Page 50 of Crush (Deadly Hearts 1)

He just blinks at me.

I sigh and say, “Fine, let’s go.” I have to trust that this guy is the same Aidan that Declan sent. Otherwise, it’s too much of a coincidence for me.

He stomps off to a boring-looking sedan and gets in the driver’s side, leaving me to climb into the passenger seat. I dump all the bags in the footwell and sit back. I assume he knows where he’s going, but ask anyway, “Where are we going?”

“Prestbury,” he replies.

“Mm-hmm,” I murmur. Checks out so far.

I stare out of the window and then hear a static noise. I look over to see it’s coming from a small radio in the middle of the dash.

I bite the inside of my lip when I realize that we are hooked up to the police radio and that they are talking about a huge explosion on the outskirts of the city. Aidan turns it up. That’s all the confirmation I needed that Ruby set off the explosion.

I gulp.

I know she isn’t a terrorist. She must’ve had a good cause to do what she did. She knows the shit I’ve been through with this. It was a while ago, back in 1996. I was only six years old when the Arndale Centre was blown up. My mum and I were walking there from the train station when it went up. I remember the screams, the fear, the smell, the noise. It still gives me nightmares. I shudder, going cold. No, Ruby wouldn’t have done that if there were people inside. I know she isn’t cold-hearted. She has darkness, I know that, and I accept it. Who doesn’t have demons that haunt them? But she isn’t a cold-blooded killer.

I look back out of the window, trying to block out the radio. I need to get to Ruby and make sure she is okay and hear from her with my own two ears that she did this for a good reason.

Not that it would change anything if she didn’t. I love her and nothing will ever change that. I just hope that when she kissed me earlier, she meant it. I press my fingers to my lips and smile. If I didn’t know better, I’d say that there was a slice of jealousy in her eyes when she asked about the ‘fluffy-slipper wearing skank.’

I am so glad that my plan worked, but this is only the beginning. I have loved her for a long time, but she has only just seen me for who I really am. There is no way I’m that lucky she will fall in love with me instantly. It’s going to take time and I have to show her that she can love me, and count on me. Harassing her about this explosion is something that will have to wait. I hope that she brings it up first, but if she doesn’t, then I’ll drop it for now. I cannot jeopardize the shaky ground we are on right now. Not for anything. Not even this.

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