Page 31 of Ruined

The doors to the chapel flew open, and Tristan rushed out with Jesup hot on his heels. “Zyla, get me a first aid kit,” I ordered as I sat on the floor, placing Joey’s head in my lap, unable to pull his heavy body any further. I noticed River slip out the clubhouse doors, most likely to go check the grounds and the surrounding area for anyone else.

“Joey, can you hear me?” I asked him, my hands shaking as I ran them over his body, tears clogging my throat and burning the backs of my eyes.

Nothing. Not a sound.

My heart constricted in my chest.

“Tank and Damion, go with River to check the grounds,” Tristan instructed the two men. Tristan placed a hand on my shoulder, dragging my tearful eyes up to his. “Let me and Jesup get him on the couch, Addy. It’ll be more comfortable for both of you.”

Reluctantly, I nodded. I didn’t want to let go of Joey, terrified he’d suddenly leave me again, but I knew Joey needed to be on something softer.

Tristan and Jesup lifted him from the floor, and I watched as they carried him across the room to the couch. I quickly sat down on the worn furniture, placing Joey’s head back in my lap as Zyla brought me a first aid kit. I began cleaning up his face, grimacing at the deep cuts.

Someone wanted to hurt him, not kill him. They wanted to send a message.

“Jessie…” Joey grumbled a moment later, his twin’s name nothing more than a slurred word.

“Joey, what’s wrong?” I gently asked as I ran my fingers through his soft, dirty-blond hair.

“Adelaide, get Jessie,” he slurred, his eyes slitting open to look up at me. I knew he was telling me because he trusted me to save her. Trusted me more than he trusted his own men.

What the fuck was happening?

I looked up at Tristan, hoping he heard Joey’s command. I couldn’t bring myself to leave Joey’s side, not after getting him back so soon. It was selfish of me, but I didn’t care.

Iwasn’tleaving him.

Tristan nodded once at me. Pain flashed in his eyes for a moment before he smothered it. I swallowed thickly. I knew he hated seeing me with Joey like this, but I couldn’t—wouldnever—turn my back on Joey.

“Hey, man, we’re on it. Do you know where she’s at?” Tristan asked him.

“With Charles,” Joey mumbled, beginning to pass back out.

I looked back up at Tristan. “Go,” I told him. “Tank and River will hold everything down here.”

Tristan grunted and leaned down, pressing his lips to mine. Pain lanced through my chest as I kissed him all while my fingers momentarily tightened on Joey. Now that Joey was back with me, it felt wrong to kiss Tristan, like I was betraying the man who had saved my life three years ago. “Call me if anything happens,” Tristan instructed.

With that, he and Jesup strode out of the door before I could respond.

I looked down at Joey. Cupping his face in my hands, I leaned down and brushed my lips with his, not giving a fuck who was in the room and witnessing it.

“Thank you for coming back to me,” I whispered.

Joey slowly brought his hand up and laced his fingers in my hair, deepening the kiss for a moment. My heart swelled in my chest, and tears spilled down my cheeks as I eagerly kissed him back, so fucking happy that he was back with me where he belonged.

“I’ll always come home to you, pretty girl,” he rasped.

Then his eyes shut again, darkness pulling him back under.

Chapter Seventeen

Tristan

Jessie slid off the back of my bike, wincing in pain as she did so. Charles had fucked her up pretty badly, leaving her beaten and bloody. When we made it to the Sons of Hell’s clubhouse, it had been vacant, but I’d found Jessie tied up in the basement, bloody, beaten, and naked.

Honestly, had Joey not come to Adelaide for help, Jessie might have died there. I didn’t even want tothinkabout what she’d endured at his hands.

And the woman had no idea that her brother was still very much alive. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if she was aware thatshewas still alive. Jessie was basically a shell of herself. She hadn’t uttered a fucking word since I unbound her and Jesup gave her clothes to put on.

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