7. Lexi
CHAPTER SEVEN
LEXI
Bursting into the room, I scream as her big blue eyes find me. With my arms wide open, I jump onto her, giving her the biggest hug. “Ruby!”
She lets out a faint cough, making me quickly realize that I’ve overwhelmed her. “Sorry!” I take a seat at the edge of the bed while Robyn and Lacey gently hug Ruby.
Three months after that harrowing night, Ruby finally emerged from her coma, but it came at a steep cost—extensive surgery that left me staring at a half-million-dollar bill, of which I still owe half.
When she was ready to begin her recovery, I reached out to Ivy, who helped me get Ruby into the best rehab facility, but not without a hefty price tag.
Today, they expect a $250,000 check. Yet it’s worth every penny because we’ve just learned that Ruby can come home.
The financial strain is squarely on my shoulders—a low-status assassin in New York, piecing together odd jobs to make ends meet.
With Ivy’s connection to the Bratva, she’s been able to help me, sending jobs my way.
This is why I want to refuse to believe she could be aware of the Savins’ plan to target me.
Ruby is still recovering, and we all notice her eyes getting heavy and the yawns she’s trying to conceal behind her hand.
“Get some rest.” I pat her on the leg. “Who knows how long it’ll take to do the paperwork?”
I stand by the window, watching patients enjoying the small garden outside, embracing the warm city day.
I’ve never been an outdoorsy type of girl.
You won’t catch me on a hike or building a flower garden.
Nope! However, I do love the beach; it reminds me of my sister.
When we were little, we’d spend hours at the Seattle coast, mesmerized by the cold waves and their soothing rhythm.
It was a slice of peace in a life that often felt unbearably chaotic.
Ruby coughs softly, and I glance over at her, recalling her first trip to the beach.
She was so excited that she leaped straight into the icy Pacific Ocean, utterly unaware of how cold the water would be.
I quickly gave her my clothes to help her warm up and treated her to hot chocolate.
I’ve been taking care of Ruby ever since that day.
Ruby and I grew up together in a trailer park near Seattle. When Mom passed away, I was left there all alone, so I planned a trip to the East Coast for my eighteenth birthday. To escape her drug-addicted parents, Ruby offered to join me.
With fake IDs and some cash, we hitchhiked with teenage boys from Seattle to New Jersey, our final destination a strip club where Ruby’s cousin worked.
The bald older man who owned the club must have known we were barely legal.
We were young and attractive, and all he cared about was how much money we could make for him.
Ruby leaped onto the pole our first night, and with every dollar bill the men tossed her way, she danced even more provocatively.
I admired her confidence, but deep down, I recognized that I had made a mistake.
While I wholeheartedly supported my fellow girls who found it empowering, I quickly realized that dancing for cash wasn’t for me.
The bar manager noticed my hesitation and offered me the open bartending position instead.
I had a clear plan. The strip club was merely a stepping stone on my path.
I soon formed a close friendship with two other young women, Lacey and Robyn.
Just like me, stripping wasn’t their final destination.
We bonded over our shared experiences, became roommates, and decided to work together as partners when we were ready to pursue our future endeavors.
Ruby enjoyed the money and attention she received from the men, becoming friendly with some of the other ladies and often separating from me to join them for private parties, where they could earn extra cash and drugs.
When we left the strip club to start our own business, she decided to stay behind to continue stripping and partying.
The nurse enters the room with paperwork in hand. “I have some instructions for her when she goes home,” she says. Lacey takes the paperwork and positions herself beside Ruby as the nurse outlines what they need to know.
As the nurse turns to leave, Robyn calls out to her, “What about the bill?”
“You’ll need to check with the front desk,” the nurse responds before walking away.
“I’ll go get it sorted.” Robyn quickly disappears down the hall.
I return to the bed, where Ruby eagerly removes her hospital gown and slips into a pair of leggings and a cozy sweatshirt. Once she’s dressed, she faces me, proudly holding up the sweatshirt.
“I like it!” I tell her.
She wears a troubled expression, her eyes battling to keep tears at bay. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I’m scared,” she replies softly.
“Why?” I pull her closer, eager to hold her.
“What if those men hurt me again?” She buries her head in my shoulder, gripping me more tightly than before.
“They won’t,” I promise her.
“Who did this to me?” Her voice wavers with fear.
“Dead men,” I say, intentionally keeping my response vague. She doesn’t need to worry about them. They’re my burden to bear.
She leans in closer, whispering in my ear, “I don’t blame you.”
I’m taken aback, confusion washing over me. “What do you mean?”
Her voice drops to a near whisper, just for me. “They knew who you are.”
Panic rises in my throat, my eyes widening. I hadn’t confided in Robyn and Lacey about Petrov’s words that night. I squeeze my eyes shut, overwhelmed. “This is all my fault.”
“It’s not,” she responds. “Elise Savin did this to us!”
I shove her away from me, my force causing her to gasp in pain. “This isn’t her fault!”
“Maybe not, but she’s still the reason this happened,” she growls, teeth clenched tight.
“What’s happening?” Lacey interjects, stepping between us.
“Nothing!” I snap, then storm out of the room.
My feet pound against the tiled floor as I struggle to comprehend how Ruby could say that to me after everything I’ve done for her. Yet, a part of me knows she’s right. They targeted her that night because of me—because of Elise Savin.
As I round the corner, I collide with Robyn. “Hey!” she says. “Is everything okay?”
“Did you settle the bill?” I ask, glancing at the paperwork in her hands.
She scans the room, moving closer to speak in a low, unsettling tone. “The bill has already been covered. And, the hospital bills were taken care of, too.”
Frustration wells up inside me. I don’t need to ask, but my curiosity gets the better of me. “Who paid it?”
“They told me a beautiful redhead in leather walked in this morning and dropped off the check.”
My heart pounds, and my fists tighten as I tap my foot against the tiled floor. Damn Ivy! She needs to stay out of my affairs.
Robyn grips my hand to get my attention. “This is a good thing,” she says.
I tilt my head in disbelief, struggling to comprehend how she could think that.
“They’re billionaires. They can afford it, while we can’t,” she adds, trying to reassure me.
I rub my face with my hands, feeling the weight of my frustration, and let out a deep, heavy sigh. Ivy never makes a move without Elise’s explicit permission, and the thought of Elise being involved in any capacity fills me with unease.
“I’ll grab the car,” Robyn says, picking up on my agitation.
When Robyn disappears, I close my eyes, leaning against the wall. My heartbeat steadies against my chest, and for the first time in months, I feel at peace knowing Ruby will be okay and that she’s coming home.
Now, I need to find Petrov so I can keep her safe. And even if I don’t like to admit it, I can make him pay for what he did to me, too.