Page 161 of Chasing Ruin
He grimaces instantly. “Nah. Too on the nose.”
I grin. “Then, Sin and… Ink?”
He snorts. “Really? You just swappedTats.”
“I know. I’m a genius.”
“Sin… sin…” he mutters, scratching his jaw. “Sinner’s Ink?”
I quirk a brow and he shrugs, but there’s a small smile there as he looks at the mess on my arm.
I nod once. “As you say, Prez.”
He nudges my leg with his boot. “Finish your tat, asshole. I wanna work on your aim.”
I groan. “You’re obsessed.”
“And you owe me a twenty for the last round.”
“Fucking hell,” I mutter.
But I’m smiling.
FORTY-FIVE
Ruin
PRESENT DAY - ONE WEEK LATER
I don’t remember walking over to church. Don’t remember hesitating near the chair I always use.
But somehow, I’m here at the head of the table. Inhisseat.
Every pair of eyes in the room is on me. Grim and waiting.
My fingers curl against the worn wooden table, tracing grooves that don’t belong to me. This place—this position—was never supposed to be mine.
I washisVP.
Dane was supposed to sit here. And he did, for years. While I was supposed to stand by him on his right. Not replace him.
A sharp breath cuts through my chest, but I swallow it down. Now that the war is over, I don’t get to break. Especially when my brothers are looking to me for direction.
As you say, Prez.
I desperately hope I’m doing the right thing.
Then I straighten slowly, forcing my shoulders back. Forcing my voice to work. Forcing myself into a role I was never meant to play.
“Alright, church is in session,” I say, the words rough and unfamiliar in my own mouth.
But there’s no room for anything else, only an unwilling push to move forward. Not grief. Not even the thought that maybe he’s still out there, waiting for us to bring him home.
“Mihai is adamant about not releasing his sister into our custody,” Hound says, jolting me back from my thoughts. He doesn’t look at me. Just stares at a random spot on the armrest of Wolf’s chair.
I nod and shift my attention to Ryder. “Any word from Blaze?”
He swallows, throat bobbing, but pulls himself together fast. “The Nomads lost two men. They want Hellfire.” His jaw tightens. “They want to negotiate who gets to gut the bastard.” His gaze darkens further. “I told themno.”
