Page 60 of Chasing Ruin
She’s jittery. Not eating.
You need to be careful with her, brother.
I hated that he noticed those things too.
But over the past week, I’ve gained some perspective about this situation. It’s hard to get it when you’re nothing more than a shadow, watching a woman’s life from a distance you can’t cross without bulldozing straight through her.
‘They created the space for my peace. Not their penance.’
The moment Charlotte said those words to me, everything clicked.
I had been approaching this from guilt. From some twisted idea I could make things right by winning her over. By defending her harder. As if that would fix what I did. As if she wanted that.
All while forgetting one simple truth. I’m her fucking trauma.
She wasn’t looking for some stolen romance. Not with me. Not with anyone. She was looking for peace. The peace she built in Craven Ridge. The sanctuary she was forced to abandon for her own safety.
And the Wardens? This place is nothing but a reminder of why she had to fight so hard to find that peace in the first place.
Hell, I’m a reminder.
I swallow another mouthful of whiskey, letting the burn settle in my chest.
So that’s what I’ve been focusing on instead. Trying to figure out how to give her peace here.
A week later, I still have no fucking clue how. Not in a clubhouse where all her nightmares were born.
“You look deep in thought.”
I glance sideways at Scar as he drops onto the stool beside me. He signals a prospect for a drink.
I sigh, dragging a hand over my jaw. “Just waiting for the damn shoe to drop.”
Scar nods slowly, accepting his glass when the prospect sets it down. He takes a heavy swallow before speaking again. “Ruin, I don’t know what’s going on lately. But Hound and Healer are starting to ask questions.”
My brows knit together. “About?”
He scoffs lightly. “About being officers and still being kept out of the real conversations.”
That has my attention.
“They see it, you know,” he continues. “You slipping into Wolf’s office. Your quiet talks with Ryder. They know something’s up.” He takes another sip, eyeing me carefully. “They think the three of you are hiding something.”
I glance at him fully now. We really have made this messy. Our loyalties have split straight down the middle—Charlotte on one side, the club on the other.
“And you?” I ask quietly. “What’s the Road Captain thinking?”
Scar’s brows lift slightly. “I think,” he says slowly, “you’re giving Charlotte a hell of a lot more attention than the club right now.”
I open my mouth to tell him Charlotte is club.
He raises both hands before I can snap. “Hey—don’t get me wrong. I get it. I’ve watched Wolf drowning in guilt for two years. Now she’s back… I can see why he’s struggling.”
His words settle heavy between us. I nod once.
“We’ll hold church tomorrow,” I say finally. “Things are still shifting. No point dragging everyone into half-answers.”
Scar studies me for a second before asking, “Any chance of getting the Reapers back?”
