Page 48 of Derick

“Ruby, in now,” she yelled.

My brother stopped firing his gun, grabbed me, and threw me into the car. Evelin started shooting over my head as my brother slammed the door shut, grunting as a bullet hit him. I screamed and reach for the door to get to him.

Evelin dropped a gun and yanked me back. “Stay the fuck down.”

I felt like a fish out of water as I watched the sweetest woman I’d ever met, swear and turn into a total bad arse. Checking her guns, Evelin reloaded them like a pro before she gazed out the bulletproof windows.

“Clear, Dean. Get us to safety.”

“The back up team will be behind us in a moment. They’re two streets away. They will make sure we make it to the hospital.”

“The rest of the team’s recovery?” Evelin asked.

“Police are blocking off all routes and the Elites have been called in.”

“Good. I want us back in record time. I’ll make sure the hospital is briefed for the team.” She turned her focus back to me, and I watched as her gaze softened. “Ruby, that’s a lot of blood. Can you tell me where you’re hurt?” Evelin put the guns away.

The car went quiet, waiting for my answer. I was exhausted but concentrated on breathing and trying to stay in the here andnow. I couldn’t break just yet. I opened my mouth and tried to say where I was hurt, but everything did.

White spots flashed before me, and I fought to stay conscious. I had no fucking clue if it was from being shot a couple of times and I was losing too much blood, or if I was in shock and trying to process everything that had just happened. I was free. I had done it myself. I had vanquished the bad man for not just Hope, but me. I blinked.

Opening my eyes, I found Evlin was before me, holding my arm. “Faster, Dean,” Evelin yelled. “She’s losing a lot of blood. It’s not just her arm. We need to be there now.” Her voice became so distant that I gave up and closed my eyes again.

I let go. Free.

Derick

I’d spentmy morning choosing my suit for Sunday. It didn’t take me long. I chose the black Armani suit with gold trim. I loved how my woman’s eyes turned gold when she showed her passion and love.

My dad had Hope for most of the day, and Andrew came back from an hour at the park with her ten minutes ago. Something was off though. For the last half an hour, my chest hurt, and I felt restless. We were now playing with Play-Doh as Andrew complained about one of his university lectures.

“Mummy home soon.” Hope looked up from her pink and purple Doh.

My heart squeezed and I gathered Hope against me. My chest still hurt. I kissed her forehead. “Soon, princess.”

My father came out to where I was sitting with Hope playing. His face was grim, and when he went to Andrew first and he got up and took Hope from me I knew something had happened.

“Son, I need you to listen before you go off half-cocked.”

Standing, I gazed at my dad. “Fuck, Dad, just tell me.”

He held his hand up in the universal stop sign. “First, your mother is fine and Ruby will be okay. They were attacked in the city in a shoot-out with The Devil’s Queens. They tried to take Ruby.”

What the fuck did he mean she will be okay? Why didn’t I get a phone call too?

My father grabbed my arm as I went to leave to get to my woman. “Wait. I know you want to get to her, but I need you calm before we go. I’ve called our lawyers, and I’ve rung Ruby’s therapist.”

“What the hell is going on, Dad? Stop stalling and tell me.” I yanked myself out of his grip.

“People have died, son. Guns are banned in this country and there was just a major shoot-out in the city center. It’s already reached the news that The Devil’s Queens were involved. We’ve kept Ruby’s name out so far, but I don’t know how long we will be able to do that.” He ran his fingers through his hair. I noticed he looked like he’d aged ten years in a moment. “Five bodyguards are in the hospital with gunshot wounds, and they don’t think one of them will make it.” He grabbed my shoulders like he needed to hold onto something. “Ruby was almost taken. She was shot in the arm and thigh, but she killed one of them and another they’re not sure if he will pull through.”

I stumbled back out of his touch. “She was shot? Where is she?” I went straight to the garage. I was going to Ruby. She needed me.

“Son, wait.” He tried to stop me again, but I wouldn’t let him, dodging his attempts. “She’s at the hospital, but police aretrying to get to see her as soon as she wakes. Your mother said she didn’t say anything when Dean drove them away. Your mum didn’t realize how bad her condition was until they were clear of being followed. Apparently, Ruby passed out from blood loss pretty quickly, so hopefully she wasn’t in pain.”

“Fucking hell, Dad. Why the fuck have you waited to tell me?” I was getting to my woman now. She needed me. I needed her.

“Hey Derick, I’ll let how you spoke to me go, because I know how worried you are about Ruby. I only just found out myself that this all happened. I just received the call from your mother to tell me what happened. We can’t go running off as a bunch of our security is in the friggin hospital. I need them here to make sure no one gets to Hope. Your cousins have sent some of their bodyguards over. When they arrive, we will go. I know you want to get to Ruby, but you need to start thinking like a father.”

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