Page 79 of Ruined

“Are you okay?” Jace shifts in the front seat.

Just feeling nauseous.

“Feeling nauseous,” Ryker repeats for Jace. “Let’s get some snacks while we get what we need.”

I smile, reaching for the door handle.

“Don’t you dare,” both Ryker and Jace say. Glancing over my shoulder at them, I shake my head. I wait inside while they both get out and open my door. Jace grabs my hand, helping me out. With Ryker on one side and Jace on the other, I felt protected, strong, and confident.

While Jace grabs the cart, we walk around the store, everyone’s eyes on us. I try not to pay any mind to them, but I can feel myself wanting to panic. The last time I was in public, we were attacked.

I mindlessly hold Ryker’s hand, following behind Jace in each aisle. Both of them fill the cart with more snacks than they probably need.

“Hey, what kind of snacks do you like?” Jace asks startling me. I whip around, my heart pounding against my chest. My vision blurs, fingers beginning to grow numb.

Hatred doesn’t even begin to explain the feeling inside when Dad walks in the door, a guard behind him. A guard I’ve never met before.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Dad smiles when he sees I’m awake.

I keep my mouth shut, not that I’ve said anything for the past two weeks. Not since the cartel took Gabriel and me. Turning my head towards the window, my finger fiddles with the blanket, needing anything to distract myself. The last time I freaked out in front of him, Dad made the doctors put me to sleep. I don’t want to go back there. Every time I close my eyes, all I see is them.

“Sam, this is Blake.” Dad walks to the window in my line of sight. Biting my lip, I clench the covers in my fist. “Blake, this is Sam.”

I nod my head in acknowledgment, hoping it would be enough for him. But of course, dear old Dad doesn’t care; when he wants your attention, he demands it.

“Blake, are you listening to me?” he asks, snapping his stupid fingers at me.

Rolling my eyes, I turn towards him, glaring.

“Sam is going to be your new guard. He’ll be posted outside your hospital room.” He nods towards the other man. I refuse to acknowledge him. I don’t need Sam nor do I want him to be my new guard. I don’t want any of them. The cartel should have killed me.

“She’ll warm up to you, she… Henry, her last guar—” Grabbing the water from the hospital table, I throw it at Dad, hissing when the stitches along my side pull.

But I don’t care. I can’t stand to hear his name. I hate them, hate all of them. How can Dad just act as if one of his men didn’t kidnap me and torture me?

“Blake Salem Elizabeth Anderson Volkov,” Dad growls. I meet his glare. While I have my mother’s caring nature, I also have my father’s attitude problem. “Sam is your new gua—” Grabbing the pen off the table, I chuck it at his face. Dad steps forward; I’m prepared for him to hit me when the door opens, and Mom and Aunt Salem walk in.

“Love?” Mom mumbles, eyeing both of us. “What’s wrong?”

“Your fucking daughter,” Dad answers.

“Dimitri,” Mom gasps at the same time Aunt Salem growls, “Watch your mouth.”

It’s the one thing I love about Aunt Salem; she doesn’t stand for his shit. No matter who he is, she doesn’t care. I once wanted to be like her: strong and independent. Only now I’m weak, a fragile mistake.

“Outside now,” Mom snaps. Dad hangs his head, muttering something to Sam who leaves. The door shuts behind them, leaving Salem standing in the middle of the hospital room.

“Well, that went well.” Aunt Salem sighs.

I nod my head, leaning back, feeling tired again.

“We should get some snacks…” Aunt Salem smiles over at me, reminding me why she’s my favorite.

“Blake!” someone yells, pulling me out of my memories. I blink up at who’s talking to me–Jace and Ryker.

“Take a deep breath,” Jace whispers as Ryker swipes his thumb across my jaw. I feel something wet on my cheek. I hadn’t even realized I was crying. I try to suck air into my lungs, only it gets caught. My finger twitches; I need to hurt something. I can feel the itching in my skin and the burning in my lungs.

“She needs to scream,” Ryker’s voice sounded muffled to my ears.

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