Page 55 of Reclaim (Deadly Hearts 3)

“Wait until you meet her.” I don’t take offense to Linda’s incredulity. My sister knows what I’m like. Cold, withdrawn, not quite living, only existing. Or at least I was. Ruby has given me something to get up in the morning for, as it were. I’ve fucked it up, but I will make it right if it kills me.

“That fucking CUNT!” Declan suddenly roars and I snap my gaze up instantly.

“Gotta go,” I murmur and hang up the phone, hoping Linda will go straight to my apartment as instructed.

“Scott,” I growl when I see him standing in the middle of the parking lot, with an entourage much bigger than our band of men, staring at Ruby and Cillian who appear to be fucking on the bonnet of a brand-new white Ferrari. “Jesus.” I rub my hand over my face and follow Declan out of the car. He is already pulling a handgun with a silencer out of the back of his pants and without a single thought to who might see or hear, he shoots a man in the head as he passes him, without even looking.

Two more go down and the other three bodyguards proceed with caution. Declan is on the warpath and there is no stopping him.

Not that I’m going to.

“Declan!” Ruby calls out, her voice cold, harsh and tinged with fear that only those who really know her would pick up on. I go to her, having the satisfaction of punching a guard in the head as he comes for me, dropping him like a rock off a bridge.

“Ruby,” I growl, my voice low and commanding. “Get inside.”

Her green eyes, slightly wild, pin my gaze and she swallows, gritting her teeth as she slides her arse off the low-slung Ferrari and pulls her dress down. Cillian quickly stashes his dick away and goes to his brother’s back, instantly in a kill-anything-that-moves mode. I take Ruby’s arm, my eyes conveying how sorry I am about Maribel, but also my urgency to get her to safety. I can’t help but notice the bite mark on her neck, it’s going to bruise, but Cillian has clearly claimed her in a primal way I know would’ve satisfied the wildcat that rules her soul. She softens slightly and with a huff that I know is because we are removing her from danger, she pulls free and stalks off towards the back door, David hot on her heels as I turn around and stride over to Scott, ignoring everyone else and whatever weapons they are brandishing.

“You’ve got some fucking nerve,” I snarl in his face, grabbing his shirt and smashing my forehead into his. He groans, his head lolling. He might be a head of a gang sector, but he is no Ruby. He is weak and a coward and doesn’t get his hands dirty.

“Layton,” Declan barks out. “This is my fight.”

“No,” I scoff. “You don’t get the monopoly on beating the crap out of this prick.”

I kick his feet out from under him and then drag him back up, so I can punch him in the face. My knuckles bruise as I break his nose, blood spraying out as he howls with pain.

“This wanker used me to get to Ruby, terrorized my sister, sent Boomer after me and her and set that fucking psycho on Ruby. Then he ran like the coward he is when Ruby survived. He doesn’t get to take another breath.”

“Wait,” Scott chokes out. “I need to talk to Ruby.”

“Not a fucking chance,” Declan says and aims the gun at Scott’s right knee. Pulling the trigger, he blows the kneecap to kingdom come, his face deadly, his eyes…dead.

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