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“I told you to get the hell out of our house!” Ruby’s voice carries through the open downstairs window. She doesn’t sound scared, which is a relief. She sounds fucking pissed. “This has nothing to do with me or Eli!”
“The fuck it doesn’t, four point O! All of this is his fucking fault! I’m going to—”
“You’re going to what?” I ask as I step through the doorway, kicking off my boots.
It’s that fucking David kid, the one who knocked up Ruby’s friend Marcy. And by the look in his eyes he’s already three sheets to the wind.
“You’re going to what, boy?” I repeat.
I step across the room and put myself between him and Ruby, reaching behind me until she slips her hand into mine. Staring him down doesn’t take a lot. From my vantage point, there are few men who look even remotely frightening, but he’s a short, skinny little teen who’s bitten off more than he can chew.
And he knows it.
The way his jaw is quivering, I’m surprised he’s not already in tears.
“All this is your fucking fault!” He stammers, taking a step back, away from me. “You know what? I did what you said, I told my parents and they—”
“I told you to tell Marcy’s parents. Your parents aren’t part of the equation.”
“They kicked me out! They kicked me out of my home and… and…”
I shrug. “And what? It’s like I said before. Step up. Be a man. Get a job and get somewhere to live. You have somewhere to sleep tonight?”
I’m not totally heartless. If he needs somewhere to sleep off his drunken ass, I’ll let him take the couch. No way I want him around that pregnant girl like this anyway, he’d probably cause the baby problems from the fumes.
He does a good job of glaring at me for a boy less than half my size.
“My uncle Andrew said I could sleep at his place until I get myself sorted.”
“Good.” I nod. “Sheriff Connors is a decent man, he’ll get you squared away. I’ll call him.”
I take out my phone.
“What the fuck are you doing, man? Don’t call my uncle!”
“He needs to come pick you up. You’re in no state to drive.”
“The last thing I need is…”
I’m already dialing. David tries to step forward and grab the phone out of my hand but it’s pathetic. I don’t think he can jump as high as I can hold it out of his reach.
“Fucking tell him, Ruby! He’s going to get me fucking thrown out of my uncle’s place now. Then where will I go? Tell him! Jesus.”
I turn to Ruby as the phone rings, checking she looks okay. If I think any of this is bothering her, I’ll take David outside and wait with him until his uncle shows up. But she looks like she’s coping. Not letting go of my hand, but coping.
“You little bitch!” David screams. I grind my teeth but let it go. Once. He gets one free pass, only because he’s shitfaced. “You won’t stop him ruining my life? No wonder your dad faked his own death to get away from you!”
That’s it.
I end the call and toss the phone onto the counter, rounding on David. “What did you just say, boy?”
“Yeah! Faked his own death!”
I step forward and he shrinks back, but alcohol can make a man suicidal it seems. Even as he stumbles over a chair and struggles to right himself, he’s still talking.
“I overheard Uncle Andrew talking about some new evidence that’s come to light. Seems he never died at all, just didn’t want to come back to his little bit—”
I grab him by the hair and pull hard, bringing him up sharp as his words turn to a high-pitched shriek. Then I shove him toward the door and follow up, pushing him out into the yard.
“You stay right there,” I tell Ruby as I step outside in my socks, pointing David to his car. “Get into your car and call your fucking uncle to come pick you up. Otherwise, I’ll call the police myself and it won’t be family.”
“It’s the truth!” he shouts, but he’s backing away, heading for his prissy little rich boy sports car.
“And sell your car. Use the money to get yourself set up. You have responsibilities now.”
With that, I grunt, turn, and head back inside.
CHAPTER 9
Ruby
Everything is perfect.
I have it all. I have Eli, I get to live here on the farm and be happy for the rest of my life. What more could I wish for?
As he comes in through the door, kicking off his muddy work boots, I just stare and take him in, wondering what I did right in a past life to be given all this.
“What?” he grunts, smoothing back his unruly hair and frowning. “Do I have a pimple?”
I shake my head on a grin, my teeth digging just a little into the corner of my lower lip. “No. You’re just so… You.”
