Page 8 of Destroy (Deadly Hearts 2)

ChapterFour

Ramsey

Irest my head on the cushion that I stuffed at the back of my head when I sat down to give Ruby my blood. I won’t lie, it gives me the icks, watching it leave me and enter her, but I would give her every last drop if it meant saving her. The doctor asked me a bunch of questions that luckily, I could answer. I only gave blood last week, so I’ve been screened recently. She wasn’t keen on letting me donate again, but I wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“You feeling okay?” Declan asks me quietly.

“Yeah, fine,” I say.

Ruby has closed her eyes. I don’t know if she’s asleep or pretending to be so we don’t talk to her, but either way, it’s too quiet in here.

David returns shortly after and sits on the bed again. Ruby lets out a small groan, but doesn’t open her eyes.

Her breathing deepens signifying that she has gone to sleep now so I ask the question that has been hanging over my head since I scooped her up in that alley practically naked and bleeding.

“Does anyone know if she was…raped,” I mouth the last word, just in case she hears me.

Declan nods grimly confirming my worst fear.

“Fuck,” I mutter and close my eyes as my head spins. “Is he dead?” I ask, not opening my eyes yet. I can’t. I can’t look at her. Not out of anything to do with her, but because of the shit feeling that we let her down when she needed us.

“She killed Boomer. I killed the fucker who touched her,” Declan whispers.

I lift my head and open my eyes in confusion. “There were two of them?”

“Long story for another time,” Declan says, indicating Ruby with his head.

“Is he really dead?” I ask quietly.

“Yes,” he says, sounding slightly insulted that I would question him.

“This is going to be difficult,” I say, knowing this for a fact. A girl friend in high school was sexually assaulted. It took her years to get over. I still don’t think she is. She cut off communication to all her friends a long time ago and dropped off the radar.

“Ruby is strong,” Declan says. “With our help, she will recover from this.”

“I hope you’re right,” I say, my gaze taking in Ruby’s beautiful sleeping features. “He tried to slit her throat,” I blurt out.

“No, he knew exactly what he was doing. That was for pleasure, not purpose,” Declan replies, kneeling on the floor again next to her. He takes her hand gently and kisses it.

“I’m back, Princess, and I will move mountains to help you through this,” he whispers.

I sigh and rest my head again.

My eyes start to close, but I’m jarred awake when Michelle bustles back in and declares that I’ve given enough blood for now.

I grimace when she removes the tube and then rub my hand over my face. My injured hand is aching, and my ribs are sore.

“I’ve got another visit. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” she says.

I nod and watch her go. “Someone had better ring the club. None of us are going to be in later.”

“It’s fine,” David says. “I’ve closed it tonight. Rubes will just have to take the hit.”

“Thanks,” she mutters, surprising us.

“I knew you were faking,” I joke lightly.

“How else would I find out what you wanted to say about me behind my back?” she mumbles, her eyes still closed.

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