Page 38 of Destroy (Deadly Hearts 2)

ChapterEighteen

Ruby

About an hour later, I head downstairs. Declan has left and in his place is Cillian, sitting in an armchair with a cup of coffee.

“How?” I ask with narrowed eyes.

“How what?” he asks warily. “Hang on, before we go any further…I’m…”

“Cillian,” I interrupt. “I know. I can tell you apart. Now.”

He smirks. “Good to know. How what?”

“How did you get a cup of coffee? Your mom only makes me tea.”

“You need to know where it’s kept,” he replies with a laugh. “Here.”

He stands up and hands it to me. I take it and savor the small sip. “God, it’s been too long. I think I have withdrawals.”

“I could take you for a real cup,” he says casually.

“Does that fall under the category of protection?” I ask, handing him the cup back.

“From yourself? Sure.”

“Smart-ass,” I grumble, but he’s not wrong. I would murder for some caffeine and that’s not a threat to be taken lightly. “Fine. Let me get changed.”

“You look fine,” he says. “Besides. I want to show you something.”

“Oh?” I ask, intrigued. “What’s that then?”

“Well, Declan tells me you have barely left the house since you got here. He also told me what you really do, and I want to show you what I do.”

“He already told me,” I say, my mouth going dry.

“I know, but can I show you?”

I nod slowly. I really do want to get out of here. I’ve been cooped up for too long. Even though I haven’t actually wanted to go anywhere. The trip out to the pharmacy was out of necessity, and the one trip to the cottage that the guys are staying in, was a disaster a week ago. I panicked, they flapped, and then Declan brought me home. Think I was gone twenty minutes, tops.

“Okay,” I say decisively. “Give me a minute.”

He nods and sits back down.

I take the stairs steadily, hoping that I’m making the right decision and won’t end up making a fool of myself.

I swap my slippers for some sneakers and grab my coat. I wish I had my knives, but I had to leave them behind due to the flight over. I bite my lip and change my mind about going, but then I glance out of the window. It’s sunny and blue skies, and even though it’s freezing, it will do my head good to get out of here.

Heading back down the stairs, I see Cillian waiting for me by the door. I take a deep breath and smile.

“I’m ready,” I say.

He nods and opens the door for me. I hesitate, and he sees it. He takes a step forward and out the door, holding his hand out for me to follow.

“Thanks,” I mutter and take it.

It’s like an electric shock. I gasp and try to pull my hand back, but he grips my fingers tightly, leading me towards his flashy white Ferrari parked in the driveway.

“Nice,” I murmur and slip inside when he opens the passenger door for me.

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