Page 50 of Derick

I was full of emotions. I didn’t care about what my father’s people had done to me, they could do anything to me, andunfortunately had, but once they hurt people I loved, I was done. No more fearing my father and his family. No more keeping my mouth shut and only telling my therapist everything. I was going to shout from the freaking rooftops all I knew.

Any hope I had of keeping clear of the Devil’s Queens and not being punished for betraying them was out the window, and I didn’t give a flying fuck. No more hiding, no more living just for Hope. I wasn’t this sad person. I may have had a tough life, but I was done wallowing. I hadn’t done that when I lived in the situation I had been in, and I was done doing it now.

My father and his gang had stopped me from living my life one too many times, and I was done. Getting off the hospital bed, I screamed as the pain in my leg made itself known. I went to the door of the room I’d been put in, opened it, and gazed around, looking for the police. I was going to tell them everything.

As my gaze searched the hall, I saw the huge group coming toward me. My eyes connected with frantic brown ones. Derick’s lips were set in a thin line, and even from a distance, I could tell his body was rigid. Leaving the room, I hobbled straight to Derick. His arms came around me as soon as I was within reach.

I held on to Derick like he was my lifeline. Finally, I let go. “I’m sorry,” I said on a sob. “I’m so, so sorry. All those bodyguards are hurt because of me. I’m ready to tell you and the authorities everything I can remember. I want the whole world to know about the corruption, abuse of power, and all the horrible things I have witnessed. No more hiding. No more being the victim. I need to stand up for the people I couldn’t save and for any future people that can be hurt. No more.” I cried against Derick as he rubbed my back in a soothing motion.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, precious. I am so proud of you and couldn’t be more in awe of your bravery. Let’s get you back in bed, and I want the doctor to tell me if you’re okay.” Heleaned down, his arms came under my legs, and he picked me up and cradled me against him.

“I don’t feel too bad. I’ve felt worse.” I giggled and rubbed myself against him, because I was pretty high on pain meds. I usually said no to them, but I hadn’t been shot before.

“I love you, my precious Ruby.” He kissed my forehead and sighed. “You’ve been given the good stuff.”

“I love you so much, Derick. I’m sorry for getting people hurt.” The dam broke and I burst into tears, and I didn’t know if I’d ever stop. For the first time in my life though, I knew I would be okay, because I had family now and support.

Derick hadn’t leftmy side since the hospital. This morning was the first time, and he was only gone for an hour. Hope wasn’t concerned that I’d been in the hospital—she had seen me hurt too many times and knew the drill—so we’d spent some much needed mummy-daughter time together. I was happy Hope had family looking after her and she didn’t have to be at the hospital this time.

I had spent two nights in the hospital, and on the second night, the wedding dress designer brought her portfolio of what she had made and could have ready by Sunday. Tonight, after Derick took me to see a surprise he’d arranged, the designer was bringing ten dresses for me to try on. I was excited. I’d been through a lot in my life and wasn’t dwelling on the bad. I wanted to marry Derick. I loved him and was looking forward to our wedding.

We were in the SUV, heading to my surprise. “Where are you taking me?” Smiling at Derick, I reached over and threaded my fingers through his.

“Not far.” He brought our joined hands up and kissed my knuckles. “You just got out of the hospital, but I thought you could use a pick-me-up. You’ve been busy. I’m so proud of you.” He kissed my hand again. I had been telling the federal police and lawyers everything I knew about my father’s gang. He caressed my cheek. “Remember telling me that you’ve never had a pet?”

“Yeah, but your parents got Hope a dog.” I shrugged. “So I’m okay.”

The car stopped, but Derick held my attention, his fingers lingered on my cheek, and I leaned in to his touch. “Ruby, you can have what you want too.” His hand fell and he turned to open the door. We were at the animal shelter. He held his hand out for me. “Come on. Let’s go.”

We entered the building, and two older ladies greeted us. “Derick, it’s good to see you again. Ruby, your man there came by and told us what you might want. Come this way.”

I raised my brow at Derick before I followed the women. They guided us to the cat section. My heart beat faster as I gazed around and tried not to ooh and aah over the cuteness.

We stopped in front of kittens, and the lady who didn’t talk before opened the cage and got out a small, black one. “Derick checked to see if we had a little guy like this one this morning.” She handed me the adorable, little kitten.

“We’ll leave you two for a moment,” the other woman said.

Derick gathered me against him and hugged me tight, careful of the kitten. “I love you, precious. I remembered what you said.”

“You know I always wanted a black cat. I know Hope loves the puppy, and I would have loved one growing up too. I was always a dog person unless I was offered a black cat.” I wiped the tear that slid down my cheek. “I had a cat once. She wasn’t black, but a tortoise shell. I loved that cat. I named her Missy.” I looked away and dashed away more tears before they fell. “Missybecame my first lesson not to trust people and to watch who I fell in love with. I…I was terrified. Terrified, when I became pregnant, not just because I had no idea who her… well, I um, er, you know how she was, and when she was born, I had prepared for depression, for me to…” I hiccupped. “Hate her. But I fell instantly in love. I loved her as she grew in me, but I was unsure how I would be when I saw what, or who she could look like.” I sighed and didn’t bother brushing the tears now. “Hope made it worth fighting for love. For a family. For someone to love me unconditionally.” I rose on tiptoes and kissed him. “So, this that you have just given me is the most thoughtful, wonderful, amazing gift you could have ever gotten me.” I turned in Derick’s embrace. I held the raggedy, little, black kitten close and gently stroked him. “He’s perfect,” I whispered, my chest tight, and I basked in my world.

“We have to name this little, snuggly, black ball of fluff.”

“Midnight. His name is midnight. Thanks, Derick, for giving me something I always wanted.” I beamed up at him. “I can’t wait until Sunday. I love you.”

The countdown was on for me to become a Silverman, and Derick made me fall more in love with him every day.

Ineeded to get out of the house, so I was going food shopping with Evelin and Hope. I enjoyed food shopping with Evelin as they had no limits. I had only ever gotten Home Brand and half-price food when Hope and I lived in our little apartment. Toby had always been the one to treat Hope and I. OP shopping was where I got a lot of things. I’d found some great clothes that way, and Kmart was my go-to place. I would bet everything I owned, which still wasn’t much, that Evelin didn’t shop at either.

I was marrying Derick in less than forty-eight hours. I was terrified, but not because I didn’t want to marry Derick. I’ve never been this happy, and I just hoped that it was real and not a dream. My life with Derick was better than any fantasy. I was scared I was going to wake up or this had all been some fucked up game my father had done to screw with me because I kept messing with his business. I needed to get out of my head, and Evelin always kept my mind busy.

Sitting in the back of the SUV, I looked over to see the huge smile on Evelin’s face as she played a game with Hope on her iPad. Evelin had downloaded a bunch of fun educational games for Hope, who loved playing them. The beaming smile hadn’t left Evelin’s face since she’d first seen Hope this morning.

Hope was dressed like she was ready to go to a fancy ball, in a cute pink princess dress with sparkles all over it. Her shoes were silver and covered in glitter, and she had matching silver glitterclips in her hair. Evelin had bought this for her, and it looked like it cost more than what I spent in a couple of years on Hope’s wardrobe. She looked beyond adorable though, and for the first time, I didn’t feel any guilt that the Silvermans had spent their money.

The car stopped, and I looked out the window and frowned when I didn’t see the supermarket. “I thought we were doing food shopping. Where are we?” I didn’t recognize the place. It looked like a nightclub.

The door opened and our guards already had Hope’s pram set up. We slid out of the vehicle.

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