Page 212 of Chasing Ruin
I see Healer stiffening up in the corner. Slowly making his way to his sister.
“Perhaps I won’t have to marry one of my men to Charlotte, huh?”
Theo’s grip tightens around my waist. A low, dangerous sound rips out of him. “Get out.”
Mihai lifts his hands in mock surrender, a smile still playing on his face like this is all just a game to him.
“I’m not forcing you, Ruin,” he says, almost lazily. “Just making sure you understand the stakes.”
“The only thing I understand,” Theo bites out, stepping forward slightly, “is that you’ve overstayed your welcome.”
Ryder shifts beside him, silent but coiled, his stance enough of a warning on its own.
Behind Mihai, Tudor’s still watching Spike. Waiting. All while Spike doesn’t so much as blink in his direction.
Mihai exhales, like he’s bored with the tensionhecreated. “You’re emotional,” he says, tilting his head at Theo. “It’s understandable. New role. Dead brother. Big decisions.”
That does it. Theo takes a step forward—and Ryder’s hand shoots out, catching his arm just enough to hold him back. “Don’t,” Ryder mutters under his breath.
Mihai watches it all unfold, faintly entertained. “You have time,” he continues, straightening his blazer. “Think about it. An alliance like this doesn’t come twice.”
“We’re not selling our people,” Ryder says flatly.
“Such a harsh word,” Mihai hums. “I’m not my sister, you know that.”
“It doesn’t seem like you’re any different,” Theo snaps back.
Something colder settles over Mihai’s expression. Not anger. Just a quiet calculation. Perhaps redirection. “Very well,” he says finally. “For now.”
His gaze flicks to Lana and Steph once more—lingering just a second too long—before he turns. “Tudor.”
No response. Mihai pauses, glancing back.
But Tudor doesn’t move. He’s still staring at Spike. Something unspoken hangs there—tense, unfinished—before Mihai’s voice cuts sharper this time. “Tudor.”
Then, finally, he turns and follows his boss.
The rest of his men file out behind them, the door shutting with a heavy thud that seems to echo through the entire clubhouse.
Silence lingers. Thick and unsettled.
“What a… weirdo,” Stephanie mutters as she walks up to me. Lana snorts, snuggling up to Hound who wraps his arm around her waist protectively.
And just like that, the tension cracks. Voices start up again. Low at first, then louder. Conversations picking back up, though there’s an edge to them now.
Ryder drags a hand down his face and shifts toward Bulldog. “Make sure they’re gone.”
“Already on it,” he replies.
Theo doesn’t move for a second longer. Then his hand finds mine again—tight, grounding.
I squeeze back.
He exhales slowly, like he’s forcing the anger out of his system, before glancing down at me. “You okay?”
I nod. “You?”
He huffs softly. “Ask me in five minutes.”
