Page 27 of Ruthless Kings of Vengeance
"And you didn't say anything?"
"Your cologne gave you away," I explain, my lips quirking into a knowing smirk. "You're using a different scent than usual."
He sighs, running a hand through his teal-streaked hair.
"Changed it because I haven't had time to wash up properly with everything going on." The admission carries echoes of the chaos we've all been navigating since Eva's near-death experience —the frantic search, the desperate measures, and the collective breath holding as we waited to see if she'd survive.
I frown, arching an eyebrow in his direction as I process the implications of his words.
There's more he isn't saying — something in his expression that speaks of developments I haven't been briefed on during my self-imposed exile with Eva.
Ren catches my evaluating gaze and sighs heavily, shoulders slumping slightly.
"Do you want to talk about it now or later?"
My arms tighten fractionally around Eva's sleeping form, protective instinct flaring at the idea of potential new threats. "If I ask now, is it going to change the situation?"
"No," he admits, his usual playful demeanor dimming further as his eyes drift to Eva's bandaged side.
"Then we can talk about it after," I conclude, my voice carrying finality that brooks no argument.
My fingers continue their gentle exploration of Eva's shortened hair, taking comfort in the simple proof of her continued existence.
"I'm not mentally ready to tackle whatever the fuck is unfolding far too quickly for us to apprehend."
A ghost of Ren's usual smile returns as he pushes off from the wall, approaching the bed with quiet steps.
"It's been rough, hasn't it?"
The simple acknowledgment carries the weight of everything we've endured—the frantic search when Eva disappeared, the terror upon finding her bleeding out in those woods, the desperate race against time to neutralize the poison flooding her system.
"You should have told us where you were taking her," Ren says after a moment, his voice lacking its usual teasing quality. There's something raw in his tone — something wounded that goes beyond mere annoyance at being kept in the dark.
I meet his gaze steadily, unapologetic despite understanding his pain. Yes, it was a selfish move, but truthfully, I don’t give a fuck.
Ares probably would have figured it out first but would need help locating me because he’s not good at finding people's locations like some sort of spy.
Aries is his best bet to help him in that department.
I have a hunch Marcus already knows where I am, but he would be a team player and wait it out until the others noticed.
Now that Ren is here, it’s obvious he’s an act now and think of the consequences later type of man, which frankly, I can’t be mad about.
He doesn’t waste time.
That’s a quality very few in our world can consistently maintain because most are cowards wearing sheep skin.
"Would you have done any differently in my position?"
His silence is answer enough.
"The fewer people who knew our location, the safer she was," I continue, my voice dropping even lower as Eva shifts slightly in her sleep. I pause, waiting until her breathing evens out again before adding, "I wasn't taking chances. Not after how close we came to losing her."
Ren moves closer, settling into an armchair near the bed with a grace that belies his exhaustion.
"Who do you think is gonna get here next?" Ren questions, his eyes drifting to the window as if expecting to see the others already approaching across the pristine beach.
"Marcus," I reply without hesitation, my fingers still absently tracing patterns through Eva's shortened silver hair.
