“What if they shoot me?” She grabs my arms, her thumb going into her mouth to chew her nail.
“They won’t. Torture is what they’ll have planned for you,” I tell her. They’ll want to drag out her pain and make an example of her. I’ll kill them all before they can.
“Oh, that’s reassuring. Thanks.” She throws her hands up in the air. “I think I should have a gun.”
“Can you shoot a gun?”
“I’ve played Nerf.” She glares at me like that’s the same fucking thing. “You’re telling me I’m going to be tortured, I should get a gun.”
“I’m not here to sugar coat shit or give pep talks. You’re not fucking stupid. Just do as I said and let’s get this done.”
“You’re really not human, are you?”
“I’m fucking here helping your ass, ain’t I?” I growl, cupping her cheek, stealing her breath.
“You’re going to be fine. I won’t let those fuckers get you, okay?”
“I know. I’m sorry. Okay,” she rushes out.
“You shouldn’t apologize all the time. It’s weak.” I release her.
“Or it’s a strength to know when you’re in the wrong and own it,” she snaps, her spine straightening, fire lighting her eyes.
“Whatever you say, princess.”
“I’m not a fucking princess,” she growls. “Let’s do this so we can part ways as soon as possible.”
Smirking, I tilt my chin for her to walk away. Hopping the neighbor’s fence, I rush across a stretch of green separating the houses and over the fence to her mother’s house, feeling one of the stitches tear. Motherfucker, that stings like a bitch.
Sidling up to the side of her mother’s house, I round the front porch and hide under the wooden steps. A minute later, Ruby struts up the path, stopping halfway.
“Mother?” she calls.
Watching her gaze track movement from inside, I ready my blade and the colt. The door swings open. Heavy boots hit the top step. “Well, look who finally came home,” a male voice sings.
“This isn’t home. Send my mother out,” Ruby demands, her voice steady. Fuck, it makes me proud.
“Jackal, bring the bitch out here,” the prick barks.
Ruby’s mouth drops open, tears brimming her eyes as more footfalls come outside. “You bastards,” Ruby chokes out, taking a step forward.
“Don’t let her tears fool you, sweet thing. She enjoyed every minute of it. Fucking offered herself up. Gagged for it,” he taunts.
“Let her go,” Ruby demands.
“We will in exchange for you. Fisher is really fucking angry. You’re his bitch and you’ve betrayed and embarrassed him. I think when he’s done using you, he’ll let us all have a turn.” A screech echoes from above me, a woman, her mother. His words ignite an inferno in my veins. Rage, white-hot and deadly, flickers through my bloodstream. I whip my arm out, slicing the back of the leg of the prick, cutting through the tendons, sending him staggering sideways, falling down the steps.
“What the fuck?” someone yells, rushing to his aid. As soon as he steps down, I cut him too, then point the colt through the gap in the steps and shoot them one at a time between the eyes before they can even comprehend their fate. Ruby moves toward them, leaning down and swiping up one of their guns as the door opens again.
“Come to me, Mom,” she shouts, firing the gun at whoever came out.
“Fucking bitch,” someone roars, firing back. She dives across the yard, almost disappearing in the weeds. I shift myself from beneath the house. Just as the fucker shooting at her comes down the stairs to get the kill shot, he blanches, taking me in. He turns his arm too slow to aim his weapon at me before my bullet hits him in the forehead. Ruby is on her feet, rushing up to her naked mother.
“It’s okay. You’re safe now. Come on,” she coaches her but her mother doesn’t move.
“I’m not leaving.” She shakes her head vehemently, slapping Ruby’s hands away from her. “I’m not getting the blame for this mess,” she sobs, waving her hands at the dead motherfuckers who just spent the night violating her.
“Bitch, you are to fucking blame for this shit,” I growl, aiming my gun at her. “Move your ass now or I’ll put you down right here with the assholes you put your daughter in danger of.” This could have easily have been Ruby’s fate. This selfish bitch has no motherly instincts, no morals or guilt for what she puts her through. I want to end her miserable life right here, but Ruby is soft, and I like that about her. She feels. She sees.
Her mother begins moving, following Ruby to the car we stole. “Why couldn’t you just do the job he asked of you?” the woman mumbles, getting into the backseat.
“Because I’m not a killer, Mother.” Ruby looks defeated, her shoulder slumped forward.