Page 13 of Unlocking Ruin

“It was impressive,” he begins. “So many places you had to hack into for it all to work. You thought of everything, even the alerts to stop us from seeing the money leave and return. But there was one thing you didn’t hack. Me. I was watching, wondering what you were doing. I didn’t think you’d return the money.” He waits as if I’ll answer him.

When I don’t, he continues, “Why did you set your dad up?”

“Stepdad,” I correct, sinking further into my hoodie as if it can save me.

“He’s the cause of the bruises.”

How did he know?

I don’t bother asking.

“Why didn’t you say anything about the abuse?”

“Happens all the time.” Pressure starts to build behind my eyes. Why does he care?

“No, it doesn’t,” he fires back. “Why didn’t you leave? You’re an adult.”

“If this is twenty-one questions, shouldn’t we be on a date with cheap shots and low morals? I know a good cheap bar.” I mock him, but the bravado is false.

He steps closer, and under his mask, I get the feeling his face is red with fury.

“Why did you steal the money, only to return it? You were clear. You could have transferred it offshore, run away, and started living rich.”

“Look at you,” I snort, raising my chin. “The devil trying to tempt me.”

“My lack of halo doesn’t mean I’m the devil.”

My tongue turns to lead. His questions circle me like a predator, pinning me into a corner, making my toes curl in the dark. I clear my throat, forcing my voice steady. “Doesn’t matter now. You were watching anyway.”

How did they know? There’s no way that I could’ve failed. Frank must’ve fucked up and alerted them. I should’ve traced his efforts back even further to make sure he didn’t trip an alarm.

“Why did you return the money?” He steps closer. I twist the spray bottle in my hand, making sure I feel the opening and point it away from me. “You didn’t know we were watching.”

“Because it was the right thing to do.”

“The right thing would have been not to hack in the first place.”

“Not my fault I found a way into your system.”

“How does Rylan, who wears hoodies, does not have any friends or participate in social activities besides going to a club every other month and getting fucked in the bathroom, manage to hack BANKS Corp?” he growls as if it’s a personal attack on him and not my self-esteem. “By the way, you can do leagues better than a one-night club fuck.”

“Jealous?” I bark, flabbergasted he knows these facts. I go to shitty clubs, wear skin-tight dresses, and have one-night stands. I’ve never felt ashamed about it, and I’m not about to let some masked asshole try to make me.

“Insanely.” He hisses the word, turning it into three long, deliberate syllables.

My breath turns into a wheeze. “Why would you be jealous?” I dare to ask.

“Because I know your worth.” He answers right away, no need to ponder it or lie. “You’re a fucking queen, but you give yourself away like some common minted coin.”

His words hit, landing hard. All those hookups I chased just to feel wanted now make me feel dirty.

“Shaming me because I like one-night stands?” My spine hunches further into myself. “Classic egotistical male.”

“I don’t care who you fuck. I care how you do it.”

This is the most bizarre conversation in my dwindling life. I know I have minutes left, so I keep engaging him.

“Why?”