Page 147 of Beautifully Ruined

I swallow and just stroke a hand over her hair. “Look, as much as I hate to say it, Jack’s not bad. You outgrew him, that’s all. I know he’s my brother, but… Jack regrets what happened, and I think somewhere, deep down, it was his own wake up call. Jack needed some hard-learned lessons, but he’s not a bad guy. When you got together, it was right.”

As much as I hate to say it, I know I’m correct.

“As for Isaac?” I kiss the top of her head. “You knew. Sometimes, though, with people like Walsh, if we’re right, they hide it well. How the fuck do you think some of these psychopaths get away with shit for so long?”

She gives a watery laugh. “I’m pathetic.”

“No. You’re a good person, Violet. Better than most. And you want to believe in others. I don’t think that’s a bad trait, I don’t think that at all.”

I kiss the top of her head again, and I can’t help thinking that something bad is coming, and I might not be able to stop it.

“Thanks,” she whispers as I reluctantly let her go. “I’ll meet you out there.”

It’s still early enough that she’d be getting up to ready herself for the internship, which she’s got today. And I’m not thrilled by that. Not since she insisted on coming along.

The traits that make her a good person, one of the best, are traits that might just get her into big trouble.

If Walsh is bad enough to sell his own daughter for whatever the fuck his reasons are and were, then he’s in a different class to Isaac.

She clocked Isaac…

Or maybe she just clocked he was slime because of how he treated her.

Shit.

I take a breath as I put my hand on the lock. “I don’t think you should go to work today.”

“I’m not going to storm into his office, if that’s what you think. And I won’t be there alone.”

“I think you should call in sick. Think about it, okay?”

“I will.”

Then I nod, and unlock the door, rejoining Enzo.

“Your little plaything going to be a problem?” he asks.

I glare. “Don’t call her that.”

He smirks. “I’m betting you do.”

“What? You feeling left out? Because, I hate to tell you, you’re not my type.”

“Lies. I’m everyone’s type. Gay, straight, queer, and ACE. I turn them all on.”

I shake my head and laugh. “Your fantasy land knows no bounds.”

“And your being smitten by your brother’s ex makes you blind.”

The coffee mug’s halfway to my mouth when I freeze. “I’m not blind.”

“She’s a wildcard, and you know it. A little too smart, way too naïve, and someone was heavy handed sprinkling on do-gooder when she was made.”

He’s got a point, but he doesn’t need to frame it so cynically. “Maybe she just makes us better people.”

“Dude, we wouldn’t be wading into this without her.”

“We wouldn’t be in this if that job at the engagement party didn’t go a little south.” I sip the coffee. “Look, it happens, it’s our job, but?—”