Page 69 of Claimed
Tanner breaks from the door and we fall in behind Gage.
The white haired male has emerald flames flickering down his shoulders as he leads the way back out the window and onto the roof.
Tanner drops down first and Ruin lowers me into the shifter’s arms. He’s warmer than Ruin and it eases some of the shaking, but not the pain. He scours my face and his silver eyes pulse. His beast is very close to the surface.
Ruin and Gage alight on the grass on each side and as a team, they move into the trees.
Every single one of them runs with ease, their pace steady. Sure.
Tanner’s arms are so solid I am barely jostled with each step. But every motion makes my head swim and the darkness wants desperately to play. I force it down along with my meager dinner.
We reach the staging area for the local colony without me vomiting. Ruin barks a few words to one of the vamps there before they climb into the waiting SUV.
When my ass hits the seat, I try to scoot away, but Tanner’s hold is like iron. “Am I hurting you?” I shake my head, feeling very tiny in his arms. He turns back forward as a low growl pours from his frame. “Then sit still and hold on. We will be there soon.”
Chapter 25
Caine
Heart pounding, I run into the suite without a single thought for the damn open door. “Where is she?”
Ruin turns to me, his normally pale face ashen. “Horan is with her.”
I sag and look at the closed door to my room. “What the fuck happened?”
Tanner snarls. “The cases weren’t there,” he snaps, his silver eyes like liquid mercury. “And he had goons waiting. As soon as Onyx found the fucking safe, the first one grabbed her.”
Gage rolls his shoulders a few times. “She killed the first one. Ruin snapped the second one’s neck. There are no witnesses.”
“Witnesses?” I ask, incredulous. “That’s what you’re worried about?”
They look at me.
Ruin takes a step closer. “Be very careful right now, Caine.” His black eyes glint. “I sent her in alone. It was my call. And yes, I feel like fucking shit about it. But she knows, like we all do, what kind of rep Helios has. That was the risk we were all willing to take.”
“At the expense of her life?” I ask. My hands ball into fists at my side. “When do we stop letting them get killed for us, Ruin? When do their lives mean more than ours? Than this fucking mission? This fucking drug?”
He rocks back and every ounce of color in his skin leeches away.
Tanner bares his teeth. “That’s bullshit, Caine, and you know it.”
“Why? Because he’s the captain?” I point at Ruin. “Because Lilah was taken on my watch? On mine!” I slam my hands into my chest. “Now Onyx gets the shit beaten out of her because we are trying to save lives? What if they had killed her tonight, Tanner? What then, huh? How are we saving anyone if they are all dying some other way?”
His jaw works. “Lilah was not your fault.”
I rock back. “Don’t.”
He ignores me and takes a step closer. “You fought Draven until he left you bleeding to death in that fucking tunnel, Caine.”
His words rip that fucking night into the forefront of my mind until I can’t breathe. My knees buckle, and I grab the chair to stay upright.
He raises a hand. “You did as much as any of us could do.” Another step. “Onyx will be fine. Horan is healing her as we speak. And we won’t use her again. But if you don’t get out of this fucking vicious cycle of blame … Someone will get hurt. It won’t be you. But it will be someone.”
“Lilah doesn’t blame you.” Ruin’s voice is soft from across the room and I look at him. “None of us do.” He turns away. His body ripples with a fear that should be long past, but that will never fade. “I don’t blame you.”
He inhales. “I know you love her, Caine.” His words are barely more than a whisper as he glances at me over his shoulder. “But loving her does not mean ruining yourself. Or others. It doesn’t mean destroying the potential for something that only happens once in a fucking lifetime. You can love Lilah. And I know you always will. You’re her friend. Her protector. But it’s time to let that go. Her death cannot be what ties you two together. And using it as an excuse not to move on is not good for anyone. Trust me, I know.”
My lips part to argue.
