Page 69 of Ruined

“Ryker,” I hear Jace’s voice, but I can’t see him.

“Ryker!” Laia screams. “Help! Help me!”

“I’m here,” I yell. I pull harder against the cuffs. The metal cuts into my skin, blood trickling down my wrist. I haven’t heard Grams in a minute; I know that bastard did something to her.

“You’re here, come on,” Jace’s voice filters through. Everything around me fades until there’s nothing but darkness. “Come on, man, our girl’s here. She’s trying to talk to you, open those eyes.”

My head shakes. I know he’s making sense. I knew it was going to happen. I knew it before I opened my mouth. But I didn’t care, I wanted to make Blake feel better. She was scared, feeling defenseless, and it wasn’t the girl I knew. My Blake loves to stab things when she gets mad.

My eyes slowly open, the bright light blinding me. Frowning, I feel the cool breeze against my face. Shit, my mask.

“Fuck,” I growl. Turning around, I fist my hands to stop myself from doing something I would regret. Like punching a wall or reaching for Blake.

“Ryker! Wait!” Jace calls after me.

I ignore him, needing to get away. This isn’t who I am. Blake is changing me, and I don’t like it. I told her part of my past and suddenly, I’m drowning.

“Dude, what the fuck?” Jace bellows.

I spin around. “Did you tell her about your past?”

Jace frowns, glancing between Blake and me. “Yes.”

“And you didn’t freak out?” I already know the answer to this. Jace got over his past when he killed his parents. There was bad blood between them from the time he was a child. I’m the reason my family is dead; it’s my fault.

“No.”

“Exactly, I can’t even talk much about my past without freaking out.”

I don’t look at Blake. I know she’s going to blame herself—it is her fault. She’s the whole reason I’m triggered, why I keep having these nightmares again.

“You’re both better off if I leave,” I announce.

“That’s bullshit and you know it.”

“What if something triggers me when we’re supposed to protect her. What if I get her hurt or fucking worse, killed? You would never forgive me. Fuck, I’d kill myself before you got the chance.”

“Ryker, just sto—”

“No. I need to leave; I need to go. I can’t be around her.”

My hand reaches for my bedroom door and twisting the knob, I push it open. But I don’t get one foot inside before something sharp hits my shoulder. Grunting, I slam my hand against the door frame. Swinging around, a fuming Blake marches towards me. I open my mouth to tell her to fuck off when shepunches me in the face. My jaw aches and when I turn my head back towards her, I expect her to be crying or shocked by her actions. Only she’s not. Instead, she’s reaching behind me, yanking what hit my shoulder out. “Fuck!” I snap, my eyes widening when I see a knife in her hand, a bloody knife.My fucking blood.

“Did you just throw a fucking knife at me?” I ask, shocked and a little turned on. Fuck, that’s a lie, my cock is so hard that it’s begging to be released from my jeans now. Blake takes a shaky breath, nodding before glancing down at the knife and back up at me.

“Ryker,” Jace warns. But it’s too late. All I see is red. Grabbing the back of her head, I yank her forward. Shoving two fingers into her mouth, Blake grabs my wrist, standing on her tippy toes.

“You think just because I shared some of my past with you that I’ll bend over and become some big softie for you?” I growl into her face. Blake narrows her eyes, dropping her hand from my wrist. “Fuck,” I hiss. Glancing down, the knife she stabbed my shoulder with is now lodged into my side.

Removing my fingers, I shove her down. Blake bites down on her lip, clearly pissed off. Pulling the knife out, I stare at my blood coating the blade.

“Hands and knees,” I order still fuming with rage.

She shakes her head, attempting to stand up. My foot hits her shoulder, kicking her back down. Blake’s soft eyes pull into a frown, lips parted. I bend forward spitting on her face.

“When I tell you to fucking do something, fucking do it!” I yell at her.

Her eyes widen and for a second, a split moment I think I might have pushed her too far. But her fingers dig into the floor, and I see her biting down on her inner cheek.

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