Page 9 of Wild Card (Royal Bastards MC: Cody, Wyoming #1)

EIGHT

Ruby

“ T hanks for agreeing to see me.” Brett looks across at me as he drives out of town.

I have no idea where he’s taking me, but he promises that when we get there, we can talk, so I’m going with it.

What happened last night was a one-off and completely out of character for him.

He was hurt and angry, but I can’t believe that he meant to hurt me. My brain won’t let me.

“We have a lot to talk about,” I remind him, one-off or not, I don’t intend to let him get away with his behaviour.

I start to wonder where he’s heading when he pulls off the road at the old stable yard. It’s a real shame the owners had to sell up; I spent a few summers when I first came to town working there, and the Mullens were good people.

“We have,” Brett agrees, smiling at me as if he knows something I don’t. I hate that it makes me feel so on edge. I used to feel so comfortable around him; being with Brett always made me feel safe. Now I’m questioning everything.

“I have to get back before twelve-thirty to open up the bar,” I remind him. We’re at least a half hour from town now, and it’s already nearly eleven.

“I spoke to Earl before we left, and he’s got it covered,” he tells me, taking another left turn, this time down a dirt track that I’m pretty sure leads to the Donalson ranch.

“Brett, where are we going?” I suddenly wonder what the hell I’m doing here with him. What he did last night was unforgivable, and it doesn’t matter how many hours I’ve spent trying to convince myself. Things will never be the same between us again.

“I told you, sweetie, it’s a surprise.” He grins at me, and it makes me want to remind him of the last surprise he gave me. But I don’t have to, it's sticking on my face for everyone to see, and I’m kinda pissed that he hasn’t asked me how it is yet.

Last night, despite all his anger, Ash was surprisingly tentative in the way he cared for me. It’s insane to think that I was shown more kindness by a stranger than I was from my own boyfriend, the man who did this to me.

I think about the way Ash’s fingers touched my skin so delicately, and that kiss. The kiss I didn’t just allow to happen, but actually initiated. I haven’t stopped thinking about it. And every time I do, it causes a happy dance in my panties, which I really have to ignore right now.

“Here we are.” Brett stops the car outside a huge, wood-framed house. It must have only just been built because the plastic is still on the windows, and there's no sign of the Donalson ranch here anymore.

“What is this place?” I ask, looking up at it through the windshield.

“This… is our home, baby.” He leans across the console and kisses my cheek, as if what happened last night never happened. “Come and check it out.” He jumps out of the car before I can say anything, racing round the hood and opening my door so he can take my hand and drag me out.

“It still needs finishing on the inside. I told the interior designer that you’d want to pick out your own style of kitchen, but even with that still to do, she thinks we could be moved in by Christmas.

” He leads me to the door, as I try to take in everything he’s telling me.

“I spoke to Dad this morning, and we can have the wedding at the county club. It’s gonna take some hard work, but we could have the wedding right before we move in. ”

“Before Christmas?” I check I’m hearing him right.

“Sure, I figured we’d want to get started on making that family we’re gonna have, straight away. This place has four extra rooms.” He smiles as he continues heading for the door.

“A family…? Brett, you're going far too fast.” I slam the brakes on before he opens the huge, solid oak door into our family home.

I can feel the engagement ring he forced on my finger last night burning a hole in the back of my denim shorts, and the split on my lip suddenly seems to be throbbing more painfully.

“This is about last night, isn’t it?” He lowers his eyes to the ground and sighs deeply, showing how disappointed in himself he is.

“Brett, you struck me. Look at my face,” I remind him, my voice coming out all weak. How could he bring me here and act like everything's normal?

“Don’t you think I feel bad enough about that, Ruby?

I fucked up and I let you down, and I swear to you I will never let that happen again.

” He takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips so he can kiss it.

It doesn’t give me the reassurance I need; all it does is make me shudder.

“This here is our future. I built this house for you, and I want us to be happy here.” He keeps hold of my hand as he drags me through the door into the foyer.

“This is the entrance hall. Do you like the staircase?” He gestures to it proudly. It’s oak, like the front door and beams in the apex ceiling, and it splits two ways at the top onto an open landing.

“It’s beautiful,” I admit. “But I’m not ready for any of this. I’m not ready for marriage or kids. Maybe–”

“You think that because you're mad at me.” Brett steps up and takes my face in his hands, tipping it up so I’m looking at him. “Are you really gonna give up our entire future together and all I give you because of one silly mistake?” he asks me with a boyish grin on his face.

“It’s not just about what happened last night, Brett. You're asking too much of me right now.”

“Asking too much?” He releases me and backs away.

Laughing as if my words have wounded him.

“I built you the most beautiful home in Wyoming. I offer to give you the world, and you tell me that I’m asking too much of you.

” He massages his temples, and suddenly, I start to feel very unnerved.

Last night I awakened the monster inside him, and there's no telling if it might show itself again.

“Brett, I don’t want to fight.”

“Sounds like you don’t want to be my wife either.

” He laughs some more. “Jesus Christ, Ruby. Are you not seeing what's right in front of you? Do you not appreciate how patient I’ve been? How many guys do you think would stick around and be patient the way I have because of your mommy issues?” he swipes at me, and it hurts far worse than any mark he could ever put on me.

“You're upset, Brett. I get that, but there's no need to be cruel,” I remind him, doing my best to stay calm, and cursing myself for getting into this situation. Wasn’t what he did last night not enough for me to be wary of the man?

“I’m not being cruel. I’m being honest. I’ve been nothing but respectful to you. I’ve never pushed you.”

“So, for that I should move in here, marry you, and bear your children?” I question him.

“I’m sorry if sex is something I want to be special.

That I have enough self-worth not to give it up so freely.

You don’t get to throw that back at me when things don’t go your way.

” I feel the tears building in my eyes, and the stubbornness in me refuses to let them unleash.

Instead, I head for the door so I can get the hell out of here.

“Where are you going?” Brett charges after me, taking hold of my arm and dragging me back inside, and when I feel his fingers digging into my skin and bruising me again, I decide I’m not gonna take it.

I turn around and throw my fist, landing it on target and making him release me so he can hold his jaw.

“ What the fuck? ” He looks up at me in shock. “Are you crazy?” He stares at me furiously, and when I hear a low, heavy rumble coming from outside, I glance back out the door and see Ash pull his bike up beside Brett’s car.

“ Shit .” This is not what I need right now.

“Who the fuck is that?” Brett looks confused as Ash gets off his saddle and starts marching toward the door.

“Excuse me, this private pro—” Ash silences him by reaching around the back of his head, grabbing a tuft of his hair, then slamming him face-first into his fancy oak bannister.

I hear myself scream when blood explodes all over the crisp, white walls, and Brett’s body falls limp on the floor.

“Ash, stop!” I call out as he crouches down, drags him up a little by the front of his shirt, and lays a blow of his fist into his face. Brett barely looks conscious; his entire face is red with blood, and Ash is showing no signs of stopping.

“Ash, please .” I manage to grab hold of his arm when he pulls it back to land another, and he drops the front of Brett's shirt and quickly swivels around.

“Whatcha doin' here, Ruby?” he asks, looking hurt, and inappropriately hot with splatters of my boyfriend's blood decorating his right cheek.

“I came here to talk, to explain.” I shake my head, knowing how ridiculous that sounds now that I’m saying it out loud.

“You don’t have to explain yourself, he’s the one that fucked up.

Are you seriously gonna give this guy a chance to hurt you again?

” His thumb reaches up and strokes over my lip like he has to remind me of what Brett did.

Brett’s blood is on his hands, too, but I don’t care; it just feels good to have him touching me again.

“Come with me, let me take you home,” he whispers in a tone so soft it’s hard to believe what I just witnessed him do.

“I can’t.” I shake my head because Ash has no idea of the situation I’m in.

“Ruby, this is real fuckin’ simple. You leave this scumbag here, you get on the back of my bike, and we go back to Earl’s.”

“I wish it was that simple.” It becomes harder to hold onto those tears.

“Ya scared of me? Is that why? Ruby… I would never hurt you. Not ever. But I won’t let anyone else hurt you either, and if this is what it takes–”

“You don’t know me,” I remind him, staring up at him and wondering why this beautiful stranger is so invested in my well-being.