Page 49 of Crush (Deadly Hearts 1)

ChapterTwenty-Six

David

After hanging up the phone with Ruby, I grab my bag, along with her briefcase and handbag, slipping her phone into the side pocket of the bag. I head for the back door and dial Beth. She picks up after four rings.

“Yeah?” she answers groggily.

“Sorry, babe. I know it’s early for you, but I really need you in here as soon as you can get in,” I say brightly, knowing she is going to bite my head off.

“Ugh!” she spits out. “I’ve been asleep for two minutes.”

“I know, I know,” I console. “But Ruby and I have to step out and she trusts you…” I let that compliment hang there.

Beth sighs. “Fine. But It’ll be a few hours.”

“That’s fine, just as soon as you can get here. Byeeeee,” I chirp and hang up. Immediately, my sunny disposition fades. Ruby sounded in pain, which means she was injured. But she is alive, and all that matters is that I get to her as soon as possible.

First, I go to the front door and lock it, and then I head out the back, locking that up behind me and unlocking my phone to call a taxi. I turn and jump a mile when my path is blocked by a large man in a black coat.

“David?” he growls.

“Uhm, who wants to know?” I ask, pressing myself back into the door.

“Come with me.”

“No, that’s fine,” I say. “I’m good.”

“I have instructions to pick you up and deliver you to my boss.”

“What?” I ask, my voice going higher. If I’m headed the same way as Ramsey, I won’t hold up as well. I’ll fold like a cheap suit, and I don’t do cheap fabric. Gross.

The bear of a man sighs. “Declan sent me.”

“Ooh,” I say, but then decide I’m not falling for it. Just because he says so, doesn’t mean he is telling the truth. “One moment, please.” I hold my hand up, turn my back and dial quickly, the first number that comes up.

“What?” Layton growls into the phone.

I glare at it in annoyance. Why is everyone so fucking rude today?

“I need to speak to Declan,” I say just as rudely.

Layton snorts, knowing what he did wrong. “He’s a bit tied up, right now,” he says, badly suppressing a laugh.

I pause. Does he mean that literally? I wouldn’t put it past Ruby. I know she’s into some fun stuff. I’m sure binding the scary assassin man would be very fun for her. Kind of fun for me too. “I need to speak to him,” I say again, trying to stress how important it is.

“Everything okay?” he asks, suddenly going serious.

“Did he send someone to come and get me?”

“Hang on.” I tap my foot impatiently, as I hear Layton’s muffled shout to Declan. I turn slightly and grimace at the man hovering at my back.

“That’s Aidan…apparently,” Layton says a moment later.

“Wonderful,” I mutter and hang up. I turn back to the bear and ask, “What’s your name?”

“Aidan,” he replies.

“How do you know Declan?”

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