Page 83 of Reclaim (Deadly Hearts 3)

ChapterForty

Ruby

Rolling up outside Layton’s apartment building in the city center with Tiff and Beth in the back seat, seemingly fine with this little girl’s night, I look around for somewhere to park. I spot a space close by, but I will have to move the car by 8AM tomorrow. Once I’ve maneuvered the car into the spot, I climb out and let the two women out of the back of the two-door car.

“You okay?” I ask. It’s really small back there.

“Yep,” Beth says, taking Tiff by the arm and leading her onto the sidewalk. She is carrying both of their bags, so I hoist my own onto my shoulder along with my handbag and also pick up the small box from the trunk and slam it closed.

“Let’s go,” I mutter, and we head inside and up to Layton’s floor.

Placing the box at my feet, I straighten up and knock on the door that I know is his apartment, purely out of a bit of stalking. I have never been here.

“It’s Ruby,” I call out. “Layton said you were expecting me.” I take a stab in the dark with that one.

I hear muffled noises on the other side and assume she’s peering out of the peephole.

“Who are the other two?” she asks.

“Beth and Tiff.”

“Layton sent you?”

“He did.”

“Hang on.”

Silence.

I figure she’s calling him to find out. I would too under the circumstances.

Tiff is glancing around nervously, so I move her in front of me and Beth. At the same moment, Layton’s sister opens the door, making Tiff jump.

“Come in,” she says, eyeing me up in the way a lover’s sister would.

I consider how to ask her name, when Beth takes care of it for me.

“Hey, I’m Beth,” she says with a little wave.

“Linda,” Layton’s sister replies.

Beth gives me a ‘you’re welcome’ look and saunters into the very sparse, yet expensively furnished, manly, open plan apartment.

“This is Tiff,” I indicate to the nervous blonde woman.

“Hey,” she croaks out, folding her arms over her chest.

“Hi,” Linda says, her eyes roving over Tiff’s bruised face and neck. “Drink?”

Tiff looks at me for advice.

I smile and nod. “What’s Layton got in?” I ask, wrinkling my nose up.

Linda snorts with amusement. I can see the shadow that looms over her, but she appears in good spirits. It seems she is trying to rebuild her life from whatever trauma was thrust upon her.

“Not a lot,” she says, taking the box from me and placing it on a table. “Did you bring anything?”

I shake my head. “This was an unexpected visit. We’ll order in? It’s okay, I know a place, it’s in my turf…” I bite the inside of my lip. How much has Layton told her about me?

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