Ruined By The Two

Calla's POV

I woke up with a stiff neck.

My head hurt.

The red camera light was still blinking in the corner.

Creepy.

I grabbed my phone off the nightstand. Still had a few bars of signal. I opened the group chat.

CALLA: you guys. this house is so weird.

MAYA: what happened??

CALLA: doors are locked. windows too. staff keep staring at me like i’m a ghost

ZOE: i told you not to move in. rich men are weird

CALLA: stepbrother is a creep. stepdad is worse.

MAYA: need us to pull up?

I laughed a little. God, I missed them already.

CALLA: lol maybe. just give me a few days. i’ll figure it out

I dropped the phone on the bed and stretched. My T-shirt rode up over my hips. I didn’t care.

I headed out of the room barefoot.

The hallway was empty. I tried the next door. Locked. Next one too. And the next.

What the hell.

Downstairs, I passed by two guards standing near the front entrance. Suits, earpieces, guns under their jackets.

My stomach turned.

What kind of house needed armed guards inside?

I walked faster. Toward the kitchen.

And walked right into Jace.

He was leaning against the fridge, shirtless, sweatpants hanging low on his hips, hair messy like he just rolled out of someone’s bed.

He looked me over once, slow.

"Morning, thighs."

I groaned. “Shut up.”

He pushed off the fridge, came closer. “You always this grumpy before breakfast?”

“I’m grumpy because it’s breakfast and you’re in it.”

He smirked. “Flirting already? Damn. You work fast.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a glass.

He took it from my hand.

“Hey—”

“Let me see your phone.”

“What?”

“Give me your phone.”

“No.”

He stepped closer. “It’s house rules.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re not in charge.”

“Technically, no.” He smiled. “But I’m the only one who plays rough.”

“Back off, Jace.”

He reached into my back pocket, fast.

I slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me!”

But he grabbed my phone anyway.

“You—!”

I jumped at him, trying to snatch it back.

He caught my wrists, turned us, and slammed me up against the cold kitchen wall.

My breath caught.

His hand pinned mine above my head.

His body pressed into mine.

“Still wanna fight me?” he whispered.

I could barely think.

His body was hot.

I stared at him. Breathing hard.

He let go.

I stumbled back.

He tossed the phone into a drawer. “You won’t need it.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

He just smiled and walked out.

I stood there, shaking.

My thighs were clenched so tight I felt the burn.

I hated him.

I hated how he made me feel.

Breakfast was in the dining room.

Damien sat at the head. A black shirt, sleeves rolled.

I came in and headed straight for the farthest seat.

“Come here,” he said.

“No.”

He stood. Pulled out the chair next to him.

My heart skipped.

“I said come here.”

I walked over slowly. Sat beside him.

He watched me like he was reading my thoughts.

“You’ve already broken three rules,” he said.

“Maybe you should write them down next time.”

“You’re not safe here.”

“You keep saying that, but I don’t see anyone coming for me.”

His eyes sharpened. “You will.”

We ate in silence.

Scrambled eggs. Toast. Fruit.

I didn’t taste a thing.

Then—

BANG.

The door opened fast.

A tall man walked in. Dark suit. Red tie. Sharp cheekbones.

Damien stood immediately. His voice dropped cold. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

The man smiled. “Nice place you’ve got, Damien.”

I looked between them.

The man’s eyes landed on me.

And stayed.

“What do you want, Silas?” Damien said.

Silas didn’t answer. He looked me up and down, then turned to Damien.

“You keeping pets now?”

My stomach flipped.

“I said what do you want?” Damien asked again.

Silas walked over to the table. Picked up a grape. Rolled it between his fingers. Then looked back at me.

“You look like her,” he said quietly.

“Like who?” I asked.

He smiled. “Never mind.”

Damien moved in front of me. Blocked his view. “Out. Now.”

Silas didn’t argue. Just popped the grape into his mouth and walked out like he owned the place.

I stared after him.

“What the hell was that?” I asked.

Damien sat back down. “No one you need to worry about.”

“He looked at me like he knew me.”

“He didn’t.”

“Then why did he say—”

“Enough.”

I stood up. “I want my phone.”

“No.”

“I want to leave.”

He looked up at me, calm. “This is your home now.”

“No, it’s not.”

“You’ll stay until I say otherwise.”

My chest tightened. My skin burned.

“Are you keeping me here?” I asked.

Damien didn’t answer.

I stormed out of the dining room.

Jace was leaning against the wall, of course.

“Enjoy breakfast?” he asked.

I didn’t speak.

He smirked.

“You like being watched, don’t you?”

I froze.

“What did you say?”

He stepped closer. “The way you looked when I pinned you? Don’t lie. You liked it.”

I shoved him. Hard. “Fuck you.”

“You’d cry my name if you ever did.”

I turned and ran upstairs.

Slamming my bedroom door. Pressing my back to it.

I didn’t cry.

"I need air," I said to the empty room.

I stared at the red blinking light in the corner. Same damn camera.

I pulled the blanket off and climbed out of bed.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Hot water hit my skin. I closed my eyes.

I thought about Jace.

His cocky smirk. His messy hair. The way his body pinned me to the wall.

Then Damien. His sharp jaw. Cold voice. Grey eyes like a storm.

They were both hot. Annoying. Dangerous.

"Ugh, shut up," I muttered and smacked my own forehead. "You're insane."

But my thighs clenched anyway.

I got dressed slowly. Tight black jeans. A black tank top. No bra.

I walked out of the room and down the hall.

Two guards stood by the front door.

I didn’t look at them.

I pushed the door open.

Cool air hit my skin. Finally.

I walked outside. Down the stone steps. Onto the grass.

I took a breath.

“Stop right there,” a voice called.

I didn’t stop.

A hand grabbed my arm. Another grabbed the other.

“Let go!”

“Miss Calla, you’re not allowed out alone.”

“Get your hands off me!”

They dragged me back toward the house.

I kicked. Screamed.

It was no use.