Page 31 of Reclaim (Deadly Hearts 3)

ChapterFifteen

Ruby

Arriving back in Prestbury, I’m glad to see my home. It seems like too long ago, even though it was yesterday. I didn’t get to spend enough time here before we went off to deal with Connor.

I stop suddenly in the doorway, David crashing into the back of me. That reminds me. “Where’s The Banker?” I ask.

“I sent him home and shut the bar,” David says.

“Dammit, David!” I snap at him. “The place is hardly ever open anymore.”

“Look, I did what I had to,” he snaps back, fire in his hazel eyes. It’s very attractive and I want to jump him right there in the middle of the doorway. “We can recoup, just let’s get shit done first, and when you come back, you will reclaim the whole damned city and bring it to its knees.”

Appeased, I preen slightly at his words that sends a thrill the likes of which I’ve rarely known before down my spine. “Fine,” I mutter and carry on moving forward.

I cast my glance over to the mantlepiece. The ashes of Smith are still there where I left them.

“Not what I expected,” Adam comments, bringing up the rear and closing the front door.

“Oh?”

“Figured you live in a big ten-bedroom mansion, or something.”

“Nope, had that growing up. Quite like this place. It’s big enough.”

I hear Layton snort slightly and I realize my faux pas. “Well, was big enough,” I add, my cheeks heating up slightly. “Guess we will have to look for a bigger place now.”

“When you’re ready,” he says with a slow, lazy smile that works me up even more.

“Going to shower,” I murmur and beat a hasty retreat before I do something that will waste a whole bunch of time. I’m not overly worried about Declan. If anyone can look after himself, it’s him. It’s Vinnie that is concerning me more. However, that doesn’t mean I’m leaving my man to rescue himself and make his way back to me. It’s not the way my brain works, and even though my heart is hammering slightly at the thought of thrusting myself into a dangerous situation, it does little to deter my determination.

“Wait,” David says and pulls a new phone out of his jacket pocket. “It has a different number on such short notice, but all of your contacts have been notified. I told them you lost the other one. Your other phone has been remotely deleted.”

“Thanks,” I say with a smile. “You’re a star.”

His pleased smile is cute, so I rise up on my toes to kiss him on the mouth. He doesn’t deepen it, probably wary of Adam, but instead lets me go.

Ten minutes later, I step out of the shower and grab a towel to dry off. I dress quickly, deciding to go badass in tight black leather pants, a black strappy vest with a black leather blazer over it. Blades and bullets are always in the back of my mind. Pulling on a pair of knee-high black boots, I shove my knives into the tops. I sit back on the bed and gather my thoughts. Maxwell and Tristan are filling them, along with whether Scarlet is in trouble. I can’t focus until I know my sister is safe. I pick up the new phone David set up and search for Scar’s number. I press call and wait.

It rings a couple of times before she answers. “Rubes? Everything okay?”

I blink. “That’s my line.”

She snorts prettily. “I told you earlier, I’m great.”

“I don’t believe you,” I mutter. “These men you seem to have fallen in with are dangerous, Scar. You need to…”

“What you need to do is butt out,” she says, interrupting me. “I know you think I’m in danger, but I’m not. I’m really not. These men are…I know all about them, okay.”

“Do you, though?” I ask carefully. She is being quite forceful, which in itself is cause for alarm.

She sighs. “My eyes are wide open. They have all been quite honest with me.”

“All?” I ask, jumping on that word quickly.

She giggles. “Well, I’ve kind of followed in Mom’s footsteps. There are two other men as well. Equally as dangerous, but again, I know all about them as well. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Jesus, Scar!” I blurt out, horrified that my sister has gone down this path. She was always so adamant she was made for one man only. But then I snicker. “Have you told Mom yet?” I can picture her face and it makes me laugh harder.

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