Page 110 of The Art of Ruin

But there’s no margin for distraction now, no space for anything except the path down and the time it’s taking to get there. To get to her.

It’s too long. Every second I don’t have eyes on her is too long. I never should have left her. I had a bad feeling about thatasshole, but I never expected he’d turn up here. That takes balls or stupidity or both.

Every second stretches further than it should.

He’s there.

She’s there.

And I’m not.

That thought sits badly.

By the time we reach the base, I’m already unclipping my skis and pulling my gloves off. Without breaking stride, Nico and I move toward the lodge.

“Security?” I ask.

“Already on their way,” he replies.

They should have been ahead of this, and we’ll be having words about this after I’ve strangled the life out of Casey’s scumbag ex.

Right now—

I push through the doors, the murderous expression on my face causing people to part like the Red Sea.

The heat hits first.

Then the noise, but I ignore it all, my gaze swinging around the room in search of Casey.

Then—

I see her and my thundering heart calms a fraction.

She’s exactly where Isabella said she’d be, seated near the windows, her posture controlled, composed in a way that most people would read as calm. To everyone else, Casey handled that confrontation with calm confidence. Her façade hiding everything she’s feeling, and they all fall for it.

I don’t. I see the tension in her shoulders, her head tipped forward. The way her skin is devoid of color. The way her hand is wrapped too tightly around the mug in front of her.

The fact she hasn’t moved a muscle

And across the room—

Jasper Cole.

Standing like he belongs there.

Like he has any right to be within the same space as her after what he’s already done.

Something cold settles under my skin.

He may think he can bully and intimidate her, but he has no idea the hornets’ nest he just kicked. He messed with someone important to me, and nobody messes with the Mancini family and lives to tell the tale.

I don’t rush.

I don’t need to. My control is my biggest weapon here. He might expect loud violence he can use to his advantage, but he won’t get it.

I cross the room at a steady pace, every step deliberate, my attention fixed exactly where it needs to be. I feel Nico at my shoulder and know he’ll have my back no matter what. He might not know what Casey means to me, and if I’m honest with myself, I don’t entirely know myself, but he knows enough.

Jasper sees me.