Ruby Revenge

HIM

“Fuck,” I screamed at the empty road after Geo had turned the corner.

He was going to kill her. And I had no way to leave this house. Sage’s car sat in the driveway like it had for months, but her key was on my key ring, which Geo had. I ran my hand down my face and flinched. My temple was still trickling blood, and the pain hadn’t dimmed at all. Probably had something to do with Geo waking me up with his damn fist.

Pain throbbed in my leg when I limped back toward the house. Sage consumed my thoughts. The fear in her eyes when Geo hauled her away—while I was fucking useless—was haunting me. Rubbing the tape against the edge of the metal railing had worked, but it took too long to free myself.

Headlights brightened the darkening sky, and I cursed under my breath as Alex’s Jeep pulled up beside me.

“What the fuck happened to you?” Alex asked, his eyes widening at the blood on my face before he looked toward the house. “Where’s Sage?”

“Geo. He fucking took her.” A combination of truth and lies might help me twist the conversation. When we found Sage, it would be our word against Geo’s. My heart seized. Hopefully, she’d still be alive.

“What? Why?” Alex parked the Jeep and jumped out. “He did this to you?”

Leaning against the car, I hissed out a breath as I yanked the wood out of my leg. I tossed the bloodied piece of coffee table onto the ground and pulled my shirt off. The stab wound wasn’t deep, but blood still gushed out. Alex was asking question after question as I wrapped my shirt around my leg, tying it tightly.

“You saw him this morning,” I finally cut off his endless questions. “He wants her. Why do you think I’ve kept her away from him? He snapped tonight when he made a move and she slapped him.”

“He what?” Alex growled in disbelief. “Geo wouldn’t do that to me.”

“I didn’t think he’d stab me and knock me out when I tried stopping him,” I pointed to my temple, “but here we are.”

“When did he leave?” Alex was already texting on his phone. Geo really must have thought Alex was going to be gone longer because there was no way he’d chance letting me talk to Alex first.

“Not long. Maybe ten minutes,” I answered, heading back to the house to grab another shirt.

“Where do you think he went?”

“Anywhere we wouldn’t be able to find him,” I muttered, trying to think of one place Geo would go. He would stay clear of anywhere that was connected with the group. He hadn’t gotten permission to hurt her. He was doing it on his own.

I nearly ripped the screen door off the hinges as I stormed into the house. Alex sucked in a breath as he came in behind me. Splintered wood from the coffee table littered the living room floor. The glass plates of pizza I had been carrying were shattered into small pieces. Small drops of blood stained the carpet where Geo had struck me.

“Son of a bitch,” I roared, ramming my fist into the drywall. “I’m going to kill him.”

Alex’s hand clamped on my shoulder. “We’ll find him. Calm down. He’s still our brother. But Niko…you know the group will want him dealt with. The elders ruled that Sage stay with me. Him taking her like this. It’s against a direct order.”

For the last couple months, I’d expected it would be me the group would be hunting down for that exact reason. What an odd turn of events. I’d take Geo’s place in a fucking heartbeat if it meant Sage was safe.

“Are you getting someone to track his phone?” I asked as I moved down the hall to my room.

“Yes. But he knows how we work. He probably already turned it off.” Alex trailed behind me as I rummaged through the dresser before pulling out a clean T-shirt.

“Let’s go,” I pushed out through clenched teeth. My head was vibrating with pain, and my leg hurt with every step. I got to the living room before Alex grabbed my arm.

“I’m going to meet with Dad and a few others. Stay here and rest—”

“Are you serious? I’m not staying here.”

“Niko, you look like you stepped out of a horror movie. You need to clean yourself up and shower all the blood off. You can’t walk without limping.” He shrugged. “You’re going to slow us down.”

“No, I’m fine—”

“Dad agrees,” Alex cut me off. “He wants you to stay.”

He held up his phone, showing me the text messages as proof. I scowled, knowing Alex wasn’t going to back down. My father’s word was the group’s word. What they said was law. If I sat here and argued, it meant fewer people looking for Sage. I didn’t exactly want Alex or Dad finding her first, but it was better than Geo killing her. If they got to her, there was a chance I could get her out of town before they caught on to the truth.

“He’s going to hurt her,” I muttered, careful to keep the concern I was consumed with out of my voice.

“We’ll find him,” Alex reassured me. “But do you think he’s right?”

My eyes snapped to his. “What do you mean?”

“It’s been almost a year. Don’t you miss your life?” Alex asked hesitantly. “Maybe it’s better if she disappears—”

“And then what?” I snapped, my anger barely in control. “That nurse at her dad’s nursing home is already suspicious of you. She disappears, guess who the prime fucking suspect will be?”

“You’re right,” he agreed in a rush. “It’s just been stressful.”

My guilt about going behind his back with Sage cleared up in that moment. He didn’t love her. He’d be fine if she died. I barely breathed as I tried to stay in control. I wanted to rip the keys out of his hand and look for her myself. But that would only make this whole fucked-up situation worse.

“Go,” I said gruffly, going into the kitchen. “Call me when you find him.”

Wetting some paper towels, I wiped the drying blood off my face as the screen door slammed shut. Resting my forearms on the counter, I closed my eyes, willing my pounding headache to go away. The second they found her, I was getting her the hell out of Michigan.