Page 142 of Lovely Venom

“Ray,” she greets me weakly, keeping her distance.

I don’t know why I expected her to throw herself into my arms like last time. The trauma she’s been through has taken hold. And I left her when she needed me the most.

God, I feel awful.

But a tornado of a problem found me. I had no choice.

“Ruby, Connor is with me.” I look over my shoulder as he steps in quietly behind me.

She gives him a wary smile. “Nice to see you again.”

“Same here,” Connor says in a sweet voice. “How has Nero been treating you?”

“All right.” She shrugs. “I’ve never had a guard before, so I wouldn’t know.”

“You’d know,” Connor counters warmly, getting her to trust him.

I’m about to ask where her father is when a blast of visual shock hits me. “Where the hell are my books?”

I stagger to my empty bookshelves. All of Mom’s romance novels, her signed copies, and her special edition hardcovers are fucking gone. Even mydamn fairy lights are missing.

“A man came by and said he bought them,” Ruby says, sounding anxious. “Nero checked him out. Said he was legit. The guy said he paid you.”

My mind is so clouded that I don’t remember accepting the offer. And was it a man? I vaguely remember the profile sounding like a woman. We even chatted about the new fantasy series everyone is losing their minds over.

I check my phone. Sure enough, my listing is gone, and there’sfivetimes the amount I was asking sitting in my account waiting for me to transfer it to my bank.

I scoff to myself. The silent treatment is a good negotiating tool. But how did the sale go through? Did I approve it when I was upset and forgot? Still, seeing all these shelves so bare is jarring.

“Ruby, I’m sorry I didn’t leave you anything to read.”

She shrugs. “It’s okay, it’s hard to concentrate. I listen to music and do yoga.”

After a stretch of silence, I say, “We need to talk to you, Ruby. It’s about that night.”

Her eyes flutter closed, and she knows from my law enforcement background that I’m not here for useless details that will trigger her.

I feel the brush of Connor’s hand on the small of my back, and it calms my nerves.

“I’ll make you ladies some tea,” he says, giving us space.

I sit down next to Ruby on the sofa, watching Connor stride into my kitchen. Moments later, the gas stove clicks to life, and the kettle begins to warm up on top of the blue flame. I smile because I usually just nuke a tea bag in water for two minutes. Waiting for the water to boil, he watches Ruby and me with quiet concern.

“Ru, I need to ask you something very personal aboutthat night,” I say softly, hating myself for it. “More personal than what you already told me.”

Ruby shudders and nods, eyes bloodshot. “Much of that night comes and goes in flashes. I can hear their voices, but it always drowns out to me sayingno no no.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper and hold her hand.

“It’s not your fault.”

God, I can’t help but think that it is!

“I have something to tell you about the man you were with, the client,” I begin with a tight throat. “He was a very powerful man who worked for Connor. That’s how he knew him.”

She visibly shudders. “What?Is that why I got attacked?”

“Not directly. Not intentionally.” Sobs build in the back of my throat. “But he was specifically targeted because of both Connor and me. So yeah, Ruby, it’s my fault. I’m so sorry.”