Page 48 of Ruined By Blood
"I told you I've never played before."
Without another word, he rises from the couch, walks to an open space in the living room, and effortlessly kicks himself up into a perfect handstand. His t-shirt slides down, revealing a slice of tanned stomach and more of the intricate tattoos that cover his torso.
I count to thirty as he holds the position, not even wobbling. When he flips back to his feet, he doesn't even look winded.
"Satisfied?" he asks, returning to his seat.
I nod, strangely fascinated by this playful side of a man I've only seen as dangerous.
CHAPTER 18
Istudy Sienna across the coffee table, now littered with the remnants of our game. We've been at this for over an hour, and I've learned her favorite color is ocean blue, her preferred season is autumn, she can recite entire passages from Jane Austen novels, and she's terrified of spiders.
Small details. Safe truths.
Every time, she chooses "truth" when I ask, yet sidesteps anything too revealing. I could push harder—ask about her father, about what she's still hiding—but that would break this fragile peace we've built. The way her shoulders have gradually relaxed, how her smile comes more easily now feels too preciousto shatter.
"Truth or dare?" she asks, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Truth," I answer, having alternated between both options throughout our game.
"Have you ever cheated at cards?" Her eyes narrow suspiciously. "Because I still don't understand how I won six times in a row."
I press a hand to my chest in mock offense. "I would never cheat at cards. Especially not against a beginner." I pause for dramatic effect. "I simply let you win to boost your confidence."
"Liar," she says without heat, a small smile playing on her lips.
"That's not how the game works. You can't question my truth." I glance at my watch and notice it's already noon. "Merda. Is that the time?"
Sienna follows my gaze. "I didn't realize it was so late."
My stomach growls loudly enough for her to hear, and she actually laughs—that soft, unexpected sound that transforms her entire face.
"I think your stomach is trying to tell us something," she says.
"Breakfast," I agree, stretching as I stand. "Or lunch, I suppose." I extend a hand to help her up, then catch myself, remembering how she flinches from unexpected touches and drop it back to my side. "Come on. Let's find something to eat."
In the kitchen, I rummage through the refrigerator while Sienna perches on a stool at the island.
"If Noah knew I spent an entire morning playing Truth or Dare instead of handling business, he'd never let me hear the end of it," I say, pulling out eggs and vegetables for omelets.
"Noah?" she asks.
I nod, cracking eggs into a bowl. "My second-in-command. Well, technically Damiano's third, but he works mostly with me now." I glance over at her. "He'd be insufferable about this—me playing board games like a normal person."
She watches me chop peppers with practiced efficiency. "Are you and Noah close?"
The question surprises me. It's the first time she's asked anything about my life beyond the game.
"As close as men in our position get," I say carefully, adding the vegetables to a hot pan. "We trust each other with our lives, which counts for something."
"But are you friends?" she persists.
I consider this while whisking eggs. "We don't go bowling or share our feelings, if that's what you're asking." The oil sizzles as I pour the egg mixture into the pan. "But yeah, he's probably the closest thing to a friend I have outside family."
Sienna's face takes on that thoughtful expression I've come to recognize—like she's turning over my words, searching for the truth beneath them.
"What are the relationships like? Between the men who work for you, I mean."
