Page 104 of Chasing Ruin
“I see there’s something wrong here.” Mihai hums, eyes gliding over all of us. Still smiling. Always smiling. “The energy of this room…of!”
He spins slightly, now facing Ruin and Ryder. “Is this when you Americans say… ‘fucking hell’?”
Wolf groans under his breath.
And when Mihai takes another step forward, I don’t even think, I just shift back. Right behind Wolf. His arm comes up instantly, shielding me.
“I’m not the enemy, Wolf,” Mihai says, rolling his eyes like he’s the one inconvenienced here. Then his gaze flicks back to Ruin and Ryder. “And neither are they.”
Wolf stiffens again, adjusting his stance so I’m fully covered. But that doesn’t stop Mihai. Of course it doesn’t.
He leans sideways—actually bends—to peer around Wolf with that same infuriating smile. “I see you’re still alive,scumpo.”
My jaw tightens.
“How do you know they’re not the traitors?” Wolf asks, dragging the attention back to him.
Mihai gasps dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. “Why can’t I spy if Hell’s Army can? Double standards, Wolf?”
He clicks his tongue, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “And I know they’re not your traitors,” he adds, almost lazily. “They’re just…prost—” He pauses, thinking. “—ah, stupid.”
I feel some of the tension ease out of my spine. Just a fraction. Wolf exhales too, but the stiffness in him doesn’t disappear. It just shifts.
Now it’s Mihai he’s braced against.
“Looks like your men haven’t always stayed out of the way like you promised,” Ruin says, his glare sharp and cutting.
Mihai’s grin only widens. “They tell me a lot!” His tone is obnoxiously cheerful. Too cheerful.
Then his gaze moves again—Wolf, Ruin—and lands on Ryder. He studies him for a second. Then nods. “This one kissed your sister, Wolf.”
Shit. My stomach drops.
Then Mihai tilts his head toward Ruin. “And this one is in love with her.”
Words don’t compute for half a second. And then—
What. The. Fuck?
Wolf growls—low, dangerous—and steps toward the table. Toward his gun.
I risk a glance at Ruin. He’s already looking at me. His cheeks are flushed—deep red, like he’s been caught doing something he can’t deny.
But it’s his eyes. God. They don’t waver. Not even for a second. The intensity in them makes my chest tighten.
Is that true? Is he actually—
“See?” Mihai cuts in, slicing clean through my spiraling thoughts. “It’s very easy to spy,Prietene.”
Every brother in the room glares at him, but it doesn’t last. Because the asshole opens his mouth again. “One of my men,” Mihai says with an easy smile, “saw a brother of yours exit a very empty office. Your VP’s office.”
A cold settles heavily in the room.
“He was there,” he continues casually, “alone…for at least five minutes.”
Ruin and Ryder both jerk, turning to each other. Shock—pure, unfiltered shock splashed across their faces.
Ruin mutters a curse under his breath.
