Chapter 13
I was getting married Sunday. Never in a million years would I have dreamed of getting married. Let alone to someone so amazing like Derick. I had a lot to plan. I wasn’t alone though. I now had a huge family and friends to help me plan.
Evelin sat next to me in the SUV. I’d never seen anyone so excited to go shopping. I always hated it. It may have had to do with always being on a tight budget. Today I was looking for a wedding dress. As much as I would like to have money to buy one, I didn’t. So, I was letting go of any hang-up over spending someone else’s money and spending Derick’s money. I would only get married once. I was getting my fantasy wedding dress. I was embracing my new life. Derick had told me what was his was mine and what was mine was his.
Hope was spending the day with Poppy and Andrew. She adored both those men. Andrew was a character. Unlike anyone I’d ever met. I understood why Hope was so fascinated by him. Hope had said he was her favorite uncle. Poor Toby, my brother had no chance now. I felt bad for all the other Silverman men as they all competed to be the best uncle. Hope was having a ball enjoying all the attention.
“I’ve booked fittings at three bridal shops. One is for that exclusive woman in the bridal magazine, she has a small shop. I haven’t heard of her before, but I’m all about supporting up-and-coming designers.” Evelin reached over and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “I know you’re not happy about missing TAFE today, but at least you only missed two classes with it being your short day. You handed the invitations out yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.” My friends had been beyond shocked as they’d only just learned I was even in a relationship with Derick. I’d had a lot of explaining to do, but I think in the end, they were just happy I was happy and excited. My new friends didn’t know much about my old life, but the three women I was closest to knew enough to know that I hadn’t had a very nice life before now.
The invitations were beautiful, bright, and colorful. I had no idea how they’d been ready for me to hand over to my friends when only hours before Derick had declared we were getting married on Sunday. They weren’t ones that were just printed out on a home computer, they were elaborate and the fanciest I’d ever seen. When I’d asked yesterday morning about this, I’d just been told that as soon as people heard the Silverman name things got done fast, and if that didn’t work, money always did. The Silvermans were very spoilt, I didn’t think they acted it though. Well, until things like that happened.
“Do you still want to stick with the bright, colorful theme?” Evelin looked up from her phone. “I’m just touching base with the wedding planner.”
My head felt like it was going to explode. Evelin had been in wedding mode since we came out of our room yesterday morning. I’d had no idea so much work went into planning and having a wedding. Evelin practically glowed with her excitement and eagerness to do anything wedding related. I never dreamed I would get married, so I hadn’t ever thought about it really. I had no idea about color themes and styles.
“I like the bright, colorful look you’ve chosen so far,” I said. “Why did you choose it?”
“Oh, that’s easy, I chose bright and colorful because you’re like a ray of sunshine. A rainbow, but with gold surrounding it.”
I couldn’t stop the tears that slid down my cheeks, but I beamed at Evelin. “You see me like that?”
The car had stopped. Evelin reached over, undid my seatbelt, and pulled me against her in a fierce hug. “You’ve made my son happy. You saved my other son’s life. You’ve given me a granddaughter. I’ve gained a new daughter who is the bravest, sweetest, strongest, and one of the most loving woman I know. Of course I see you like that, my wonderful daughter. I love you.”
I basked in her love. In her hold. I didn’t hold back the tears, because what she’d said was the nicest thing any woman had ever said to me. She’d called me her daughter too. My heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest. I felt so blessed.
“Thank you. I’m so lucky to be gaining a mother-in-law like you.”
“Call me Mum. You’re my daughter now. I’m sure I’ll drive you crazy soon with my wedding madness and hogging as much time as I can with my grandbabies. After Derick, I won’t have any more children to plan a wedding for until my grandbabies start finding their soulmates, and that’s a long way off.” She leaned back and patted my hand. “So, sticking with the bright theme—great, that’s easy. Okay now, are you having bridesmaids? If so, I was thinking our main colors could be green, yellow, and gold. I think blue, red, pink, purple, and orange should be used as background and extra splash?” She wrinkled her brows. “I didn’t word that very well, but I hope you got what I was thinking. Let’s get started.” She opened the door and stepped out.
I stared after her for a moment before Brand leaned in and held his hand out for me. I inched forward and eased out of the car to see we were stopped at a loading zone and four guards were close by us.
Brisbane city center was in front of us. We were on the expensive side with all the exclusive boutiques. I’d never been to them before. I hadn’t even bothered to window-shop. What would have been the point when I’d thought I’d never be able to afford anything in this side of the mall.
I followed the guards as they guided Evelin and I toward a huge bridal store. Taking a deep, calming breath in, I let it out and counted down from ten to calm my nerves before I stepped in.
I’d tried on some amazing dresses, but nothing had felt perfect or had been the one that made me fall in love with it. We were leaving the last large boutique and now going to the new designer. She had a small store, but it was three streets over and in a more secluded area.
“I want you both to stay close to each other. Dean is in the car, ready to go, and I’ve sent Lucca ahead of us.” Brand ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t like this. You’re too open getting there, and there’s not as much foot traffic to hide if we need to, but we’ve been training for this.” He caught my gaze. “Remember what we’ve been practicing.”
I nodded and held Evelin’s hand as we were guided by Sloane, Brand at my side and Dan on Evelin’s side. I had been working with the Silverman security since being told I’d have my own, but more so lately since seeing my father’s gang at the park a couple of weeks ago. Brand had been making sure I practice for at least half an hour a day for situation like this. It was also helping my self-confidence too.
We walked around the corner. The busy streets of the city made it hard for us to move, but our guards didn’t budge for anyone. I ignored the curses and comments from people passing by. The people started thinning and there were a lot less around in this direction.
Before we made it onto the street where the boutique was, Brand contacted Lucca. “How are we looking?” Brand stopped, halting our progress as we didn’t hear a reply. “Lucca? Statis?” Brand growled. Still no answer. Brenton appeared from somewhere and jogged ahead of us.
We stayed a block away from our destination, waiting for the go-ahead. “Compromised. Take the p…” Lucca didn’t finish as he started gurgling.
“Fuck.” Brand pushed us down and against the wall. “Move back,” he ordered. “Dean, we need extraction now.”
Brand kept guiding us back toward the busy crowd of the malls. He nodded at Evelin, held up two fingers and then three and pointed to the right. Evelin gave a sharp chin lift back.
“Ruby, we need the crowd as cover as we make it into the open to the other side, and Dean should meet us with the car,” Brand said. He grabbed my shoulders and tilted my chin up so I locked gazes with him. “They’re going to come for you hard. You’re valuable. They will try to take you alive. They’ll want to know what you’ve told. I need you to be the brave woman I know you are.” His hands dropped, and a look I’d seen washed over Derick’s father when he looked at his children now came over Brand. “You’re amazing. You fight with everything you have, Ruby. You can do this. We’ve practiced.”
Brand stepped back in front of me. The main open mall area was before us, but I see them, two groups of men in The Devil’s Queens vests. I faintly hear motorbikes in the distance.
“Now,” Brand yelled. “Run.”
Evelin let go of my hand and she and Dan bolted off, while Alex gave cover. That left me with Sloane, Brand, and a guard I didn’t know well called Chris. As we spun, I spotted another group that had the vests too. My heart sank. Three groups. Fuck, I was going to get everyone killed. I tried to remember all the training, but my mind wanted to shut down and go to our safe place.
“You can do this,” Brand snarled. He and the guards removed their weapons.
A bullet zipped past us, and I got down on the ground and crawled. I went as fast as I could while surrounded by guards on my hands and knees. The crowds were now screaming. It was chaos. Two police in uniforms seemed to be trying to help the people who were scattering. I rose a little and tried to move quicker but slipped and gasped when I noticed I was getting covered in blood. I fought my mind not to hide away again. I needed to stay in the here and now.
There were so many of them. I had a feeling chapters from other states had been called in to deal with me. I had betrayed my father and the Devil’s Queens. I knew what they did to people who had done what I did.
I had told my therapist about their trafficking everything from guns and drugs to women and children. With my therapist’s help I was even talking about men and other people I had blocked out over the years that were dangerous. Hitmen, pedophile, corrupt cops and politicians, and many other bad people. After today, I was going to make sure every law enforcement and official that needed to know knew everything to put away these horrible people. I was going to do the right thing and wasn’t going to be a victim.
A blood-coated gun fell in front of me. “Take it, Ruby,” Chris moaned before he sank down before me, bleeding from two bullet wounds.
Grabbing the gun, I got up to see I was close to the other side of the mall. My guards were bleeding from gunshot wounds, and I sobbed as I saw the two cops were down too.
The bike sounds were now almost on me, and I knew in this moment I would go down fighting. I was never going back to my father alive. Hope was safe, and I knew the Silverman family would take her in and adopt her. I could do this. I would take as many as I could with me. I wasn’t a victim anymore.
On a roar, I stood tall and moved from Brand, who looked like a crazed man hanging on by rage alone, covered in blood, with a gun in his hands. I knew the security team had Kevlar vests on, but that just protected their chests.
Bodies were everywhere, and I was happy most of them had a Devil’s Queens vest on. Ignoring the closing in motorbikes behind me, I aimed and shot at the men almost on me until the gun ran out of bullets. I caught one of the men’s gaze and gasped as I saw someone I thought was dead already—Bradly. The grin that spread over his face was one of pure malice.
“Ruby, naughty girl. Your father sent me to teach you what happens when you become a rat. I hope I get to put another kid in you.” Bradly’s grin was truly evil. “Did you know I was one of only two who didn’t wear a condom that night, and I know the other one shot blanks.”
I shook my head, dropped the empty gun, and backed away, trying not to slip on the blood-soaked ground. My mind tried to shut down, but I needed to fight. I couldn’t lose any of my progress. I was not a victim.
“No,” I cried. I thought Toby had killed them all. The ones who had tortured and hurt me when Hope was conceived. “Never again. I hate you.”
Darting my gaze around, I saw Sloane slowly reaching for his ankles, he grabbed a knife out and a smaller gun. He crawled to me, and I felt him reach for my hand as the three men in vests kicked him away and then shot him in the chest.
I screamed and gripped the knife in my hand, hiding it up my sleeve. I switched the small gun to my other hand. I wouldn’t be taken. I couldn’t live through what I had ever again. Gripping the small gun tight, I hid it in my clothes. I needed to be careful and do this right.
I stared at the man who had been in my nightmares for years. The three men, who reached for me, didn’t look to be in good shape. Good. The one on my left was gushing blood from his side, the one on my right was bleeding from his arms, and the devil before me must have been hit somewhere because as Bradly smiled I saw that his teeth were coated with blood.
“Where’s the brat, Ruby?” The devil grabbed my arm and shook me. I tightened my hold on the knife, waiting for the right time to strike.
I smiled. I wasn’t looking forward to what I had to do, but I was going to enjoy it. I was going to free myself. “Bradly. You’re not dead. Pity.” Shrugging, I tried for cute, shy, and sweet, as I inched closer, because I knew that was what this bastard liked.
His laugh sent chills down my spine. “Look at you. You finally got a backbone, bitch. I can’t wait to fuck that out of you. I’m going to give you everything you deserve.” His finger trailed across my collarbone.
“Oh, I got everything I could ever dream of and more.” I moved closer so I was almost against him and slid my hand up his chest. I swallowed the bile that rose at having to touch him, but I was outnumbered, and knew I had to do this right to save myself. Caressing his chest, I brought the knife I’d hidden out carefully, but kept it hidden beneath my hand.
His eyes flared with lust. I held back my shiver of disgust and tried again to keep the bile that kept coming up down. His hands wrapped around my throat, and it was now or never. I let the knife slide down so I could grip the handle, uncaring that I cut myself as it moved into my grip. I stared at my biggest tormentor, ready to end this one way or another.
“Never again,” I rasped out as his grip started tightening on my throat.
I plunged the knife into his chest, putting all my weight into it. The look of surprise on his face gave me just what I needed as his grip loosened, and I pulled the knife out and stabbed again and again until I couldn’t grip the knife due to the amount of blood coating it.
Bradly was quiet, and his hands were still wrapped around me, which helped with the other two men, whose focus seemed to be making sure no one disturbed Bradly and our discussion. When he finally gasped and then roared when I couldn’t pull the knife out again, I pushed him back as I stepped away. I grabbed the gun and turned to my right and shot that guy and then turned to my left and shot the other one. I kept firing until the three men had taken all the bullets I had in the small gun.
Bullets rained at me from down the street as more men made their way to me. My left arm was stinging and so was my right thigh. I could feel the blood dripping down my arm; it was why I’d found it hard to pull the knife out.
As I turned to run, an arm came around my waist and I was flung behind a big body. I gazed up in a daze at the back of my brother, who had a bunch of men with vests fighting guys with the same vest. I knew some of the men with Toby, they were sons of members, and holy shit, there were some women. The women wore armored gear and were covered in weapons.
High on adrenaline, and in shock at having probably just killed people, I realized I might actually live through this.
“Give up now and you might be lucky and get a reduced sentence,” my brother yelled.
“Fuck you, Decker.”
“Kill them.”
“Your father will kill you for this.”
“Shoot to kill.”
“Fucking traitor.”
Was yelled from around us as the bullets started coming at us.
An SUV crashed through the street, speeding toward me. I knew it was Dean in the car. The car screeched to a halt an inch from our group. I stared, my mouth gaping in amazement as the door slammed open, and Evelin appeared. She held two guns, one in each hand, aimed at the group.
“Ruby, in now,” she yelled.
My brother stopped firing his gun, grabbed me, and threw me into the car. Evelin started shooting over my head as my brother slammed the door shut, grunting as a bullet hit him. I screamed and reach for the door to get to him.
Evelin dropped a gun and yanked me back. “Stay the fuck down.”
I felt like a fish out of water as I watched the sweetest woman I’d ever met, swear and turn into a total bad arse. Checking her guns, Evelin reloaded them like a pro before she gazed out the bulletproof windows.
“Clear, Dean. Get us to safety.”
“The back up team will be behind us in a moment. They’re two streets away. They will make sure we make it to the hospital.”
“The rest of the team’s recovery?” Evelin asked.
“Police are blocking off all routes and the Elites have been called in.”
“Good. I want us back in record time. I’ll make sure the hospital is briefed for the team.” She turned her focus back to me, and I watched as her gaze softened. “Ruby, that’s a lot of blood. Can you tell me where you’re hurt?” Evelin put the guns away.
The car went quiet, waiting for my answer. I was exhausted but concentrated on breathing and trying to stay in the here and now. I couldn’t break just yet. I opened my mouth and tried to say where I was hurt, but everything did.
White spots flashed before me, and I fought to stay conscious. I had no fucking clue if it was from being shot a couple of times and I was losing too much blood, or if I was in shock and trying to process everything that had just happened. I was free. I had done it myself. I had vanquished the bad man for not just Hope, but me. I blinked.
Opening my eyes, I found Evlin was before me, holding my arm. “Faster, Dean,” Evelin yelled. “She’s losing a lot of blood. It’s not just her arm. We need to be there now.” Her voice became so distant that I gave up and closed my eyes again.
I let go. Free.
Derick
I’d spent my morning choosing my suit for Sunday. It didn’t take me long. I chose the black Armani suit with gold trim. I loved how my woman’s eyes turned gold when she showed her passion and love.
My dad had Hope for most of the day, and Andrew came back from an hour at the park with her ten minutes ago. Something was off though. For the last half an hour, my chest hurt, and I felt restless. We were now playing with Play-Doh as Andrew complained about one of his university lectures.
“Mummy home soon.” Hope looked up from her pink and purple Doh.
My heart squeezed and I gathered Hope against me. My chest still hurt. I kissed her forehead. “Soon, princess.”
My father came out to where I was sitting with Hope playing. His face was grim, and when he went to Andrew first and he got up and took Hope from me I knew something had happened.
“Son, I need you to listen before you go off half-cocked.”
Standing, I gazed at my dad. “Fuck, Dad, just tell me.”
He held his hand up in the universal stop sign. “First, your mother is fine and Ruby will be okay. They were attacked in the city in a shoot-out with The Devil’s Queens. They tried to take Ruby.”
What the fuck did he mean she will be okay? Why didn’t I get a phone call too?
My father grabbed my arm as I went to leave to get to my woman. “Wait. I know you want to get to her, but I need you calm before we go. I’ve called our lawyers, and I’ve rung Ruby’s therapist.”
“What the hell is going on, Dad? Stop stalling and tell me.” I yanked myself out of his grip.
“People have died, son. Guns are banned in this country and there was just a major shoot-out in the city center. It’s already reached the news that The Devil’s Queens were involved. We’ve kept Ruby’s name out so far, but I don’t know how long we will be able to do that.” He ran his fingers through his hair. I noticed he looked like he’d aged ten years in a moment. “Five bodyguards are in the hospital with gunshot wounds, and they don’t think one of them will make it.” He grabbed my shoulders like he needed to hold onto something. “Ruby was almost taken. She was shot in the arm and thigh, but she killed one of them and another they’re not sure if he will pull through.”
I stumbled back out of his touch. “She was shot? Where is she?” I went straight to the garage. I was going to Ruby. She needed me.
“Son, wait.” He tried to stop me again, but I wouldn’t let him, dodging his attempts. “She’s at the hospital, but police are trying to get to see her as soon as she wakes. Your mother said she didn’t say anything when Dean drove them away. Your mum didn’t realize how bad her condition was until they were clear of being followed. Apparently, Ruby passed out from blood loss pretty quickly, so hopefully she wasn’t in pain.”
“Fucking hell, Dad. Why the fuck have you waited to tell me?” I was getting to my woman now. She needed me. I needed her.
“Hey Derick, I’ll let how you spoke to me go, because I know how worried you are about Ruby. I only just found out myself that this all happened. I just received the call from your mother to tell me what happened. We can’t go running off as a bunch of our security is in the friggin hospital. I need them here to make sure no one gets to Hope. Your cousins have sent some of their bodyguards over. When they arrive, we will go. I know you want to get to Ruby, but you need to start thinking like a father.”
My anger vibrated my whole body. I balled my fists, closed my eyes, and tried to calm myself, but I needed to let my anger out. “You’re right.” I needed to make sure Hope was protected and safe. As much as I wanted to yell and rage, I needed Hope not to be scared. “Give me a moment to compose myself and I’ll be ready.” I patted my dad’s shoulder. “Thanks. Watch Hope for ten or so minutes please?”
“Sure. Go, son.” He nodded and went back to Hope.
I went straight to our gym and the boxing bag and let out my anger. I needed to get everything out so I could be what not just Ruby would need, but Hope too.
I hated that my father was right. I’d had no idea what to say to Hope as we left, and I hadn’t wanted to leave her at home, but I knew the chaos that we would be going into wasn’t for a three- year-old. Dad had said it was best not to tell Hope what was going on until we had a better feel for it ourselves. Hope had not been happy, even though she’d been left with her favorite uncle, but she wanted her mummy. It had been the first tantrum we’d had that both my father and I had left where she was still crying and begging to come with us. It broke my heart.
Andrew had offered to stay with Hope and look after her, but to keep my mind at ease his father, Uncle Albert, had agreed to come over too. I left the house hearing Andrew on the phone, begging his mum to come over, but as we’d been leaving Gillian arrived. There was no way she got there that quickly without already being on her way. I had a feeling she didn’t want to miss out on any Hope time. My family loved my daughter. I was damn grateful to my family.
We had waited a little under half an hour for a bunch of my cousins’ security to arrive at the house. Ryder was with a group of them, and he came to the hospital with us to help deal with the police. He’d sent Divinity and their son to the base where her father lived. It was the safest place for them to be.
I was now making my way to the hospital room they’d put Ruby in. Ryder was beside me. At the entry to the ward stood my mother, with our army of lawyers. They were standing in front of two cops in uniform and two other people in suits who I assumed were federal police detectives.
“Mrs. Silverman, there are several witnesses, and camera footage too of Miss Decker stabbing the deceased. It also shows she shot the gun.” The woman in a black and grey suit spoke to my mother, but it was our lawyers who responded.
One of the lawyers handed them a very thick folder. “This holds three lawsuits against the government for knowledge they knew, the police, and the department of child services. I assure you our team is in the process of writing more. These will be individual suits as well. There is evidence of corruption in all your departments in that folder. This is all a start at what we will be going forward with, so I advise you to tread carefully as Miss Decker—who, might I remind you, is the victim in all of this and was shot twice—has done your job over and over. I have statements here from over twenty people saying that Miss Decker has saved them from being trafficked or hurt by The Devil’s Queens. I also have attached the many, and there are more than fifteen, detailed hospital visits from the ages of a couple of months old to just a few months ago, where Miss Decker was abused, and nothing was done. The police were informed and so were social services.” The impeccable dressed lawyer raised his brow at the police. “Need I go on?”
I reached for my mother’s hand. I knew something important was happening, so I stayed quiet. I also knew that if I said something with how I felt, it could make matters worse. I was angry with how Ruby had been treated and had no help in her hard life.
The older man in the suit shook his head at the woman, grimaced, and looked back at us. I sneered at him. I wasn’t a fan of the police right now or social services. What had happened today shouldn’t have. Ruby should have been taken from her father after one of her many hospital visits. “Mrs. Silverman, we will allow only one of you to see Ruby. Until she is ready to tal?—”
My mother’s mocking laughter cut off what the detective was saying. I smiled as I watched even our own lawyers wince at the sound. My family knew everyone. We had a lot of money and were owed favors by some of the most important people in the world. Most of the time though, people heard our name and were eager to help us.
My mother held up one finger, got her phone out, and made a call. “Fix what you are seeing.” She hung up, put her phone away, and used her fingers to count down. Before she even got to one, all four polices’ phones rang.
The woman detective opened the folder and flipped through it until she got a couple of pages in and paled. Her gaze darted around for an escape, and the man at her side snatched the folder from her.
He cleared his throat loudly. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Silverman. You have our sincere apology. Darren Blanks will be dealing with this personally and will await your phone call.”
The two police in uniform had already scurried off, muttering apologies as they left.
Ryder stepped forward, and I was shocked to see that he had his cuffs out. “Detective Theo, you’re under arrest.” He went to the woman, and her partner stepped aside with his hands raised. Ryder started stating a bunch of things, but I was done and eager to see Ruby now that they’d moved out of my way.
I wasn’t worried that anything would happen to Ruby for protecting herself. With my mother and our team of people behind her, Ruby would be seen as a hero and face no repercussions. I just prayed what had happened hadn’t messed with all the progress Ruby had been making. I wanted her to know she had our one hundred percent support.
Entering the ward, I went straight to the nurses’ station. “Ruby Decker’s room.”
The nurse didn’t even gaze up from her chart. “She is on no visits but law enforcement.” She finally looked up. “Do you have a badge?”
Smiling, I darted my gaze around to see my mother entering. “No. I’m her fiancé, Derick Silverman.”
She hid her reaction well before she looked behind me. My two guards followed me, and two new guards to be placed with Ruby had also. The phone on her desk rang, but she didn’t answer it, just stared at us.
“I would answer that if I were you,” my mother said as she came to stand beside me. There were now six bodyguards, my mother, and me, staring at the nurse.
She loudly cleared her throat, shook her head, and answered the phone. “Yes. I understand. I know. It won’t happen again. No, I will make sure. Yes, okay.” She hung up the phone and pasted on the fakest smile as she gritted out, “My apologies. You may see Miss Decker. She’s at the end of the hall in room eighteen.”
Unable to hold back my cheeky grin, I waved at her, grateful to be a Silverman, and made my way to my woman’s room.