Page 90 of Crush (Deadly Hearts 1)

“It’s what she’s going to do. Or what I think she’s going to do. She is going to get into trouble. Someone needs to stop her. She won’t listen to me.”

A pause.

“I can’t. I’m on my way North. I can’t turn around. I’ve got something to take care of. Call Declan.”

“Fine,” I mutter. I didn’t want to ring Declan, but she has left me no choice it seems.

Not having his number when I hang up on Layton, not bothering to ask what his cloak and dagger mission is about, I ring David instead.

“I need to speak to Declan,” I say when he picks up.

“Well, hello to you too,” David drawls. “How come? Why can’t I help?”

“Do you want to restrain Ruby in her office so she doesn’t do something that is going to get her killed?”

“Err,” David mutters.

“Didn’t think so,” I grit out.

“I’ll hand you over,” he says, and I wait until the Irishman comes on the phone.

I relay my conversation with Ruby, and he says, “Hang on.”

I tap my foot as I hear him walking to her office and opening the door.

“Feck’s sake!” he roars, and my blood runs cold.

“What?” I ask in dread.

“She’s gone,” he spits out and hangs up.

“Fuck,” I growl and shove my phone back into my pocket and the gun in the back of my pants. Any sleep I was going to get will have to wait. The troops are needed to save the beautiful, fierce headstrong woman we all adore from herself. I fire off a text to Layton. His business is going to have to wait.

Ruby needs us.

---