Page 53 of Ruthless Desires, Vol. Two (Ruthless Desires Series Extended Editions #2)

Wren

It’s almost two in the morning when Finn’s phone rings. He stares at it for a few seconds before answering.

“Hello?”

I turn back to the book in my hands. Neither of us can sleep, but we’re too tired to work, so I’ve been reading, and Finn has been typing away on his laptop.

“Where are you?”

Finn’s gaze cuts to me as the color drains from his face.

“What?”

I ask, but he turns away, ignoring me.

“How’d you get access to a phone?”

he asks quietly.

My heart is in my throat as I watch Finn stiffly run a hand through his hair. Could it be? No, there’s no way.

“Axel?”

Finn spits out.

“Axel? Have you lost your mind? Elliot, there’s no way he’d help you. This is so obviously a trap.”

“Elliot?”

I spring into action, lunging for the phone, but Finn knocks my hands away.

“Let me talk to him!”

“He doesn’t have a lot of time,”

Finn grits out.

“Calm down.”

“Put it on speaker,”

I hear Elliot say.

“I want to talk to her.”

Thankfully, Finn does so without further protest.

“Love?”

“Ell.”

My voice is wobbly, and I have to blink to get rid of my tears. This isn’t the time to cry. We need to stay focused.

“Ell, are you okay? Are the others?”

“Yeah, we’re fine for now,”

he says.

“So are Benny and Andrew. I just don’t know how long that’ll last. Ludo’s made a couple threats, and I don’t want to stick around to see them come to fruition.”

“You think you’ve found a way out?”

Finn asks.

“With Axel’s help?”

“I know it sounds stupid, but I think we can trust him,”

Elliot says.

“I still want to be cautious until I’m sure, but like I said, I don’t know how much time we have.”

“Holloway’s right-hand man?”

Finn’s frown deepens.

“Sounds awfully convenient.”

“It’s the best option we have,”

Elliot says.

“Or it’s a ploy to capture Wren,”

Finn replies darkly.

Elliot sighs.

“I don’t think this is a trap, but just in case, I need her to stay out of this.”

My stomach drops.

“What? No!”

“I’ll keep her safe,”

Finn says, completely ignoring me.

“What do you need from us?”

“I’m running out of time,”

Elliot says.

“Axel has been taking me out to do jobs Ludo’s assigned to me. We’re heading out again tomorrow night. Finn, if you could meet us at that motel on Old Lincoln Highway just after midnight, we can work out a more detailed plan. I’d prefer it to be in person.”

I clench my fists.

“I’m coming, too.”

“No,”

they both say at the same time.

“But—”

“No,”

Finn practically growls.

“You showing up would be the stupidest thing you could do.”

“I’m sorry, love,”

Elliot says, and he sounds so tired. So… disappointed.

“If I was more sure that this isn’t a trap, it’d be a different story, but I can’t risk you getting hurt.”

“But you don’t think it’s a trap,”

I counter, “or you wouldn’t be going along with it.”

“Yes,”

he says hesitantly, “but I could be wrong. And given my recent track record, I think we should play it safe.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. Of course, I’m not surprised. The guys will always prioritize my safety. I mean too much to them. But how can I not go? I have a chance to see him again, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Hopefully teaming up with Axel works, but what if it doesn’t?

Finn and Elliot work out a few more details. A second voice comes through the speaker, but I can’t make out any words.

“I have two minutes,”

Elliot says.

“Finn, can you give the phone to Wren?”

Silently, Finn takes it off speaker and hands it to me. I snatch the phone and hold it to my ear immediately.

“Ell?”

“Hey, love.”

His voice is softer now, although I don’t miss the sadness.

“I know you’re upset, and I’m sorry, but we have to be careful. There’s no point in endangering you.”

Even as disappointment settles over me, heavy and dark, warmth spreads through my chest. I was so scared I’d never get to hear his voice again.

“I love you,”

he tells me.

“And god, Wren, I miss you so much. I wish I could see you—I promise, I do. But I need to know you’re safe.”

My heart is breaking, but I smile. Even now, when he’s the one who could be killed at any moment, he’s thinking of me. At this point, I shouldn’t expect anything else. It’s how he’s always been.

“I love you, too,”

I whisper, barely able to keep my voice from breaking. I want to tell him about what I found—about how it might help—but I don’t want to mess things up more than I already have.

“Are you doing okay?”

he asks.

“Are you eating?”

My laugh is hollow.

“I think my eating habits should be the least of your worries right now.”

“I need to know you’re all right,”

he says, his voice quiet. Strained.

Right. If I can put him at ease even a little, of course I will.

“I’m eating,”

I lie. “Promise.”

Thankfully, it seems that Finn left the room to give us some privacy, so he’s not here to give me one of his pointed glares. I think he’ll understand, though, if he overhears. While my appetite is all but gone, that’s not something either of us want Ell worrying about right now.

“Good,”

Elliot says on a relieved sigh.

“And you’re staying safe?”

“Mmhmm. Finn took me to his—”

“Don’t,”

he blurts.

“Love, don’t. Axel can hear everything you say.”

“Right,”

I mumble.

“I forgot.”

“It’s okay,”

Elliot says gently.

“Just as long as you’re safe.”

“I am. I’ve barely left the place we’re hiding. We both figure me going out isn’t worth the risk, plus we’ve been trying to find a way to save you guys.”

I pause, and the ache in my chest intensifies.

“I wish you were here.”

“I wish I was, too,” he says.

“You think joining forces with Axel will work? What does he want, exactly?”

“He wants out of the business,”

Elliot replies.

“And he doesn’t want anyone coming after him when he leaves, especially Holloway. I know trusting him seems like the last thing we should do, but I’m pretty sure he’s telling the truth. We were just at the Garden Grille—you’ll probably hear about it tomorrow.”

“Hear about what, exactly?”

“The place burning down. Axel is slowly trying to strip Ludo of his power and wealth. This is one step of many, as was revealing Aubrey’s location to Huxley when they were in Florida.”

“What?”

I screech.

“She could’ve died!”

“I’m not sure that’s true,”

Elliot says.

“But that’s why I need you to stay out of this. I know you don’t want to, love, but I can’t watch him hurt you. Please.”

I bite my tongue. How am I supposed to let this chance slip through my fingers? Even if it’s a trap, at least I’ll get to see him again. The same can’t be said otherwise. We’ve gone up against Ludo before and failed.

“Wren.”

Elliot sounds desperate and so, so tired.

“I just want to hold you,”

I tell him softly.

“I’m scared I won’t get another chance to.”

“I know,”

he says, and I realize he’s holding back tears.

“I want that, too. But I need you alive more.”

My eyes slide closed as I do my best not to shut down. There’s too much pain in my heart to speak.

“I have to go,”

Elliot says.

“Wren—god, Wren, I love you. Please promise me you won’t come. Please.”

“I love you, too,”

I whisper.

“Wren, please—Axel, no, wait—”

After that, the line goes dead. I stare at the screen as guilt fills my lungs, making it hard to breathe. There aren’t words to describe how much I need to see Ell, but he sounded so worried. I just didn’t want to lie to him twice in one conversation.

Finn comes back into the room and takes the phone from me.

“You’re not coming with me.”

“I have to go! I need to see him.”

He shakes his head.

“It’s a trap, Wren. I will go, just in case, because Holloway wants you, not me.”

“But—”

“I know you want to see him,”

Finn tells me gently.

“But Axel thought you and the guys were Ludo’s rat, remember? He almost uncovered that you broke into the safe. Why’d he help you now? It’s a trick. They’re holding something over Elliot—something that has him so scared that he’s willing to lure me out, probably so they can follow me home to you.”

“No. No, he’d never do that.”

“Think of how much pressure he’s under! We can’t be sure, and my main priority here is keeping you safe. You’re staying here.”

Without another word, I snatch up my book and storm upstairs. Only once I’m locked in my room do I let my tears run down my face. With my back to the door, I sink to the floor.

Don’t, I tell myself. Don’t listen to him.

My hands curl into fists. I take a few deep, determined breaths until the ache in my chest has eased enough that I can think clearly.

I’m going to this damn meeting, and no one can stop me.