Ruin (Dirty Secrets #3) by Mercy Amare Read Free Book Online Page A

leaving.”
    “We can’t.”
    “Yes. We can. You came. Now we are leaving,” he says. “You don’t have a choice. I will drag you out of here kicking and screaming if I have to.”
    I look at Jace.
    He holds up his hands. “Sorry, baby. I’m with Trey on this one.”
    “Fine. Whatever,” I say.
    Maybe I really should go.
    My phone vibrates again, so I pull it out of my pocket. Jace and Trey stand behind me so they can read it.

    Blocked ID: Surprise!  

    I look up as the front door bursts open.
    Daisy Lewis walks in. Her blonde hair is tangled and dirty. Her jeans are ripped and covered in blood and dirty.
    My mouth falls open.
    “Madi… Madi…” Daisy says, walking over to me. “What happened?”
    “Daisy?” I ask, unable to believe the sight of her in front of me.
    “I don’t feel so good,” she says. Her eyes roll to the back of her head and she falls face-first onto the floor. It’s then that I see there is a huge gash in the back of her head and there is dried blood all over.
    I scream, and it echoes through the room. It takes a few seconds to realize I’m not the only person screaming.
    “Call 911!” I hear somebody yell.
    I can’t move. All I can do it stand there, staring at Daisy lying on the floor in front of me.
    Frannie is wrong. It’s not Dee messing with us. Somebody is really doing this to us. We are really in danger.
    My phone, still in my hand, vibrates again. I let it drop to the floor. Jace picks it up, and I hear his sharp intake of breath.
    Trey grabs the phone from Jace and reads. His face pales as he holds out the phone for me to see the screen.

    Blocked ID: If you ever decide that you want me to take care of her for good, I’m game. She deserves it. I highly doubt she will mess with you anymore. You’re welcome.

    Oh my God.
    I hear sirens outside.
    Jace, who has his hand in mine, pulls me outside. I didn’t even know that we were touching.
    “You have to breathe, baby,” he says.
    I take a deep breath, but it doesn’t help. Now my breath is coming in fast. Too fast.
    “Oh my God, Jace…” my voice quivers. It doesn’t even sound like me. “I don’t want to die.”
    “I won’t let you. I promise.” He pulls me into his arm.
    “Madi, are you okay?” Trey asks.
    I shake my head.
    I’m not okay.
    I will not be okay until I know that Emma and Daisy are all right. I won’t be okay until this sick person is behind bars — when I am safe from them.
    The guys that I saw earlier are walking into the house, and a few seconds later I watch an ambulance pull up. They are rushing inside. After only a few minutes, they walk back outside. Daisy is on a gurney. She is still unconscious.
    Lying there, she looks dead.
    I realize how easily she could have died.
    “Oh my God, Madi,” Jace says, tightening his grip around me. “What would I do if that were you? I’m not letting you out of my sight ever again.”
    In the chaos of everything, I find peace. I know that I couldn’t get through this without him. I wouldn’t want to even try without him.
    I am so in love with this boy. So I tell him so.
    “I love you, Jace,” I say, finding my voice. It sounds stronger.
    “I love you too, baby,” he says, kissing the top of my head.
    It’s then that I know, I will be okay.
    Jace is my forever. My soulmate. What we have is too awesome for me to die young — we are going to grow old together.
    “Will you still love me when I’m old and wrinkly?” I ask him.
    Jace pulls back just a few inches so he can look me in the eye. He raises an eyebrow, looking confused. But he answers anyway.
    “I don’t care what you look like. I will always love you. Always. I can’t wait to grow old with you,” he answers, confidently.
    I smile at him.
    “Will you still love me when I’m old and wrinkly?” he asks me.
    I nod, smiling big. “Always.”
    “Good.”
    I kiss his cheek, and he pulls me tight against his chest.
    I’m safe and loved.
    I pray that Daisy and Emma both live