Page 23 of Beautiful Ruins
I startled to my feet, heart jumping straight into my throat.For one stupid, traitorous second, I wondered if it was Nathan.The thought hit hard enough to make my stomach roil.I wanted it to be him, and yet…
The bell rang again.Longer this time.Louder.
I looked at Raze as he passed by the library.He was already frowning, irritation etched deep, like the sound offended him on a personal level.His guards usually handled the door.That was the whole point of having guards.But whoever this was clearly hadn’t gotten the memo—or didn’t care.
I followed the noise down the hall anyway, unease curling tight in my chest.Raze moved ahead of me, unhurried, like he already knew exactly who was responsible for the auditory assault.
The door opened.And there she was.
A woman stood on the threshold, arms loaded with glossy shopping bags, grinning like she’d just done something illegal and delightful.She was impeccably put together—tailored coat, perfect hair, effortless confidence radiating off her like it was a birthright.She looked… expensive.And entirely unbothered by the armed men flanking the entryway.
Raze sighed.Actually sighed.
“Do you have to make an entrance every time you visit?”he forced out.
She swept past him without missing a beat.“Obviously.”She was too cheerful.“If I don’t announce myself, how will anyone know I’ve arrived?”
She leaned up and pecked him on the cheek like this was the most normal thing in the world, then set the bags neatly on the console table.I stood there, rooted to the spot, watching the exchange like I’d accidentally wandered into a very polished alternate universe.
Raze glanced at the bags.“Why didn’t you let my men help you?”
She waved a dismissive hand.“Because it’s not their job.And I have arms.Both of which work.”
“They exist to make your life easier.”
“Yes, well, I enjoy the novelty of self-sufficiency.”
Then her dark gaze landed on me.It was sharp.Assessing.Curious.The grin didn’t fade—it sharpened.
“Well,” she tilted her head slowly, “what have we here?”
My spine straightened on instinct.
She glanced at my outfit—Raze’s shirt, unmistakably his—and hummed.“I was wondering who the clothes were for,” she added.“I thought you might surprise me.”She looked at him pointedly.“But no such luck.”
Raze scoffed.“You have access to a whole bank.”
She arched a brow.“A bank account?”
“No,” he corrected flatly.“Abank.”
She waved that off too.“Details.”
He turned to me.“This is Antonella.Tone, for short.”
She smiled wider.“I’m the baby sister,” she introduced herself.
“Insufferable,” he added.
“Long-suffering,” she corrected.
“I earned that title,” she shot back, then stepped closer to me, eyes sparkling with interest.“So.You’re the mystery guest.”
“Izzy,” I said, before I could stop myself.
“Oh what a beautiful mystery you are!”She announced, clapping her hands once.
“Me?A mystery?”
