Chapter 9 - Chaos
I sit on the couch, still naked, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. Sweat drips down my temples, my cock soft against my belly, a few last drops of cum leaking onto my skin.
Holy fuck.
That was the best sex of my life. No competition. No comparison.
Ruby was incredible: the way she moved on top of me, the sounds she made, how tight and wet she was around my cock. The way she looked at me like I was something special instead of the violent hothead everyone else sees.
I've had plenty of one-night stands. Quick fucks with women whose names I forgot before morning. But this? This was different. This meant something.
And there's no fucking way I'm leaving now.
I hear water running in the bathroom and smile. She's cleaning up, probably overthinking everything like I can tell she does. Wondering if I'm going to bail. If this was just a quick fuck to me.
I need to show her it wasn't.
The bathroom door opens and Ruby emerges, completely naked. Her breasts jiggle slightly with each step, her wet face glowing in the dim light. She looks nervous and hopeful and so fucking beautiful it makes my chest ache.
"You okay?" I ask.
"Yeah." She moves toward me slowly. "Are you?"
"More than okay." I reach out and pull her onto the couch beside me. "Ruby, I want to stay the night. If that's okay with you."
Her face lights up with the most beautiful smile. "I was about to ask you the same thing."
"Good." I pull her against my chest, wrapping my arms around her. "We're on the same frequency then."
She cuddles into me, her soft body pressed against mine. "We should probably talk," she murmurs. "About what this means. About the future."
"We will," I promise. "Tomorrow. We're both too tired right now. And still high from that incredible sex."
She laughs softly. "It was incredible, wasn't it?"
"Best I've ever had, I swear."
"Me too."
We lie there in silence, her breathing evening out as she starts to drift off. I should probably suggest we move to the bedroom, but I don't want to disturb her. I don’t want to break this perfect moment.
My own eyes grow heavy. The adrenaline from the sex is wearing off, leaving me pleasantly exhausted. Ruby's warm body against mine, the sound of her breathing, the feeling of safety and rightness, it all lulls me toward sleep.
This is what I've been missing my whole life. This connection. This peace.
I press a kiss to the top of her head and let myself drift off.
The Next Day
The pounding on the door jolts me awake so violently I nearly fall off the couch.
"Ruby!" Marcus's voice shouts from outside. "I know you're in there! Open this fucking door!"
Ruby gasps beside me, her body going rigid with fear. The morning light streams through the windows. We must have slept for hours. My neck aches from the awkward position on the couch, but that discomfort vanishes the second I hear more voices outside.
"Come on out, you fucking whore!" Another male voice. Not Marcus.
"Yeah, we just want to talk!" A third voice, followed by cruel laughter.
I'm on my feet immediately, my protective instincts overriding everything else.
Through the window, I count six figures on the porch and lawn.
Marcus stands at the door, his nose still swollen and bruised from where I broke it yesterday.
Five other guys flank him, and every single one of them is carrying a baseball bat.
"Fuck." I grab my jeans from the floor, yanking them on. "Ruby, get dressed. Now."
She's already moving, scrambling for her clothes with shaking hands. "Oh my God. Oh my God. He brought friends. He actually brought—"
"Breathe." I pull on my shirt, my mind racing through options. Six against one are shit odds, even for me. "I'm calling for backup."
I grab my phone and dial King. He answers on the second ring, his voice alert despite the early hour. "Chaos? What's wrong?"
"I need the brothers at my place. Now." I keep my voice low but urgent. "Ruby's ex showed up with five friends. They're all carrying bats and looking for a fight."
"On it." King's tone shifts immediately to command mode. "I'll call everyone available. We'll be there in fifteen minutes. Can you hold them off?"
"I'll make it work."
"Don't do anything stupid. Just keep them outside until we arrive."
"Copy that." I end the call and turn to Ruby, who's now dressed but still trembling. "King's calling the club. They'll be here in fifteen minutes. I just need to buy us time."
The pounding gets louder, more aggressive. "Ruby! I swear to God, if you don't open this door—"
A small voice cuts through the chaos. "Mama?"
We both turn to see Liam standing in the hallway, his stuffed rabbit clutched to his chest, his eyes wide with fear. He's wearing his dinosaur pajamas, his ginger hair sticking up in every direction.
"Baby, it's okay." Ruby rushes to him, scooping him up. "Everything's okay."
"Loud," Liam whimpers, burying his face against her neck.
"I know, baby. I know." She rocks him gently, but I can see the terror in her eyes.
"Ruby, take him to his bedroom," I say firmly. "Stay there with him. Lock the door. Don't come out until I tell you it's safe."
She shakes her head. "No way I'm letting you go out there alone. They have bats, Chaos. They could kill you."
"I'm not going out there. I'm just going to talk to them through the door. Buy time until the club arrives." I move toward her, cupping her face gently. "But I need you and Liam safe. Inside. Away from the windows."
"Ruby!" Marcus roars. "I'm giving you ten seconds or we're breaking this door down!"
"You're not going alone," Ruby insists, her jaw set in that stubborn line I'm starting to recognize. "I'll put Liam in his bedroom. He'll be safe there. But I'm staying with you."
"Ruby—"
"No." Her hazel eyes blaze with determination despite her fear. "You protected me yesterday. Now I'm standing with you. They're here because of me. I won't hide while you face them alone."
Part of me wants to argue. Wants to force her to stay hidden where she'll be safe. But I can see in her expression that she won't back down. And honestly? Having her beside me, having someone at my back, it means something.
"Okay," I agree. "But Liam goes to his room. Now."
She nods and carries Liam down the hallway. I can hear her murmuring soothing words to him, telling him it's just some loud people who are leaving soon, telling him to play with his toys and she'll be right back.
When she returns, her face is pale but resolved. She stands beside me as we face the front door together.
"Ten seconds are up, Ruby!" Marcus shouts. "We're coming in!"
Something heavy slams against the door. Once. Twice. The wood shudders but holds.
"They're trying to break it down," Ruby whispers.
"It'll hold." At least, I hope it will. The door looks old, but it's solid wood. "Just needs to hold for a few more minutes."
Another slam. The door frame cracks slightly.
I move to the window, careful to stay out of direct sight.
Through the glass, I can see Marcus and his friends more clearly now.
They're all around his age, mid-twenties, dressed in polo shirts and khakis like they just came from some country club.
Entitled pricks who've never faced real consequences for anything.
But they're armed. And angry. And dangerous.
"Marcus!" I shout through the door. "You really want to do this? Breaking and entering? Assault? You'll go to prison."
"Fuck you!" Marcus slams the bat against the door again. "You broke my fucking nose! You think I'm just going to let that slide?"
"You swung first. That was self-defense."
"Bullshit! My boys here saw you attack me unprovoked. Right, guys?"
A chorus of agreement from his friends. Of course they'll lie for him. That's what entitled pricks do. They back each other up no matter what.
"Ruby, come out here and tell your psycho boyfriend to stand down," one of the other guys calls. "We just want to talk."
"With baseball bats?" Ruby shouts back, her voice stronger than I expected. "You expect me to believe you just want to talk?"
"We're here to teach you both a lesson about respect," Marcus snarls. "You embarrassed me, Ruby. Made me look weak in front of your parents. Now everyone thinks I'm some deadbeat dad when you're the one who ran away with my kid!"
"Your kid?" Ruby's hands clench into fists. "You told me to get rid of him! You wanted me to abort him!"
"I was scared! I was young! I’ve told you all that!" Marcus's voice takes on that manipulative tone I heard yesterday. "But I've changed, baby. I want to be a father now. Just let me in so we can talk about this like adults."
"So you can beat me up?" Ruby shoots back. "So your friends can hold me down while you take my son? I'm not stupid, Marcus."
Another violent slam against the door. This time I hear wood splintering.
"Clock's ticking," I mutter, checking my phone. Twelve minutes since I called King. Three more minutes and the brothers should start arriving.
"Maybe we should call the police," Ruby whispers.
I shake my head. "Cops won't get here fast enough. And they'll ask questions about the club, about my record. Trust me, we handle this ourselves."
Ruby looks terrified but nods. She trusts me. Despite everything, despite knowing me for less than two days, she trusts me to keep her safe.
I won't let her down.
Marcus slams the bat against the door again, and this time I hear a distinct crack. The frame is giving way.
"Chaos..." Ruby's voice shakes.
"It's okay." I move to stand directly in front of the door, positioning myself between it and Ruby. "When they break through, you run to Liam's room. Lock the door. Don't come out no matter what you hear."
"But—"
"Ruby." I turn to look at her, letting her see the deadly seriousness in my eyes. "I've been in plenty of fights. I can handle this until backup arrives. But I need to know you and Liam are safe. Please."
She hesitates, then nods reluctantly. "Okay. But if you die, I'm going to kill you."
Despite everything, I smile. "Deal."
The door frame splinters further. Any second now, it's going to give completely. I crack my knuckles and roll my shoulders, preparing for the fight of my life, but I'm not worried.
I know my brothers. They won't let me down.