Page 66 of Claimed
I sniff. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
His silver eyes track over me and I know he can hear the erratic thrum of my heart.
Clad in a suit like everyone else, he could be just another gala attendee on the way from the restroom. He slips his arm over my shoulder and leads me toward the parking lot. “Did everyone see you?” he asks.
“What do you think?” I grumble.
His hand scrubs up and down my bare arm. “Well, you don’t have to stick around. We can go if you’re ready.”
Trying to suck back all my tears, I nod. “I don’t want to be here anymore. Not now.”
He leads me to one of the rental SUVs the team got when they arrived to town. Ruin opens the driver’s side door and gets out, his black eyes livid. “What the fuck happened?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine, Ruin.” I try to smile, but the motion is so fragile it breaks before it can ever form.
He looks at Tanner and the shifter shakes his head, but their eyes remain locked for several long moments. T urges me into the back seat. He slips his jacket off and eases it around my shoulders before he closes the door.
I stare out the front glass.
They don’t get in.
I peer out the back as Tanner says something to Ruin. The captain’s head whips back the way we came and he starts over the pavement, gold light spilling from his eyes.
I clamor from the car. “What did you tell him, Tanner?”
The shifter crosses his arms and refuses to answer. I kick off my heels and sprint after Ruin. I catch up to him near the next row of cars and haul back on his arm. “Stop. What are you doing?”
“I will kick Caine’s fucking ass. That’s what.”
My insides shrivel.
Tanner could smell him.
Oh god.
I wrap my hands around Ruin’s arm and dig my feet into the parking lot. “No. Don’t. Please.”
He glowers at me. “T can smell him all over you. And after his fucking shit last night, apparently he isn’t capable of keeping his head out of his ass.”
“Please, Ruin. It’s fine. It’s not him. I swear.”
“Then explain to me why you’re crying, Onyx? If it’s not Caine, what is it?”
I press my lips tight, not knowing how to respond. His face twists. “He’s dead.”
My breathing shortens and I gasp. “Ruin.” I let him go. “Caine didn’t hurt me.” My heart stays very steady and he slows. “I hurt me.”
His dark head turns and I am aware of Tanner stepping closer to my back. “I don’t understand,” Ruin says.
I sigh. “He’s in love with her, isn’t he? Lilah?”
Ruin’s face blanks.
My heart tries to break for something that will never be, but I force my shoulders back. “That’s what I thought.”
He turns around. “Onyx—”
I hold my hand up. “I should’ve known he was too good to be true.” My lips tremble. “I should’ve known.” The tears pour down my cheeks. “I should’ve—” My voice chokes off on a sob.
