my partner—and best friend—was a gray character.

I racked my brain as I thought about that. How could he be gray? Well, other than the part of his last name. He had a sketchy past… But the more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t remember what that was. Had he ever told me? I wasn’t sure if he had.

I met Lucas when he was a ten-year veteran on the police force in Oakland. He wasn’t the kind of guy that you fucked with—that was apparent. Everyone who knew him respected him, which is always a good thing in my book. I was working a case that led me to him, because he was the active lead detective.

And the rest was history.

So…what could he be doing? Hehatedthe gray area. Was that just some kind of front? Surely not.Ugh.

There’s no way I can sleep like this.

I let out a sigh, flipping the covers back and sitting up in bed. There wasn’t much else for me to do in the basement other than read—and while being a total asshole, Ghost Eyes did have a good collection of books. The most surprising one he had brought to me wasWhere the Red Fern Grows. It’s almost like he just wanted to gift me with a story much more somber than my own.

My fingers flipped the switch on a small lamp, one that was bolted to the nightstand. I didn’t know what he thought I would do with that thing, but the puny little silver desk lamp wouldn’t do much damage to his thick skull.

Though, if given the option, I might try it.

I didn’t feel like reading, jitters getting the best of me. So, I began to pace the dank floors, wishing I were somewhere else. And right about the time my mind had started to think of the vacation to Hawaii that I never took…

The basement door opened.

Ugh.

No matter how many times it happened, it always left me on edge when I heard the locks slide and the door creak. Most of the time, it was Ghost Eyes, and for the last almost five days—since the shower incident—that was the only visitor I’d had.

“You know it’s two in the morning, right?” His deep voice was strangely comforting in the dim light.

“I have no concept of time anymore,” I muttered, shaking my head at him. I didn’t look at him for more than a few seconds, ensuring I didn’t admire the tight black T-shirt and light gray sweats he had on. The longer I let my gaze linger, the more I always lost my head.

“I think you do.” He folded his arms across his chest, letting out a long sigh. “This is the second night you’ve gotten up at this time.”

I rolled my eyes. “Must be the motion sensor on the cameras waking you up.”

“Nope, I just never sleep,” he smirked, the shadow across his jaw line twitching as he smiled.

I ignored him.

“Are you hungry?” Ghost Eyes’ gaze followed me as I kept walking. “You’re starting to act like a tiger in the zoo, you know. All this pacing and shit.”

“No.”

“No, you’re not hungry? Or no, you’re not like a tiger in the zoo?”

I stopped, turning to face him. “Why are you here?”

He shrugged. “Because I’m the unlucky bastard who has to keep you alive and contained.”

I glared at him. “You know what I mean. Younevercome down here at this time of night.”

“I was up.”

Gritting my teeth, I went toward the stack of books, picking up the dreadedWhere the Red Fern Grows.

“That one is so depressing. I wouldn’t read it.”

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