Page 40 of Derick

“Hey, Mum. What’s up?” I asked. She raised one blonde brow, and her lips quirked on the left. I knew that ‘look’; her eyes told me to fess up. “All I can think about is Ruby.”

She entered and I rose, knowing she wanted a hug. Her arms wrapped around me. I basked in her love. “I’m sorry, honey. I wish it wasn’t like this for you.”

I eased back and looked down at Mum. “I have it better than others did in our family— well, better because I’m with her. I don’t know how they lived through this torture.”

Mum squeezed me. “It’s different for everyone, but I’ve been impressed with your patience.” I watched as tears slid down her face. “What that brave woman of yours has lived through, and for her to be the sweet, kind girl we’re getting to know, is a miracle.” She hiccupped before she broke into sobs. “I gave in and read the file. Your dad hadn’t wanted me to. He said it was bad, worse than Jade. He told me some of it, but, honey…” She grabbed me and sobbed against my chest. I clung to her and gave up on keeping my own feelings bottled.

Ruby was special. The kindness and light she gave after all she’d lived through in her young life put me in utter awe of her. My heart raced and my stomach flip-flopped at the thought of the woman I’d been gifted. I now understood it wasn’t a curse, but a gift. Ruby deserved the best, and I intended to give her that for as long as I lived. She saw the good in everything around her.

Mum patted my arm and stepped back. “I genuinely think she is fantastic, son. What she’s lived through…” Mum shook her head like she didn’t want to even think of what they’d learnedabout Ruby’s life. “I have no clue how she’s so sweet and such an amazing mother. She has strength. I don’t know if I could live through what she had and be so nice and trusting. She moved in and has trusted us with her daughter.” She gazed out of the big bay windows. “She’s given me a granddaughter. That is something I will be forever grateful to her for. I think I might be more excited than Hope about her birthday and party tomorrow. I worry though.” She stared at me, opened her mouth a couple of times as if to add something more, but then she then just sighed loudly and hugged me.

“But…” I prompted, knowing she wanted to say more.

She stepped back to look at me. “You need to think over what you want to do about university. You’re missing a lot, and it doesn’t reflect well if you want to join a company that isn’t one of ours.” She kissed my forehead. “Take the rest of the year off, or put time aside every day to get back to where you want to be. I know you don’t want to miss out on any time with Ruby or that precious little girl, but as hard as it is now, you need to think of your future too. You’re young and we have plenty of money for you to enjoy life. You don’t have to rush anything.”

Mum was right. I’d always been academically inclined. I liked being the best. My focus now wasn’t where it should be. “You’re right. I think I’m going to take the rest of the semester off and then see where I’m at in the holidays and decide if I need more time. I’m just not getting what I wanted done or at the standard I strive for.”

“Before you make that decision, I think you need to talk to Ruby.” She winked at me. “We have a wedding to plan and have too. I have a feeling you’re not wanting a long engagement.”

“Fuck no,” I growled. “I want Ruby to have our last name. I want everybody to know she is my wife. I love her so much.”

“Oh honey, I know. That girl deserves all the love in the world. You know I love Jade and Cassandra, but Ruby is…” Mumblinked back tears, squeezed my hands tightly, and then took a step back. “I would give her and do anything she asked for. I will be forever grateful to her for what she did for Dustan. She has no idea the power she holds over not just you, but your father and I.” She shook her head and wiped the tears that were now falling freely. “I mean how? She’s so sweet?” Mum took a deep breath in and slowly let it out, and then leveled me with a stern gaze. “You can take time off university, but don’t expect Ruby to take time off. She loves learning and going to school. No one will take that from her. She deserves the best education.”

“I would never take that away from her. She lights up anytime she talks about TAFE and her new friends. I would never ask her to stop that. I want her to be happy. I want time with her though, and I think you’re right. I’m going to talk with Ruby. Thanks, Mum.” I kissed both her cheeks and hugged her to me. My mum was amazing. I loved that she thought of not just my future but Ruby’s too. “Love you.” I kissed her forehead. “Sorry, I’m shaking right now. I feel like I’m having withdrawals. All I can think of is Ruby.” I stepped back. “You know she’s gone to see her brother face-to-face for the first time since SWAT raided her father’s clubhouse.”

Mum tapped my shoulder. “Why on earth are you here then? Go.”

I kissed my mum’s cheek again and rushed out. I was going to be with my woman. I was eager to meet her brother Toby. We had some things to discuss. He was in law enforcement, and I wanted to know why he’d let his sister stay in the situation she’d been in. Ruby said he loved her, but if he did, he should have got her safely away. I knew Ruby needed me, even if she thought she didn’t.

I drove to Macca’s,knowing my own security would follow. I’d made sure Ruby and Hope had an entourage of men guarding them. So imagine my surprise when I entered the McDonald’s with a nod from Sloane, who was guarding the door, to see Ruby flanked by her security and no sight of Hope. I scanned the restaurant, noticing Brand and Dean weren’t around. I stepped around a blind corner and then spotted them standing in the playground. Relaxing a little now that I knew Hope was safe, I went straight for Ruby.

“…not leaving you until I meet him and know you’re safe where you’re staying.”

I saw the man that was talking to Ruby and heard the last of what he said. He looked the same height as me, or it could be that he was bigger, not fat, but muscle, and covered in tats. His hair was the color I would think Ruby’s would be if she didn’t dye it blue. He looked a lot like his father, and an instant hatred formed, which I fought, because this was Ruby’s brother, and I knew she loved him.

“Toby, I don’t w…want them to have to d…deal with any m…more of our family. Hope has a…a p…pp…party tomorrow. You can come and meet him then. Sunday is a f…family birth…birthday, but I…I want them t…t…to like me and not think of me as a p…ppp…part of them and yyy…you.” Her shoulders sagged and her head went down.

I hated seeing her like this. She hadn’t been this timid woman that stuttered like this since the first day I met her. I wanted her to feel loved. To know just because she had a terrible family it didn’t mean she wasn’t perfect to me, and I adore her. Love her.

“Ruby. Precious. You okay?” I didn’t want to surprise her with my sudden appearance, so I spoke loudly.

She stood and didn’t hesitate as she stepped into my embrace. My arm circled her waist, and her hands came to rest around me. She placed her cheek against my chest. I tried to hide my delight as she took deep breaths, breathing me in. My body, that had been strung high only moments before without her, relaxed with her in its embrace.

“You better fucking be the Derick my sister has told me about or those fucking hands will be broken,” he snarled.

Holy shit! His voice matched the scary look he was going for. I wasn’t one of those men who were intimidated easily. I’d been trained to protect myself after my brother and I had been kidnapped. I knew the power my last name held, so it was hard to throw me off, but with the look Toby was giving me, I knew he meant every word he’d said.

“Toby!” Ruby snapped. “Don’t talk to Derick like that.” She didn’t stutter once.

I’d noticed that since she’d started to settle in and her confidence had built, she’d gone from stuttering almost every couple of words, to not at all. I had talked to her therapist as I wasn’t sure if I should point it out to Ruby. Dr. Heather had advised that if I pointed it out, she may become conscious of it and start doing it again. She thought it best Ruby came to notice this on her own. I was proud of her though, and I wanted to be childish and point it out to Toby, but I knew it wasn’t right.

“Ruby, it’s okay.” I moved her so she rested against my side and faced her brother. “Toby is just protecting you.”

Toby’s green eyes, which were so similar to his sister’s—yet so different, thanks to the dandelion ring Ruby had—pierced into mine as he sneered at me.

Now the introductions had been made. I intended to make sure Toby knew that Ruby was my number one priority, and shewas mine to care for. He had a lot to answer for. I wanted him to know that Ruby and Hope were mine now, and I wouldn’t ever let anyone, including him, hurt them ever again.

I glared right back at him. I hoped I at least came close to matching his meanness. “Derick. Derick Silverman. Ruby’s fiancé.”

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