Page 22 of Worth the Ruin
I’m tired and filthy by the time dinner rolls around, and I practically inhale the stew. Renee laughs a bit and I give her a tentative smile in return. The guard that she’d made eyes at last night comes over, grinning and holding out two cookies. Renee smiles widely, cheeks turning a bit pink, and takes the cookies, nodding in thanks. The guard doesn’t say a word, but winks before turning to walk away, taking a big bite of his own treat. Renee hands one cookie to me across the table and I take it gratefully. She taps her cookie to mine in cheers and I can’t help but laugh.
After dinner, she escorts me back to my room.
“So, how long are you on babysitting duty?” I ask
Renee’s lips quirk. “Just until you get settled in.”
So, until Traeger decides that I’m not a flight risk or threat. Got it. I nod and tell her goodnight, but when I turn the knob of my door Renee reaches out to stop me.
“I know you didn’t come here willingly, but…you can be happy here, I promise. It’s not what you think. I’m…well, I’m supposed to let you come to terms on your own,” she says with a little roll of her eyes and my lips twitch at her mocking tone, “but just…trust me.”
I study her for a long minute.
“Were you out there?” I just my chin in the direction that clearly means on the road, amid the Bloodies. “Before you came here?” Something dark flashes in her eyes and she unconsciously runs a finger over the end of her scar.
“Yes, I was.” She holds my gaze as she says, “And I’m thankfulevery single daythat Traeger found me.” Thevehemence in her tone makes me blink. She’s absolutely genuine. I wonder how she and Traeger had crossed paths. Had he actuallysavedher? She seems to have a bit of hero worship going on for the man…so, does she just not care what he does then? The pain he causes? Or is there far more to all of this than I can possibly know?
Someone exits the stairwell then, drawing me out of that wormhole, and my brows rise as a stunning redhead waltzes down the hallway in an obscenely short skirt and tight, glittering crop-top. Her eye shadow is bright blue, her lips bright pink, and she’d gone a little heavy on the blush for my tastes.
“Hey Renee,” she says with a thick Boston accent. She shifts her gaze to me. “And we haven’t had the pleasure, though I’ve heard plenty. I’m Destiny.”Of course you are, I think, and then chide myself for assuming she’s a bimbo or a bitch or a combination of both.
“Mel.”
“Nice to meet you. The gossip train is running wild about you right now. Did you really try to stab Traeger?”
“That’swhat everyone’s saying?” I ask, incredulous.
Destiny laughs. “I didn’t think it was true, but you just never know with the folks brought in from the outside.” She says it like FOS is some posh country club and everyoneoutsideare street urchins. “Well, I’ve got…thingsto do," she says with a sly wink.Oh God, is she the screamer from last night?No, that must have been someone else–I hadn’t detected an accent in all of those throaty moans and overly dramatic pleas.
I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes. So, this is anewplaymate. Then I remember Tricia’s comment:Wednesdays are mine. Fuck, does he really have a different woman for each day of the week? I thought she’d been kidding.Jesus.
Destiny waves and makes her way to Traeger’s door, teetering on six-inch heels. She pats the guard there on thechest. She has a very…regal air about her, as if she thinks she’s the queen bee since she’s fucking the self-appointed king.
Renee rolls her eyes and whispers, “She thinks just because she sleeps with Traeger, that makes her special. Poor thing doesn’t seem to understand that that list is a mile long and far from distinguished.” I snort at that and Renee grins.
“So, he’s quite the man-whore, huh? We’d heard rumors that he kept a harem here, that he…forced women to sleep with him in exchange for protection.”
Renee waves that away. “He has no lack of volunteers to be in his bed, that’s for sure. I mean, have youseenthe man? But it isn’t forced or some kind of payment for protection or anything like that. Anyone who goes in that room does so willingly and understands that it’s all…fun. No strings attached as they used to say.”
I’m completely skeptical of that but keep it to myself. He may not physically force them or outright tell them they have to, but it could still be implied that they’d be expected to…service him if they want to remain safely behind his walls.
“So, they just ignore all the things he does? All the blood he spills?” Do they just not care? Or do they care but push it aside to do what has to be done, like I’d been prepared to do?
Renee’s expression pinches. “It’s…complicated.”Isn’t always?“No one’s hands are clean anymore,” she adds softly, her gaze shifting to somewhere far, far away from here. I wonder what she’s seeing, but I don’t dare ask. She focuses again and seems to shake herself. “I’ll let you get some rest, I’m sure you’re exhausted. I’ll see you for breakfast? 8:00?”
“Sure. Yeah. Um, thanks, for today.” It had been really nice having Renee to guide me and talk to. I know she was being forced to, but it was nice not having to navigate everything completely alone.
“You’re welcome.”
I shower, change, and collapse into bed. I’ve been on security detail or going on runs since coming to The Cove and not taking shifts out at the Farm, so it’s been quite a while since I’ve done manual labor like I had today. I’m in good shape, but my focus is always mostly cardio, and my muscles are already pissed as hell at me for that fact right about now. I’m just drifting off when the sounds started again.
“Nooo,” I groan at Destiny’s loud chuckle and then screaming moans. I slam a pillow over my head, but I can still hear the screams and grunts and eventually the steady thud of a headboard banging against the wall. I grit my teeth.
Destiny, it turns out, is quite devout. If I hearOh Godone more time, I’m going to lose my fucking mind. Come on. Does he really buy this shit?? It’s so over the top, it’s comical. I eventually give up and throw the pillow to the side.
“Come on!” I whisper-yell to the ceiling. Why does Traeger have to have such damn stamina? I’m tempted to go sleep on the couch when one final scream sounds and the thudding finally ceases. “About damn time.”
I quickly drift off to sleep now that the show is over, but this time, the dreams don’t stay away.
