Heartbreak Me by T.L. Smith Page 0,50
before I can, and soon my feet are stomping behind to catch him as we reach the source of the scream.
My hands cover my mouth as I look down at Ruby, her eyes are black, and her legs are bruised. What the fuck! She wasn’t like that a few hours ago. I turn to Atlas who’s fast to move, and in two seconds, he has one of the guys up off his feet, and his hands go to his throat, then he throws him back as if he weighs nothing.
I try to stop him but know that’s a mistake, as his hands start punching, and soon the guy who hurt Ruby looks worse than her.
A lot worse.
Possibly not even breathing worse.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Atlas
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I turn back to Theadora and see her eyes are blown wide in horror, her mouth unable to shut as she drops down to the ground where Ruby is lying.
“Ruby. Ruby, please, wake up.” Theadora shakes her, but she doesn’t move. Pulling out my cell, I call Sydney and inform her of the situation. When I hang up, I look down at Theadora who has tears running down her cheeks as she looks at Ruby.
“Is this what you promote? Is this what you wish would happen t-to m-me?” she chokes on the last words, her shirt now discarded in the sand, leaving her in just her black bra and skirt. I go to step forward, but she holds up her hands. “Go and get help. Don’t you dare touch me, you prick.”
I step back as our first aid nurse heads down.
Theadora doesn’t leave Ruby’s side as they assess her. A short time later, Ruby starts to open her eyes, and as she does, tears stream down her face. “It’s okay, Ruby, it’s going to be okay,” Theadora coos to her.
I look to the nurse who nods his head, then signals to the customer who’s unconscious next to me.
“Leave him.”
Theadora looks up at me with pure animosity in her eyes. If only she knew, she would detest me even more.
“You are going to be okay. But I would suggest someone stay with her overnight to make sure.”
“I will,” Theadora volunteers.
“You are leaving,” I tell her.
Theadora turns to me, her blue eyes angry and holding malice.
“Last night, Theadora,” I say.
She nods, standing, leaving her shirt discarded as she grips Ruby’s hand while she’s laid on a stretcher to be carried to her room.
“It’s not that bad,” Ruby says, trying to soothe Theadora.
“Bullshit! But I’m still coming.”
Ruby doesn’t smile, just closes her dark eyes as they carry her out of here.
“You are leaving tomorrow. No questions.”
“Why did you even bring me here, hotshot? Why the fuck did you bring me?”
Before any words can leave my mouth, a plane flies overhead and lands. We both turn to it, and when I watch her, I know right now Theadora’s going to hate me. Possibly more than she already does.
Jesse and Chloe walk off the plane.
Theodora’s eyes go wide, and she turns to me.
“What?” she asks, and then looks back to them. “Why are they here?”
Behind them, when they get off, is an armed guard who has a gun trained on them.
“Did you get me fired?” she asks. “You ruined my life on purpose?”
“No. They ruined your life. Your sister did as well. They just gave me the keys, and I decided to take you for a drive,” I tell her, turning and walking away.
Theadora catches up and follows me. As I walk closer to Jesse and Chloe, they spot Theadora straight away, and Chloe has the cheek to at least look a little guilty, while Jesse eyes her as if she’s his next meal.
“Why are you here?” Theadora asks. They look down, and she screams, “Why are you here?”
I lean in close. “They owe me a lot of money. You were my way in to finding them. Thanks for that,” I tell her.
Her head whips back to me. “I… was your way of finding them? What does that even mean?”
I look to Chloe and smile. “Why don’t you tell her?”
“We cheated in one of his casinos, counted and replaced cards,” Chloe replies.
“Does everyone rob you?” Theadora asks, looking at me in disbelief. “I mean, my sister isn’t very bright, and neither are these two. So how do the dumb ones cheat so much money from you?”
I lean in. “Because they are the only ones dumb enough to try it,” I tell her. “But that isn’t all now, is