Page 119 of Ravaged Devotion

Ryker and Rhys had gotten into a fight the night before the fog, and he’d apparently threatened that very thing. Not to mention what he’d said just before Ryk had put a bullet in his skull.

“Eulalie and I met up at midnight that first night,” Bowie continued. “Just before dinner, I’d set the machines to start pumping fog into the surrounding area, and I was also in charge of controlling the creatures and ensuring they were in the area of the fishing cabin around dawn. She took care of blocking service, and was meant to convince Rhys to take Ryker out with him, but the two of them had gotten into a fight. When he’d told her about it, she learned about the two of you.”

Rue’s eyes went wide.

“I guess she always assumed Ryker didn’t return your feelings, especially not after what went down with his brother. Hearing that wasn’t the case…She changed her mind about a few things. She told me the plan had changed. We were going to send Rhys and the others out fishing, have them creatures kill them, and then come to the lodge only long enough to spread a little fear and have them be noticed. Once everyone here believed there were feral bears outside, I would sneak away, turn off the fog, and send the creatures back into hiding.”

“You can do that?” All this time, Bowie could have chosen to make them leave?

“The machine in the hidden room controls the weather and acts as a beacon for the creatures,” Bowie shamelessly explained. “There’s another hidden in the forest, where we keep them. The tech in their heads isn’t too advanced though. I can only send them to and from each area.”

Rue looked at the man in his arms. The hilt of the knife was preventing too much blood from spilling from the wound, probably the only reason Ryker was still breathing, but that didn’t mean he’d last forever.

All of the times Bowie had pulled Rue away came flooding back.

“You didn’t agree with letting Ryker go,” Rue realized that’s where this was going. If they’d done as she’d suggested, Rhys would have died, it would have been ruled a tragic animal attack, and his mom would have inherited everything.

But Bowie’s need to see Ryker dead had been too strong.

“That’s why you didn’t listen to her.” A tear spilled down Rue’s cheek. “You betrayed her.”

“We both had our reasons to start this,” Bowie stated. “But it was clear in that moment that she wasn’t doing this for you at all. You were right. She lied to me. She convinced me this was to protect you, when all it ever was about was influence and money. She knew how I felt, knew he’s no good for you, that he’s just like his father, and yet she wanted to let him off the hook anyway. She betrayed me first. After everything we’d done to get the pieces to line up. She was going to give up a third of the way.”

“A third?”

“Ryder is as guilty as they are.”

Rue’s brow furrowed. “He isn’t here.”

“No, but he won’t get away with what he did to you either. I promise.”

“I don’t want your promises, Bowie. I want to leave. You killed her.” It was only just starting to really hit him. “You killed my mom. And Lenore—” his voice broke on her name. “How could you do that? She was our friend.”

“That was an accident. I put the patch on Ishleen and stuck close to her so I would be the one she attacked when the drug took effect. She was supposed to hurt me just enough that you would have to help me around from then on, leaving Ryker vulnerable and open to attack.”

Bowie had known Rue wouldn’t leave him behind if he was hurt and incapable of running on his own.

“You wanted to use our friendship against me.” Rue no longer recognized this person.

“Ryker was the problem” Bowie growled. “Not me. You can’t see clearly when it comes to him. I put that game manual in Cosima’s office so someone would find it. When you did, I thought for sure it would turn you against him, but you ended up staying quiet. That’s how brainwashed he’s got you. Your mom was going to just let that continue. She even had the audacity to tell me not to interfere. She compared my love to Rhys’ and told me if you didn’t feel the same way, I had to respect that.”

“She was right.”

“That may be,” Bowie didn’t argue that point, “and if you still don’t want me once this is over and that poisonous family is gone, then I’ll accept that, but I care about you too deeply to leave you trapped in their manipulations.”

“This isn’t what I want,” Rue said, then when it was clear that wasn’t going to get through to him, added more firmly, “You murdered my mom and our friend. Do you really think any part of me will ever forgive you after this?”

“Maybe not.” Bowie dropped the empty gun and pulled out another knife that had been hidden in his boot. “But I’ve come too far to stop now. And like I mentioned, I have reasons. You’re only one of them.”

“Don’t you fucking dare.” Rue hated letting Ryker go, but he shot to his feet and placed himself between them, using himself as a shield. “If you try to hurt him again, I won’t go easy on you, Bowie.”

Rue had no intention of going easy on him anyway.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement down the hall. It was on the other side of the room, far enough behind Bowie that there was no way he’d be able to notice, but Rue, who was facing that direction did.

He risked a single glance and only that, covering up the relief he felt when he processed Ellery was hunched there, waiting for a chance to attack.

With the gun empty, all he had to contend with was the single knife.