The Way You Are (17 page)

Chapter 38

Garrett woke to darkness, and for a moment, wondered about the day, where he was, and what he should be doing except sleeping.

Sitting up in bed, he ran his hand over his face and looked around the room. The hallway light softly illuminated it, and he finally recalled he slept in Ruby’s bedroom.

He heard soft voices that sounded like a television from the living room. Throwing back the covers, he noticed Ruby had brought in his duffle bag, and he pulled out a pair of sweats and slipped them on.

Opening the door, he squinted at the bright light and made his way down the hallway. Ruby sat on the couch, curled up in a throw blanket while watching
Law and Order
on television and looking at her laptop. He wondered if this was what a normal night looked like for her, and if so, it really made him sad.

“Hey,” he said, his voice gruff.

“Hi,” she said, grinning at him. “Did you have a good sleep?”

He nodded and sat down next to her. He took one of her feet in his lap and massaged it. “I did.”

“That feels so good,” she purred.

They sat in silence for a moment, and then she asked, “Are you hungry?”

He nodded. “Starved.”

Standing up, she went to the kitchen. “I had my brother bring over some Chinese food and a six pack of beer, if you’re interested.”

Right now, he felt so hungry he would probably eat the family cat if offered. Chinese food sounded like a small slice of heaven.

“I’m very interested,” he said, getting up from the couch.

She stood in the kitchen dishing out all sorts of goodness from numerous white cartons while he helped himself to a beer from the fridge. It was odd having someone serve him as Ruby seemed to like to do. Growing up with his Nana, she’d been all about making him into a strong, independent man who took care of himself. He had to admit, he did like the pampering Ruby had given him this week with her homemade meals, and he had probably put on a few pounds.

The cold beer slid down his throat, tasting so good. Ruby shooed him out to the couch and brought over his plate. “Here you go.”

“Thanks, Ruby. I really appreciate it.”

They ate in silence as they watched television, and he noted the quiet didn’t seem uncomfortable, but a natural silence between two people who didn’t need to spend all their time together talking. Frankly, he found it refreshing.

After clearing his plate, he served himself seconds, loading up on the Mongolian Beef. Now, that was some good stuff.

As he sat down again, the television show ended, and he noted the time—7 p.m.—and grinned. Almost time for bed. Now that he felt well-rested and had been fed, he had all sorts of salacious thoughts running through his mind about his last night with Ruby.

After they finished, he insisted on washing up the dishes while she remained on the couch. He poured her a glass of wine, got himself another beer, and sat down next to her.

“Garrett?”

“Yeah?”

“I-I just wanted another night with you. You know I would never tell my parents that you hurt me, right?”

He chuckled. “I didn’t think you would, but that was some funny shit watching you blackmail Joe.”

She grinned. “I just wanted to be with you, and decided I would do what I had to in order to get what I wanted.”

“Come over here, Miss Ruby Rose,” he said, pulling her close.

The news came on and he picked up the remote and muted it. He had just over twelve more hours with her in their little cocoon, and he didn’t want the outside world intruding.

She snuggled in next to him, her head lying on his shoulder, and he realized how much he’d missed her last night. If he allowed himself, he could really get used to this.

“So, what do you want to do tonight?” he asked.

She shrugged.

“I have some ideas.”

She gazed up at him. “Like what? I didn’t think we were supposed to go anywhere.”

“Oh, I wasn’t thinking of leaving the apartment. All my ideas take place right here.”

“And what would those ideas be?” she asked, her voice husky as she licked her lips.

“Well, let’s start right here,” he said, brushing his thumb over her lower lip. Softly, he kissed her, and then knelt before her.

“After I’m done up there, I plan to do something right here,” he said, kissing her breast. “And then, I’m going to move down here.”

He raised her shirt to reveal her belly and caressed the silky skin. “After that, I plan to spend a whole bunch of time right here.” He pushed her thighs apart and traced the seam of her jeans.

She gazed down at him, her eyes twinkling, a sly grin on her lips.

“What do you think of my plans?”

“I like them a lot, Garrett,” she said, leaning forward and taking his face in her hands, her mouth meeting his in a passionate kiss that caused his body to explode in a desire so strong, he shuddered.

Twelve more hours with Ruby, and as he stood up and took her in his arms, he didn’t plan on wasting a second.

Chapter 39

Ruby woke to a sound in the hallway and rolled over, noticing the empty bed.
Garrett must be in the kitchen or using the bathroom.

Turning over, she dozed off again, until she felt something cold against her temple. Her eyes flew open.

“Don’t move, and don’t scream,” a man’s voice whispered.

She pulled the sheet up around her torso as she trembled in terror. Where had Garrett gone?

“Now roll over,” he commanded. “But keep your eyes closed.”

She did as instructed, a tear slipping down her cheek as she pulled the sheet around her tighter. Garrett would walk in any second and this would be over. Her apartment wasn’t huge, and he eventually had to hear what was happening.

“Now get up and put some clothes on, you fat piece of shit.”

Wait a minute.

She recognized that voice.

She cracked her eyelid and sure enough, her brother John stood over her, his shaky hand holding a gun, his face damp with sweat as he pushed his blond curls back from his forehead.

“I said, don’t look at me!” he yelled, and she shut her eyes again.

“John, what are you doing?” she asked, her voice quivering.

“I’m doing what I’ve been trying to do for the past week. I’m trying to kidnap your fucking fat ass.”

She noted he sounded different—the tone and pitch of his voice seemed off.

“Why?”

“Shut up and get dressed!” he yelled.

She stood, the sheet still wrapped around her body while John paced the small room, kicking Garrett’s duffel bag out of the way. Where had he gone? Had John hurt him? She picked up a pair of jean and turned her back to him.

“Trust me, I have no desire to look at your disgusting body,” he said.

She slipped a sweatshirt over her head and turned back to him. “Why are you doing this? You’ve been behind this kidnapping business?”

He flipped on the light and rolled his eyes at her. “I need money.”

Ruby laughed, despite the dire situation. “You have money, John.”

“No I don’t, Ruby! My trust fund is dry and I don’t get another payout until next year. I need the money now!”

As she stared at him, she thought perhaps he was drugged. His eyes looked dilated and glassy, and she hadn’t noticed it earlier when he’d delivered the Chinese food as he’d had sunglasses on. She also noted his face seemed even thinner than a week ago.

“So you hired someone to kidnap me? What, then? You would hold me for ransom?”

“Exactly. You aren’t as stupid as you look.”

She shook her head. “John, I’m not going anywhere with you.”

He pointed the gun at her, his finger wrapped around the trigger. She hit the floor as the shot rang out, and she glanced up to see a bullet hole in the upper part of the wall.

Her gaze fell on John, and he pointed the gun at her again. “Get up. Let’s go.”

She caught a flash of movement out in the hallway, and a second later, Garrett came flying into the room and tackled a very surprised John to the bed.

Ruby hadn’t given John any indication that afternoon that anyone had been with her, and apparently, he’d somehow missed Garrett while coming into the apartment.

Garrett straddled John and struggled to get the gun away from him. Ruby knew her brother was no match for him, but if that gun went off, Garrett could be killed.

“Stop it!” she screamed, but no one listened.

She backed up against the wall, helpless about what to do. Garrett’s fist connected with John’s cheek, a resounding crack echoing throughout the room, causing her to wince.

John still held the gun tightly in his grip, and she closed her eyes. Certainly, one of her neighbors would call 9-1-1 with the bed banging against the wall and the grunts as the two men fought, not to mention the gunshots.

A loud shot sounded, deafening her. She clenched her ears, afraid to open her eyes and see if the bullet had hit anyone.

Through the ringing, she heard someone yell. Gazing at the scene before her, bile rose in her throat.

A trail of blood oozed from Garrett’s shoulder, but he seemed unaware of it as he pounded John. The gun finally fell from her brother’s hand to the floor, and she noticed John’s body had gone limp.

“Garrett! Stop!”

It seemed he couldn’t hear her as he pummeled John’s face that had become a bloody mess, his features barely recognizable. Garrett’s, on the other hand, contorted in uncontrolled fury.

“Garrett! You’re going to kill him!”

She threw her body over John’s, closing her eyes and fully expecting to feel the blows of Garrett’s rage. Instead, he stopped the assault, and she heard him breathing hard, then she felt him get off the bed.

Relieved, she opened her eyes, checked to make sure John still breathed, and glanced around the room. Garrett stood in the corner, blood flowing freely from the bullet wound and a hard, golden glow surrounding him, his face contorted in agony and anger.

Getting off the bed, she moved toward the door. An ear-shattering roar stopped her, and she slowly turned. Fear gripped her heart as she realized she stood face-to-face with a wounded black bear.

Blood oozed from his shoulder, and he stared at her, pawing the air in front of him while snarling and huffing. She glanced over at John, who seemed unconscious, thank goodness. How she’d explain this, she had no idea.

“Garrett,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm. “It’s okay.”

He roared in response.

“You need to calm down!” she whispered. “The police will be here shortly, and I can’t have a bear in here!”

He stood up on his hind legs and bellowed, his long claws mauling the emptiness between them.

“Stop it!” she hissed, “You knock it off right now, Garrett Bloom!”

He came down on all fours, still breathing hard, and bared his teeth.

Gathering her courage, she bent down on her knees in front of him and slowly stretched her arm out, placing her palm up. “Garrett, I need you to help me. The police are going to be here. What do I do? What do I say? Should I call Joe?”

He shook his head as if he tried to clear his thoughts, his honeyed gaze never leaving her.

“Garrett, they can’t come here and find a bear in my room.”

In the distance, she heard the sirens, and Garrett’s ears twitched. Obviously, he had, as well.

“Please, turn back into a human.”

He glanced at the bed and lifted his two front paws up onto it, sniffing John.

“Garrett, please don’t hurt him any more,” she begged, her tears flowing freely. “Please, that’s my brother. I need you to help me.”

He brought his front paws down onto the floor and walked toward her, still snarling. She met his gaze as the sirens drew closer.

He nuzzled her hand, licking her palm.

The sirens stopped outside the apartment complex, the red and blue lights flashing through the windows.

He sat down in front of her as a dog would and began to glow. The glimmer grew brighter, almost blinding her. A moment later, Garrett lay before her. He pulled himself into a fetal position and began to shake.

“What do I do?” she whispered.

“Don’t let them in. Not until you call Joe,” he rasped. “The satellite phone is in my bag. Joe’s on speed dial. Number one.”

She climbed over him and rifled through his bag, finding the phone. She powered it up and held down the number one. A moment later, it rang just as fists pounded her front door. “Police!”

Joe answered.

“Joe, my brother’s here, he’s the kidnapper. He shot Garrett. The police are here. I don’t know what to do.”

“Oh, for God’s sake.”

“Joe!”

“Police! Open up now!”

“Let them in, Ruby, or they’ll break down your door. Tell them as little as possible, but don’t be difficult. Tell them what you think is best, and I’ll clean up the rest. We’re on our way.”

She threw down the phone and looked at Garrett. His whole body trembled, and she grabbed a pillow from the bed, resting it under his head.

She ran to the front door and opened it. Police greeted her, guns drawn.

“We’ve received a phone call of possible gunshots,” the young officer said as he looked over her shoulder.

“Yes. I’m unarmed,” she said, surprised at the control in her voice when she wanted nothing more than to scream and cry. “The gun is in the bedroom at the end of the hall. Please, come in.”