Page 97 of Chasing Ruin
“Empty?”
Scar shrugs, casually. “Yeah. That club girl—Bel—left. Misty moved into Charlotte’s old room, so hers is free now.”
“What do you mean left?” Ryder’s voice cracks sharp and sudden, all his earlier calm gone. My eyes narrow at the sudden shift.
Scar blinks. “Uh… brother? She left the club. Hence—empty room?”
The chair scrapes violently against the floor as Ryder shoots to his feet. “She left the club? What do you mean she left the club?!”
Scar stands too, hands lifting slightly.
“Ryder—”
“I don’t know,” Scar says, cutting me off, confusion bleeding into his tone. “Christ, relax. Wolf handles this shit.”
“She left?” Ryder whispers, the anger draining out of him just as fast as it came.
I frown, trying to make sense of his reaction. Then Scar opens his mouth again—careless as ever.
“What the fuck, Ry? Don’t tell me you’re still not over that slut. It’s been two years, brother.”
I go still. My gaze snaps to Ryder.
Him and…Bel?
Suddenly, her reaction from last night begins to make more sense.
“Ryder,” I say, voice low, controlled. “What is he talking about?”
He doesn’t answer. Just stands there, staring at nothing. Shaking his head faintly, like he’s trying to wake himself up. “Left as in… left?” he asks hoarsely, looking at Scar. “You sure?”
Scar’s expression softens, something like pity creeping in. “Man, I don’t know the details, okay? Wolf might. All I know is she packed up and left this afternoon.”
Ryder’s chest starts heaving. Each breath rougher than the last.
“Wolf’s in his office,” Scar adds quietly. “He’d know if you wanna…”
Ryder doesn’t wait. He kicks the chair out of his way and bolts. Gone before either of us can say another word.
The door slams behind him. Silence settles heavy in its wake.
“You know what that’s about?” I ask Scar who is still staring at the closed door.
Scar exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “They… hooked up. Two years ago. For a few months. That’s all I know.” He hesitates. “Didn’t realize he was still… is he gonna be okay?”
I drag a hand down my face.
I didn’t know. Didn’t see it. Then again, Ryder’s always been closer to Scar and Healer. Keeps his shit tight.
“I’m not sure,” I mumble.
Scar’s shoulders sag a fraction, eyes narrow in thought. Then he huffs lightly. “Well, I hope Wolf is actually free to answer his petty questions. I saw a DND sign hanging over his doorknob.”
I curse under my breath. He’s right. We don’t have time for this. Not now. Not when everything’s already hanging by a thread.
“I’ll go check on him,” I mutter, already moving.
If I’m not wrong, Wolf’s been buried in calls with Tudor since morning. While simultaneously digging into the Ro?ca family with Bug’s help. He told me to handle the armories with Ryder.
