Page 52 of His Ruthless Match (Below #3)

I reached over, placing a hand on her knee. “You’re not losing your mind. We’ll figure this out. You’re not alone in this.”

“All set,” Gabe announced, straightening up and dusting his hands off.

“The cameras cover the main areas, doors and windows, but not the bedroom or bathroom, so Genevieve still has her privacy. Also, the audio is voice activated. If anything screwy happens in this room, we’ll catch it.

I’ve set up motion-activated alerts, and you’ll have a live feed on your phone. ”

He walked over, handing me his tablet and showing me how to access the cameras through a secure app. “Just tap here, and you’ll see everything in real time. You can also set notifications for specific events.”

I nodded, testing the feed. Seeing the room from multiple angles brought a small sense of relief. “Thanks, Gabe. This will be a huge help.”

Genevieve remained hunched, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her vulnerability was stark, and it made my chest ache.

I crossed the room and gently pulled her into a hug. She felt small, almost weightless, and I could feel the tremble in her shoulders. “I’ll be in touch soon,” I said softly. “Try to rest, okay? We’re not giving up on this. Or you.”

She nodded against my shoulder, her voice muffled. “Thank you, Eva. For everything.”

I pulled away, but Genevieve reached out and grabbed my hand. “Wouldn’t you all like to stay for a while? I can order some food. I’ve been by myself for so long, I’m going stir crazy.”

“I—” Jareth caught my eye, shaking his head.

Right. With our suspicion that magic was at play and someone having made the connection between me and Raffaele, it probably didn’t make sense to tempt fate and stick around too long.

“I’m really sorry, but I’ve got work for another case I need to catch up on. Sometime soon, though, okay?”

My stomach turned with guilt. She needed company. She needed people in her life to help her return to herself. Deep down, I could tell Genevieve Witt was caught in a terrible situation that did not reflect her character. She was a good person.

“I wasn’t always like this, you know,” she said suddenly. “Everything people say online, the tabloids, the threads… some of it’s true. But it’s not all of me. And I want that to matter again.”

For the first time since we arrived, I saw the woman beneath the headline. Tired, yeah. But grounded. Still standing.

“I believe you,” I said quietly. And I meant it. She deserved to be believed. She was a victim, not a villain the way the media was painting her to be.

As Jareth and I left, I glanced back one last time. Genevieve looked a little lighter. Sometimes simply knowing someone believes you and values you could be life-giving. My heart felt heavy with worry, but I steeled myself. We would figure this out. We had to.

We stepped out of Genevieve’s hotel, our wigs still in place from our precautionary disguises we donned earlier.

The city had settled into a quieter rhythm, the hustle of the day giving way to the muted hum of night.

Beside me, Jareth walked silently in his ridiculous man-bun wig, his stride casual yet vigilant, his sharp eyes scanning the streets with practiced ease.

The weight of the day pressed heavily on my shoulders, but the rhythmic clicking of my heels against the pavement helped me focus. I wasn’t sure what I was focusing on—maybe the sound itself, maybe the simple act of moving forward. Anything to keep my mind from spiraling.

As we passed a quaint little candy store, I stopped abruptly.

The rows of brightly colored sweets drew my eye like a beacon.

I’d walked past this place countless times and never went inside, but tonight, it felt like a lifeline.

A brief escape from the rest of the disaster that was my life currently.

“Delgado,” Jareth said, stopping beside me with an arched brow. “Are you seriously stopping for candy right now?”

“Yes,” I replied, my tone mock-serious as I pushed open the door. The cheerful jingle of the bell above the entrance was a stark contrast to the chaos that usually consumed my life. “Everyone has their vices, and right now, I need sugar in my veins.”

“I didn’t take you for a candy person. Stress must really be hitting you hard.”

“Shut up,” I shot back, already scanning the shelves. The store was cozy, its wooden shelves overflowing with candies of every shape and color. The air smelled faintly of chocolate and nostalgia. “Sometimes, you just need to indulge.”

My gaze landed on a section dedicated to old-school treats, and my eyes lit up. “Oh my god,” I said, plucking a pack of candy cigarettes from the shelf. I held them up for Jareth to see, grinning like a kid. “These used to freak my mom out so bad when I was a kid.”

Jareth took the pack from my hand, inspecting it with exaggerated seriousness. “Rebellious little Eva Delgado, huh? Shocking. Truly.”

I laughed, grabbing a bag of gummies and tossing it onto my growing pile. “You have no idea, Jareth. I was a rebel, even as a child.”

Jareth shook his head, bemused, and started browsing. He picked out a small box of chocolate-covered espresso beans and held it up. “At least this has caffeine. You’re just going straight for the sugar high.”

“No judgment,” I said, sticking my tongue out at him before moving down the aisle.

My fingers skimmed over the packages, pausing on a striped candy cane.

I picked it up. “These remind me of Christmas when I was little. My mom would always sneak a handful into my stocking. It was cheap enough for her to afford.”

Jareth leaned against the end of the aisle, watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “It sounds like your mom really tried to give you a happy childhood.”

I shrugged, my voice light but tinged with wistfulness. “Life was simpler back then. A little sugar was all it took to make me happy.”

At the counter, I dumped my selections onto the counter, earning an amused glance from the cashier. Jareth added his. “You’re going to regret this sugar binge later,” he teased.

“Maybe,” I replied, pulling out my wallet. “But right now, I’m all about instant gratification.”

Back on the sidewalk, I tore open the pack of candy cigarettes and popped one into my mouth, holding it like a real cigarette. “See? Don’t I look cool?”

Jareth laughed, shaking his head. “Actually, you look fucking ridiculous.”

“That’s the point,” I said with a grin, pretending to take a puff. The sugar hit my tongue, and I felt a small spark of energy start to build, melting away the exhaustion that had weighed me down all day.

As we walked, I alternated between the candy cigarettes and the bag of gummies. The sugar rush was almost immediate, and I found myself bouncing slightly on my toes.

“I’m not going to lie,” I said, glancing at Jareth. “This was a great idea.”

“You’re like a kid on Halloween right now,” he said, popping one of his espresso beans into his mouth.

“Jealous?” I quipped, flashing him a grin.

“It’s not my fault I have refined tastes,” Jareth said, feigning indignation.

“Refined? You’re eating chocolate-covered beans.”

By the time we reached my apartment building, the telltale signs of a sugar crash were beginning to creep in. My earlier energy had started to wane, leaving me feeling sluggish and slightly regretful.

“Okay, I’m officially regretting this,” I admitted, leaning slightly against Jareth as we walked out of the elevator.

“Told you,” Jareth said smugly, holding the door open for me. “But it was worth it for the entertainment.”

“Glad I could amuse you.”

Once inside, I flopped onto the couch, tossing the now-empty bag of gummies onto the coffee table. “Next time, remind me not to eat half the store.”

Jareth settled into the armchair across from me. “Noted. But I’ll probably just let you do it again. It was worth it to see you act like a normal human for once.”

I stuck my tongue out at him as I leaned back, letting myself relax for the first time all day.