Page 111 of Ruin My Life
Then, with a sudden lurch, he spits a mouthful of blood straight into Connor’s face.
Red spatters across Connor’s cheek and chin.
He doesn’t flinch.
Doesn’t blink.
Justgrins.
The kind of smile that lives in nightmares—wild and empty.
Connor enjoys this too much. He always has. There are few things in this world that unsettle me, but his joy in breaking people? It scratches at something buried deep in my spine.
I take a step forward. “I’d start talking, James. Before I let Connor pick a toy.”
James’s gaze flicks to the tools behind me. I watch the panic bloom behind his blackened eyes. Watch his Adam’s apple twitch as he tries to swallow around the terror.
“He left,” James blurts. “When the boss told him no, he quit. Walked away. I haven’t seen him since.”
My fists curl tight again.
Those words don’t sit right.
He left.
That’s it? He just walked away?
When I tried to leave, they fed me the usual bullshit—Once a Songbird, always a Songbird.No exit route. No peace. I had to fight tooth and fucking nail to carve a path out. To bleed for it. Beg for it. Threaten for it.
And Xander? He justleft?
And theylet him go—just like that?
Something inside me snaps.
Maybe Brie won’t get the kill shot after all.
Because if I see Xander O’Doyle first... I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself.
I pick up the knife from the floor and flip it in my hand—the blade pinched between my thumb and forefinger, then the handle back into my palm. Muscle memory guides the motion as I step toward James.
“I was really hoping you’d end up being more useful, James,” I sigh, stopping just a few inches from him. He stiffens, arms straining against the ropes like that might make a difference now.
“Listen,” he sputters, eyes locked on the knife. “If you let me go... I can ask around. Maybe someone else has seen him. I can be discreet.”
Connor lets out a cold, humourless sound from deep in his throat—more growl than laugh. “You mean warn them that The Coyote’s sniffing around again? You think we’re stupid?”
“No! No, I wouldn’t—” James yelps as Connor digs his fingers into the back of his neck. “I swear I won’t tell them. I’ll be careful!”
“James, James, James...” I click my tongue. “Even if I believed that, letting you walk goes against my moral code. You know, considering all theshityou’re known for.”
He flinches, shoulders curling inward like they can shield him from what’s coming.
Keeping him alive might be smart. Let him spread the word, stir up some fear, maybe even dig up intel like he promised.
But just because he might still be useful doesn’t mean I forget who he is. Or what he’s done.
“You know I’m just doing what I’m told,” he mumbles, weakly, but his words sound empty—like evenhedoesn’t believe them.
