Ruin (Rhodes #1) by Rina Kent

                             I dash to my walk-in and yank the shorts down while fumbling through my clothes.

                             “What’s wrong?” Tristan’s concerned voice filters from the room.

                             “When did you get the information about Celeste?” I step out, zip my trousers, then throw a T-shirt over my head.

                             “Ten days ago.”

                             “Ever thought about warning me? It’s only my life, so a head start would be nice.”

                             “I had men on her, but they lost her trace two days ago in France.”

                             Long enough for Celeste to realise that I’m watching someone. And no, certainly she isn’t in France anymore.

                             My jacket in hand, I face my cousin. “I got a name out of Hampton and I have his son on the leash, so you better bring something to the table in return. I’ll handle things over here until you’re back.”

                             A proud expression illuminates Tristan’s face. He thinks I give a damn about the hellhole called our heritage or our bloody family. If it hasn’t been for the camouflage it provides me and the promise I made to Uncle Alexander, I would’ve burned this place to the ground.

                             I hop down the stairs and storm across the Western Wing. My boots graze the long grass of the estate as I jog towards the garage.

                             My fingers latch around the first car keys in front of me. I slump to the driver’s seat, my mind focused on Celeste.

                             If she’s been watching me all along, she would realise something is off. Of all people, Celeste knows I don’t waste a lot of time on tracking and hunting. If I let Blue Eyes live until now, then I don’t plan to kill her.

                             Mae is in danger.

                             I stomp on the breaks, drawing the car to a halt outside the estate.

                             So what if she’s in danger? She can die by Celeste’s hands for all I care. Whatever happens to her because of me is collateral damage.

                             ‘No. You should be the one to kill her,’ Aunt scolds.

                             ‘You haven’t wasted so much time reading and recording her details to let another take the joy of spilling her blood.’ Father’s voice is firm.

                             Exactly.

                             I set the car back in motion. The blowing wind whirls inside and slaps me across the face as I drive to the city.

                             Several streets away from Mae’s house, I park the car and climb out to scrutinise the area for the merest trace of Celeste. The longer I walk the empty streets, lit by bright bulbs, the calmer I become.

                             Nothing. As expected.

                             If she’s watching me, and from a short distance no less, I would’ve noticed her. The good thing about being a tracker is having the intuition to prevent being tracked back.

                             Since I’m already here...