Ruby
A few hours later, I listened as the emergency room doctor put a brace on Jett’s knee, trying to hear what the verdict would be on his injured leg. Unfortunately, the physician had pulled the curtain between our ER beds, so I couldn’t really see what was happening.
Thinking we were a couple when we’d come through the door, the nurse had put us into a room that had two beds. Jett had talked me through my x-rays and the extensive number of stitches I’d needed to repair the gash on my foot.
My wound would heal pretty quickly.
But I wasn’t sure about Jett’s knee.
I was riddled with guilt over the fact that he’d been injured, and I hadn’t even known there was anything wrong with Jett until the nurse had mentioned how badly his knee was swelling. I’d been mortified when I saw how the denim of his jeans was stretched because his knee was the size of a grapefruit. The nurse had insisted he get checked out, too, something I’d be eternally grateful for since I hadn’t seen the damage myself.
I’d been too busy worrying about my own injuries, and I hated hospitals, not because I’d spent much time in them, but due to the one horrifying experience I’d had with the institution.
I’d been so distracted with trying to keep myself calm that I’d failed to notice that Jett’s knee was injured.
He’d just gotten back from his MRI a few minutes ago, and he’d blown the whole thing off by saying he’d had much worse injuries in his life.
However, I hadn’t caused any of his other injuries, but I felt directly responsible for the sprint he’d had to do earlier to catch up to me. And I cringed every time I thought about him picking up my weight so effortlessly and carrying me to his car.
My ears perked up like an alert dog’s as the doctor started to speak.
“Rest, ice, the brace, and keep it elevated to get the swelling down,” the doctor said in a voice loud enough for me to hear. “Your meniscus is torn, but the tear is in an area that gets good blood flow, so if you do what you’re supposed to do, it should eventually heal. Physical therapy—”
Jett interrupted in a cranky tone, “I know the drill, Doc. No sense wasting your breath on my injury. I’ve had more PT than any person should ever have to have in their lifetime. I go through the routines myself at home now.”
“I can see that that you’ve had a long road with this leg,” the doctor said in a more sympathetic voice.
“My knee was already a mess anyway,” Jett said flatly. “Whatever I did to it tonight is no big deal.”
“It has taken a beating,” the doctor agreed. “But you didn’t have to add another injury. No more sprints for you in the near future. You’ll need to be re-checked, and your orthopedic doctor in Seattle wants to see you once you’re back home so he can see how you’re healing.”
“Got it,” Jett grumbled.
I had to hold back a squeak of surprise as the curtain was suddenly jerked open, and I could see Jett’s unhappy face staring at the doctor like he wanted to punch him.
“The nurse will bring all your discharge instructions shortly,” the doctor said right before he exited and pulled the door closed behind him.
The room was silent for a moment before I finally said, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s nothing, Ruby. Don’t worry about it. I’ve had far worse injuries than this one,” he answered in an annoyed tone.
Somehow, I knew he wasn’t irritated with me, but he should be.
“I didn’t cause your other injuries,” I replied, my voice heavy with regret. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have run away, and there’s no way you should have been carrying me.”
“Enough!” he said in a booming tone. “I might have scars, and my leg isn’t the greatest, but I’m not a fucking invalid. The last thing I need is to be treated like I need to hang it up just because I have a leg that doesn’t always cooperate.”
I was a little scared of the volume of his voice, but if I looked at things logically, I could see that he was more frustrated than angry.
He sat up with a blanket still covering his legs as he continued in a calmer tone, “You didn’t cause this, Ruby. In case you didn’t notice in the car, I had some pretty severe injuries from a helicopter crash a few years ago. I’ve been doing workouts every day to strengthen my quads so they supported my bad knee better, but it was always going to be weak and prone to injury. I’ll heal.”
“You shouldn’t have come after me,” I said in a tearful voice as I sat up and was finally able to look him directly in the eyes.
I won’t cry. I’m not going to cry.
We were both still in hospital gowns, and we were staring each other down. I might have seen the humor in having a hospital argument if I didn’t feel so crappy about what had happened.
“There was never any question about whether or not I was going to find you after you bolted,” he growled. “We were in a shitty area of Miami, and you were almost naked. I wasn’t going to leave you after I’d just gotten you out of harm’s way.”
My chest ached from his words. “Most people would have,” I said in a voice that was almost a whisper. “But I guess most people wouldn’t have tried to help me in the first place.”
I dropped my head and we lost eye contact. Jett was intense, and I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with a guy like him. What kind of person tears after somebody who’s in trouble with no consideration about injuring themselves? Not anybody I’d ever known.
I was intimidated by guys who were bigger and louder than I was, but I’d also learned that actions meant more than words. And Jett had been there when nobody else could or would have been.
Problem was, I just didn’t understand him at all.
Who, in their right mind, goes off and rescues a woman he doesn’t even know? I couldn’t even call his sister a real friend since we’d just met a few months ago. But these people, this family, had made it their business to help me out.
“How do I ever repay you and Dani for what you did for me?” I asked as I looked down at the tile floor. “How can I ever make up for getting you injured?”
I wasn’t used to anybody helping me, so I was at a loss on how to deal with all of this.
My question had pretty much been senseless because I could never pay him back anytime soon for the funds he’d shoveled out, or for the injury he’d taken on because of me.
“You can give the police your statement and then testify to put down the organization that profits off human trafficking,” he answered. “The people who kidnapped you were minions, part of a far more powerful group that operates all over the world. You can help put them out of business for good.”
I shook my head, still unable to meet his gaze as I said, “Who is going to believe me? I’m a homeless woman with no real family. I’m a nobody. I always have been. And I’m sure the top guy is probably rich.”
“He is. He’s well regarded in this city because he has money and donates to charity to keep his cover,” Jett said irritably.
“Then they’ll never believe me,” I said in a shaky voice.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jett moving, but I was still startled as he put his fingers on my chin and forced it upward until our gazes locked.
His green eyes grew stormy as he looked at me. “I know it won’t be easy,” he said in a kinder tone. “But I’ll be there to give my statement about what happened, too, and I’ll testify. The money I paid can easily be tracked. These people need to go to jail, Ruby. The couple who kidnapped you should be behind bars where they can’t hurt any more women ever again.”
“I’ll try,” I agreed.
I wanted everybody involved in the human trafficking ring to be unable to hurt anybody else. I didn’t want to see any woman to go through what I had.
But I was afraid because my word held no weight. I’d experienced the sense of being invisible to most people the whole time I’d been homeless. “I’m just not sure they’ll believe me.”
“You’re brave, Ruby. You can do it,” Jett encouraged in a persuasive baritone that left little room for argument.
“Necessity makes even the timid brave,” I mumbled.
“Isn’t that Sallust?” Jett questioned. “You’re into Roman history?”
I sighed. “I spend a lot of time in the library. I read a lot of things that come back to me at the weirdest of times.”
I didn’t tell him that I really used those little bits of knowledge to stay connected to the real world. If I was still learning, then I still existed.
His eyes bored into mine as he replied, “I don’t think you’re timid. I think you’re just afraid. And since life has basically shit on you, I can’t say I blame you.”
I stared back at him and replied, “You’d be surprised.” I’d learned to be submissive because being any other way was more painful.
He took my hand in his, and I didn’t balk because it felt so good to be connected to someone. I wanted to pull away instinctively, but I liked the false sense of security too much.
“Could you live with yourself if you don’t try?” he asked.
“It isn’t that I don’t want to,” I explained in a rush. “I do. But because I’m some homeless nobody, they aren’t likely to believe me. They’ll think I’m delusional.”
Because many of the people who had no place to go were mentally ill, it was the common assumption. But in reality, people were on the streets for various reasons. We all had a story, and most of them had very bad endings.
I was merely nonexistent to most people, an unfortunate woman who people assumed was a drug addict, an alcoholic, or mentally ill when I was seen sleeping in a public place. The world seemed like it evolved around me while I was always in the same place.
“I have a solution,” Jett said in a guttural voice.
I was falling into his beautiful green eyes, temporarily mesmerized by the determination I could see in the depths of his stare. “What?” I murmured.
“Do you really want to pay me back?” he asked.
“Yes!” I said immediately.
Just ask me. I’ll do whatever you want.
Having sex with him wasn’t altogether unappealing, even though I had my doubts whether he’d really want a skinny homeless woman who hadn’t been able to do anything about her straggly hair, torn up nails, bad skin, or anything else that resembled self-care for years.
“Marry me,” he said in a husky tone that was a demand and not a question.
“What?” I was certain I’d misheard him during my temporary stupor.
“Marry. Me.”
My eyes widened as I realized I’d heard him correctly. “What?”
“Think about it, Ruby. I’m a well-known technical guy in my field. I have my own company and I’m a businessman. Nobody would ever know how we met, or why we’d married once it comes time to testify. You’d be my wife, and unless you have a criminal history, your background wouldn’t even be in question. I’d find a way to make sure it never even comes up.”
“I-I’ve never been in trouble,” I stammered. “To most people, I just don’t exist.”
“You’d have a home address, and a life nobody would bother to investigate since you’re just a witness.”
“I don’t really know what it’s like to have a real home,” I blurted out, my tone wistful.
“You’ll have one if you marry me,” he vowed. “You’ll never see another day on the streets again. I promise.”
My heart skittered as I looked at his sincere expression.
I was a realist, but the deeply buried hope inside me desperately wanted to say yes to Jett’s insane proposal.
I had very little to lose.
“I’d get so much, and you’d get so little,” I said breathlessly. “You’d be saddled with a woman who had been homeless her entire adult life.”
“I’d get a lot. I’d get you,” he answered simply. “And if you’re unhappy with the arrangement after your testimony, we’ll get the marriage annulled.”
So he’s not expecting to have sex if he’s talking about getting the marriage annulled. What is his motive then?
As crazy as it was, I actually was tempted. Would life be any worse as somebody’s wife than it was on the streets?
I’d be warm at night.
I’d have a roof over my head.
And if I was lucky, I’d have food to eat every day.
The only thing that stopped me from saying yes was the fact that Jett was getting far less from the deal than I would.
“I want you to say yes, Ruby,” Jett prompted as he cupped my face with his hands.
I nearly melted at the sensation of his touch. For a big guy with a cranky attitude, he was surprisingly gentle.
There was only silence as I debated what to say to him.
Honestly, I felt like I was in the middle of a dream, and nobody had kicked the park bench yet.
I didn’t understand his motivation, but I still desperately wanted to take a chance.
Was the proposal fair to Jett?
But then, he was the one who had brought up the idea, so he had to have his reasons for wanting the arrangement, right?
Could I really marry a guy I didn’t even know?
Confused, jumbled thoughts continued to run through my brain until I finally made my decision.
I broke eye contact with him as I muttered my answer in a barely audible voice, certain that it was the only answer I could give him.
But for some reason, that single word that had come out of my mouth had somehow felt so very wrong that I didn’t look at Jett again as the nurse entered the room with our discharge instructions and we were ready to leave the hospital.