Chapter 37

Ruby

I sit on the couch for a long moment, a combination of alcohol and shock running through my veins.

Fentress was trying to hurt me. He might even have killed me had Wyatt not been there.

I can’t believe how badly I handled the situation, can’t believe I didn’t trust Wyatt enough to believe he was only trying to keep me safe.

Of course he was.

No matter what I thought before, no matter how much Wyatt has been through, he’s still the same person at heart.

The kind of man who would do anything to protect the people he loves. The kind who joined the service in order to do what he believed was right.

I feel guilt stricken for ever having doubted that.

How can he ever forgive me?

I stand suddenly, crossing the room in a flash.

I’m not sure if he can or will forgive me, but I have to try. I can’t just let him go on thinking that he wronged me. Not when the truth is quite the opposite.

I grab my cell phone from the counter where I left it, dialing without giving matters further thought.

I know that Wyatt probably doesn’t want to talk to me. He probably even thinks that he’s doing me a favor by keeping his distance.

I’m fairly certain that, at this point, he won’t even answer my calls.

So I do the next best thing.

The phone trills in my ear as I place the call, the line finally connecting with a soft beep.

“What’s up, Ruby?” Jake asks, sounding just as concerned since we left the lake house.

“I need a favor.”

He laughs. “Straight to the point, huh? What do you need?”

“I need you to get in touch with Wyatt for me.”

“Ruby...” he says, drawing my name out.

I know what’s to follow is likely a lecture. Sure enough...

“Do you really think that’s such a good idea? I mean—”

“Trust me, Jake, I need to talk to him.”

“Why? The last time you saw him, he scared the shit out of you, beat your boss into a bloody pulp. What exactly do you need to say?”

I groan, knowing he’ll never help without getting an explanation first.

“I need to apologize,” I say reluctantly.

There’s a beat of silence.

“No, Ruby, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

“Oh, Jake,” I say with a sigh. “You don’t know the half of it.”

“Okay, then explain it to me, Ruby, ‘cause you’re not making any sense.”

I growl slightly before launching into it, feeling embarrassed to have to recount my many mistakes.

“Fentress is a psycho,” I say simply. “After his arrest at the lake house, it came to light that he’s been attacking women for years.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“He was there to hurt me, Jake. Would have succeeded if it hadn’t been for Wyatt. I had no idea at the time, of course. But I’ve just read a very informative article all about it. The gist is, Fentress is a fucking lunatic and Wyatt likely saved my life.”

“Shit.”

“Tell me about it. So, I really need to talk to him, to apologize. I was so freaked out the other day, Jake. I didn’t handle things well at all. I can’t let Wyatt walk around thinking he’s a monster when the real villain here is Fentress.”

“Okay, Ruby. I can call him, but I don’t know if he’s gonna want to meet with you. I mean, you said it yourself, you didn’t handle things very well. You know, he thinks you’re terrified of him.”

“I know...and that’s where you come in.”

“What can I do?”

“Just—don’t tell him that it’s me who wants to meet. Tell him it’s you instead. I really need to talk to him. In person. And you’re right, there’s no way he’ll show if he knows it’s me.”

“So you want me to lie to him?”

“Yes, please.”

He laughs. “Fine. But you better have a really good apology planned if you’re gonna drag me into this. The last thing I want is for Wyatt to be pissed at me.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it under control.”

“Okay. I’ll call him and text you once I have a time and place.”

I nod before remembering that he can’t see it.

“Okay, perfect. Thank you, Jake. I really appreciate it.”

“Yeah, you better.”

There’s a soft click as the line disconnects. Never one for heart felt goodbyes, my brother.

I set my phone back down, feeling at least somewhat relieved now that I’ve got a plan in motion.

I have to apologize, to at least try to make this right.

I don’t know exactly how it’s gonna go over, whether Wyatt will ever want to see me again once I’m done, but I have to try.

Honestly, if he doesn’t, I could hardly blame him.

The image of his defeated expression still plays through my mind. The way he looked so hurt at my fear.

I can only hope at this point that he’ll forgive me. I can’t seem to let myself imagine beyond that.

As much as I’d like to think that I can just apologize and we can pick right up where we left off, I know it’s unlikely.

I didn’t trust him, didn’t defend him. Who would want to start a relationship with someone like that?

But maybe, if I play my cards right, I can at least get him to understand that he isn’t the one at fault here, that it’s Fentress—not him—who needs some serious help.

If I can manage that, then at least I won’t have to totally hate myself when this is all said and done.

And I guess that will just have to be enough.

I run my hands briskly through my hair, taking several deep breaths in an effort to calm my raging nerves.

Obviously, I’m still hoping for more; I can’t seem to help myself. The way I felt about Wyatt—the way I still feel—it’s powerful. Consuming.

Even when I thought he was unstable, I still felt that pull to him, that undeniable attraction.

Now that I know that truth though, it’s amplified.

My heart races just thinking about seeing him again.

I push the thoughts to the back of my mind, willing myself to focus on the most important thing here—telling him the truth.

I’ll start there and maybe, hopefully, there will still be something between us when I’m done.