Page 23 of Destroy (Deadly Hearts 2)

“Well, okay, then,” I murmur.

Layton snickers. “He won’t be able to keep it secret much longer.”

“True. Mum’s died,” I blurt out, needing to get it out there to the one person who knows how much I don’t give a shit.

“Oh,” he says and leaves it at that, knowing I don’t want to add anything.

With that said, I pick up my phone and delete the text, in a way, deleting that woman from my life at the same time.

“How are we going to make sure Ruby is taken care of?” I ask quietly, worrying about whether we can be everything she needs.

“It's simple,” Declan says, returning with David. “If she wants to work, David gives her work to do. If she wants to go on a picnic in the park, Ramsey you take her. If she wants to just sit and stare into space, Layton, you sit with her and if she needs someone to end up in a world of hurt, I’ll take care of it. And then, when all of that is over, we gather her close and let her know that no matter what she wants, or what she needs, one of us will be able to give it to her. We all love her, but we have specific skill sets. We use them for her individual needs. The rest…will fall into place.”

“You sound really sure about that,” I say.

“I’ve seen her fight through this once before when she was younger and weaker. She will make this pain her bitch before long and bounce back stronger than ever. When that happens, we will take back everything she has lost and the Underworld had better watch out because she will take no prisoners,” he says.

“What about her parents? Shouldn’t we tell them…something?” I ask.

“If you want to ring Rex up and inform him of everything that has happened to his daughter, then be my guest. I, personally, will be staying well out of that. Rex will burn the world down for his girl and trust me, you don’t want to get caught up in the crossfire.”

“Noted,” I murmur. “I hope she knows that we would also burn the world down for her.”

“She knows,” David says. “She knows.”

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