Page 107 of Heathens

SOFIE

Nox Nightclub

It’sallbusinessonthe ride over. Dominic grips the steering wheel with one hand while the other drums out a nervous rhythm on his thigh. The silence between us makes my skin itch, and I lean forward, fiddling with the radio out of necessity. I know there’s nothing on it, but I try anyway, and we’re greeted with static.

“I think I have a Bauhaus tape in the glove box,” Dominic offers.

“Let me guess, it’s got Bela Lugosi’s dead on it?” I scoff.

He shrugs.

“I’m a simple man, my dear.”

I sigh and switch the radio off, leaning back in my seat. I can feel him watching me out of the corner of his eye.

“You’re agitated.”

I shake my head. I’m worried about how Ruby is going to react when we walk in there. No doubt I’m going to have to step in front of Dominic to keep her from killing him.

The rest of the drive is silent, and when he pulls up in front of Nox, I feel like my limbs are suddenly made of concrete. Dominic gets out first, his head on a swivel as he glances around. He opens my door.

“You ready?”

“Not really,” I confess.

He takes my hand as he helps me out of the car, and we head toward the club. Bobby has a particular look on his face, but he lets us in without argument, merely moving aside and pushing the door open.

The second we step inside, it feels like everything stops. Heads turn and humans and vampires alike stare at us. I forgot how strange we must look, Dominic’s wounds still knitting up, and my body covered in cuts and bruises. Fuck, half the clothes I’m wearing are completely wrecked. We should have picked a busier night.

“Sofie!” Kirby shouts from the bar. “Ruby, loo–”

“Duncan, youmotherfucker!“ Ruby roars as she leaps over the bar, rushing him with her gun already aimed at his head.

Dominic raises his hands, but it’s too late. She fires a bullet that whizzes past him, embedding itself into the far wall as patrons scatter.

“Jesus Christ, Ruby!” I yelp. “We’re–”

She’s already on him, pistol whipping him in the head. I can see his muscles twitching as he’s trying to keep his temper in check. The veins in his neck and forehead pulse as Ruby just keeps hitting him.

“You. Fucking. Promised!” She bellows.

I have to step in, grabbing her by the shoulders to pull her away.

“Ruby, stop!”

She turns to me abruptly, tears in her eyes.

“Where the fuck were you?! What happened? Why do you have bruises all over your face?”

She lurches back around to Dominic and raises her gun again, aiming it right at his forehead. Her face morphs into that‘I’m going to fucking destroy you’look at only Ruby can give.

“You hurt her, Duncan. You’re done.”

“Ruby, look I’m okay. It’s okay.” I put my hands over her gun, lowering it down as I attempt to calm her down. “I’ll explain everything, but we have to talk to you. In the office. I promise it’ll all make sense.”

Dominic’s eyes flick around the room, humiliation clouding his expression. Everyone is looking at us, and no matter how much he might want to, he can’t lash out. Ruby might as well be castrating him right now.

“We really need to talk to you.” I motion to the back office. “Please?”

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