Page 75 of Ruined

"Bullshit!" She's inches from my face now. "You wanted me, so you took me. Just like every other controlling asshole in my life. And now Jessica might die because you couldn't keep your dick in your pants!"

Something snaps inside me. I whirl away from her, my fist connecting with the wall before I can stop myself. The drywall cracks under the impact, pain shooting up my arm.

"Fuck!" I pull my hand back, knuckles bleeding.

Evelyn flinches but doesn't back down. "Did that make you feel better? Breaking things when you don't get your way?"

I turn to face her, breathing hard. "You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to put people in danger? I saw a chance to keep you safe and I took it."

"And look where that got us." Her voice drops to a whisper, somehow more devastating than her shouts. "If anything happens to Jessica or Michael, their blood is on your hands. And I will never, ever forgive you."

She steps back into the bedroom and slams the door. The lock clicks into place.

I stare at my bleeding knuckles, at the hole in the wall, at the closed door between us. Everything I touch turns to shit. Everything I try to protect gets destroyed.

And the worst part is, she's right.

I stand in the hallway, staring at the closed bedroom door, my hand throbbing with each heartbeat. The pain feels right—deserved. I fucked up. Not by taking Evelyn, but by not being prepared for Ivan's response.

My phone is still in my hand. I dial Matteo's number, pacing the hall to the living room as it rings.

"What's up?" Matteo answers, sounding distracted.

"I need you to come over. Now."

"What happened?" His tone shifts immediately, alert and focused.

"Ivan took Michael Chen too. Evelyn's friend. It's on the news." I lower my voice. "She's losing it, man. Blames me for everything. I can't leave her alone but I need to do something."

"Like what?" Matteo asks cautiously.

"Like find out where Ivan's keeping them." I glance at the bedroom door. "Or put a bullet in his head. Either works."

Matteo sighs. "Noah?—"

"I'm not asking for permission. I'm asking you to come watch her while I'm gone."

There's a pause on the line. "You realize if she wants to leave badly enough, I can't stop her without hurting her, right? And I'm not going to do that."

"Just... keep her here. Talk to her. She listens to you." I run a hand through my hair. "I need to move on this, Matteo. I can't just sit here while Ivan picks off everyone she cares about."

Another pause. "Alright. I'll be there in twenty. But Noah?—"

"What?"

"Don't do anything stupid. Damiano has people looking. You going rogue isn't going to help."

"Twenty minutes," I say, ignoring his warning. "Thanks."

I hang up and walk to the bedroom door again, resting my palm against it.

"Evelyn," I call softly. "Matteo's coming over to stay with you. I need to go out."

No response.

I pace the living room, checking my watch every thirty seconds. Each minute feels like an hour as I wait for Matteo. Myknuckles have stopped bleeding but the skin is split and raw. Good. The pain keeps me focused.

When the doorbell finally rings I nearly rip the door off its hinges.

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