Leaving Ruby was one of the hardest things I’d ever done in my life.

I could do it because I knew that we’d be together again soon and that she was safest staying behind. I got onto the highway, checking my mirror to look back at Beauville with Arrowhead Mountain looming behind the town.

I saw, to my horror, that there was something wrong. Instead of the tranquil rural town that I’d expected to see, there was a plume of dark smoke coming right from the center of Beauville.

There was a fire!

What were the chances that the fire was totally unrelated to Luka’s men?

I slammed on the brakes, my bike skidding as I turned sharply.

Within seconds, I was headed straight back into town, praying that Ruby wasn’t in that fire.

I raced back, following the smoke to the Corral bar. This was where Ruby worked! My horror doubled. I thought that she’d be safe here!

A small crowd had gathered in front of the bar. Although I couldn’t see any actual flames, black smoke was billowing out of the shattered windows.

This was my fault. Why had I left her behind? Why had I assumed that she would be safe? I would never forgive myself if anything had happened to her. Maybe all this was just a coincidence. Maybe Ruby was still on the sidewalk where I left her.

I heard, in the distance, the sirens of the fire engine.

An older man was doubled over, wheezing loudly and most of the crowd had gathered around him. Suddenly he stood upright, pushing back the young man that was trying to tell him to take it easy and started to yell.

“Ruby! Ruby is still in there!” the older man screamed, stepping forward as if he were about to go back into the bar. A few of the crowd grabbed hold of him, keeping him back. “No! I’ve got to help Ruby!!”

I didn’t need to hear anymore! I knew what I had to do!

I started for the bar, pushing through the crowd.

When they realized what I was about to do, a few men tried to hold me back, grabbing at my arms to try and keep me out of danger.

I shook them off easily.

The inside of the burning bar was dark with smoke. I had to cover my mouth with my hand just to be able to breath. I could see some flames, but the air itself was searing hot, making my skin burn just standing there.

There was a loud BANG and I ducked instinctively. Glass and flames spewed forth from behind the bar. The liquor bottles were exploding. I turned my face away, shielding myself from any more exploding glass.

There! There was Ruby, lying on the ground near the back of the bar. I hurried over to her, through the smoke and the heat. There was no time to check to see what was wrong with her. All I could do was pick her up and carry her out of that hellish nightmare.

I carried her, bridal style, as the flames spread out around us.

I was never going to leave her behind again. The only place she was safe was with me.

Stumbling, my legs seemed to give way under me. I pushed forward. I had to get her out of here. That was all that mattered to me now. I stumbled again, lifting one foot and then the other, trudging forward blindly. The only thing keeping me going was my determination and my refusal to give up.

The air suddenly cooled and the world brightened. I was out of the bar. Ruby was safe!

But, I realized with horror, she was a dead weight in my arms. She wasn’t moving at all!

I slowly collapsed onto the ground, my knees buckling as the crowd swarmed around me. I held up Ruby’s body as I fell, making sure she wouldn’t be hurt. She groaned. She was alive! She was going to be ok! I knew it.

Her head was in my lap, her eyes shut and her body sprawled along the road.

There was a fireman trying to put an oxygen mask on my face. I pushed him away. It was Ruby that needed help. The fireman saw the determined look in my eye and knew to leave me alone.

The older man who had tried to go back for Ruby sat down on the road next to me. I glared at him, as the firemen finally started helping Ruby.

“I don’t understand why any of this happened,” the man muttered. What had Ruby said her boss was called? Oh, yes, Buddy. “These, these men came into the bar, foreigners. They kept on asking Ruby all these questions that didn’t make any sense. They were pressing her to tell them about where some Prince was. They were...they were just crazy!”

I nodded distractedly, I did want to know every detail of what had happened - but my attention was on Ruby. On the soft noises she was making, on the way her eyelids were fluttering.

“I left to call the police. I barely even let them out of my sight..I turned round and saw them leaving. They, jeez, they started the fire as they left. Man, that one guy, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way he was just so calm as he set fire to my bar.”

I nodded numbly. That sounded like Luka’s men.

Ruby opened her eyes, blinking slowly and then, when she saw me, waking up and trying to sit up. One of the fireman covered her mouth with a clear plastic oxygen mask as I helped her sit upright. She felt so good, moving and conscious.

I had almost lost her.

I pulled her back to me, pressing her to my side, feeling nothing but overwhelming relief. I had been stupid to leave her behind in Beauville. I was never going to be parted from my Queen, my precious Ruby, ever again.

She pulled her oxygen mask off, looking up at me with raw love. There was a smudge of soot on her cheek, and I put my hand to her face to wipe it off.

“Gabriel,” she said, her voice hoarse from the smoke, “You came back for me!”

“Always, sweetheart.”

I held her face in my hand. I’d never spoken truer words.

She needed another lesson in what it meant to be mine. I smiled, just imagining it. I was going to get us out of Beauville, and then I was going to book us into the nicest hotel I could find and I was going to claim her again and again.

I was going to claim her every day for the rest of our lives until she realized that she really was mine.