Page 126 of Chasing Ruin
My head snaps to the side, stars exploding behind my eyes.
Another punch and I taste dirt. Blood.
Boots crunch against the ground, as both Joe and Scar walk away from my broken form.
A distant, detached part of my brain clicks into place.
Joe didn’t just knock me out. He beat me. Probably shot or stabbed me too, for good measure. I don’t even know.
The van engine roars to life.
No, no, no.
My heart slams against my ribs. They can’t take her.My Charlotte.“F-Fuck,” I choke, trying to move, trying to get up, but my body won’t fucking listen.
My gaze catches something.
My phone, lying just out of reach.
I drag myself toward it. Every inch feels like I’m tearing something open inside me, blood smearing across the ground as I crawl.
My fingers finally close around it.
I hit SOS shortcut quickly, willing my hands to stop shaking.
The screen blurs, but within a second, Wolf is calling.
I can barely hold my phone as I drop it to the ground. Then I lower my head to rest near it so I can hear him.
“Ruin.” His voice cuts through the chaos.
“Joe—traitor. T-They…” My voice shreds apart as a violent coughing fit racks through me. Blood spills past my lips, choking me. “Charlotte,” I force it out. “Taking… her—”
On the other end, Wolf explodes into motion. Orders barked. Chaos. “Are you okay?” he demands somewhere in between.
“B-Bleeding,” I whisper. That’s all I’ve got. That’s all I can give him.
Brothers should be here any minute. But it won’t be enough. Because the van is already moving.
My eyes snap up, locking onto Joe.
He’s walking toward his hidden motorcycle. Calm. Smug.
No, not today, fucker.
Not with her in that fucking van.
Something ugly and feral claws its way through the pain. Pure, blinding adrenaline.
I push myself up again. My body screams in protest. Vision flickering. Legs barely holding, but I’m up. Almost on my knees.
“I’m f-following her,” I croak into the phone.
“No!” Wolf roars. “You stay put, Ruin. You need help!”
“Save… her.”
“Don’t, Ruin. It’s an order—”
