Page 15 of Destroy (Deadly Hearts 2)

ChapterSeven

Ruby

Ilet go of Layton’s hand the moment we enter the kitchen. I don’t need him to help me anymore. I’m going to show them all that I’m okay, or as okay as I can be and that I don’t need to be coddled over.

“Rubes,” David says. “What can I get you?”

I roll my eyes at him. “What are you? Head waiter today? I’ll get my own damn coffee from my own damn kitchen.”

He grins at me and leaves me to stagger slowly to the coffee pot. I grimace at it, knowing I have to reach up into the cupboard for a mug, but I’m doing it by myself come hell or high water.

Slowly, I extend my arm over my head to open the cupboard. The stitches in my wound protest vigorously, but I press my lips together and carry on. I feel the sweat forming under my arms again and I’m annoyed that Layton’s job of freshening me up is going to waste. The kitchen is silent. My hand starts to shake as I grip the mug and pull it out of the cupboard.

Come on, Rubes. You are being stubborn. Let them help you.

No.

Okay, you know it’s bad when the voices in your head have conversations with each other.

Against my will, the shaking gets worse and the mug slips from my fingers to shatter on the Italian tile of the kitchen floor, like a gunshot going off.

I gasp and drop my arm, clutching at my side.

“Dammit, Ruby,” Declan growls, as David rushes over to clear up the mess.

“You’ve cut yourself,” David murmurs, running the back of his finger over my bare and bleeding foot.

“I’m okay,” I snap.

“No, you are a pig-headed woman who needs to learn that she isn’t alone anymore,” Declan says, smugly reaching for a mug with ease and pouring me a hot coffee.

Okay, he isn’t smug, that is me projecting but still. Not fair. I should be able to take care of myself.

I let him lead me to the small table, and I sit down in relief. I accept the mug with a tight smile, which probably came across more like a scowl, judging by Declan’s annoying smirk.

“Before anyone says anything, there’s some things I need to say,” I start after taking a small sip. I place the mug down and wrap my cold hands around it.

“First off, thank you for taking care of me. I know I am a burden, and as soon as I can pour out my own fucking coffee, you don’t have to hover over me anymore.”

“Ruby,” Ramsey says, but I shush him.

“Let me get this out, please.”

He nods and shuts up.

“I’m going to tell you exactly what happened to me and then I never, and I mean never want to talk or hear about it again. Is that clear?”

“Whatever you need,” David murmurs.

I nod and look down at my coffee. I start at the beginning with sneaking out of the front door of the club and heading in the Uber to Perfect Ten’s. I tell them about the conversation with Jake, the recording and then killing him. I tell them about finding a stranger in the Uber and him knocking me out. I whisper the words about how I woke up half naked, and what Boomer did to me and his revelation about my parents. I stammer my way through the stabbing and the rape. I practically yell at them with how I killed Boomer and then I’m done.

Exhausted, and emotionally battered and bruised.

“Oh, love,” David murmurs and crouches down next to me. “You are so strong to be able to tell us all of that. We love you.”

I give him a brief shaky smile and then take another sip of my now cold coffee.

“I need to get away for a while,” I say after a beat. “I think I’ll go back to my parents’ house, just for a bit.”

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