CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kingston
She’s broken.
She’s shattered, and it’s all my fault. Ruby’s still body barely wrinkles the sheet she’s lying on. When we didn’t hear from her after work, Fournette and I went to trace her steps. We didn’t have to go far. We found the wreckage just a half mile from the house. From the looks of it, the Thing hit the tree without even slowing down. No brake marks in the dirt. It’s almost like she was running from something, or someone.
The Laissards.
By the time I got her cut out of the seatbelt and noticed the dried blood crusting across her hairline, Ruby woke up long enough to tell us she wasn’t going to any damn hospital. When we tried to protest, the feisty, little thing said she was putting her foot down. Fournette asked her a couple of questions, like her name and what year it is, but that was all she had. The three of us decided to take her home and keep her under constant watch.
But now that she’s slept for seven straight hours, I’m starting to regret not taking her the ER. She hasn’t stirred, not once. I even poked her to see if she’d make a sound. When I did, she released a small whimper, so I allow her to sleep.
I need to count, but I only want to count her.
One perfectly curved neck. Two slender shoulders. Three… I want to kiss her soft lips. Four… I need to touch her creamy thighs.
“Hey, brother. Want me to take a shift so you can get some sleep?”
I find Wyatt’s large frame filling the doorway to my bedroom. I give my head a light shake, but I can’t speak. Ruby’s broken because of me. I break everything I touch. Just like the beast I am. I’m a wild animal. I’m marking her up, but only it’s on both the inside and the outside. If Ayden and Bryce have their way, there’ll be nothing left of her for me to protect. I hate the way my gut is screaming at me. I hate the relentless gnawing.
Set her free.
*
“Shit.”
My head tumbles forward and I realize I must have nodded off. The early morning sun bridges across the room. I rub my eyes with the balls of my palms and try to focus.
The bed is empty. The sheets and pillowcases have been stripped. I leap out of the chair and rush down the stairs. “Ruby? Hey, anyone seen Ruby? She’s not…”
“Morning, handsome.”
There she is, standing right in front of me. She’s right here breathing and talking. She’s dressed, and her hair is damp and tied up in one of those sexy, messy buns. She’s sporting a big ass grin and an armload of dirty clothes.
“What the hell are you doing outta bed?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Laundry. Want some coffee?”
“No, I don’t want any fucking coffee!” I stop and suck in air through my nose, taking my time releasing it through my mouth. “Sorry, I’m just worried about you. You shouldn’t be up. Here, I got this.” I reach for the wad of linens and try not to overreact when she pulls away.
“Slow it down there, big guy. I got this. I just needed some rest. I’m listening to my body. Right now, it’s telling me to take something for this killer headache and get these sweaty bed sheets in the washer.”
I don’t remember doing it, but my fingertips trace her cheekbone. “I was scared. I thought,” I pause to choke back the lump rising in my throat. “I thought I broke you.” I attempt to conceal my shock when my voice cracks.
Ruby empties her arms into a pile on the floor. “Hey,” she says as she takes my face between her hands. “I don’t know what’s got you so crazy or what’s been going through that gorgeous head of yours, but I’m fine. Baby, look at me.” She steps back and spreads her arms wide. “See? Just a little marked up, a few bumps and bruises. I’ll be good as new in a couple days. You, sir, are the best thing to happen to me. You’re kind and loyal. You’re strong and protective and you make me feel safe for the first time in my entire life. You make me happy, like I actually deserve good. I love you, you silly man.”
All the air expels from my tense, rigid body. My shoulders sag and I squeeze my eyes shut. “Oh, thank God.”
A sweet smile curls across her face. “Holy hell. This shit really messed with you, didn’t it?”
“Yes, you only got hurt because you’re here – with me. If you had moved on, the pack wouldn’t be after you. You’d be safe. Really safe. And you were just lying there, so still and lifeless. You looked so… broken. I thought it was because of me.”
“Well, as you can see, I’m in one piece. And anything that’s broken inside is well on its way to healing and that is because of you.”
I can’t help myself. I wrangle my arms around her and try to be gentle, but I pick her up off the ground and squeeze her as she hangs in the air like a ragdoll. “You two need to be alone?” Wyatt pops out from the kitchen. “Or would this be a cool time to discuss what happened last night?”
Fournette empties the refrigerator and pulls plates down from the cabinet. “Looks like it’s leftovers for lunch.”
Once Ruby finishes in the laundry room, she fills us in on the details from the wreck. “And I thought I could make it since I was so close, but I over shot the turn and never even saw it coming.”
“Did you see the car that was following you?”
Wyatt slaps a heaping spoonful of chicken salad onto his plate.
“I didn’t see much of anything after that. But, there is something else.” Ruby takes a healthy mouthful of cold mac-n-cheese. I love to watch her eat. After the shit she’s been through, I’m just thankful she has an appetite.
“Well woman, do tell.”
She cuts a playful glare at Fournette and continues. “Gus was attacked yesterday.”
“What the actual fuck?” The fried drumstick intended for my mouth drops to the table. “What happened? Is he ok? Why didn’t you say something? Think it was the pack?”
“First, wow. That’s a real mouthful. He’s ok. He refused to go to the doctor though.” She rolls her gorgeous eyes and holds her hands up in surrender. “Second, he was making a run to the dump and never made it outta the parking lot before he was beat up. Third, I didn’t say anything because, hello? I’ve been unconscious. And finally, of course it was them. It’s just too much of a coincidence after the fire, and now, last night.”
“I agree. What about you?” Wyatt directs his question at Fournette, who’s elbow deep in a ‘leftover taco’. That’s when you throw all the leftovers in a flour tortilla, cover it in salsa, and go to town.
While stuffing his mouth with the second half of his gourmet concoction, he manages to nod. Everyone looks to me and I know they’re right. I know it’s the Laissards, but I don’t want to rattle any cages. “Ok, so we’ll check on Gus and make sure he’s safe. Wyatt, you can double check security around the house and then both of ya need to pull out Ruby’s car. We head out this evening.”
“Head out? Where?” Ruby tilts her sweet head.
I notice the fire sparking in my brother’s eyes and just in case there’s any confusion, Fournette leaps up from his seat and releases a deep, snarling howl.
“We’re going huntin’.”
*
Fournette stalks the perimeter of the Mercier property, pacing and growling with every wind change. Wyatt is finishing up with the windows and doors. And I’m arguing with Ruby, who can’t seem to get it through her head that she is not going along for the ride.
“You don’t know. You might need me. I can drive. Hell, I’ll even stay in the truck. I promise.”
She thinks I don’t notice the way her eyelashes flutter and meet her brows. Or the way she twists her lips, tugging them to one side and popping them into a perfect heart. She’s taunting me and doesn’t even know it.
“The answer is no. I can’t do what I need to if I’m having to keep my eye on you. I just need to know you’re safe. Here. At this house. Please, just stay home and wait on me?”
She wraps her arms around her slim waist. “Why’d you have to go and put it like that?” She wrinkles her cute little nose. “Fine. I’ll stay under lock and key, but not because you ordered me to. I’m doing it to make things easier on you, on all y’all.”
My haggard breathing slows, but not by much. It’s been a long time since I led a hunt like this. I don’t know how it happens. How I seem to fall into the leader position. And fuck it all if I haven’t tried to abandon that role more than once.
But his one, this one is way overdue. It’s time to put these fuckers down like the monsters they are. We stand outside while we wait for the sun to go down. As soon as night falls, Wyatt will fire up the truck and we’ll pick Fournette up on the way out. Ruby hasn’t said a word. I see the fear creeping in her eyes.
“When we leave, you are to stay inside. Stay away from the windows and don’t unlock the door for anyone. Got me? Anyone. Not even us. We’ll get in when it’s time. I showed you the closet hidden under the stairs. Use it if you hear anything at all. Oh, and keep your phone charged. I pulled your car into the shed just in case someone’s looking for it.”
The screen door swings open and Wyatt leaps to the ground, jumping off the back porch from the top step. Both his boots land in front of the truck, stirring up dust. “Let’s end this shit.”
I hope Ruby doesn’t notice the smirk teasing at the corners of my little brother’ furry mouth. He has a real mean streak when he lets his bear out to play. I pull her in and tuck my arms around her trembling body. She rests her head in the center of my chest. Her safe place. I make a mental promise to always keep this spot just for her. No matter where she is, she can always call this spot home.
“You better come back because I fucking love you, Kingston Mercier.”
Cradling the small of her back with one hand and tipping her chin with the other, I stare right into her soul. “Not a thing this side of hell can keep me away, Ruby Bonet. I fucking love you right back.”
I peel myself away and wait to hear the locks click behind her as she vanishes out of my sight. Wyatt lays on the horn and brings my head out of the clouds. I hop in the passenger’s side with my beard flapping in the wind.
We slow down without coming to a complete stop and Fournette jumps into the back of the truck. The night air is thick and heavy. I latch onto the wolf scent and Wyatt seeks out a good place to park and hide the vehicle. I pull in a lungful of swamp air and I can feel it breaking and gnawing at my insides.
Change.