Page 62 of King of Ruin

I mean, even if they do, I’m pretty sure the doctorshaveto save me. They took an oath for crying out loud. My brain hurts from the back and forth, contradicting rational thought with possibilities, but that’s what she makes me do–question everything.

If someone would have told me about this Maddy person last year, I’d probably think they’re insane. But after living briefly on one side and hearing the stories, to being threatened by her with a knife? Then later stalked and saved by her too?

If I’m being honest I don’t think anyone knows just how out of her head the woman really is. This only brings me back to my answer that yes, she absolutely could murder me in front of a hospital.

Calm down.

I force myself to take a breath. Not having my brother to rely on in these situations is beginning to give me a horrible dose of paranoia, and I decide here and now to never dip my toe in anything evenremotelyillegal ever again. And I’d like to at least make it to take my first shot as a legal adult one day.

“Ya know, Kilo fussed at me about calling you a mouse.” The sudden voice nearly jolts my soul from my body.

I spin around, heart careening in my chest to find a mess of red curls, and a smug smirk painted on Maddy’s face. She’s leaning against the brick wall, one leg propped up and her pale arms crossed in front of her chest. Her ability to look somehow friendly and absolutely murderous is a true talent.

“But he said if anything, you’re like a dormouse. Sleeping in the middle of a war raging around you, so unconscious to the fact the city is inches away from being torn to the ground. Sounds like blissful ignorance to me but ya know. Tomato, tomáto.”

I suck in a sharp breath, pressing all my weight on the balls of my feet to steady me as she kicks off the wall and takes two broad steps toward me. I imagine her to be something like a bear, sniffing for fear. If I move too quickly or if she decides to make me a snack, I’m a goner. Goosebumps prickle my skin with every pass of her Amber eyes until finally, her lips lift higher on one end.

“So what has the little dormouse come to tell me?”

It takes two attempts at clearing my throat enough to be able to speak. “My brother said it’s time to tell you the plan.”

The only warning I have is the slight flare of Maddy’s eyes before her hand shots out and grips my forearm. I yelp, but don’t dare try to resist and instead let her twirl me around and lead me into the hospital.

Women and men move around the hospital in their various colors of scrubs. None of them seem to care, or even notice, that a woman is dragging another–albeit willingly–through the halls.

A shiver runs through me as I consider how maybe the mafia really can own hospitals.

She passes the elevators and continues to an access stairwell. When we enter, she drops my hand.

“You have until we get to Kilo’s floor to spill it all. Best start now,Fiona.”

The hairs rise with the threat sprinkled on every syllable of my name. But when she takes her first step, the words somehow find me as if I’m an auctioneer.

“Long story short, my brother has been planning a coup since he was sixteen. He always knew we wouldn’t make it out, and decided to get to know the guards. Around forty percent of them belong to Zek. Their loyalty, that is. They will be stationed at the west side of the building tomorrow during the meeting.”

“Meeting?” Maddy’s five steps ahead of me and I’m grateful considering the look of daggers she shoots over her shoulder.

I nod. “I should have started with that. Sorry. Tomorrow is the day everything happens–”

Her shoulders visibly tighten as she continues to climb and now I want to stab my brother for thinking this woman is above shoving me down a flight of hospital stairs.

“They are having a meeting to have Onyx sign all her real estate, business, ports, everything, over to him. A lawyer will be present, but no one else.”

“Bastard wants people to think she did it on her own. Less of a fuss when people willingly bend the knee.”

This confuses me. “How does that make sense when all of you can just tell everyone the truth?”

I can’t see it, but I can hear the strain from her clenched jaw. “We’ll all be dead the second she signs. I’m sure he’s got men ready to attack us before the ink is dry.”

“Oh. Then it makes sense why my brother said you need to be in position tonight and not to wait until the morning.”

She spins around, and it’s then I realize how out of breath I am. I grab onto the rails and take a second to let my heart rate steady. “Sorry. I’m all over the place. I guess you were right about being asleep. It’s like I’ve been plunged into this whole new world and shoved more information into my mouth than I have time to digest. And now I’m word vomiting to a woman who will kill me the second I mess up.”

A large woosh of air releases from my lungs as I find Maddy’s narrow gaze on me. She’s still for way longer than what’s comfortable, and soon I start shifting my weight on the balls of my feet as I wait.

Then, out of completely nowhere, she laughs. Full-on belly laughter echoes around the concrete space and rings near deafeningly in my ear. My hand tightens around the rail while my eyes scan over any possible exits that I can reach before she finally snaps.

But as suddenly as her laughter started, it stops. She takes a deep breath and pushes her curls away from her face. “Alright. There’s a meeting happening tomorrow with Onyx, and we need to find a way to cross over and be at the west side of the Murphy’s mansion by tonight. Correct?”

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