Santos
**SANTOS**
Slipping into my room, I finish texting then approach my bed. Ruby is groggy, after all, she is just coming out of her drug induced stupor. I hadn't wanted to dose her again, but after we fucked and she still tried to kill me, I thought it best that I put her under. Then I redressed her in new clothes and cuffed her to the bed, once more. If I hadn't, I'm sure one of us would be dead.
It still boiled my insides when I thought of how careless I'd been. Falling for her seemingly genuine pleas for my touch like a rookie. Ordering my men off of her so I could have her to myself. We connected during sex, and I don't mean physically. There was something there that was raw and potent and hotter than I'd ever experienced with anyone else. Something I was fairly aching to have again. Something that I *would* have definitely gone for if I hadn't caught her with that imbecile's knife in her hands, posed to slit my throat. I hadn't even had the chance to collect my breath yet, and I wanted to *bask* in the pleasure she'd given me, but no. She couldn't allow it. She had to ruin it by holding a knife to my throat. I don't know how she got it off that idiot, but it must have been after he sliced off her clothes. My throwing him into the wall might even have had something to do with it. That's *probably* when she swiped it.
I had to hurt her right then and nearly snapped her fucking arm, but I got it from her. It was almost *too easy* to do, too. That's the part that boggles me. The Ruby that I have come to know would never have given me a *chance* to take it from her. The Ruby from the cells down in the dungeons would have slid that blade across my jugular and disappeared into the night. But *this,* Ruby, the one tied to the bed - she decided to apologize first and that was what did her in.
Ironically, that is what did *me* in, too.
Now... it feels like I can't kill her. Not only because I want to fuck her again, and again, and again, but *because* she bloody apologized with fucking tears in her eyes. Like she hated that she had to murder me and was saying goodbye. The fucking bitch! My heart hadn't so much as clenched in twenty years, but the sight of her beautiful, apologetic, gaze burned pain right through my soul.
I'm not a sentimental man by any means. Never have I ever let emotions get in the way of my job. *Some*, no, not some... *most* would even say that I don't *have* emotions. I would even have said that, and I *didn't* have any, until I made the mistake of giving in to *her.* Ruby.
Goddamn her for it. Because now I can't even look at her without my chest aching for something she was never willing to give me anyway.
I played right into her hands. And while I know, to some extent, her desire for me was real, I also know it must not have meant much to her. She *used* it to gain the upperhand. The woman is *seriously* dedicated to her job *and* that smug bastard, Alex DeMarco. I hate that fucker. More now than ever.
Maybe she's in love with him, after all. God forbid I find *that* out. I'll burn his entire city to a crisp.
She says she doesn't love him that way, but I don't believe her. Why else would she remain so loyal to him? Why when I can offer her everything that he can and more? It has to be that she's in love with him even though she swears that they've never even lain together. Alex DeMarco is a manwhore and Ruby is beyond beautiful, he would *definitely* have fucked her at least once. Sometimes once is all it takes for women to fall that hard.
*Who the hell are you to talk? You've only had Ruby once and already it's changing you.*
My spies have told me that DeMarco appears to be in love with someone and that someone is *not* Ruby. But since she seems bound and determined to go back to that bastard, I've decided to let her. I'm going to trade him his assassin for the woman he loves and he won't even know it until it's too late.
I hit the video call button on my phone, wait for an answer, then mute the speaker and set it up on the bar so the camera has a view of the entire bed and the woman who is tied to it. Then I smile into the camera and walk toward my gorgeous little captive.
Ruby's lips frown, but her eyes smile as I approach. "Bastard," she hisses.
"That's not what you were calling me yesterday," I taunt her, pretending not to appraise her injured arm in the restraint. Satisfied that it's not swollen and I *didn't* break it, I ask, "How are you feeling?"
"Not feeling like apologizing. That's for sure! You've been keeping me so doped up, when I finally get free I'm going to have to check into a goddamned rehab!" she snarls.
"When you get free..." I chortle, stroking a hand up over one leg and then over her breasts. Her body revels in my touch and although she tries to hide it, I feel her tremble with need.
*Damn it. Now my dick is hard. Why did I touch her?*
"I'm *going* to get out of this," Ruby promises arrogantly. "One way or another."
I sigh, meeting her eyes and allowing the emotions that I don't *want* to be feeling to enter my gaze. "I have to ask you one more time. Even though I already know what the answer is probably going to be." She starts shaking her head, but I ignore her. "Join me. Leave DeMarco behind and join me."
She surprises me when she doesn't give me an outright no this time. "Why?" she asks. "Why would you want me to join you? How would you *ever* be able to trust me if I did?"
I peer down into her mesmerizing blue-green eyes and shrug. *She's right. How would I?* "I probably wouldn't."
She nods, her eyes moistening and almost causing my chest to explode with longing for her. I *fucking* hate the fact that she makes me feel. And I hate that I'm so willing to spare her life. I've *never* spared anyone. *Never.* And the only way I'm able to do it now and *not* lose the respect of my men, is by making a trade. So... that's it then. It's what I'll have to do.
Alex will have *my* woman, and I... will have his.
I smile faintly, then lean down and kiss her mouth gently. Her lips tremble. but she doesn't pull away. I whisper, "At least this time, you didn't say no."
Then I step away from her and move toward my phone, watching the camera the entire time. Satisfied that Miss Romany is still watching, I raise the phone a bit higher to grant her a better look, then I disconnect.
"Are you leaving?" Ruby asks.
"Leaving you?" I ask sadly, knowing that's not what she meant. "No, Ruby. You're the one who is leaving me."
Then I step out the door and send another text message with Ruby's phone.
RUBY-
Now you've seen her and you know she's alive. So prepare yourself. This happens Friday.
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