Page 9 of Bound By Ruin

In fact, I’m anticipating that the reason we haven’t sniffed him out yet is because he’s been on the move since reentering the city. After spending the past few years on the run, I doubt he can sit still.

Much like Rebel.

My annoyance grows—quickly—until Celia suddenly twines Rebel’s fingers in hers and leans into his side, curling beneath his arm as he drapes it over her shoulder. He settles down in an instant, damn near purring like a cat, the smile curving on his lips softening as he presses a tender kiss to Celia’s temple.

I’m not jealous. I’mnot.

I drum my fingertips against my thigh as I fight the wave of envy pulsing through my veins. Celia and I have made progress—but not like that. Notnearlylike that. I need to be patient. I told Celia that she could fall for my brothers first—and I meant every word. I still do.

But that doesn’t make it any easier to witness the two of them falling harder with each passing day.

Celia lifts her tired gaze to mine and smiles, making my heartthumphard inside my chest. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s observant, reading both me and Rebel with such ease that I wouldn’t have noticed if she hadn’t given me a hint.

That smile speaks volumes, and it soothes the jealousy burning inside my heart.

I don’t need to be jealous of my brothers. When Celia finally comes to me of her own volition—of her ownheart—she’ll fall just as hard for me as she has for the others.

Shehasto.

Mikhail claps his hands together once he and Thanatos have hatched a plan for taking down our father. I’ve listened intently up until the last minute, missing the most vital part of the conversation…

Like, how the fuck we’re going to take him down once we’ve found him? Who will make the kill—and who will ensure he suffers for every fucked-up thing he’s done not only to our family, but to every woman he’s carved up for fun. I grind my teeth as I picture it—the moment my father meets the Reaper. Part of me believes that it should be Ruin to make the final cut, but another part of me longs to be the one to cave in his skull with my fists. Rebel likely won’t care to take the kill so long as he gets in enough hits to burn off his anger from Celia’s attempted abduction.

I watch Celia for any sign of hesitation or remorse, grateful when I find none. Her eyes are tired but clear, with her resolve as strong as ours.

I always knew I picked the right woman to love.

Mikhail raps his knuckles on the table to collect everyone’s attention. “Alright, let’s get this shit show on the road. One less murdering lunatic in town will be good for everyone. I’ll sleep better at night knowing that he can’t reach my sister, seeing as she keeps such…interestingcompany.” The insult slides right off my shoulders. I don’t give a fuck what Mikhail Monrovia thinks of me—regardless of his status as my future brother-in-law. He can go fuck himself with his disapproval.

Locking eyes with his sister from across the table, Mikhail adds, “you should stay here until we’ve eliminated the threat, Celia.”

Her back straightens as she bristles. “No. No way, Mikhail. He’s afterme.If he finds out that I’m here—” Celia glances at the partition blocking Ruin’s unconscious body from view—“he’ll come for more than just me.” Quieter, she adds, “I’m not the only person whose blood he wants. So I’m going with you. I want to find him just as much as you do.”

I stare at my beautiful, stubborn woman, two emotions crashing against each other like waves inside of my heart. Pride swells like a fever, but on its heels is heavy dread churning inside my gut. If we split Ruin and Celia up and secure them in different locations, my father will have to choose a target… which means only one of them will be vulnerable to attack at a time.

Celia is willing to risk her life if it means keeping Ruin safe.

What she doesn’t seem to understand is that it will never come to that—I won’t let either of them die. We aren’t splitting up anymore. We’re seeing this through to the end—all of us, together.

Clicking his tongue in clear disapproval, Mikhail stabs the sharp tip of his switchblade into the table. “That’s exactly why you should stay here. He won’t get into The Box, Celia, even if he figures out where you are. If by some heinous miracle he does—which Isincerelydoubt—with another target so close, he’ll have to choose one of you to go after. He can’t kill you both.”

Rebel snorts. “Uhh, did you miss the blazing fucking inferno back at the shop?” He flicks crusty, burnt hair from his eyes, frowning as it falls back over his forehead. Hastily brushing it away, he huffs, “he’ll set fire to the whole goddamn city if he thinks it’ll help lure her out, especially if he thinks he can take Ruin out at the same time. He’ll want to make them both suffer.”

Mikhail isn’t convinced. “That’s exactly why hewon’tlight another fire. That was a message, not a murder attempt.”

“Sure fooled me,” Rebel murmurs moodily.

I stare at Celia to gauge her mood, but she stares stonily ahead, glaring at her brother, undeterred in the slightest. “I’m not going to sit here while everyone I love combs the city for this bastard. I’m coming, too. That’s final.”

My heart trills with love for this woman, and despite how bone-tired I am, my cock threatens to rise. I clench my fists and clear my throat. “She’ll be safe with us.” I meet her gaze and nod. I’m not keen on the idea of her running through the city in general, but for the first time in my life, I’m even less fond of locking her down. If she’s standing still, Dad could track her just as easily as we do, and if he’s been paying attention, which I’m sure he has, he’ll suspect that we’re in The Box if any of us were injured from the latest arson.

He could be hiding around the corner as we speak, waiting for the perfect opening to slither through.

“We can’t move Ruin,” Thanatos says slowly, staring into the distance. “It’s too risky with his current condition.”

Before Mikhail can open his big mouth, I growl out, “Don’tsuggest we leave him behind.”

A muscle in Mikhail’s jaw twitches. “He’s a liability at best and a death sentence at worst.”

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