Page 22 of Firecracker

“No.”

His jaw clenches again, and he stands up motioning for me to stand up. I sit there and stare at both of them dazed.

Quick snaps, “Stand up Ruby. We need to get you cleaned up.” He pulls me up to my feet. “Come on. Either you're going to walk out of here, or you will be thrown over my shoulder. I’m taking you to the clubhouse where it's not so fucking loud, and you can relax. Everyone can meet you there after the club.”

“I can’t leave Iz. She’ll be upset, and I don’t want to ruin her night.” I plead.

I step around them determined I need to stay until I see my face. There are black streaks down my face, and my eyes are swollen from crying. I gasp.

The door flies open, and Izzy barges in yelling, “Where is she” but stops in her tracks when she sees me standing at the sink.

“Rubes, what happened? Who hurt you?” Her voice is calm, but the look on her face is murderous. She looks around for answers. “Someone better tell me what the fuck is going on?”

I speak up first. “Brody called.”

My phone vibrates at that exact moment, and everyone looks down to the lit up phone. Brody’s name is flashing across the screen.

Before I can react, Izzy has the phone in her hand answering it. I freeze. Gus moves into the bathroom behind Izzy.

“Brody. It’s Izzy.”

Pause.

“Yes, she’s here with me so calm the fuck down.”

Quick is cursing under his breath next to me, but I don’t take my eyes off Izzy, who’s looking straight at me.

“Brody, look. You need to calm the fuck down. She’s not coming home until she is ready AND you calm down.”

Pause. I can hear Brody’s muffled voice yelling.

“Well, if you want to come here and search for her good luck but I damn well know you’ll never find her. So take this time to calm the fuck down and be with your daughter. Ruby needs some time. I have her phone, and I’m turning it off for a couple days. If there is an emergency, Giselle knows how to get a hold of me. I’m cutting off all communication to her for a couple days. She needs this, and if you can’t give her that, then it’s a good thing she’s divorcing you.”

Pause. Silence. Brody’s muffled yells.

“Brody, I’m cutting you off there. I don’t give a fuck what happened. All I care about is my girl, so I’m going to hang up now so I can be with her. Don’t make this harder than it already is, okay?”

Pause.

“Goodbye.”

Izzy hangs up the phone and turns it off. She looks up at all of us. “Now. I need to get back up there. I put a small mix on so I could go to the bathroom, but I need to get back.” She turns to Quick. “Please take her to the clubhouse or Ginger’s. I’ll be there in an hour - two at the most.”

Ginger steps forward. “I’ll go with her too.”

Izzy moves to me, giving me a big hug. “I told you I had you this weekend. Nothing is going to happen to you here or when you go home. We got you. Now go relax, have some drinks, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Izzy turns and walks out of the bathroom with Gus on her heels. The three of us stand there staring at the closed door.

“Jesus Christ, I can’t believe that was our Iz,” Quick says shocked.

He turns to Ginger, who’s on the other side of me and says, “Seriously, who was that. Iz’s usually the one falling apart being carried out in shambles but that” —he points to the door— “was fucking unbelievable. She just bossed up.”

Ginger, looking just as shocked, starts laughing putting her hand on the counter to steady herself, lifting the other one. “I’m sorry. I know this is not the time to laugh but give me a second.”

I look to Quick and then back to Ginger, and we all start to laugh. I’m crying laughing, but we’re all laughing when Shy walks into the bathroom.

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