Page 111 of Ruined

Her eyes widen slightly, like she didn't expect me to admit it.

"This is easier," I continue, moving toward the bed. "Fucking you senseless is easier than talking about my mother. About my father. About all the shit I've done."

I sit on the edge of the bed, my eyes traveling over her naked body. Even now, with my past laid bare between us, I want her more than my next breath.

"But that doesn't mean I don't want this too," I say, my voice dropping lower as I place my hand on her thigh. "Because eatingyour pussy is always a better idea than talking about my feelings. Is better than doing anything else in this fucking world."

A small smile plays at her lips. "Is that so?"

"Absolutely." I move between her legs, careful of my stitches.

I lower my head, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh. Her breath catches and I feel a surge of satisfaction. This—her pleasure, her response to my touch—this is something I understand. Something I can control when everything else feels like it's slipping through my fingers.

"We can talk more later," I murmur against her skin. "But right now, I need this. I need you."

CHAPTER 33

Ismooth down the wrinkles in my dress as Noah pulls up to the Feretti estate. The massive iron gates swing open without prompting, like they're expecting us. Maybe they are.

"You okay?" Noah asks, his eyes never leaving the winding driveway ahead.

"I'm fine," I lie.

After everything—Ivan, the kidnapping, Noah getting shot—I should be falling apart. But something's changed in me. I'm harder now. Stronger.

The car stops in front of the mansion and I spot Jessica waiting on the steps with Alessio hovering nearby. She looksdifferent—still my sister, but with shadows under her eyes that weren't there before.

I step out of the car and Jessica flies into my arms before I can even close the door.

"Evie!" she cries, squeezing me so tight I can barely breathe.

I clutch her back just as fiercely, burying my face in her hair. The scent of her familiar shampoo—vanilla and something floral—brings tears to my eyes. After all our texts and calls while Noah was in the clinic, nothing compares to holding her.

"I was so scared," she says against my shoulder. "When they took me?—"

"I know," I say, my voice cracking. "I'm so sorry, Jess. This is all my fault."

We both break then, tears flowing freely as we cling to each other. All the fear, all the horror of the past days crashes over us like a wave. I hear the car door close behind me and sense Noah stepping away, giving us space.

"I'll be inside," he says quietly.

I nod without looking at him, grateful for this moment alone with my sister. Jessica pulls back just enough to look at my face, her eyes red and puffy.

"Are you really okay?" she asks, scanning me for injuries. "Your texts said you were but…"

"I'm fine," I assure her, wiping tears from her cheeks. "What about you? Did they hurt you?"

Jessica shakes her head. "Just scared me. Locked me up." Her voice drops to a whisper. "I kept thinking about what happened to Michael's finger and?—"

"Don't." I cut her off, pulling her close again. "It's over now. Ivan's dead."

We stand there holding each other, two sisters crying on the driveway of a mafia mansion. If someone had told me a month ago that this would be my life I'd have thought they were insane.

I hold Jessica at arm's length, studying her face. The shadows under her eyes tell stories she hasn't shared yet. We'll have time for that later.

"I need to go home, Evie," she says suddenly, her voice small. "I need to see Mom and Dad."

The mention of our parents sends a jolt through me. My first instinct is to argue—to remind her how controlling our father is, how our mother stands by and lets it happen. But the desperation in Jessica's eyes stops me.

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