Page 218 of Ruin My Life
“He will be by now,”Brie cuts in.
She knew I would be, because of the deal she made with O’Doyle.
“I can call if you want. I don’t care if I interrupt.”
She reaches for her phone.
Connor doesn’t move until she pulls it out. Then—calmly—he steps toward he and snatches it from her hand. Holds it above her head like he’s taunting a puppy with a treat.
My stomach clenches.
He’s mocking her.“Come on, Brie. You started this little fire, and now you’re gonna piss on Damon’s meeting with half a clue and a gut feeling?”
“Con?”Lee says.“What the hell are you doing?”
Lee starts to step in, but Brie blocks him. My fists curl.
She’s already calculated the threat. And she’s trying to protect him.
How the fuck did I not see this coming?
Connor grins like he’s won.“There she is. The infamous Black Rose. Took you long enough to figure it out.”
He drops Brie’s phone. Smashes it under his boot.
Something inside me cracks. Rage floods my chest.
“It was you…”Lee breathes.
Connor doesn’t flinch.“You were always a sweet kid, Lee. But sweet doesn’t survive long in our world. Haven’t you heard the saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”
Lee stares in disbelief.“But... why?”
Connor laughs, low and sharp.“Jesus, you really don’t know?”He shakes his head.“You’ve all been so focused on protecting Damon, you never stopped to think who he failed to protect.”
My throat tightens.
“You son of a bitch,” I mutter.
Brie’s voice is steel.“Damon is supposed to be your brother.”
Connor’s face hardens.“The day he let them kill my sister, any chance of brotherhood between us died with her.”
His sister?
“Isabella?”Brie asks, and I freeze.
No. That’s impossible. He’s not—
He grins.“Ding ding ding! We have a winner.”
My mind reels.
Chavez stiffens beside me. “Isabella was Connor’s sister?”
“It’s the first I’m hearing of it,” I tell him. “I didn’t even know she had a brother.”
“I can’t believe he never mentioned that,” Chavez murmurs.
