A cheesy grin spread across his face. “You miss me?”
He’d been gone a couple days, something he did often, and another reason I could put up with him as a roommate. He dumped his laptop bag on the small table by the window and plonked down beside me on the couch, slinging an arm around my shoulders.
I gave him a shove. “You need to go sleep it off, Scott, seriously.”
“You wanna sleep it off with me?”
“No.”
“Instead of falling asleep, and this . . .” He tapped the book in my hand. “Dropping on your face again, you could fall asleep with my face between your thighs.”
“You’re disgusting.” I gave him another shove and he almost rolled off the couch.
He stumbled to his feet and shrugged. “If you’re gonna be like that . . .” Then he swayed up the hall to his room.
I opened my book again, and was halfway through my page when Scott’s words drifted through my mind.
Last night, I’d fallen asleep reading and my book had dropped, hitting my nose, startling me back awake. An unsettling feeling curled in my belly.
Maybe he meant another time?
He was wasted, he probably didn’t even know what he was saying. But why would he even say that?
Could he be . . . ?
Was he somehow . . . watching me?
No.
No, of course he wasn’t. I was being ridiculous, wasn’t I?
Several hours later, the book was finished and I was struggling to keep my eyes open. I stood with a yawn, and headed to my room.
I was in the middle of my room, about to take off my shirt, when I glanced up. There was a smoke detector in the far corner. I never really thought about it that much. The cover was crooked, like it hadn’t been put back on correctly.
The unease from earlier came rushing back.
I grabbed a chair from the living room to get a closer look.
I twisted it open . . . and found a tiny black camera inside. I’d seem them before, of course, many times, so there was no way I could mistake it for anything else.
Holy fuck.
I was going to throw up.
Other things Scott had said to me jumped forward from my memory, little things that on their own hadn’t really clicked, but now made sense.
He’d been watching me.
I found two more: one attached to my lamp, another by my mirror. I stood there frozen for several minutes, not sure what the hell to do next. So many things rushing through my mind at once.
His laptop. That’s where the cameras had to be streaming to. He took it everywhere with him.
I raced out to the living room. Scott’s door was still closed, so I grabbed his bag and pulled out his laptop. I fired it up, but it was password protected. I tried a few different options, denied access each time.
“Ruby?” Scott’s voice jolted me from the screen in front of me, to where he was standing staring at me. “What are you doing? Why are you on my laptop?” He took a step forward.
I stood, knocking over the chair I’d been sitting on. “You’ve been watching me, haven’t you?”
He started scratching his wrist, twitching, eyes bloodshot. “You don’t understand. I had to, but I promise, I promise I’m going to make it better, okay? I’m going to fix this.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I grabbed my phone from the couch, shaking my head, feeling sick to my stomach, violated. “I’m calling the cops.”
He dove at me suddenly, knocking the phone from my hand. I jumped back, skirting the couch, and dove for it. He did as well, but I beat him to it. He was blocking the door out of the apartment, so I ran for my room. I slammed the door shut behind me, throwing the little slide lock I’d put on when I first moved in. Scott started hammering on the door, screaming for me to open up, saying he’d fix it over and over again.
He wasn’t making any sense.
I was freaked—God, scared—and I’d hit Neco’s number before I knew what I was doing. It went straight to voice mail. A sob exploded past my lips. That’s when the door flew open and Scott stumbled through, wild eyed. He came at me, I tried to make a break for it, but he grabbed my wrist and wrenched the phone from my hand, flinging it on the bed before I could react. I cried out in pain when he twisted my arm and shoved me face first against the wall.
He leaned in, face close to mine. His pupils dilated, the black almost swallowing all the blue of his eyes. “I’ll fix this,” he said again. “I’ll keep you safe.”
I struggled, but he wouldn’t let me go, so I slammed my head back, connecting with his nose. He screamed in pain, momentarily letting me go. I made a break for it, but he dove at me again, catching me around the legs, knocking me down. My head collided with the floor, hard, pain exploding behind my eyes. He straddled me, and plowed his fist into my face before I had time to react, stunning me further, then he kept on hitting. I screamed in pain, in anger, and he kept coming at me, over and over again. I’d let him take me down, and after that hit to the head, I was too disoriented to fight him off.
“You’re making me do this,” he yelled. “I didn’t want to hurt you! Why are you making me hurt you!”
My ears started ringing, blood filling my eyes, my mouth. I could hear him sobbing, apologizing as he beat me.
“Scott, no . . .”
“I’m so sorry,” he said again. “But I don’t have time to fight you on this . . . you have to come with me.”
I kicked out, tried shove him off. But my eyes were already swelling, I felt nauseous, and my head was pounding. I was pretty sure I was concussed.
He jerked me to my feet suddenly. I tried to talk, but only a garbled sound came out of my mouth. He half carried, half dragged me to the door and out into the hall, then we were going down the stairs. I had no idea where he was taking me, but I knew I had to get away or, I decided in that moment, die trying. Somehow, I drew the last of my strength and shoved at him. He wasn’t expecting it, his hold not as tight. I spun, slamming the heal of my hand into his already mashed nose then, grabbing his shoulder, brought my knee up, slamming it into his nuts. He screeched, but didn’t let go of me. My head was spinning, pounding, and I lost my balance. We both tumbled down the last few steps, landing in a heap on the floor. I tried to crawl away, but Scott recovered faster, the drugs he was on more than likely dulling the pain of his injuries, then he had my arm and started dragging me across the ground and out the door. I tried to call for help, but still nothing would come out.
“It’s okay, Ruby,” I heard him say. “I know you’re angry at me now, but I’ll explain. It’s going to be okay now, I’ll look after you.”
He’d just beaten me senseless, and now he was talking about looking after me?
“Wait here while I get the car. Don’t move.” Then he took off around the corner.
Wait here?
Scott was so damn high, he had lost all grip on reality. Somehow, I managed to drag myself to my feet. I couldn’t see clearly, and my glasses had been knocked off in the apartment. It was late, but there had to be people around, someone that could get me help. A jogger rounded the corner. He had headphones on and didn’t hear me call out to him. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to stumble out in front of him . . . then collapsed on the ground.
Everything went dark after that.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Neco
“All right. I’m fucking coming,” I barked as I walked across my apartment. My head was pounding like hell, and the bastard trying to knock the door down wasn’t goddamn helping. Probably shouldn’t have finished that bottle of Jack Daniels last night. I didn’t usually drink like that, but it was either get wasted or hunt Ruby down and finish what we’d started in that elevator. Since the latter wasn’t something I could do, I’d gone with getting shit-faced.
I unbolted the door, snarling as I pulled it open. Jude stood in front of me, his mallet sized fist in the air, ready to pound on my door again.
I scowled. “This bette
r be fucking good.”
Jude didn’t answer right away, his eyes meeting mine and locking on. What I saw behind them had me bracing before he opened his mouth.
“My mother?” I asked, a sick feeling swirling in my gut that had nothing to do with being hung over.
Jude shook his head. That’s when I noticed Hunter and Zeke. They’d closed in from either side, expressions on their faces like they were about to do battle with a wild animal.
I knew. I fucking knew instantly who this was about.
“It’s Ruby,” Hunter said, skirting Jude, walking into my apartment.
He reached out to put his hand on my shoulder and I shoved him away. “Tell me.”
Zeke and Jude moved in as well, shutting the door behind them. “She was found outside her place . . .”
I grabbed Hunter by the front of his shirt and shoved him, until his back collided with the wall. “Is she dead?”
“No.” He didn’t try to fight me off, just held my gaze, sympathy clear in his. “She was beaten pretty bad. A lot of cuts and bruises, and she has a concussion.”
I jerked away from my best friend and paced the room like a caged lion. I started to shake from the violence hammering me, the need to hurt whoever had done this to her. I spotted my phone on the small table by the couch, where I’d left it last night. I’d left it off all night. A sick feeling washed over me as I turned it on. Whatever happened between us, I was always the person she looked to when she was scared, always. So when a message flashed on the screen, I wasn’t surprised. I forced myself to retrieve it, body vibrating with tension.
I heard a sob down the line. Ruby’s sob. A loud crash, a male voice. Ruby crying out followed by the unmistakable sound of flesh hitting flesh, her broken cries, her scream . . .
“Scott, no . . .”
It cut off.
Scott. I started to shake harder.
Hunter cursed and grabbed the phone out of my hand, putting it to his ear.
This was my fault. I’d turned my fucking phone off because I wasn’t man enough to deal with my feelings, because I was too damn weak to risk hearing her fucking voice if she called me. I’d gone to the back room of a fucking strip club to get off, to try and forget the only woman I had ever loved.
Ruby had been terrified, had been beaten, and I hadn’t been there. I’d failed her, again.
I roared, picked up the coffee table, and flung it across the room. It hit the TV, cracking the screen, knocking it to the ground. I’d upended the couch when Jude’s monster arms banded around me, throwing me to the ground and pinning my arms behind my back.
“Calm the fuck down,” he growled. “You’re not gonna be any use to our girl if you can’t keep your shit tight.”
I shoved him off and got to my feet. She’d needed me. She’d needed me and I hadn’t been there for her.
The anger in me was like nothing I’d ever felt in my life. I thought after finding her at that park all those years ago, being held down, almost raped, nothing could ever top the rage I felt that night. I was wrong. I’d never felt more helpless either. It was a tight iron fist squeezing my heart in my chest. I had to get to her. I had to see her for myself, hold her in my arms, feel her heartbeat strong under my fingers.
I shoved on my boots and then I was headed for the door. Hunter stopped me with a hand to the gut. “You gonna keep it tight?”
Right then, I knew I was capable of anything, any ugly, cruel, vengeful thing. I knew I’d gut that fucker Scott if I saw him, and I’d enjoy it. I’d enjoy watching him bleed. Instead of verbalizing that, I gave Hunter what he wanted and nodded.
Zeke, who had stayed by the door, locked eyes with me. “We’ll get him, and we’ll make him pay.” Then he opened the door for me, letting me pass.
“Though true,” Jude rumbled. “Not fucking helpful, Zeke. We’re trying to calm the guy down, not fuel the blood lust.”
I ignored them all and strode to the elevator.
The drive to the hospital felt like time had ground to a stop, like it was going in fucking reverse. Jude was driving, and he was sticking to the speed limit. Zeke was shotgun, and Hunter was in the back with me. I could feel him cast glances my way every so often, no doubt waiting for me to flip the hell out again.
“I’ve been locked up, Nec,” Hunter said low. I clenched my jaw. “Prison’s not a place you wanna go, brother.”
“I won’t get caught.”
Hunter cursed. “You’re too close. You go after this guy, you will end up inside.” He was quiet for several seconds. “I’m here for you, you understand what I’m saying? You do not do this alone.”
Hunter knew there was some deep shit between me and Ruby, knew it was complicated—also knew I considered her mine in a lot of ways. I wouldn’t let this go, and he knew that as well.
My best friend had seen firsthand what I hid, the dark shit I was capable of, the ugly I kept under wraps. But no way would I involve Hunter in what I had planned when I got my hands on Scott. He had Lulu and Josh to worry about. He’d served his time. No way would I be responsible for him doing more.
Because the reality was, if I got my hands on Scott—I would kill him.
We hit the hospital parking lot and I was out of the car before it fully stopped, striding across the lot. I heard Hunter curse, his door slam, boots pounding after me.
He grabbed my arm when we climbed in the elevator. “Ruby’s been though a lot. You need to rein in those emotions. She needs to focus on getting better, not worrying about you right now, yeah?”
Because she would worry. She’d put me first, like she did all the time, like she did for everyone. “I’ve got this.” Even as the words left my mouth, I knew they were bullshit. I was so far gone I was close to jumping out of my skin.
The doors slid open and Hunter and I strode out. Jude and Zeke were still parking the car. I saw Lulu walk out of a room at the far end of the corridor and I picked up the pace.
“Lulu?”
She looked up at the sound of my voice and her eyes locked on. They were glistening, like she’d been crying. She moved to Hunter instantly and he wrapped his arm around her, kissing the top of her head.
“She’s in bad shape,” she whispered. A sob burst past her lips. “Seeing her like that . . . God, this isn’t about me.” She shook her head.
“Jesus.” Hunter held her tighter. “If this is too close for you, babe, go home. We’re here for Ruby.”
She shook her head again. “No. I’m fine. I just needed a minute to get my shit together.”
I moved past them, hand to the door, but Lulu reached out, grabbing my wrist. “You can’t go in there.”
I stared down at her. “Come again?”
Lulu’s expression went from sad to one of pity. “She doesn’t want to see anyone else. I’m sorry.”
“She’ll see me.”
“I’m sorry, Neco, she asked me to keep you out. Right now, she’ll only see me and Van.”
“Van?” Fuck that. I tried to open the door again, but this time Hunter was the one to stop me.
“You have to respect her wishes.”
I tried to shove him away, but he stood his ground. “Let me past.”
The guy looked grim. “Not happening.”
The door opened again and Van walked out as Zeke and Jude reached us.
“What’s going on?” Jude asked.
Van shook his head. “Ruby’s not ready to see anyone.”
The guy looked pointedly at me when he said this. Jude and Zeke were already standing in front of the door, barring it. I was close to losing my damned mind. If I didn’t see her for myself—see her fucking breathing, feel her eyes on me—I would crack. I would go insane.
I eyeballed Jude. The guy shrugged.
“Any news?” Van asked Hunter.
Hunter handed him my phone. That message was burned into my brain, and I knew it would never leave me as long as I lived. I ignored them all, trying to work out my chances of getting past and to my girl
.
“She called you?” Van asked, voice rough. I turned to him, guilt slamming into me at the accusation in his voice. “Why didn’t you get this?”
I watched Van look back down at the message again, his eyes narrowing. He held up the phone. “Ah you were too busy to listen. This was when we were at Stilettos, right?” He shook his head. “So you were fucking while Ruby was fighting for her life?”
Hunter shoved his brother off. “Shit. Not cool, Van.”
Van’s nostrils flared, chest expanding with each angry breath, trying to calm down. “You haven’t see her,” he said to Hunter, then his eyes slid to me. “She’s family, Neco. None of us have much of one, not the blood kind. She’s only got us. I don’t give a fuck what’s going on between you two, we’re it for her. When she calls, you answer the fucking phone.”
I’d felt like shit many times in my life, but never like this. I felt like the lowest, slimiest piece of garbage in existence. Everything Van said was true. Still, I needed to be with her. I couldn’t be barred from her. I was her family. I meant something to her and I’d failed her. But she was that for me as well. Shit, that and so much more.
“She needs me.”
“She needed you last night.” Van fired his passing shot then went back into her room, shutting the door firmly behind him.
That’s when I lost my shit completely.
* * *
Ruby
Van walked back into the room, expression hard as stone.
I opened my mouth to ask what was going on, when something crashed against the wall outside my room. There was a shout, the sound of booted feet on the linoleum. I tried to sit up and winced. “What’s that?”
Van’s eyes slid to me. “Neco.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. Oh God. There was more crashing and someone growled. Then I heard him yell my name. The sounds grew distant.
“He didn’t take being barred from you very well,” Van added unnecessarily.
Lulu stepped into the room, which meant I didn’t have to answer. A good thing, since I didn’t know what to say. Harry had stopped by earlier as well. But I didn’t want anyone seeing me like this, especially Neco.
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