Page 109 of Her Ruin

She said nothing.

I showered quickly. She stayed wrapped in a blanket, sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me as I dressed for work. Her look was one of careful assessment, and I knew I was being judged and, ultimately, found wanting.

Pulling on my suit jacket, I glanced at her. “The door locks automatically.” I pointed to the far corner of the room. “The elevator will only take you to the basement…no one will see you.” I hesitated on my way to the door. “I can have someone take you to your car if you want.”

“Who did you kill?”

The night she asked me if I’d killed anyone, I was expecting the follow-up question ofwhothen. When she never asked the next day or the next, I knew it wasn’t forgotten, yet I was still disappointed she asked me now.

“Why?” I turned to face her, hating the shine of tears in her eyes. “You already know that I have. That’s enough.”

“You get to make that decision?” she challenged. “About what I can and can’t know?”

“Use the elevator. Wait by my car. I’ll send Jayden to take you to yours.”

“Did you get in Gerard’s head about the renovation and the gala?” Her look was steady. “Did you sabotage my event?”

I met her gaze. “You sabotaged yourself when you took on more than you could handle.”

The silence was heavy between us.

“You should go.”

Isla looked like I’d slapped her. “That’s it? This is goodbye?”

I tipped my head back and looked at the ceiling. “You’re already looking at me like I kill puppy dogs, Is. You don’t want to be here.” I looked at her. “You don’t…approve of who I am.” I held her gaze. “I’ll never change.” I gestured down at my body. “And I don’t want to. I like who I am.”

“I don’t think I do.”

“I know.” I held her gaze for a long moment, heavy with unspoken words. “Wait for Jayden at the car. He won’t be long.”

I closed the door behind me, making sure it was shut tightly. The sound reverberated through the silence, louder and more final than I’d ever expected.

At the top of the stairs, I paused. One minute. Five deep measured breaths. On the last exhale, I shut off the part of me that had begun to entertain the idea of Isla being in my life.

More centered, I jogged down the stairs. There was no room for distractions.

I had work to do.

CHAPTER30

ISLA

I didn’t thinkI’d be this broken.

I never thought a single lapse in my mantra to stay away from him could shatter me so completely when I failed to do just that. But I had failed, and just like before, holding on to Zayn was like holding sand and watching it slipping through my fingers.

Jayden had taken me to my car, and then he’d followed me home, which was kind of him. Who knew the hot beefcake security guy was so gentle?

Appearances truly were deceiving.

Julian decided to help me get over Zayn by telling me every sordid detail of his past—a long litany of betrayals, violent deals, and secret maneuvers. He told me, in no uncertain terms, everything Zayn had done over the years.

It hadn’t helped. It made it worse. Each time, I could see the reason why he’d done it.

For power? For control? Sure. To protect what was his? Without a doubt.

Each revelation cut deeper, unraveling the fragile image I’d held on to. Instead of dulling the sting, knowing his real motivations only made the ache worse. I saw clearly now that Zayn wasn’t just a charming enigma—he was a man who used every tool at his disposal, every cruel tactic, to keep his empire intact.

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