Page 66 of Ruthless

More silence.

Fuck. Did I say the wrong thing?

Lucas was staring at me, leaning forward slightly, like he was trying to hear what Axle was saying on the other line—which wasnothing.

“Trevor?”

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” he snapped. “You chose to fucking cut the ties. That’s what you wanted.”

“Okay, but that’s not fair,” I argued, shaking my head in frustration. “And youknowthat. You couldn’t just expect me to be fucking fine after you kidnapped me. I had shit to process, and I had to sort that all out in my head before I could decide what feelings were real and what ones I was using to cope with my situation.”

“Right,” he grunted. “So, what do you want me to do now, princess? Ride up on a white fucking steed and swoop you up? That ain’t happening.”

My heart sank, hating the cold tone. “I never asked you to be prince charming or anything,” I paused, rejection making my stomach hurt. “I just… I thought that maybe you’d feel the same.” I blinked back the tears as I looked across the table to Lucas, whose face was now contorted with sympathy.

And that just made it worse.

As did more silence on the other end of the phone.

“This is a waste,” I said, mostly to Lucas but also to Trevor. “It meant nothing. I was just something easy to fuck.”

Lucas nodded and signaled for me to hang up. I did as he said, ending the call and tossing the phone onto the table, not even caring that the screen cracked on contact.

“I wasnotexpecting that,” I said, wiping my eyes of the unwanted moisture.

“He’s playing you,” Lucas said in a low voice. “You really must’ve burned him.”

“How do you know that?” I demanded. “You have no idea who he is.”

Lucas shrugged. “Iwatchedhim when you were released. He could barely fucking keep it together. If you meant nothing to him, then he wouldn’t have given you a second glance… But it took all he had not to come unglued right there at the exchange. You’re his weak spot, and he knows that. He’s just fighting it. That’s what we were taught to do—which is why my father killed our mothers for his wife.”

Before I could say anything, the phone rang, his number showing up on the screen. I shook my head. “I’m not answering that.”

“Yes, you are.” Lucas slid the phone to me. “He’s had a moment to get his shit together. Take the call.”

Reluctantly, I did as he said, picking it up and answering it. “Yeah?”

“What do you want from me, Rachel?” His voice came out cold, but there was something else there—beneath the surface.

“You,” I choked out, hating that it was the truth in both matters.

“If you’re playing games with me, know that I willneverfucking forgive you,” he growled, causing my eyes to widen. “I saw the show you put on, you know, and to be frank, I don’t know that I believe you. I don’t know how you got this number—and I don’t know why now.”

I swallowed hard, trying to calm my thudding heart. “The way I feel is real, and I think you know that.”

“I think you’re playing me,” he repeated himself. “I’m not an idiot, and I can tell when something is off. But you know what? I’m gonna show up wherever you tell me to… And I know there’s a chance you’re walking me to my funeral. And I guess,” he paused. “You’re worth it. You’re the only fucking woman I’d die for.”

I fought to hold back the tears. “My house. Seven o’clock tomorrow evening.”

“Okay, see you then, princess.” He then hung up, not even giving me a chance to say goodbye, which was a good thing, since I broke down in tears afterwards.

“He knows,” I said, batting the moisture from my cheeks. “He knows it’s not real… and he’s gonna show up anyway.”

Lucas nodded, his eyes dropping to his hands. “Well, I guess that’s what real love is.”

Chapter 28

Axle

---