Page 169 of The Art of Ruin

Christ, what the fuck have I done?

I exhale slowly through my nose before crossing the room carefully, like approaching something wounded, and I guess I am. But knowing I caused this wound cuts deeper than I ever expected.

Casey watches every movement. “I asked you not to interfere,” she says quietly. “You promised me.”

“I promised I wouldn’t hurt him.”

Her laugh is soft and entirely without humor. “Oh, is that what we’re doing? Using semantics to excuse going against my wishes?”

I could tell her how Jasper came after ISM but that’s not an excuse and would only make her feel worse for bringing him to our door, and I don’t want that. She has enough to deal with, so I keep quiet. I stop at the edge of the bed. Close enough to touch her, and yet the look in her eyes tells me I’m a million miles from that right now.

I won’t disrespect her or risk hurting her by pushing it, even though I want nothing more than to wrap my arms around her. It’s then I spot the angry purple bruises low on her left arm. “He hurt you.”

The words leave me rougher than intended, but as controlled as I can make them, when I’m feeling so homicidal. Because now all I can think about is his hands on her. Rage moves violently beneath my skin again.

Casey notices.

Of course she notices. She never misses anything. “That doesn’t give you the right to destroy someone’s life.”

Her words are angry and rushed. She’s somehow defending him even after everything he did to her. Part of that makes me furious and part of it makes me love her more.

“I’m not destroying his life. He did that on his own.”

“But you helped.”

“I accelerated things,” I admit finally. “I pushed investors away. I closed doors. I pointed the Feds in the right direction.”

Her expression tightens into a frown. “Adriano…”

“He’s been investigated before,” I continue evenly. “The difference this time is that people stopped protecting him.”

“You don’t get to decide who deserves ruin.”

“And he does?” I ask, throwing my hand up in annoyance.

Casey crosses her legs and tucks her hands in the sleeves of the sweater with a sigh before looking at me with a sadness that breaks my heart. “He doesn’t either. Nobody should. You’re meant to be better than him, Adi.”

The words twist in my gut harder than they should.

Because the terrifying thing is—I genuinely believed I did have the right to ruin him.

I still do.

At least where she’s concerned.

“He grabbed you,” I say quietly.

The bruise on her wrist flashes through my mind again even though it’s hidden away now.

“Yes, he did.”

“He threatened you.”

“Yes.”

“He’s desperate, Casey. I can’t lose you.”

My voice breaks slightly on the last word.