Page 54 of Reclaim (Deadly Hearts 3)

ChapterTwenty-Eight

Layton

“Arsehole,” Declan snipes at me, yet again.

“I know, okay, can we fucking get over it now and get to Ruby so I can at least try to make this right?”

He grunts a response, but refrains from calling me an arsehole again. Could be worse, he could’ve tried to kill me. He was livid when Maribel showed up, sneaking around Ruby’s house, trying to get in. Mind you, so was I. Dodging her phone calls is one thing, her showing up at the home that I’m trying to build with the woman I love is completely not acceptable. I only have myself to blame. I played with fire, I knew I was, and it burned me. I have never seen Ruby look at me with such anger, such hurt, in her eyes and she is right.

I am a fucking arsehole.

All I wanted was to see a flash of jealousy that I could quickly squash with reassuring words, but it went out of my control. I should have known. Maribel is…disturbed. I doubt very much we have seen the last of her, especially seeing as she now knows about Ruby. But the only thing that matters to me now, is getting to Ruby and making this right.

Somehow.

I have no clue how.

I will take my cues from her. That is the only way to deal with this situation.

Slumping back into my seat, I glower out of the window, preventing anyone else from speaking to me.

When my phone buzzes in my pocket, Declan hisses and the air goes frosty, but I pull it out and glance at the screen anyway.

“Linda,” I say, answering it immediately. “Is everything okay?”

“His sister,” Ramsey hisses to Declan from the passenger seat.

I roll my eyes and go back to glaring out of the window.

“Yes, fine,” Linda says. “I’m coming back home.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I venture carefully.

“I’ve come to a few decisions while I’ve been isolated, Layton. I don’t want to live like this anymore.” She tries to make her voice strong, but it waivers.

“Then what do you want to do?”

“I want to come home for a start and find a job and a place of my own again. I’m sick of being this victim and it’s time for me to come out of hiding.”

My brain races with all of this new information. I wasn’t prepared for any of it. It suddenly strikes me that Ruby could help my sister. Even if it’s just someone to talk to. “Where are you now?” I ask.

“About to get on the train,” she replies, catching me off-guard.

“Go to my apartment, you still have the key?”

“Yes.”

“Go there and I’ll meet you later. I know someone who might be able to help you get back on your feet.” And hopefully stop her from being mad at me for a while.

“I don’t want counseling…” Linda starts, irritated. “We’ve talked about this before.”

“It’s not counseling. Just someone who can relate to you.”

“Who?” The suspicion bounces over the phone line.

“The woman that I love, Ruby,” I say with a smile.

“Love?” Linda chokes out. “How is that even possible?”

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