“Will do.”
“We still have the concert next week.”
“I know.”
“And you’ll still be running point on that. Bull can’t handle it on his own. You know that.”
Frustration took over. “Yes, Prez, I fucking know!” I snapped.
His eyes went wide.
“Sorry, Prez, didn’t mean to bite your head off. I just want to make sure she’s okay, that’s all.”
He crossed his arms.
“I said I was sorry.”
He pointed a finger at me. “I already gave my fucking orders, Cap. See that you fucking abide by them. I don’t want this little side project of yours bringing the club any more drama than it already has.”
“Noted.”
He left the room without another word, looking pissed off and ready to snap someone’s neck.
“I’m so sorry,” Ruby whispered.
“For what?”
“Getting you in trouble. Your life has been an absolute mess since you met me.”
“Nawh, baby girl, you just make it interesting. Now, are you gonna tell me what happened?”
She shook her head.
“Come on, Ruby. I need you to open up to me.”
She sighed, bringing the blanket up to her chin. “This place is nothing like the Hell’s Artillery, but being in here, it triggered me. I—I was brought back to that night when—”
“When you were sexually assaulted?”
Nodding her head, a single tear dripped down her cheek. “I’m sorry. I know you’re only trying to help, but I’m so damaged that everything is triggering me right now.”
I looked at my watch. It was almost midnight. Not exactly the best idea to take her home when the Artillery is watching us. Best to do it in the morning.
“Do you think you can sleep here tonight? I know it’s triggering for you, but with the stuff going on in the club, I don’t want to risk something happening to you because we leave in the dead of night. Someone could follow us, or worse, nab us and hurt us. That wouldn’t be good for your recovery.”
“No, it wouldn’t.” She briefly looked up at me and gave me a broken smile. “I can stay one night. As long as we head back tomorrow.”
“We will.”
She looked around the room. “Cap, do you think you can hold me until I fall asleep?”
“Umm, I’m not sure that’s such a great idea.”
“Please. It will help me not have nightmares.”
Reluctantly, I fully climbed into the bed next to her, allowing her to rest her head on my heart, so she could go back to sleep.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice tapering off as her quiet snores fell into rhythm with my racing heart. This woman affected me in ways she shouldn’t. And it was getting harder and harder to stay professional with her.
