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cakesunflower · 5 years

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War of Hearts [Gang!Calum AU] Part 8

Part 8

“I’m surprised you’re willing to give it all up for Ruby.”

Calum let out a breath, a billow of smoke curling out of his lips and flying out the window as the truck kept going. He sat, left elbow resting on the windowsill of the door, arm hung out as he tapped the residual ashes off his cigarette as he drove down an empty road leading to the factory. His jaw clenched for a moment, staring ahead at the deserted road that had the factory at the end of it, just a few minutes away from arriving. Calum’s voice was gruff as he answered, “Believe it or not, she’d kill me if I gave everything up for her.”

He could feel Michael looking at him as he observed with a frown, “We brought all of our shit—that’s a pretty big gamble to bring it all and risk it getting taken.”

Calum glanced at Michael as he took one last drag of his cigarette before tossing it outside, the cool wind blowing against his face. He settled with both hands on the wheel, leaning back against the seat before tilting his head to the left so he could thread his fingers through his hair. “We got a new shipment a few days ago. Brand new of everythin’. So even if we lose what’s in the truck, we got better equipment waitin’ for us.” Calum looked at Michael once more, noticing the way his eyebrows were raised at that information. Tightening his jaw, Calum looked back out to the road, giving a single shake of his head. “But we’re not losin’ anythin’. We’re leaving here with Ruby safe and all of our shit with us.”

They were silent for a moment, only the dull rumble of the engine and the whistle of the wind tickling their ears as Calum drove. He tried to relax his jaw, the bruise he was sporting allowing for a throbbing pain every time he tightened it. But he’d been tense since the moment he found out Ruby had been taken; sleep hadn’t come to him last night, of course. Everyone was on high alert, working overtime to find out where they were keeping Ruby. They had yet to find out that information, but he and Michael were wearing expertly hidden comms and as soon as their men found out Ruby’s location, they would know. And everything would go according to plan.

“If it came down to it,” Michael spoke up after a few moments of silence, voice holding just the smallest hints of curiosity as Calum could see him glance his way from his peripheral. “Would you give all of it up for Ruby?”

“Yes.”

The answer had slipped past Calum’s lips a lot quicker than either of them had expected, Calum’s grip on the leather steering wheel tightening as he heard his own voice. His throat worked after taking a deep breath, keeping his slightly widened gaze on the road ahead. Calum moved his around his jaw, lips remaining pressed together as the wind blowing suddenly felt as though it was slapping against his face, heart pounding at the implication of his answer.

He didn’t even have to think about it, already so sure of his answer without any regrets. It came to him as naturally as breathing did because what other answer could there possibly be? Never in a million years did Calum think he would be so willing to give up everything he worked for for someone else—and be okay with the prospect.

Calum was a businessman. An entrepreneur. He worked for everything he had, illegal or not, and he was damn proud and protective of it. Always making sure he was on the top, five steps ahead of his competitors on every occasion. It was that same determination that made him one of the most feared gang leaders on the west coast, notorious for his work ethic and getting shit done attitude that put him at the top. He didn’t get there by being a pushover and submitting to other people’s demands, weak in the knees and doing what he was told. People did what he said.

The fact that he was ready to let go of it if it meant Ruby’s safety was completely out of character. But Calum, strangely enough, found himself okay with that. For Ruby, he would do it.

It would’ve been a thunderous realization, Calum knew, that he would trade it all for Ruby’s life, if it weren’t for the fact that he had readily accepted it. It wasn’t some kind of blinding, eye-opening decision that he’d struggled over. Everything about it felt natural. There had always been something about Ruby—something that always drew his eyes to her, that made him feel protective—that stuck to Calum. Immature teasing was always carried with this underlying layer of care, where he enjoyed getting a rise out of her but would never let any harm come to her. It had only taken a few days of her living with him to realize the extent of his feelings.

When Michael had so easily spewed that Calum was in love with her, he wasn’t surprised at the revelation of his own feelings—rather more so at the notion of the first one to say it out loud was Michael, of all people. But Calum did. He loved Ruby, loved her as easily as he breathed, and he would do whatever it took to get her back.

They finally pulled into the factory both men tensed in their seats at the sight of Oscar standing with his arms behind his back, waiting. Calum desperately wished he’d brought a weapon—a knife, a gun, anything—to end the smug piece of shit right there. But Oscar had been clear, and Calum wasn’t going to risk Ruby’s life. Not when they didn’t know of her location yet.

Calum kicked the engine, throat working as he said to both Michael and the hidden comms they were hooked up with, “Let’s do this.”

He and Michael jumped out of the truck, doors slamming behind them and echoing in the abandoned factory as Oscar greeted in a faux friendly tone that made Calum was to ram his fist into his face. “Afternoon, Riders. Lovely day, isn’t it?” He didn’t get any other response except two extremely aggravated scowls, which only served to widen Oscar’s grin. “Search ‘em, boys.”

The others practically stepped out of the shadows, and Calum’s jaw remained tight as a man with shaggy brown hair and pursed lips stood in front of him and started patting Calum down. The communication device Calum had on was in the form of a watch on his wrist, begrudgingly holding his arms out to the side and spreading his legs as the guy made sure Calum had no weapons on him, while Calum’s dark eyed gaze remained on Oscar. His entire body was rigid, muscles tense as he fought to keep his head on straight. But this fucker had Ruby, and Calum was itching to pull out a gun he didn’t have and shoot a few rounds right into Oscar’s face.

But they had a plan. Stall Oscar until Calum’s men were able to track Ruby’s location, because a cocky fucker like him would still want her to be kept somewhere close to here. The entirety of the Riders were spread around here within a fifteen mile radius, no stone left unturned. They would find her, Calum knew. So he had to keep his shit together.

“Now then, before we start,” Oscar began after the men stepped away from Calum and Michael and nodded in approval. They watched as Oscar walked over to a table, standing behind it and opening up a laptop Calum hadn’t noticed until now before pressing a few keys and turning it so the screen would be facing them. Calum’s jaw tightened even more, a dull throb from the bruise he ignored, as Oscar mused, “Just a reminder if you try to pull some shit, she dies. Live and right in front of your eyes.”

Michael was tense next to an equally aggravated Calum, eyes zeroing in on the livestream on the laptop. Ruby sat on the floor of the dark room she was in, no longer on a chair as she had been before. Wrists and ankles tied together, she looked utterly drained and exhausted, head leaning back and eyes closed, and even through the screen Calum could tell she was sweating, head lolling as if it was too heavy for her to keep upright. She was drugged, he knew, and his heart rate spiked and blood boiled at the sight of her. His chest ached looking at the screen, teeth grinding together and wanting to look away but he couldn’t. This was his fault.

But it was a livestream. His men were listening in. And Calum knew, without a doubt, Avi was already working to backtrack the source from where he was stationed.

Still, Calum couldn’t look away from the laptop, feeling his stomach tighten uncomfortably as guilt burned his veins. Ruby was in this mess because of him and Calum hadn’t been able to protect her. He promised he would only to end up failing miserably, terribly. And he fucking hated himself for it.

“Why the long faces, fellas?” Oscar cooed, smirking from where he stood as he gazed at the two scowling Riders. “At least you can see her. I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to my brother before Clifford here put a bullet in him. Or poor Uncle Hawkins before he died in your arms, Hood. Kind of ironic, but our lives are pretty fucking unpredictable, huh?”

Uncle Hawkins. Calum almost laughed at the revelation. This was a lot more personal than he thought, but Hawkins died yesterday. And if Oscar had been planning this for months, then his brother wasn’t any of the men Michael and Luke had taken care of before the wedding.

“Your brother was a Saber, I’m assuming?” Michael spoke up with a raise of his eyebrows, shrugging when Oscar gave a single nod. “Then he probably deserved whatever the fuck came to him. My sister on the other hand,” Michael’s fists clenched at his sides as his eyes narrowed dangerously, “has nothing to do with our business. You’re just looking to kill an innocent person because you’re blinded by revenge.”

Calum pursed his lips, wanting to slap Michael upside the head. Him just going off on Oscar and telling the man who held Ruby captive that his brother deserved death wasn’t going to be doing them any favors. But like Calum, Michael also tended to aggravate the situation if they were too pissed off, and the sight of Ruby tied up and drugged wasn’t helping at all. Calum didn’t entirely blame Michael for mouthing off, but he needed to keep himself in check. Oscar had Ruby, and they needed to stall until their men were able to find her instead of pushing him.

Oscar’s expression tightened at Michael’s words, as expected, as he spat out, “She’s got everything to do with it if she’s your sister and screwing Hood.” He let out a humorless laugh, tilting his head slightly. “Come on, don’t tell me you fuckers wouldn’t go after the people your enemies care about. This kind of life practically calls for it.”

“Maybe, but we actually have some kind of morals,” Calum returned, voice smooth and calm despite feeling anything but as he tore his gaze away from the laptop. The sight of Ruby sat heavily on his chart, and he could only pray that they would get her out of there soon. “We don’t kill innocent people. That girl right there?” He gave a single, strained nod to the laptop, throat tight. “She’s innocent. Your brother and uncle weren’t. We don’t go after those who haven’t wronged us.” Calum’s tone hardened, feeling himself increasingly growing aggravated over this whole situation, patience thinning as his eyes locked with Oscar’s. “You’ve got not idea who you’re fucking with, kid. This is only gonna end badly for you.”

“Yeah?” Oscar quirked an eyebrow, eyes flashing at the contempt Calum was so obviously and purposefully showing him. A cocky guy like him would have some yearning of being validated, and Calum doing the opposite of that was only going to serve to piss him off. It was a dangerous game to play; either Oscar got too worked up and ordered his men to kill Ruby, or he would try to show off all the balls he had in his court in belief of being able to outsmart the Riders. Calum hoped it was the latter. “What if I just killed her right now, huh? It’ll only end badly for her then.”

Calum’s nails were digging into his palms. “You kill her, you lose the leverage you have and you won’t get what you’re after,” he responded. It was getting difficult to control his tone, so close to losing it. His blood was boiling, skin heated from rage.

Oscar laughed, walking around the table as he gestured to the parked truck. “You’ve already brought the equipment, dumbass. I got what I wanted.”

A wry smirk curled at the corner of Michael’s lips, but Calum could see by his squared shoulders that he was feeling just as tense. The two of them were silently hoping their men would hurry up and find Ruby’s location, unsure of what was even happening since they couldn’t communicate with them, but choosing to have faith. Calum knew Michael was fighting the urge to deck Oscar just as much as he was, but they kept themselves restrained. Especially when a handful of other men had their guns pointed at them.

“Truck’s military grade, dude,” Michael informed Oscar. “Bullet proof and all. You need a code to get into the back, not to mention a code to activate the printing presses. All of which only Cal and I know.” He lifted his chin, unshaven jaw clenched as he kept a cool gaze on Oscar. “You kill my sister, there’s no way in hell you’re getting the codes.” Michael shrugged, contemptuous with a daring sympathetic smile. “And all of this would’ve been for nothing.”

Oscar looked between the two of them, expression falling flat with annoyance as he scoffed almost disbelievingly. “Are you joking?”

Calum raised a bored eyebrow. “Do we look like we’re jokin’?”

When Oscar’s eyes narrowed in aggravated irritance, Calum could tell that he was becoming aware that he was losing control of the situation. Honestly, the guy seemed like a rookie—someone interested in revenge and getting whatever he could out of it, not an experienced member of the Sabers or any gang, for that matter. He was showing his emotions clear on his face, something Calum was experienced and skilled in not doing. He knew how to play his opponents, knew what buttons to push to make them tick, whether he’s faced off with them before or not. Oscar’s jaw clenched as he ground out, “You look like a couple of idiots willing to risk the life of someone you claim to care about.”

“Do we?” Michael mused challengingly. His voice was calm, a smirk hidden within. “That’s funny—everyone we care about is safe and sound and not at all held captive by you.”

His words seemed like a bucket of ice water being dumped on Oscar as he quickly swiveled around to look at the laptop, just as Calum’s gaze returned to it as well for the first time in minutes. The heaviness in his chest was suddenly gone, lungs swelling with air he deprived them of as he watched the body of one of Oscar’s men fall right in front of the camera, lifeless, as Ruby’s widened eyes watched Luke hurriedly make his way towards her, his movements quick and efficient.

“No,” Oscar stated, numb with incredulity as he approached the laptop. “No, no, no!”

Calum watched, feeling his lips curl and heart feel as though it was floating, as Luke swiftly untied Ruby before scooping her up in his arms, and that was the last thing he saw before Oscar picked up the laptop and launched it against the nearest wall with a roaring yell. It clattered loudly, the screen turning black and shattering and Calum felt a newfound sense of relief flood him. She was safe. They’d gotten to Ruby in time, and Calum could suddenly feel like he could breathe again. He wasn’t with her, but he knew she would be okay if Luke had her. And that was reassurance enough.

As much as Calum wanted to revel in the moment of security he felt that Ruby was safe, he couldn’t afford to do so just yet as Oscar suddenly turned to face them. His eyes were wild, looking like a man not quite ready to accept defeat, as the rage and urgency seeped into his voice when he yelled at his men, “What the fuck are you waiting for? Finish them!”

Calum didn’t even have to give the signal, remaining right where he was, smug and calm as the police force came out of hiding, the factory echoing with their shouts of telling the Sabers to drop their weapons, hands on the ground. Calum stood, teeth pressed together and lips curled arrogantly, hands clasped in front of him as he kept his gaze on Oscar, ignoring the other men being put to the ground, watching as three officers pointed their guns at Oscar and told him to keep his hands right where they could see him.

His eyes never left Oscar’s, who was staring at Calum with anger swirling in his eyes at being outsmarted, though there was a certain degree of shock at the sight of the police officers. Either Oscar hadn’t been aware that their county’s officers were all on Calum’s payroll or he had completely missed that small detail. Either way, it bit him right in the ass, and Calum couldn’t keep the triumphant smirk off his face as Oscar kept his gaze on him, dropping the gun he had on him before putting his hands behind his head and sinking down to his knees.

Calum watched as one of the officers cuffed him, feeling a presence to his right before a familiar voice spoke, “Thanks for letting the force bring these assholes in.”

A wry scoff escaped Calum, glancing at Chief Arnold, dressed in his uniform and watching as his men cuffed the various remaining members of the Sabers. “You would’ve had ’em all but, y’know. . . Revenge is messy,” Calum drawled, pulling out his packet of cigarettes and placing one between his lips as he reached for his lighter.

“Some is better than none,” Chief Arnold agreed. He raised a brow at Calum. “I’m guessing Oscar’s yours?”

Calum lit the end of the cigarette, eyes trained on the man in question through the orange flame before pocketing it. His fingers then curled around the one other thing he had in his pocket, the small metallic casing of ruby red lipstick he brought with him. Calum gave it a squeeze, taking a breath as he relaxed the torrent of emotions. “I’ll come for him later,” he confirmed leisurely.

Chief Arnold nodded, not needing to hear anymore as he called for his men to wrap it up. From next to him, Calum heard Michael ask, “You gonna take care of Oscar?”

Brown eyes meeting a pair of lighter ones, Calum knew that Oscar was well aware they were talking about him. He was unceremoniously pulled up from the ground, hands cuffed behind his back and jaw tightly set as he kept his gaze on the leader of the Riders. From where he stood, Calum could see the fury in his eyes, the refusal to believe that this was over and he had lost. Calum couldn’t wait to reassure him that there was only one winner at the end of this.

He blew out a billow of smoke. “Yeah,” was all Calum said before looking at Michael, cigarette between his fingers as he clapped Michael’s shoulder with his free hand. “Come on; let’s go see our girl.”

*****

She was going to have nightmares, she knew. She’d had dreams about the bar exploding after it happened—getting kidnapped and drugged and hit? Ruby knew she probably wouldn’t get a good night’s sleep for a while. She knew she should probably talk to someone, but that was something to worry about later. The drugs had worn off and she felt like herself again, more so than she had since the moment she was taken, but it wouldn’t be easy. Whether or not she was prepared to handle it was another story.

But right now, she reveled in the safety of being in her brother’s arms.

After being checked out by the medic the Riders had on standby—because of course they had someone to medically take care of them so they didn’t have to go to the hospital—Ruby was brought to Michael and Crystal’s house upon her brother’s instructions. She remained seated on the loveseat by the window in the master bedroom, Crystal right by her side with her hand in hers and Ruby let the security of the home seep into her bones. Her surroundings were familiar, the people around her were the ones that would protect her, not harm her. She was okay, Ruby knew, but that idea didn’t truly sink into her mind until her brother burst into the room, his wild green eyes meeting her own.

Crystal had quietly left the room, shutting the door behind her as Michael held Ruby to his chest, while she made sure to press against the side of her face that wasn’t stitched up. Her arms wrapped around him, breathing in the comforting familiar scent of her big brother that wasn’t that much older than her, yet there was a sense of protectivity that only he could provide for Ruby.

She hadn’t meant for the tears to soak the front of his black shirt, hadn’t even meant to cry, but hugging Michael was just a tangible reminder that she was safe and sound, that one of the worst thing she’s experienced, next to losing her parents, was over. She’d carry it with her, she knew, but for now she was alright. For now, her heart was no longer thundering and she didn’t feel like she was suffocating and her blood didn’t feel as though it was burning in her veins. She wasn’t drugged, she wasn’t in pain, she wasn’t scared. She was just tired, but she was okay.

“I’m so sorry this happened, Rubes,” Michael was whispering, his hand rubbing up and down her back soothingly, his lips pressed against the top of her head. “So, so sorry. I should’ve been here. I should’ve—”

“Michael, stop,” Ruby pleaded with a shake of her head, pulling away from him as she rubbed her hands down her cheeks, ridding of the tears that wet them. She looked up at her brother, saw the worry and guilt and fear that was swimming in green eyes matching her own, and she offered a small smile. “This isn’t your fault. It’s no one’s fault except the people who took me, okay?” She took his hands in hers, giving them a squeeze as she took a breath, watching Michael nervously chew his lower lip. With a light laugh, Ruby said, “Sorry you had to cut your honeymoon short.”

Michael scoffed, shooting her a look. “You crazy?” He raised his eyebrows, fond and caring and relieved as his hands gripped Ruby’s shoulders, giving his head a shake. “Couldn’t keep me away if you tried.” The concern that was already swimming in his eyes intensified, then, as he gave Ruby a once over, looking at the stitches near her temple. She saw the way his eyebrows twitched into a frown, lips pursing as he thought of what must’ve happened, asking, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Tired,” Ruby answered truthfully, the way her lips lazily quirked personifying her response. Whatever drug Oscar and his men had given her had made her increasingly lethargic, though she was just glad that the nausea wore off; it had been a few hours since the last dose they’d given her before she was rescued, so Ruby was feeling more like herself now. Still—getting drugged and being tied up wasn’t a pastime she wanted to take part in again any time soon. “But I’m here with you guys, and I’m fine. I promise.”

Michael let out a sigh before pulling her back in for a hug, holding her close and squeezing his eyes shut as he let the relief wash over him. The mere thought of something happening to Ruby had been paralyzing, unable to focus on anything from the moment he and Crystal got the call, until now with Ruby safely in his house. Nothing else mattered right now but this as Michael reinforced the preexisting vow he had to always make sure Ruby was safe. He knew it was overprotective and maybe even overbearing, but he didn’t care, at least not right now.

When they pulled away, both looking much more relaxed after that much needed embrace, Michael rubbed at Ruby’s arms before telling her, “He’s outside.”

Her lips twitched, eyes flickering past him towards the door before looking back at Michael and asking earnestly, “I wanna talk to him.”

Michael nodded, slightly stiff, before pulling away from Ruby and approaching the door. He opened it, jaw set when his eyes landed on Calum, pacing out in the hallway. He looked restless, not at all the composed leader Michael always saw him to act, head snapping towards him at the sound of the open door. He and Calum still had to talk, Michael knew, but he knew how Calum felt about Ruby. And, without her even having to say anything, Michael also knew how his sister felt about his best friend. A bit awkward for him, but he’d get over it.

“Go ahead,” was all Michael said before he walked down the hallway.

In the room, Ruby noticed the hesitance in which Calum entered. It was strange watching him shut the door behind him, lips pressed together and hands behind his back, not at all the stand she was used to. For some reason, Ruby felt nervous; Calum was always so put together, always had everything under control for the majority of the time. And, sure, she’d seen him lose it, but this was different. Within a second, Ruby picked up on the guilt in his dark eyes, in the way his throat worked and the way he chewed his lips—lips she had kissed and craved to feel again.

There was a heavy silence between them as they took in each other’s presence, something they’d been deprived of for too long. Ruby hadn’t realized how much she had missed him. She’d been gone for a day, maybe, but God, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Calum. She’d been terrified, hoping that they’d find her and hating that she was too drugged to move and get herself out of there. Every time Ruby fell unconscious, she dreamed of Calum bursting through those doors, pulling her into his capable arms and reassuring her that she was safe. But then she’d wake up and realize that was only a dream and she was still living a nightmare.

Calum broke the silence, voice raspy as he quietly asked, “Are you okay?”

Ruby offered a breathless smile. “Everyone keeps asking me that.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “You’ve been through a lot.”

“So have you.”

He gave a disbelieving, scoffing shake of his head, looking away from Ruby, giving her a view of his working jaw. “’S incomparable. So don’t try, Red.”

Her heart tugged at his use of the nickname. Ruby’s lips pressed together, twitching upwards into an almost sad smile as Calum remained by the door, gaze on anything but her. “Why won’t you look at me?”

Calum squeezed his eyes shut, facing Ruby but leaning his head against the door, still refusing to look at her. His expression was tight, conflicted with furrowed eyebrows and Ruby took in a deep breath despite the crushing weight on her chest. He looked like he was struggling, neck tense and hands shoved in the pockets of his leather jacket.

Ruby wasn’t sure why her eyes were burning, but the sight of Calum and the lingering overwhelming emotions from everything that’s happened brought tears to her eyes. The entire time the Sabers had her, all Ruby wanted was to be with Calum. Now that they were in the same room, he couldn’t even look at her.

Her heart hurt.

“This is my fault.” The hoarseness of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. Calum kept his eyes closed, though his face was screwed in guilty aggravation. “I fucked up.”

His words had her moving, throat dry as she wiped at her eyes and came to stand in front of Calum. He could feel her presence, she knew, and Ruby reached up to gently cup Calum’s face in her hands, careful of the bruise on his jaw, eyeing the cut on his lip as she brushed her thumbs on his cheeks.

“It’s not. I’m okay. This isn’t on you,” Ruby told him, her voice soft, a bit of a whisper. “I don’t blame you; please don’t blame yourself.”

Calum let her hold his face, a sense of warmth flooding him at her soft touch, heart lurching at the feel of her skin against his. Reluctantly, Calum opened his eyes, culpable brown meeting tearing green, air rushing out of his lungs as he took her in. she looked tired, rightfully so, yet still so effortlessly beautiful. Her lips didn’t have their normal red tint, instead pale and slightly chapped, long lashes framing green eyes swimming with concern and reassurance.

She was the one who had been kidnapped, yet was also the one worrying about Calum.

When would he stop being so fucking selfish?

He let his gaze calculatingly wash over her for a few seconds. Knowing she could feel his bruised jaw tighten under her touch when he looked at the treated injury by her temple. There was also a pale yellowing bruise coloring the top of her cheekbone on the same side of her face. The acknowledgment of her being hit boiled the blood in Calum’s veins and lurched his stomach in acidic nausea.

Swallowing, Calum’s hand slowly raised as his ring clad finger brushed away a few strands of her blonde hair, ever so gently grazing around her injury in the most feather-like touch he’s ever managed. Ruby watched him observe her, feeling the familiar electricity with his touch, watching as his gaze flickered down to her wrists and his full lips pursed. The fire was ever present in his eyes as he took in the pinkened skin where she had been bound by the zipties. Fuck, his heart felt like it was being constricted.

“I’m sorry.” Ruby’s heart dropped at the broken sound of Calum’s voice, her lower lip trembling at how it didn’t suit him at all. His eyebrows drew together guiltily, gaze dropping away from her as he frowned, almost distressfully, at the ground. “I am. . . So fuckin’ sorry for not bein’ able to protect you. I shouldn’t have left—”

“Calum, stop.” Having both Michael and Calum express such obvious guilt was unsettling, two of the strongest men she knew crumbling in front of her. But, God, the sight and sound of Calum so clearly beating himself up for something he had no control over and looking nothing like the hard faced, notorious leader of the Riders had Ruby’s heart sinking. She’d seen what guilt could do to him, knew that even the toughest man had his breaking points. To see him reaching his because of her was heartbreaking. That’s the only way Ruby could describe it. It was wrong and awful made her chest feel heavy. “I’m okay and I’m here. You got me back.”

Calum’s lips pressed together, uncaring of the cut as he said through gritted teeth, “I put you in danger.”

“Stop,” Ruby repeated, her voice firmer and hands shifting up on his face so her fingers met his curls. “Drowning yourself in guilt isn’t going to do anything. With this kind of life, shit like this is expected, isn’t it?”

At that, Calum let out a disagreeing scoff, pushing himself away from the door and walking further into the room. He ignored the emptiness he felt when the distance between him and Ruby increased, running his fingers through his hair and ignoring the sting of his knuckles as they flexed and he argued, “This isn’t your life, Ruby. This shit isn’t supposed to happen to you.”

His back was to her, but Calum still heard the distress in her voice as she responded, “It’s the life of people I love, so it might as well be!” Calum paused, hesitantly disbelieving gaze on the window as he heard Ruby let out a sharp breath. “Because I love you, Calum, and I don’t care about the risks if it means I get to be with you.”

If he thought his heart was struggling before, it was nothing compared to this.

Calum stared out the window, lips parted and breath heavy and blinking rapidly as Ruby’s words rang through his mind. He was frozen; frozen in his heart, his body, and his mind where the only thought echoing was that Ruby loved him. That this wonderful fucking woman who went from being just his best friend’s sister, to someone he had to keep protected, to the only person Calum had let his guard down around and fell in love with without even realizing loved him back.

Him falling for her had happened out of nowhere, completely blindsiding him and knocking him off his feet. But the fact that she actually returned those same overwhelming feelings? That was un-fucking-real. That was more than he deserved. Because how could someone so kind and genuine as her fall for someone living a life as twisted as him?

When he turned around, Calum knew that Ruby felt as genuinely about her words as she’d spoken. He saw the way her eyebrows were drawn together, hopeful that he would believe her and in her words. The damned silence fell upon them once more and through his stunned gaze Calum could see the worry seep back into Ruby’s eyes—only this time it wasn’t just worry over him. Now it was worry over how he would react to the bombshell she’d just dropped, words that she’d blurted without entirely thinking them through because, shit, there had been moments she thought she was going to die. And she couldn’t have died without telling Calum how she felt.

She stared at him, took in the slightly widened brown eyes and parted lips and smoothed out eyebrows as he gave himself a moment to process her words. Each moment that passed by without a response increased Ruby’s nervous heart rate, gazing at the man in front her expectantly—but not too much, because he didn’t owe her anything.

But, shit, she wished he’d say something.

Calum Hood liked to surprise her. So of course, rather than saying anything, he kissed her.

He was in front of her within a blink of an eye and his hands were on her face, warm save for the shock of cool metal of his rings, before his lips came down upon hers in a much needed, desperately heated kiss. Ruby’s response was instant, heart practically jumping out of her chest as her hands blindly found the lapels of his leather jacket, pulling him closer and leaning more into the kiss. Calum didn’t even care for the cut on his lip, too lost in the sensation of Ruby’s body against his, feeling, for the first time, calm in the wake of the torrential storm that had been wracking his body.

His large hands held her face and his head was ducked so he could kiss her, tilting to deepen the kiss and groaning low in his throat as his tongue slid against hers. It felt electric, dizzying and relieving all at once. And Calum pulled away a few moments later, speaking breathlessly as he did so. “I couldn’t breathe.” His eyes were shut, forehead pressed against Ruby’s as he could hear and feel her heavy breath. The sound of his heart thundering was loud in his ears, but Ruby grounded him as he gave a slow shake of his head, forehead still against hers. “From the second I realized you were gone, I couldn’t breathe. Not until now.”

Calum pulled away and Ruby opened her eyes to see him looking at her, and there was a softness in his dark eyes she’d never seen before. Warm and gentle, just like his hold on her despite the urgency of the breathless kiss, staring up at him earnestly as her hand came up to gently cup the uninjured side of his jaw, thumb softly brushing across the cut on his kissed lip that twitched upwards in a smile. “I can breathe because you’re back. And because I love you. More than I thought I was capable of.” His last few words were spoken through a breathlessly disbelieving laugh, gazing at Ruby as if she was some kind of wonder, smitten and all for her.

She couldn’t help the smile that grew on her face, wide and genuine and somewhat tearful but she couldn’t keep it off her face. Because she had fallen hard and fallen fast, unaware that her feelings for the man in front of her were even changing until it hit her just how much she cared for him, wanted him, and to know he was just as dizzy as her was fucking amazing.

So she kissed him again, because she could, and her heart was fucking soaring.

“Mm, wait,” Calum hummed against her lips moments later, as they pulled away Ruby raised an eyebrow. But Calum just looked at her, smirking, as one hand dug into the pocket of his jacket before pulling it out. “I’ve got somethin’ of yours.”

Ruby’s eyes narrowed curiously as her gaze followed Calum lifting his hand, before her mouth dropped in a laugh when he revealed what he was holding. Her favorite lipstick from Anastasia Beverly Hills, her signature true red color in the shade named after her. Calum held the lipstick between his index finger and thumb, holding it up for her with a raise of his eyebrows and a smirk on his lips, and Ruby shook her head in complete fondness because of course he had it in his pocket.

“Had to reunite you with your one true love, Red,” Calum teased, smirk widening into a grin that had Ruby’s heart jumping.

She returned the smile, taking the lipstick from his hand and clutching it in her fist, looking up at the dark haired man as she told him sincerely, “You already have.”

*****

The second Calum slid into the back of the transportation truck, he noticed the sudden tension straightening Oscar’s back. Slamming the door shut behind him, Calum sat on the bench opposite of Oscar, whose wrists and ankles were chained together, a step up from when the fucker had those zip ties on Ruby. Oscar stared at him, lips tight yet unable to hide the dumbfoundment in his eyes at the sight of Calum in the truck with him. In the truck that was transporting him from the county jail to the state prison—the very truck that had suddenly spotted on a deserted road miles upon miles out of town.

Calum sat, legs apart as he leaned forward, elbows resting on his thighs and ring clad fingers linked together as he tauntingly tilted his head. The usual air of dominance he had was suffocating Oscar as Calum sat in his usual all black ensemble, from the leather jacket to the polished boots. “I’m sorry—did you actually think you were bein’ transferred?” He spoke as if he was talking to a child, slowly and voice laced with exaggerated mock. “You blew up my pub, killed my men, and tried to kill my girl. That’s punishable by death, mate.”

Oscar’s silent resolve crumbled, face twisting in a fierce scowl as he spat, “They deserve to rot in hell. And your girl’s lucky all I did was drug her—could’ve had my way but I don’t fuck with Rider trash.”

Oscar’s words were like fuel to the fire already burning in Calum’s veins, his movements swift with how he swung a right hook right into Oscar’s jaw, leaning back in satisfaction as the sound of his fist colliding with Oscar’s skin echoed in the truck and watching as he crumpled on his side to the bench he was sitting on. His face was screwed up in pain, chains not allowing him much freedom as he spat out a mouthful of blood on the bench before trying to sit up.

Instead of letting him do so, Calum got up from the bench, having to bend a bit because they were still inside the truck, as he grabbed the back of Oscar’s shirt with one hand and slid him forward as his other hand opened the back door. “Well, whaddya know,” Calum mused, voice dangerously casual as he used his single handed grip on Oscar to toss him out of the truck, watching as he fell unceremoniously to the dirt ground as jumped out of the truck. The ground crunched under Calum’s boots as he squinted slightly against the sun, aware of the three police officers watching. Calum tilted his chin, eyes on Oscar as he pathetically tried to push himself off the ground. “I don’t fuck with Saber trash.”

Oscar finally got to his feet, staggering thanks to the heavy chains binding him together. The guy breathed heavily, lips and teeth stained crimson, the slight breeze ruffling his hair as he watched Calum hold a hand out. One of the cops pulled his gun out of the holster, handing it over to Calum, and Oscar knew. He knew this was planned from the second Calum slid into the truck, but with the officer handing him his own gun, Oscar knew they were going to make his death look like an attempt to escape.

While one officer gave Calum the gun, another walked over and undid the chains holding Oscar together as they fell to the ground in a heap. The cops stepped out of the way, and an easy, menacing smirk quirked at Calum’s lips as he encouraged, “I’ll even give you a head start.”

Oscar gaped at him for a moment, unsure if he was going to believe Calum, until the tattooed Rider just waved the gun with an expectant raise of his eyebrows. And then Oscar turned and took off, running as fast as his feet could carry him as Calum watched him go, dust kicking behind his feet as he went. And then Calum smirked, once against raising the gun, squinting one eye against the sun as well as to get his aim before he pulled the trigger.

Oscar didn’t even get to register the boom of the gun, a pained scream escaping him as his legs gave out and he tumbled to the ground, a bullet buried in the back of his calf. Lowering his arm, Calum strolled over to where Oscar was on the ground, leg bleeding and his forearms on the ground as his hands curled into fists, head bowed as he continuously groaned at the bullet burning into his muscle. There was a splatter of blood on the ground that was beginning to pool as blood leaked from the bullet hole, and Calum walked to stand next to Oscar.

Then, with his foot, Calum dug it under Oscar’s stomach before turning him over, watching calmly as Oscar rolled over with a thud, laying on his back and groaning at the pain in his leg. His face was screwed up, the sun beaming down on him and the front of his clothes riddled with dirt. He managed to open his scrunched up eyes, the sun blinding yet he still managed to look up at Calum.

And, of course, the Rider reveled in the paralyzing fear he could see in his eyes. It’s what this little piece of shit deserved. There was something sinfully satisfying at the knowledge that the very last thing Oscar would be seeing was the face of the man he tried to fuck over.

One corner of Calum’s lips curled up into a malicious smirk, utterly taunting. “I got a message for your Uncle Hawkins.” He pointed the gun, aiming it from where he stood right to Oscar’s forehead as he stared up at Calum, eyes widening and breathing heavy and mute in terror. Fucking good. Calum’s finger was on the trigger. “Tell him. . . I win.”

His words were followed by the sound of his gun going off, and it was over.

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