Chapter 8
Torch
We’ve been here for over two weeks, and I’ve watched Ruby blossom in that time. The shadows under her eyes have disappeared, and she’s told me she has less nightmares when I sleep with her.
I do know she misses her family and Evie, but she needs to be kept safe.
Besides, the more time I’m with her and the longer time we’re together, the greater chance I have of getting her pregnant.
Then her brother can’t interfere with our relationship.
He did say he wouldn’t stop us when I told him I was coming for her, but it’s still a worry of mine.
Just like I won’t ever give up on protecting her or finding that fifth guy to exact revenge for Ruby.
Her music quietly plays from the room she set up as her studio, so now would be a good time to make another round of the property.
Even though there have been no signs of us being located, I still make this trek daily, varying my times and routes.
Sometimes, Moea comes with me; other times she doesn’t, like now. Instead, I’ve left her to guard Ruby.
On my way toward the main road off the driveway, my cell rings and I look down. I’m not ready, but I know he’s going to push me.
“What the fuck do you want?” I grumble by way of greeting.
“Time to come home.” Judge’s voice is as firm as mine.
“No.”
“Torch, bring her home now. Evie wants her here for the holiday, and it’s time.” Shit, that’s right; Thanksgiving is coming soon. I know how important the holidays are to Ruby. Her parents won’t be home for this one, but they will be back for Christmas.
“Is the asshole captured?” If I can delay our return, I will. Having Justin caught and taken care of is important, but I can’t waste my focus on him without giving up my surveillance of the Albanians.
“Well…no.” Judge is frustrated.
“Then, no. I still think there’s something more happening here.” Unfortunately, I can’t be completely honest with Judge about what else is going on, and it’s times like this I feel guilty about it. But Swede made me swear.
“Why do you say that?”
I know Gambit and his tech guy didn’t tell Judge about Ruby’s tail, but I want him to know there is still danger out there, so I give him just a little bit.
“I’m telling you. According to Ruby, she was being followed prior to Evie getting back together with Justin.
Why…?” I take a moment to figure out how to play this off.
“Then there is the fact that he’s focusing the police on us but doesn’t care that he’s the one breaking the law by abusing your ol’ lady.
” Even though I’m not there, Spike keeps me in the loop.
“You have a point, but what enemies do we have? We’ve kept our town clean.”
“Have Mal look into that chemical company. There’s something there.”
“I will, but bring my sister home.”
“I’m not ready,” I huff out, because I’m not. Biologically, yes, Ruby could be carrying my baby already, but I still want more time for just the two of us.
“Brother, I’m going to warn you just once more. I realize you’re trying to get her forgiveness for your fuck up, but she also needs her friends and family.” He pauses for a moment. “Well, maybe don’t take all my advice. Bring her home; you have a place here. She and Evie can be together.”
I don’t want to give in, but he’s got a point. Out here, it’s just me, and if the Albanians are pushing the treaty, I’ll need more firepower.
“Fine. Give me a day or so. We’ll be home,” I finally comply.
He and I talk for a few more moments before he goes because Evie is calling him.
I’ve now finished my rounds, and when I step back into the cabin, Ruby is still engrossed in her work.
She’s no longer focused on the school project, but on something else.
I haven’t looked because she asked for privacy, saying that she needed to do this one for her own well-being.
I decide to start lunch while waiting for her, knowing that the smell of the grilled ham and cheese sandwich will draw my girl out. She’s been hungry lately; it’s good to see she has a healthy appetite.
As I plate up the sandwiches, my cell goes off again. It’s only been maybe fifteen minutes since I hung up with Judge.
Lach
911 Come Home Now. Evie has been taken.
“Fuucckk,” I grumble as I pick up my sandwich and bite into the blistering hotness, swallowing it down while Ruby watches me.
“What’s the matter?”
“Pack up. We need to go.”
“What happened?” She doesn’t move, and I don’t really want to share the information with her, but she’ll only dig in her heels until I do.
“Evie’s been kidnapped. I don’t know the details, but we need to go.”
“Okay.” Ruby turns back to the studio and comes out only moments later with her bag, easel, and supplies packed up.
“Eat some before it gets cold,” I order her, but she ignores me and heads upstairs. The good thing is that we’ve kept our bags packed for a just-in-case moment such as this.
I trail behind her with the food because she’s walking with her head down and is quiet. She’s upset about her friend being taken, but I need her to nourish herself, just in case she is pregnant.
As soon as I step over the threshold into our room, I hear her sniffle. Ruby doesn’t typically cry, but when she does, she still tries to keep her emotions in check. Setting the plate down on the dresser, I pull her into my arms.
“Princess, I swear if they haven’t found her when we get back, I will help. We’ll bring her home.” She still sniffles but bobs her head against my chest.
“Ben, she isn’t from this life. She’s fragile.” Ruby looks up at me, tears rolling down her face. My heart clenches at the sight. I hate seeing my girl this worked up. I don’t like her crying.
“Princess, please stop the tears because I want to kill someone when I see you like this. She is a part of this life, and I’m sure she’s stronger than you think, having put up with Justin for this long, and Judge wouldn’t have brought her in if she wasn’t.”
“She is strong. She’s so much stronger than she thinks, but I worry that her being with Judge could put her in more danger.”
“That’s for them. Not us. I’ve wondered about letting you go before, but you are safer with me and the club than out on your own. I’m not letting you go, and I doubt you’ll walk away from me.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” She huffs as she plants her chin against my chest. Leaning down, I kiss her gently, wanting to take her again, but we need to go. I had her this morning, too, just like I have every morning since we got here.
“Take a couple bites; I’ll pack our stuff. You sit on the bed,” I order, and she complies. I love it when she listens to me.
Ruby silently eats as I gather up the few clothes lying around, then I go into the bathroom to round up everything there.
Pulling out my phone, I send Spike a text, telling him we’ll need an escort once we cross back into Rhode Island. The good thing is that the cabin is only about fifty minutes from Jupiter. We’ll make it there quickly.
After loading up the truck, I boost Ruby up into the passenger seat. She’s lost in her head, worried about Evie, and doesn’t even realize I’m buckling her in. I lean into her body after she’s secured and kiss her softly on the forehead.
Another thing I wanted to do before we left here was confess my feelings to her completely. I’ve already told her I’m all in, but she needs to understand my seriousness.
“Princess.” Her eyes whip to mine. Since explaining why I call her that, her face lights up with happiness instead of anger when I say the word.
Her fingers wrap around the seatbelt as she focuses on me.
“Before we leave, I need you not only to know that I want everything with you, but I’ve been in love with you for years.
The feeling grows every day. I’m a hard man, and I’ve done bad things, but you should know how I feel. ”
She reaches for me, her hands caressing my face. “I love you too. I have since I was a little girl. I’m so glad we had this time together here. We needed it.”
“We did. I needed you to forgive me for what I did to us.”
She nibbles her lip between her teeth before she responds. “I forgive you, but I’d really like to know who it was that told you to break up with me.”
I chuckle to cover up the fact that I’m lying to her. She doesn’t need to know. “We weren’t dating. We were friends.”
“Well, let’s just say I can’t wait to prove to some people that we were inevitable, and they just wish they had what we do.” She smirks, which makes me worry for whoever she’s talking about.
“Let’s get going.” I kiss her again, then stalk around the truck to the driver’s side.
Ruby
I watch Ben as he climbs up next to me, and I softly smile, just barely tipping up my lips.
He doesn’t realize, after everything he’s told me so far, that it’s now clear to me he and Barbie were never together, and I’m going to rip out her extensions and beat the piss out of her if she says anything more to me.
Instead of fixating on Barbie now, I think of Evie and wonder how she handled the bunnies in the couple of weeks she’s been at the clubhouse without me. I worry about her being captured, too.
“Did Justin get to her?” I ask the question he hasn’t answered yet.
“He did after killing a state police detective, according to what Spike told me. Judge and Lach headed out to save her while Spike handled the state police that were causing issues and appeared to be a diversion. Law is on his way to the compound now too.”
“We need to hurry.”
I sit quietly on the drive south, back to Rhode Island, imagining what Justin could be doing to Evie.
Biting at my cuticles as my knee bounces on the floorboard, I feel Moea rest her head on my shoulder, but I’m concentrating on the scenery on the other side of the glass and thinking about Evie, so it doesn’t faze me.
It isn’t until Ben takes my hand in his large, callused one and holds it against his thigh that I turn to him.