CHAPTER NINE
Ruby
Beep. Beep. Beep. The faint rhythmic noise loops in my head. I blink and I attempt to rub my eyes when I realize I can’t lift my right arm. Panic seizes me and everything comes rushing back as I open my eyes. Some crazy chick shot me.
Am I dead?
Bright white light blinds me.
“You’re awake,” a male voice says.
I groan. A burning, dull throb aches in my shoulder.
“Where am I?” I close my eyes and open them slower this time.
“Hospital.” The face that owns the voice comes into focus. Theo’s friend from the club.
“Where’s Theo?”
“At the police station. They arrested him, but it was self-defense. He’ll be here as soon as he’s out. How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?”
“Water,” I croak.
“Here.” He holds a cup with a straw in it up to my lips.
“Thank you.”
“You look like hell.” He laughs. “That cop fucker from last night keeps trying to get in here.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to see him.”
“He’s going to use his badge as an excuse to see you. If he asks you, Theo shot Cassie.”
“He took the fall for me.”
“No crime was committed. He shot her to protect you. Got it?”
I nod.
“I can stay so you don’t have to be alone with him.”
“Please do.”
“Sure. Boss says you’re his girl now. Gotta protect you in his place.”
“How long have you known him?”
“My whole life. We grew up together. Like brothers.”
“This Cassie…did he love her?”
“Wasn’t that kind of relationship. Business deal. Nothing more.”
My heart sinks a little. Isn’t that what I am to him? He said our relationship was contractual or something.
“Is she okay?”
“No. She died.”
On instinct, I go to place my hand over my mouth. “Shit.”
“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Don’t feel sorry for her. She tried to kill you.”
He’s right. She did.
“You’re lucky that it’s a superficial wound. Barely nicked you. You should be discharged soon enough.”
“Oh my God,” Brookie cries out as she enters my hospital room. “I just heard. I’m so sorry, Ruby. I’m a horrible friend.”
“I know you are,” I tell her, and she winces.
“I deserve that.”
“I’m going to step into the hall and check in with Boss’s lawyer.”
“Thank you…”
“Shaw.”
“Thank you, Shaw.”
“Who is that,” Brookie hisses, sitting in the chair he just vacated.
“Theo’s best friend.”
“Hook a girl up.”
“No,” I deadpan.
“You’re really mad at me, huh?”
“I don’t even know right now.” Tears burn in the creases of my eyes.
“I fucked up. I wish I could take it back. I wish I’d told you.”
“I don’t want to talk about Alex.”
“He’s here, you know?”
“I don’t want to see him.”
“I can’t believe some chick shot you.”
“Yeah. Me either.”
“You look a little pale. Want me to get the nurse?”
“No.”
“I really am sorry about Alex and for not telling you about Kelsey.”
“We can talk when it’s all not so fresh.”
“Okay.”
“Get out of my way, man. Unless you want arrested,” Alex’s voice booms from the hall.
“I should go,” Brookie says, getting to her feet. “Call me. Please. I don’t want us to throw away years of friendship over a guy.”
“Soon.” I offer her a weak smile.
Alex and she share a weird look as they cross paths.
“Hey.” He turns his attention to me as Shaw comes into the room behind him looking every bit bad ass. “You’re going to be okay. I’ve spoken with the doctor and he’s going to release you into my care. Mom is making her soup you like.”
“Stop.”
“I’ve been worried sick about you, but don’t worry, we can put all of this behind us and focus on our future.”
“What future? I don’t want to be with you. Not now. Not five days from now, or a month, or a year. We are never getting back together.”
“You don’t mean that, Ruby. This guy is bad news. Don’t you know who he is?”
“I know he’s the kind of man who won’t cheat on me with my best friend.”
His face falls. “She told you?” he balls his fists, scowling.
“Does it matter? The important thing is you didn’t tell me. I want you to leave.”
“You heard her, man. Get lost,” Shaw practically growls at him.
“Don’t come crying to me when he pimps you out,” Alex warns, bumping shoulders with Shaw as he exits my room.
“Please tell me you have good news,” I tell him.
He smiles at me. “Want to go with me to pick Theo up?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“So that’s it. You’re in the clear?”
“Yeah. It wasn’t hard to convince them that I pulled the trigger in self-defense.” He winks and plates my pasta.
“Well, you did say I had to do something of equal value.”
“Your secret is safe with me, sweetheart.”
“See if you had big mean guard dogs this wouldn’t have happened,” I tease him.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He slides my plate in front of me. “Eat up.”
I pick up my fork. My arm is sore, but will be good as new in a few days. The doctor said it was a clean graze and I’m lucky the headboard took the bullet and not my shoulder. I think I went into shock from shooting Cassie.
I feel bad about it, but in that moment, it felt like it was her or me, and I chose me.
Theo pours me a glass of wine. “Happy Valentine’s Day.” He presses his lips to mine. “I had one of my guys pick this up, but I’ll take you to the jewelry store to pick out whatever you want tomorrow.” He slips a ruby ring in the shape of a heart onto my ring finger.
“It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He sips his drink, watching me stare at my ring.
Our story is only beginning.
It’s crazy and unconventional, but when you know you know, and with Theo all it took was one dark night in an alley. One shared look.
He’s mine.
“There is one more thing I need you to do.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ve got to meet the family.”
One year later
“Harder,” I cry out as my husband thrusts into me from behind. “Theo.”
“That’s it.” He slaps my ass. “Say my name. Tell everyone who this pussy belongs to.”
“Theo. Theo.” He fucks me harder and deeper. My face pressed against the window in his office that overlooks his nightclub.
No one can see or hear us, but the idea that they can gives me a little thrill.
This past year has been everything I’ve ever wanted and more.
He spoils me with trips on private planes and clothes.
More shoes than I can ever wear. But the best gift he’s bought me to date has to be the property outside of the city for my animal sanctuary.
No more begging people to take the strays I find in.
I think what pushed my man into purchasing it was me bringing home another kitty.
He says the only pussy he wants to take care of when he comes home is mine.
He pretends he hates having our cats running our household, but when he thinks I’m not around, I often catch him giving them treats and pets and talking to them like they are babies.
To the world he’s a brutal man, a criminal, a killer, but for me he melts.
“Fuck, baby.” He bites my shoulder, marking me with his teeth.
I plan to get a tattoo there of his bite.
He owns me. Body. Mind. Soul.
I am his and he is mine.