Page 79 of Ruin Me Gently

It’s happening again.

No.

No. No. No.

I moved fast—hoodie, scarf, keys, gone.

It’s happening again.

No.

The tyres screeched as I tore out of the garage. I didn’t even remember taking the elevator down, my mind was whirling at a thousand miles an hour.

My focus was razor sharp, locked on the road, on the darkened sidewalks, every flicker of movement at the edges of my vision.

I turned onto the next road, cutting the corner too fast, tyres skidding against the pavement.

Every single street. Every single side street. Every single place she could have gone.

Nothing.

This wasn’t happening again. I would find her.

My vision blurred for a split second—just a flicker, just long enough for my stomach to lurch, for panic to shove its way up my spine. I blinked hard, forcing the salty water back.

My chest was caving in, fingers flexing and curling against the wheel to anchor me, because I couldn’t damn well breathe.

I couldn’t do this. Icouldn’t—

There.

I slammed on the brakes, tyres screeching as the car came to an abrupt stop. My hands shook as I rolled the passenger side window down, cold, sharp air slamming into my face.

She twisted around fast, head snapping toward me.

And just like that, relief punched through my chest, so sudden and sharp it made me dizzy.

It was her. She was okay.

My arms flew up, cutting through the air in a silent, exasperated gesture.‘What the hell are you doing?’

She tilted her head, eyes narrowing on me as she raised her brows. ‘What the hell areyoudoing?’

Unbelievable.

No. I wasn’t doing this. She wasn’t sitting out here in the cold, on her own. It was my job to keep her safe, and she wasn’t freezing to death on my watch.

I leaned over the driver’s seat, one hand still gripping the wheel, and popped the passenger door open.

Then I waited. Didn’t say anything. Didn’t move.

She just watched me, like she was debating whether or not she actually wanted to get in. Then, with a slow exhale, she stood, tossed her coffee cup into the trash, and pulled the door open the rest of the way before sliding into the passenger seat.

I pulled away from the curb.

She was in my car.

Lilith.

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