Page 108 of Beautiful Ruins
The man wheezed something in Russian.
Tone leaned slightly and increased the pressure.
“I don’t speak that language,” she replied.“But I’m hoping it’s an apology.”
For some reason, Archie stood a few feet away, leaning on his cane.His expression was calm, but there was unmistakable admiration in the way he watched Tone methodically humiliate the attacker.
“You are remarkably efficient under pressure,” he commented mildly.
“I’m bored,” she deadpanned.“This is enrichment.”
That was when I saw Izzy.
She yelped—a sharp, breathless sound of relief—and ran straight toward me before I had fully crossed the foyer.Her arms wrapped around me with surprising force, and for a moment, everything else in the room dimmed behind the weight of that contact.
Alive.Unharmed.Here.
I exhaled for what felt like the first time since checking my unanswered calls.
“I’m here.”My hand settled instinctively at her back, grounding us both.
She pulled back just enough to look at me, her hands still gripping the front of my shirt like I might disappear if she let go.
“You didn’t answer your phone.”Her voice was tight.
“I was in transit,” I responded.
Tone looked up from her current activity, squinting at us.
Her heel paused mid-press.
Her gaze narrowed between Izzy clinging to me and my arm still firmly around her waist.
Her brow furrowed deeply.
“When the fuck didthathappen?”she demanded.
Silence followed.
Archie coughed into his fist.
I ignored them both.
“Are you hurt?”I growled at Izzy.
She shook her head quickly.
“No.Archie—” she glanced toward him, still processing “—handled it.”
I turned my gaze toward him.He inclined his head slightly.
Arrogant bastard.
“Your perimeter held up quite well,” he remarked.“All things considering.”
Tone lifted her heel and stepped back, looking at Archie with mild distaste.
“He’s still alive.”She seemed disappointed.
