ChapterEleven

Ruby

“Erm, well,” David starts.

“Move it!”

I hear Layton in the background and frown.

David pants down the phone, “Seriously, Rubes, now isn’t the time. Any chance of a lift?”

“Yeah,” I mutter.

“Really? That was a joke. Are you actually coming home?” He sounds surprised, but relieved.

“I am. Listen, drop a pin to this phone with your whereabouts. We’ll come for you.”

“We?” he shouts into the phone. “We? Who is ‘we’? Ruby? Ru…”

I hang up, not interested in trying to explain this to them when they are clearly in a bit of a mess. The phone pings in my hand a few seconds later and I shove it under Adam’s face. “Take me here,” I bark out.

“Yes, Ma’am,” he drawls, but the fire in his eyes is unmistakable. Yeah, he will do anything I want if I keep shouting at him.

He peers at the phone and shakes his head. “Are you sure that’s right? It’s just a field off the M62.”

“What?” I mumble and turn the phone around to see that the pin David sent me is indeed in the middle of a field off the M62. “Uhm…”

Adam turns the engine on. “I’m guessing whatever they’re doing, they’re on foot heading away from the motorway, so find me a road next to that field.”

I frown. “How do you know that?”

“Wild guess.” He sets off in the general direction of the field.

“Here,” I say a moment later, having located a small lane, he can navigate to in order to meet up with my guys. I place his phone in the holder and the GPS informs him he has to turn right.

“I love a good adventure,” Adam says after a few minutes of silence, while he concentrates on getting us out of the busy city center.

“I used to think that, but now I just want things to settle down a bit. It’s been non-stop for days now. I’m exhausted.”

“Close your eyes for ten minutes,” he says. “Once we pick up your men, we are going into battle, Rubes. You need your head on straight.”

“Fucking Vinnie,” I snarl, but close my eyes anyway and rest my head against the seat. “Who told you you could call me Rubes?”

“It’s what Scarlet called you and I like it. Suits you.”

“Fuck off,” I mutter. “I meant what I said. I am a no-go zone for your dick.”

He snorts. “More’s the pity, but I heard you. Your sister, on the other hand, seemed more than interested in my zone.”

“I swear to God, if you go near her with your zone, I will gut you like a fish before I slap you on a barbecue and fry your ass.”

“Ouch,” he says sarcastically. “But isn’t that for your sister to decide?”

I purse my lips, but keep my eyes closed. “She is good and kind and sweet. I don’t want her associating with the likes of you.”

“I am no different to you.”

“Yeah, I know, that’s why I know you are no good for her.”