Page 38 of Derick

I thought it would be best to see my brother first without Derick in his face. Toby was okay with the Silvermans, or so he’d told me. But they had turned both our worlds upside down, mine for the better, and I hoped he felt the same, but until I knew, I wanted to speak alone with him. I had questions too, and thanks to Dr. Heather, I had more than just asking him if he got our father’s club sorted out and if he was okay.

Another guard I knew more than the one who drove me today came to our table. “I’m going to go get your order. Brenton and Sloane are close if you need them.”

I tried to resist rolling my eyes as I looked at Brand. I think having three bodyguards at a Macca’s was overkill, but I wasn’t going to protest when I knew they were just doing their job. I’d seen and, unfortunately, experienced what my father and his friends could do, and I still had that sickly feeling of being watched by people I didn’t want anywhere near me. I was sure I kept catching glimpses of a vest here and there.

“Thanks, Brand. Hope will have a three-nugget happy meal with the fruit slices and apple juice. Can you ask for two extra cups please? One with water so I can water down the juice.” His nod was short and swift, so I continued. “I’ll have a hot chocolate and a grilled chicken aioli wrap please.”

“Sure. I’ll be back.” He turned and headed to the registers.

I burst out laughing at what he said.Terminatorwas one of my favorite movies to watch with my brother. Anytime I heard the saying it always reminded me of some of the best times. And just like that, my anxiety vanished.

Toby wasn’t a fan of takeout food. He had taken Hope and I for treats before though. It was how we’d learned that Hope loved McDonald’s nuggets and fries. I didn’t let her have the fries very much though. I made sure Hope ate better than I did. I, on the other hand, wasn’t like Toby; I loved fries, burgers, and most takeout. There were some I hadn’t tried much, as my brother was the person who always got it for me, but I was eager to try more.

Since meeting and moving in with the Silvermans I’d tried dishes I couldn’t even dream up. Seafood was new to me, and there was a lot I wouldn’t try because…just, eww: calamari, squid, and caviar—fish eggs—gross. Derick liked sushi, but I only liked the ones with chicken or vegies and rice, no seaweed.

“What are you thinking of that put that look on your face?” Darting my gaze from Hope, I see my brother in all his tattoo hulking glory.

“Uncee Tobs,” Hope screamed with joy, hopped off her seat, and flung herself at my brother.

He caught her, raised her up so they were face-to-face, and smothered her with kisses. Her giggles of happiness had my heart soaring.

Toby looked different, older, and he had wrinkles around his eyes and frown lines that I was sure he didn’t have the last time I saw him. He was ten years older than me, but still young. He was a good mix of our father and his mother. His hair, eyes, and build were all our father, but the shape of his face, dimples, and his longer fingers were his mother. His personality was like neither of them though. He had always been the nicest man I’d ever known. The opposite of his parents. He said his grandmother had been the one to teach him right from wrong. I met her twice before she passed, and she was the sweetest lady I’d ever met.

“What’s with the security? You have three people watching you like a hawk.” His right brow rose.

This was my chance, the time to tell him all about Derick and that I was living with a Silverman. That I was engaged to one. Toby was the one to tell me I could trust them. I was sure he’d be happy that someone was looking out for me.

“I’ve moved out of the safe house and live with Derick Silverman and his family. They treat Hope like their own, and I’m in love with him. Oh, and I’m marrying him,” I blurted out, barely taking a breath as I gave Toby the short version and waved my engagement ring hand before his face.

“You what!” He came closer, towering over me. “What the fuck did you do? You gullible, little girl. Have you lost your fucking mind? The Silverman family? You were kicked in the head way too much if you think this will end well. Surely you’re not this stupid? What the fuck, Ruby? Use your fucking head, you idiot. This won’t end well.”

Toby had never yelled at me before. For a moment, all I saw was his vest that stated he was a Devil’s Queens. It shocked me enough that I flinched and shrank back. He sounded just like our father. Then instinct kicked in, and I snatched Hope from him, shrank down, and covered my daughter, waiting for the blows that usually followed being yelled at.

“Step away now!” Brand’s voice was a deep growl, and two other guards, Dean and Lucca, appeared as if from thin air.

“What the fuck?” Toby yelled. “I would never hurt my sister.”

Closing my eyes, I took deep breaths in and slowly let them out, trying to keep myself calm. I wasn’t a fan of loud voices. Usually they led to me getting punished or hurt in some way.

Hope started crying, and I tried not to shake. I opened my eyes. The punishments were always worse if I couldn’t keep her quiet. “Shhh, baby girl,” I whispered. “Remember what we do? Shhhh.” I clung to Hope.

I heard Toby take in a shaky breath of air that sounded like a suppressed sob. “Fuck. Ruby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yellor say those things.” Toby ran his fingers through his shoulder-length hair. “Fuck, I’m an arse. I’m sorry.” I flinched as his hand softly rested on my shoulder only to be snatched away by Brand.

I slowly rose and uncovered Hope, who still cried. I caressed her hair and whispered, “It’s alright, baby girl. I just surprised Uncle Toby.” Her cries became sniffles. “Brand, thank you and the others, but I promise I’m safe with my brother. Toby was just processing everything I’d just told him.”

I pulled my shoulders back and looked Brand in the eyes, so he knew that I was serious. He stepped back and turned his gaze to Toby, and the two of them seem to have a silent conversation, then both gave a chin lift and took a step back.

“Ruby rare, what the hell has happened since I left you with fucking SWAT?” Toby sat down next to me and Hope.

“W…well, you said I could t…trust the Silverman f…family.” I threw back what he’d said to me, starting to become defensive about what I’d done. I’d moved fast, but I felt like I shouldn’t have to be so defensive. I knew I should have taken time to get to know Derick and his family before I moved in, but Toby had said to trust them, and they had been nothing but sweet to me. I loved Derick and he loved me.

“Yeah, I did. For fuck’s sake, Ruby rare, that didn’t mean you could leave the safe house and move in with any of ‘that’ family.” He growled, something I’d never heard him do. I watched as he clenched and unclenched his fists. “I’m gone a couple of months to help get the chaos of the club sorted, and not to fucking mention help the federal police and do my job, and you go and do something beyond truly stupid.” He ran his fingers through his hair, and it looked like he was going to pull it out. “I never even dreamed of you doing something like this.” He threw his hands up like he was defeated or didn’t know what else to say. I’d never seen this side of him directed at me.

I forced what I hoped looked like a smile at Hope and then nodded at Brand. “C…can you please t…take Hope to th…the playground?”

“Yay,” Hope cheered. She got off her seat and went to Brand and dragged him to the playground. Hope must have known something was going on because she hadn’t told Toby about all the things she was excited to tell him.

Turning my focus back on Toby, I tried to keep my smile. “Y…you were gone more than a c…couple of months. M…more l…like six.” I sighed. “Have y…you even be…been home and showered?” I reached over and brushed his unkept beard. He was usually trimmed and tidy. It looked a lot more like our father’s beard now. “You w…were gone. The safe house r…really wasn’t for m…me. I’m no…not th…their favorite person either.” My anger rose. “I hate ou…our father and his friends, b…bb…but they still weren’t fond of m…me because of who I was, so I guess I jumped at the ch…chance to get away when Derick offered. His parents are at the house—well, we’d c…call it a mansion—and I h…have to say I love living with them.” I cleared my throat loudly to try to get myself ready for what had been building for years. I had to…no, I must tell him everything. “Derick thinks I’m his soulmate. He t…t…told me a story about his family and h…how they know their one love. Their soulmate. It’s funny b…because I let him touch me. I knew from th…the moment I met him that I could trust him. That he would n…never tr…treat me like the people we know. I…I…I…love him.”

---