Page 138 of His Ruthless Match

The memories rose unbidden, sharper than I liked. My father’s piercing gaze, the weight of his expectations, the constant fight to measure up. It had forged me, shaped me into the man I was, but it had left its scars, too.

“When I was in my late teens, everything fell apart. A rival pack set us up, and we were ambushed during a deal. Most of my pack was wiped out, including my parents. The survivors scattered. Trust was a luxury none of us could afford anymore.”

She put her hand on my chest, tracing slow patterns against my skin. I felt a flicker of peace—at least, something really close to it.

“So you ran.” It wasn’t a question, more like a quiet understanding.

I nodded, my voice quieter now. “I lived as a rogue in The Below. For weeks, it was just me and my instincts. Hunting, fighting, surviving.” I smiled bitterly. “Then one night, I crossed paths with a vampire. He claimed the area as his hunting grounds. We fought like hell.”

Her eyebrows lifted, and she shifted closer, clearly intrigued. “A vampire? Who?”

“His name is Cain Corvell,” I said, a genuine smile tugging at my lips for the first time in hours. “At first, we were ready to kill each other. But after fighting off a pack of ferals together, we realized we made a good team. He’s been my best friend ever since.”

Her jaw dropped slightly, and she laughed, soft and incredulous. “Wait. You have a friend? You mean you’re not just some loner who only tolerates Grelth?”

I chuckled warmly. “Cain’s not just a friend. He’s like a brother. I trust him with my life.”

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “You have to tell me more. What’s he like?”

“Mysterious, cocky, and an absolute pain in the ass,” I said, grinning. “But he’s also one of the smartest, most dangerous people I’ve ever met. I’ll introduce you someday. You’d probably like him.”

Her laughter softened, turning into a smile that made something in my chest ache. “I’d like that.”

The moment of levity didn’t last long. My thoughts turned darker, my expression sobering as I asked carefully, “Speaking of introductions, The Shadow told me a little about your connection to Lord Thorne.”

She stiffened, and regret flashed through me. But she didn’t pull away. “What did he tell you?”

“Just that he was your father,” I said honestly. “I didn’t want to pry, but…”

She exhaled slowly. “Lord Thorne didn’t know I existed until my mother showed up demanding money when I was a teenager. Like I mentioned before, she was a human prostitute.” Her voice wavered, but she didn’t stop. “He killed her without hesitation. Raffaele saved me. Got me back to the city. Gave me a new life.”

Anger surged in my chest, hot and sharp. “You didn’t deserve that.”

She shook her head. “Raffaele set me up in New York, but I didn’t want to live off his charity. I wanted to prove I could thrive on my own. So, I went to law school. Graduated top of my class. Built my career from the ground up.”

Gods, I admired this woman. “You’re incredible, Eva. You know that, right?”

“I don’t always feel that way. But thank you.”

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. This was it. I couldn’t keep it from her any longer. “Eva,” I started, “there’s something I need to?—”

A loudpopresonated through the room. Grelth appeared at the foot of the bed, waving a foil packet. “Master Grelth heard coital sounds and thought you might need protection,” he announced cheerfully.

I growled, yanking the blanket higher over Eva’s body. “Get the fuck out, Grelth.”

Eva buried her face in my shoulder, her laughter shaking the bed. “You have the strangest servant.”

I sighed, but despite myself, I smiled. “I don’t know why I put up with him.”

I pulled Eva close again, silently promising myself I wouldn’t wait much longer to tell her the truth. She had to know. Soon.

38

EVA

When the video call connected, Genevieve’s face filled the screen. My breath hitched. She still looked terrible. Her skin was pallid, her eyes hollowed by dark circles, and her hair was a chaotic mess. Even through the pixelated image, her frustration and exhaustion were unmistakable.

“Eva,” she croaked hoarsely, “where the hell have you been?”