“I’m here,” I say.
Her breath breaks. “Are they gone?”
“Yes,” I tell her. “You’re safe.”
She crawls out slowly, shaking hard enough that her teeth click.
I don’t think.
I pull her into my arms.
She clings to me like she’s falling.
Her face presses to my chest. Her breath is too fast. Her hands twist into my shirt.
I hold her, tight but careful, like if I squeeze too hard I’ll break her.
“It’s okay,” I murmur into her hair. “It’s done.”
She shakes her head against me. “He found me.”
“He found the cabin,” I correct. “Not you.”
Her voice comes out muffled. “I heard guns.”
“My brothers,” I say. “They were outside. They were ready before he touched the door.”
Ruby’s shoulders shudder. “They knew.”
Not a question.
A realization.
I go still.
Havoc appears in the doorway of my bedroom, taking in the scene in one glance. He doesn’t step closer. He doesn’t crowd her.
He stays where he is, hands visible, voice low.
“We knew they’d come,” he says. “So we made sure they came to an ambush.”
Ruby’s gaze flicks to him, wary but listening.
Havoc doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t soften into something fake. He stays exactly what he is.
Solid.
“I’m Havoc,” he says. “President of the Damned Saints.”
Ruby swallows. “I’m glad you caught them,” she says quietly. “Thank you.”
Havoc inclines his head once.
“You are under our protection,” he says. “That means something. You don’t get sold. You don’t get traded. You don’t get touched.”
Ruby’s breath catches.
There’s no suspicion in her face now.
