Page 88 of Crush (Deadly Hearts 1)

I don’t know if Scott or Boomer will go after her to get to me, but I can’t risk it. My tiredness will have to wait so that I can ensure she is as far away from here as I can get her and be back by midnight so that I’m not leaving Ruby for too long.

I bring up her number and dial, waiting for her to answer. She does in that sultry, sexy voice that gets me going like never before.

“Hey, stud,” she purrs. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

I chuckle. “Not likely today. I have some personal shit to do. I’m not sure I’ll make it back for my shift. Can you get someone to cover?” I get straight to the point because I know she will respect that more than me beating around the bush.

“Everything okay?” she asks, her voice now sharp and clear.

“Yeah, I’ll tell you everything when I get back, but right now, I need to go.”

“Go,” she says. “Don’t worry about this place. I’ll sort it. Be safe, Layton.” The concern in her voice touches me. I never thought I would have anyone who would care about me again. That fact that it is her means so much. She is fast becoming an obsession and for a moment, a shitty horrible moment, I rethink my plan to leave her.

“Dammit,” I mutter and shake my head. I can’t risk my sister for my own selfish needs. I make sure the knife that I’ve been carrying with me since Boomer first showed up is secured safely, but with a low growl, I grip the handle and pull it out of the holster around my calf. Something has been gnawing at me since I carved our initials into her back. I need to do this, so she knows that she isn’t just mine, but I am hers. I lift the sleeve of my jacket and press the blade against the soft skin on the inside of my arm. I quickly slice her name into my flesh, hard and deep to make sure it scars when it heals. I want her name on me, always. I need her that close to me. I wipe the blood away, barely feeling the sting of the cuts. I’ve been numb for so long, but I have a feeling this woman is going to change all of that. She is making me feel. She is taking over my rational thoughts to become the only thing I can think about. I have to make sure my sister is safe before I fall completely down the well of hunger I have for Ruby Bellingham.

I pick up my keys from where I threw them down only a few minutes ago and open the door. Boomer has dissipated thankfully, probably slunk back to his boss to inform him of my disobedience. Fuck them both. I have to do what I need to now and being threatened by those two scumbags isn’t going to slow me down.

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