Chapter 18 Ruby
EIGHTEEN
RUBY
I heard a commotion going on outside and I rushed out of my bedroom. I booked it for the front door and peered out through one of the handful of windows this place had to offer. When I saw Stone shoving a shotgun into Diego’s gut, I panicked.
I panicked so hard that I blacked out and didn’t come to until I was lunging off the porch.
“Stop! Don’t kill him! He didn’t do anything!” I exclaimed.
And it wasn’t until Stone turned to face me that I realized he was laughing with Diego.
“Wait, what?” I asked breathlessly.
Notch looked down at me with a quizzical stare as Stone put his hand on my shoulder. “Everything’s fine, you worrywart.”
Diego put his hands down with a tried-and-true smile on his face. “Yeah, we’re good.”
I pinned him with a look. “Are you sure you’re okay out here?”
Diego nodded. “Yes, we’re all good.”
Hayley sounded behind me. “Stone, can you help me get inside? I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
I kept gazing into Diego’s eyes as Stone chuckled. “Of course, honey. Come on, I’ll make you some soup, too.”
Notch placed his hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”
I didn’t bother looking at him. “Can you give us a second out here?”
And after everyone had made their way inside, I took a small step toward Diego. “Why did he have a shotgun pointed at you?”
He drew in a deep breath. “Long story short? We went to the hospital, and we were tailed coming out.”
“Jesus, seriously?”
He nodded. “But I took care of it. I shook the tail and took the heat off Stone and Hayley so they could get back and I got to see my mother in the process. It’s been a good day. I think the man actually realizes I’m on the crew’s side now.”
He turned and I spotted blood seeping through his shirt. “You’re bleeding, Diego. Let me take a look at it.”
I helped him ease his bad arm out of his sleeve.
“Shit, you’re bleeding a lot. I need to get you inside so we can take a look at it.”
Diego furrowed his brow. “It doesn’t hurt. Is that a good thing?”
My hand slipped into his. “Not necessarily. I’ll know more once we get you upstairs and I get that gauze off. Come on.”
As we made our way back inside, I had to admit that I was impressed.
It sounded like he did a very brave and honorable thing for Hayley, and it cast him in a completely different light.
Up until this point, I couldn't figure out if he really sided with the cartel or if he was just looking for a way out.
But now? It seemed like he was trying to save himself.
Which meant I didn’t have to.
That’s a good sign. He’s different from the other guys I’ve been with.
We moved silently through the warehouse and the guys were so preoccupied with Stone’s story in the kitchen that we snuck by without anyone seeing us.
I tugged him up to his lofted room upstairs where I pulled the first aid kit from beneath his bed and got to work.
I peeled off his dressing and saw that he had busted a couple of stitches.
I got the bleeding under control before I numbed him up, then I sterilized my instruments before I finally found what I wanted to say.
“I was so worried about you when I saw Stone outside with that shotgun.”
Diego chuckled. “What have I done to receive the honor of your worry?”
I flicked my gaze up to his. “You know exactly what you’ve done.”
He smirked. “That good, huh?”
I rolled my eyes even though my cheeks blushed and gave me away. “Shut up and let me stitch you closed again.”
I scooted so close to him that our legs touched.
His hand settled against my thigh as he turned in my direction, giving my wrists a break as they twisted and contorted to try and close his wound back up.
It took me a couple of tries since scar tissue had already set in, and scar tissue was always harder to manipulate than regular old skin.
But once I tied off the last suture, I disinfected it.
“Shit, that never gets easier,” Diego hissed.
“Sorry, sorry, almost done,” I murmured.
I quickly covered the stitches with gauze and taped it against his skin, then helped him get his bloody shirt off his body. I stood and walked it over to a pile of clothes he had in the corner, and I tossed it off to the side, but when I turned around, I found him hovering over me.
“Is something the matter? Are you okay?” I asked, craning my neck so I could keep his eyes in my field of vision.
And when he cupped the back of my head, he smiled. “Everything is always okay whenever you’re around.”
“What the fuck is this!?” Puck exclaimed.
My eyes widened as Diego dropped his hand from the back of my head, but it was too late.
“What the hell are you doing with my sister!?” Puck roared.
And the next thing I knew, Puck’s stampeding feet were coming across the floor of Diego’s loft.