Rising (Blue Phoenix, #4)(46)

By the time I calmed myself enough to help Ruby away, Dan groaned and shifted but didn’t sit and for a split second I thought: I’ll try harder next time.

Next time.

No way.

This shit stops now.

Ruby sits at the table in my dining room staring at the bowl of water and facecloth I put in front of her. Medical supplies aren’t a staple in my house - I don’t even have any Band-Aids. Uselessly, I hover, head aching from the range of emotions dragged through my system in the past twenty-four hours.

Ruby doesn’t speak. Hasn’t spoken since she yelled at me for threatening to take her to hospital.

“I’m going to call a doctor,” I tell her.

She turns her battered face to me and I can’t tell if her eyes are red because she’s been crying or from the mess the f*cker made of them.

“Call Jax.”

“You want Jax?”

Ruby puts her head in her hands then drops them, gingerly touching her face. Her loose red hair hangs forward, disguising her expression. “Yes.”

Something strange clutches my chest, an old emotion joining the others. Rejection. But I helped her?

“What do you want me to say to him?” I cross my arms.

“He can come pick me up. You don’t have to be involved.”

“I am involved. I just beat the crap out of a guy for you.”

“For me?” She laughs softly.

“Why’s that funny?”

“Nothing. We’re a bit f*cked now, with this lip I doubt my singing will be up to par.”

Her words echo mine from yesterday. “This isn’t the right time to talk about the band. Probably not the right time for you to talk about anything.”

“Yeah.”

She’s pale and the amount Dan beat her around the head worries me. “But I think you need to see a doctor.”

“No!”

Or the police, but I’ll save that suggestion until she’s calmer. “What if you’re concussed? Aren’t you supposed to stay awake or something? Are you sleepy?”

Ruby drags her hair from her eyes. “Your concern is touching. I’m fine, I’m not concussed.”

“How do you know that?”

Staring straight at me, Ruby says, “He gave me concussion before. I know the difference.”

Rejection. Frustration. Heart-rending pain for this girl. I can’t respond and return to the kitchen where I can hide how I feel. My knuckles are swollen and I grab ice from the fridge. I should get Ruby ice too. Should I? I throw the door shut and grip my hair. I don’t know what the f-uck to do. Liv’s pain and abuse was before I knew her; Ruby’s is current and in my face, her blood smeared on my blue shirt.

“Did you call Jax yet?”

Lost in the memories of Liv, I’m unaware of Ruby joining me in the kitchen. The bright halogen light illuminates the darkening and torn skin across her forehead and the caking blood on her cheek.

“No.” I touch her face, a small space my fingers can fit without brushing her injury. “I’m not going to.”

She takes my hand and moves it from her face. Ruby’s fingers are ice cold despite the warmth of the evening and I curl mine around them, refusing to let her go.

“Why?” she asks.

“Stay here. You’re safe here.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?” She doesn’t answer but I know why: because of last night. Because I f*cked this up. “Besides, Jax is probably drunk somewhere, or in bed with whatever her name was.”

Ruby huffs. “Yeah.”

But she wants Jax, not me.

“Stay here. Tomorrow we talk about what we need to, Ruby.” I rub my fingertip across her cheek and she closes her eyes.

“I doubt I’ll be doing much else.”

Oh, yes you will. You’ll be going to the police and sorting this. Then I can step back.





Chapter Twenty-One



Ruby



I wake the next morning confused where I am, but my mind catches up as soon as the pain hits. My head aches, face sore, and when I sit up, I notice the blood staining the sleeves of my white work shirt. Memories of last night surge, and my stomach heaves. I put my shaking hands over my ears and close my eyes, trying to blank my mind of the looping images of Dan’s face and fists invading. Focusing on controlling my breathing, I stand but the room lurches and I sit back down. There’s painkillers in my bag, but will they work against the headache I have? I touch my forehead, and wince at the lump.

I survived.

Another thought intrudes: what would’ve happened if Jem hadn’t arrived? I thrust it away; I can’t go down that route. I’m here and my injuries aren’t as bad as they could’ve been. In a screwed up way, I’m lucky.

Jem’s right. This time I go to the police, take seriously the danger I’m in. I can never damage Dan the way he’s pulled me apart, but I can get him arrested and make his life hell. Who knows what will happen, or if any justice will be done, but I’m going to try.

Then I’m going to gather up the remaining pieces of Ruby and put them together.

If I could, I’d run from all of this, go somewhere nobody knows who I am. Not to hide, but to live in freedom for a while. Half an hour in the room and my mind continues its attempt to drag up the horror of last night, and I don’t want to visit that place. I head out into the quiet house and call Jax.