Page 253 of Ruins
A realization settles in my chest. “Oh,” I murmur. “Did you want it?”
Elena’s eyes widen in surprise. “No, never!” she exclaims, her voice sharp, almost too quick.
Confused, I study her expression. “Why not?”
She grimaces, her shoulders tensing before she finally explains.
“My grandmother was shot while wearing that ring. The bullet was meant for my grandfather.”
I stiffen.
Her voice softens, but the weight of her words lingers in the space between us. “And then my mother…” Her voice trails off, but she doesn’t need to finish. The unspoken truth is enough.
A chill runs down my spine. “Do you think the ring is bad luck?”
Elena exhales, shrugging helplessly. “Or even cursed.”
Her gaze flickers to mine, uncertain. “I don’t know why Santo would give it to you… when it was returned to him withher.”
The unsaid words hang heavy in the air between us. Understanding crashes over me like a tidal wave.
I connect the dots—Lucia Amato was sent back to her sons in pieces. And this ring… I gasp, my breath catching in my throat.
Next to me, Elena bites her bottom lip, eyes flicking to mine, nervously.
“You’re not going to tell him, are you?” she asks, anxiety lacing her voice.
Flabbergasted, I glance around the room, my gaze landing on the cameras, their dark lenses watching. Recording. My stomach twists.
“As if he doesn’t already know,” I reply bitterly, gesturing toward them.
Elena follows my gaze, and the moment her eyes land on the cameras, she curses under her breath.
As if on cue, Santo enters the library. His expression is dark, his brow furrowed, his presence suffocating.
“Out,” he commands, his gaze locked onto Elena.
She rolls her eyes but turns to me, mouthing a silent apology before exhaling a resigned sigh. She gets up, leaving without another word.
The door closes behind her, leaving me alone with Santo.
Chapter 50
Santo
IwasalmosthomewhenIneededto see my wife.
One day apart was too much.Far too much.
Spending a month with her, having her in my arms, in my space,mine; only to be separated for even a single day feels unbearable. I miss her terribly.
Vasilisa reminds me of before. Of a time when rebuilding computers, making honor roll, and losing myself in books were my biggest worries. She’s my light. The one thing that keeps the shadows at bay—the shadows that come with the blood on my hands.
But then I pulled up the security footage and I watched as my sister tried to destroy my light.
I raced home, phone in hand, my pulse hammering as I stormed through the doors. I made it to the library just in time to hear Elena tell my wife that her ring was cursed.
That ring.
