Page 16 of Queen of Ruin

“What the fuck is wrong with you people?” I ask angrily, meeting Darren’s startled gaze.

“You people?”

“It’s been nothing but games since I met you.”

I step down from the treadmill to face him.

“You don’t get it, Darren.”

We stand toe to toe.

“You brought me here. You put me in a situation where I couldn’t…” I falter, looking into his eyes that soften with shades of worry. “A situation I wasn’t prepared to handle.”

Darren steps closer. “If I had known about your history…”

“You mean the one where I’m a prostitute?”

“The one where you knew my father.” He looks down at me, his jaw sharp and his brow glistening with sweat. “And Langley,” he says through gritted teeth.

I shake my head. “Half my client list was in attendance at that charity event.”

“Don’t say things like that.” His eyes flare with annoyance.

I take a dangerous step forward.

“I’ve got news for you, Darren Walker.” I look up at him through my lashes and I can feel his breath on my lips, our closeness causing my skin to pebble with goosebumps. “I’m not a virgin.”

His lips press into a tight line, and I watch his Adam's apple bob as he swallows hard.

He lifts his hand as if to touch my face, but I don’t give him the chance and turn away to grab my bottle of water, nearly emptying the whole thing.

Darren runs a hand through his hair instead. “Jesus Christ, Evan. I punched a U.S. senator for you!” He raises his voice, but it’s not an angry voice or even one laced with regret.

The room becomes quiet enough to hear the rain hit against the windowpane.

“You punched a U.S. Senator for me,” I say quietly.

Darren reacts to my grateful and soft tone by returning the same. “I don’t like being blindsided.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me about Audrina?” I can’t keep the hurt from my tone. “Because I’m not a Walker, not really? Or is it because you didn’t want someone like me staining your mother’s charity?”

His brows furrow, causing deep lines in his forehead. “Is that how you think I see you?”

“You made that pretty clear the other day.”

“I was angry, and I shouldn’t have said those things,” he offers, which I appreciate.

“What was it about him?” he suddenly asks, and I can tell what it takes for him to be so vulnerable.

“Darren, when I met him, I wasn’t in a good place. I was drowning in work and school. Everything felt bleak, and then I listened to your father’s lecture. He gave me something that I hadn’t had in a long time.” I pause, feeling the weight of his stare and my insecurities claw at my insides. “He inspired me, and I held onto that, especially when I really needed something to cut through the darkness.”

A look of understanding passes over his face, but he remains silent.

“I’m sure if Audrina knew the truth, she wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me,” I shrug, acting as if it doesn’t bother me, but it sits heavy in my stomach.

“You’re probably right, but I don’t care what Audrina thinks. You’re my wife, and if you wanted to run the whole fucking foundation she has no say in it!”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

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