Page 28 of Reclaim (Deadly Hearts 3)

ChapterThirteen

Cillian

Slamming on the brakes as soon as I see the most beautiful woman in the world, standing on the side of this lane we tracked David’s phone to, my heart hammers in my chest.

What is she doing here?

“Ruby?” Ramsey exclaims and leaps out of the car before I’ve turned the engine off.

I do the same, scrabbling to get out of the driver’s side and tripping up over the seatbelt.

Somehow, I reach her before Ramsey, who had to go all around the car, whereas I was right there in front of her. I gather her into my arms, one going inside her big fluffy coat to circle her waist, the other hand cupping the back of her head as I kiss her. She returns it fervently, her hands coming up to cup my face before she clutches at my shirt desperately.

“Hi,” I murmur against her lips. “You are a sight for sore eyes.”

“Same to you,” she replies and leans back to tilt her head up for Ramsey to drop a light kiss on her mouth.

“Jesus,” the fella standing with her mutters. “You weren’t joking, were you?”

“And you are?” I snap, letting her go to give him a death stare.

Only he gives me one back, so I know he’s in the life, somehow or other.

“Adam fucking Taylor,” he growls. “Rubes. Introductions, please. This is getting fucking irritating. All I have to go on is you two,” he points emphatically between Layton and Ramsey, “Are the two scarily huge guys. You,” he points to David, “can disable my entire operation with just your bloody iPad, and you…” He turns his steely glare onto me, “I’m guessing you’re Irish mob and not the other one who can shoot me from a thousand yards out and not miss. Names. I need names, or I’m gonna start giving you nicknames and let me tell you they won’t be cute and endearing.”

“Oh, I like him,” David pipes up in the startled silence that follows.

“Cillian,” I say, sticking my hand out. He grips it tightly with a brief nod. “Ramsey, Layton and David,” I add, pointing to each in turn. “Ruby? What the feck is going on here?”

“He wanted to get into my pants, not that I’m wearing any,” she says, which makes not only me groan with longing, but that Adam fecker as well. “So I told him all about you in order to put him off.”

My gaze flicks back to Adam’s. “You even breathe on her and I’ll skin you inch by inch,” I growl.

He holds his hands up, but Ruby interjects. “He’s not going to touch me. He knows the score. Besides, he fell for Scar like a chump, so, can we get back to…”

“Scar?” David asks. “You’ve seen her?”

“Briefly,” Ruby replies.

“Where is Declan?” I interrupt.

Ruby gives a huff as David says, “Long story.”

I don’t have the time or the patience for this, so I reach over and grab him by the lapel of his jacket. “Where is he?” I grit out.

Ruby places her hand on my arm, and I relax slightly, but not much. “Vinnie has him. We need to go get him back before he ends up on the block.”

“Auction block,” David emphasizes.

“Huh?” I mutter, but shake my head and look back at Ruby. “You’re okay?”

“Tired and pissed off, but fine,” she says.

Her eyes tell a different story. I think fine with her means the opposite, but I won’t call her on it now. She is in a temper, and I’d rather not have that fire aimed at me.

“So how do we get him back?” I ask.

She bites the inside of her lip. “I’m not sure. This didn’t factor into my plans for today. I just wanted to do this job and go home. But now I have to face Vinnie taking back his protection, going to jail, rescuing Declan and worrying about my sister. This day sucks.”

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