Empire of Lies and Flames (Ruins of Power #1)

Chapter 45

JAVIER

Why the hell was the clock moving so slow? It felt like it had been at least fifteen minutes since her call, but when I glanced at the damn thing, the hands barely crawled to five minutes past 8:40.

Five minutes. That’s all it had been.

I paced across my office, back and forth, my shoes practically wearing a groove into the carpet. Maybe I should wait by the parking lot. That’d make more sense, wouldn’t it? I’d see her the second she arrived. Yeah, that was a good idea—smart, even.

But my legs wouldn’t stop moving, and my brain wouldn’t stop racing.

The clock ticked so agonizingly slow it was like time had a personal vendetta against me. And to make it worse, when the fifteen minutes finally passed, Renée still hadn’t shown up.

I snatched my phone and dialed her number. It rang. And rang. But no answer.

She’s probably driving, I told myself. Yeah, that’s it. She’s driving. She’s careful like that.

I glanced at the clock again.

9:01.

I was going to have a damn heart attack at this rate. My legs gave out, and I slumped into my chair with a long, heavy sigh.

She had to have received the pendant by now. What was she thinking? What was she feeling? That damn thing had been burning a hole in my pocket for years, and now it was out there—her hands, her thoughts. I wondered if it had hit her yet, how long I’d been holding onto it. Holding onto her . From a stupid teenage crush to... this.

Jesus, did that make me a creep?

I groaned, dragging my hands over my face, only to sigh again. I’d been doing that a lot lately—sighing, waiting, staring at the clock.

She was probably coming here to fight me. That was fair. She deserved to. I’d let her scream at me for hours if that’s what it took. She’d win in the end, anyway. She always did. I just... I just hoped I’d get to hold her after.

God, my arms ached to hold her again. Even just for a second.

I glanced at the clock.

9:05.

I didn’t even know it was possible to screw up this badly, but Renée has a way of making me discover new things about myself—new levels of longing, new depths of feeling, new ways to ruin everything I touch. She made me realize how much I could want someone. How much I could need someone.

And how much I could fuck everything up.

9:07.

What was I even going to say when she got here? I hadn’t thought this through. Not at all. How was I supposed to convince her that I could change? That I would change? How was I going to win her back?

Would she even give me the chance?

I didn’t know anything anymore. Lately, I just... existed. Wake up. Go to work. Sign papers. Stare at the ceiling. Go home. Sleep. Repeat. My life lost its meaning when she walked out. She left and took my soul with her.

I looked at the clock again.

9:10.

What the hell was taking her so long? The traffic couldn’t be that bad.

My hands were trembling as I grabbed my phone and called her again. It rang. And rang. And rang.

No answer.

Something twisted deep in my gut, sharp and cold like a knife slowly turning.

Something was wrong.

RENéE

Something smacked into the rear of my car, hard enough to jerk me forward. My forehead barely missed the steering wheel, but before I could register what happened, I slammed into the car in front of me.

“Oh, come on!” I groaned, gripping the steering wheel tightly as the air seemed to thicken with tension.

The cars came to a dead stop. My heart was pounding as I glanced in the rearview mirror. A man stepped out of the car I’d hit, his sharp suit looking out of place in this chaos. Behind me, another man dressed eerily similarly and not looking the least bit friendly climbed out of his car.

This can’t be good.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I sat frozen in my seat, the pieces clicking into place far too quickly. This wasn’t an accident. This was a trap.

Wait. Not yet. I wasn’t in trouble just yet. But I would be in about thirty seconds if I didn’t move.

My breath hitched as my eyes darted from the men to my dashboard. I shifted the car into gear and slammed on the accelerator. The guy in front jumped out of the way. My car lurched forward, crunching into the rear of the car in front of me again, but it was enough to create some space. I twisted the wheel sharply, pulling out of the gap and speeding away.

“Yeah! Take that, suckers!” The words tumbled out as I raced down the street.

But my moment of triumph didn’t last long. A new car joined the chase, its headlights gleaming in my mirrors like wolves’ eyes in the dark. I just needed to get somewhere crowded, somewhere safe.

This is still our turf... right? I wasn’t entirely sure anymore. If I kept heading this way, I’d cross into territory where I couldn’t rely on anyone—not that I had much faith anyone would help me anyway.

Then, as if the universe was dead set on seeing me fail, my car sputtered and groaned to a stop.

“No, no, no,” I whispered, frantically turning the key in the ignition. “Come on, come on!”

Nothing. Not even a cough. The earlier hits must’ve done more damage than I thought.

I looked up to see the thugs closing the gap. Panic surged, as I threw open the door and bolted. The busy road was only a few meters ahead. If I could just get there—blend in with the crowd—I’d be okay.

I walked briskly at first, trying to stay inconspicuous, but their footsteps were getting louder, and closer. I risked a glance over my shoulder and cursed under my breath. They were right behind me.

Screw subtlety. I ran.

I dodged through the street, weaving past startled pedestrians. My shoulder clipped someone, nearly knocking them over, but I didn’t stop to apologize. I couldn’t afford to stop.

My chest burned as I ducked into a coffee shop. The scent of roasted beans and the low murmur of voices felt surreal against the chaos outside. I pressed myself into the farthest corner, hiding behind a display of pastries, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it.

The men ran past the shop, their heavy footsteps fading. I didn’t move, didn’t even breathe for a long moment. Only when the barista asked if I needed help did I finally step out of my hiding spot.

My bag. My phone. Both were back in the car. I clenched my fists, realizing how completely unprepared I was.

Maybe I could borrow someone’s phone. It was risky, but I didn’t have many options.

I approached a man near the counter, but before I could ask, my blood turned to ice.

They were back.

The two men had doubled back, scanning the street, and their eyes locked on me through the coffee shop window.

I bolted again.

My legs moved faster than they ever had before, instincts screaming at me to keep going, to never stop. The world blurred around me as I darted through the crowd, every step pounding with a single, desperate thought:

Don’t look back. Don’t stop. Just run.

I turned a corner, thinking I’d gained some distance, but two figures stepped into my path, their broad frames blocking the narrow alley.

Panic froze me in place, my breath catching in my throat.

They weren’t here to scare me.

They were here to end this.

And with dawning horror, I realized—the chase had only just begun.

JAVIER

Something smacked into the rear of my car, hard enough to jerk me forward. My forehead barely missed the steering wheel, but before I could register what happened, I slammed into the car in front of me.

The clock struck 9:30. Renee wasn’t picking up her phone. No more waiting. I grabbed my laptop, logged into the tracker I’d had installed on her phone months ago, and punched in the code.

Her location popped up—a spot on the edge of the city, just outside the bustling streets, near an abandoned industrial park. She’d been there for over twenty minutes now.

My stomach twisted.

“Shit.”

I didn’t want to think about it, but there was no avoiding it. Abduction. It was the only explanation.

Still, what the hell was she doing there ? Why would she even be near that place? I stared at the screen, my thoughts racing. Should I call Hael? No. Not yet. I needed to go there myself first. I had to see it with my own eyes.

But even if I drove like hell, it would take thirty minutes to get there. Too long. Calling Hael was the only logical move.

“I better have her exact location by 9:57,” I snarled at the IT guy, glaring down at him as he typed furiously into his laptop, “or I’ll take one of your fingers for every minute you delay.”

The guy didn’t even flinch, just murmured, “I’m working as fast as I can.”

“Clearly not fast enough!” I snapped, turning to Hael, who was busy giving instructions to his men. “Isn’t he supposed to be your best guy? What the hell is taking so long? It’s a fucking chip! It’s not rocket science!”

Hael dismissed his men and walked over, his expression hard. “He is my best guy. How about you stop breathing down his neck and let him work?”

“He’s not working fast enough!” My voice rose again, echoing off the walls. My chest felt like it was going to cave in. “By the time he finds her and we get there, it might already be too late!”

Hael’s sharp gaze cut into mine. “I get that you’re worried, but stop projecting it on everyone else. I’m worried too. My men are stationed across the city, and I’ve got Lorenzetti Cartel’s men on standby. The second I give the order, they’ll swarm that location in less than ten minutes.”

I groaned, grabbed a half-full bottle of whiskey from the desk, and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, shards flying like the thoughts in my head.

I glanced at the picture of Renée’s car Hael’s men had sent over. The frame was crushed in on both sides, a perfect trap. A classic Vincent move.

My blood ran cold, then hot, then ice cold again. He had her. I knew it.

“Vincent,” I said, venom dripping from every syllable. I’ll kill him. The second I see him; I’ll rip his fucking throat out.

Hael didn’t say anything.

Renée wasn’t just mine. She was their sister too. Vincent didn’t just piss me off—he declared war on the entire Aarle Dynastie.

I clenched my fists, my voice dropping to a dark, guttural growl. “I hope he’s enjoying this little game because it’s going to be his last. When I’m done with him, his men won’t recognize what’s left of his body. I’ll carve every fucking mistake he’s ever made into his skin before I let him bleed out like the dog he is.”

Hael met my eyes, a dangerous glint in his own. “Make it slow.”

I nodded. “Oh, it’ll be slow.”

“Whose death are we planning?” Aeros casually walked into the room.