Everything was screaming at me that this was where we needed to look. I started barking orders to the guys, who took my demanding tone in stride and busted their asses to get any information on this man who I believed had my girl.
When we had an address, some of the guys stayed back with our families, and the rest of us rolled out to check out the home of one Mr. Patrick Branson. I called my friends on the force who were working the case and let them know where to go, but we were not waiting for another second to check it out. I jumped in the car with Braxton, Gyth, and Kace.
Hang on baby, I’m on my way.
* * *
It seemedto take forever to get to the house.
Once we did, we decided we’d be straightforward and just walk to the door and pay the man a visit. We’d ask questions just as we’d done with everyone else and see how it played out. We could try sneaking around the property but there was no doubt a man like Mr. Branson with as much money as he had, would have a security system.
As the guys and I were approaching the front door, the security system I’d known he would have, rang out into the dark night just as the front door burst open. My body tensed, going on alert as a figure crossed the threshold with speed, running for the cement steps.
And then the silvery glow from the moon cast its light on the person coming straight at me.
I sucked in a breath.
“Ruby!”
I barely had time to brace myself before she launched herself off of the steps and landed in my arms.
“You came,” she said, a broken sob slipping from her lips.
I held her to me, letting her racing heartbeat wash through me. To feel it, to know she was alive was everything. I’d tried so hard not to doubt that I would find her but I was scared shitless.
“You held on for me,” I whispered in her ear.
It was hard to pay attention to anything but the woman in my arms, but we didn’t know what anyone inside would do. I picked Ruby up in my arms and moved to the side of the house out of sight as my friends watched the house waiting for the police to arrive. I knew they would handle everything.
My job was to take care of my girl even if it looked like she had done a damn good job of taking care of herself. I was so fucking proud of her and I would tell her that later.
“I got you, baby.”
ChapterThirty-Four
RUBY
I refusedto go to the hospital.
All I wanted was to be in Lyric’s arms and to see my family, and friends. I wasn’t physically injured, emotionally I wasn’t sure, but being with the people I loved would be the best medicine.
It seemed to take forever to even get to leave. TheNo Surrenderguys had watched the doors until the police arrived and Patrick Branson along with anyone else in the home was taken into custody.
With the money and arrogance of the man, I’m sure he felt he could hire lawyers to get him out of everything. But I knew from the murderous look on Lyric’s face he would fight that tooth and nail so the man received the max amount of sentencing.
I gave a brief statement at the scene which had been rough. Rehashing all that went down brought another wave of tears but there was one part that I struggled with over everything else. The kiss. When I told the officer about how he forced that on me, Lyric exploded and the guys had to hold on to him before he stormed the car pulling out with Patrick in it.
The kiss had felt so wrong and it was unwanted, but I worried that Lyric would feel differently knowing another man's mouth had been on mine. My anxiety spiked and my body started to tremble.
“We are done. She can come into the station in the next day or two,” Lyric informed the officers.
Lyric led me to Gyth’s truck and helped me in. With the other guys in Braxton’s vehicle, it was just the three of us. I spent the drive to Braxton’s home cradled in Lyric’s arms. He ran his hand softly through my hair as he whispered that he loved me over and over. It was soothing but not enough that troublesome worries of the kiss left my mind.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
“Sweetheart, what would you have to be sorry for?” His concerned tone made me feel worse.
Maybe I should have been more alert so it didn't happen at all or so I could have stopped it. I closed my eyes and then let them flutter open. I looked up and stared into Lyric’s gaze. It wasn’t easy to see in the dark vehicle but I could make out his beautiful, teal-colored eyes. I breathed his scent in and touched his face, running his facial hair through my fingers to ground me.
