Vegas Ruby🥀 | Taennie ff |

Chapter 7

"Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely." 

– Edna St. Vincent Millay

✩♬ ₊˚.🪨⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Ruby

I flinched every time my uncle's stifled cries rang out as Jungkook and Taehyung broke each of his fingers. My eyes weren't on my uncle, though, but instead on my husband's face. His expression was keen and attentive as he watched my uncle like he was conducting an interesting experiment.

Next, they began cutting his clothes off his body, slicing his skin over and over in the process. I jerked to my feet. I couldn't watch this, couldn't see him naked, couldn't listen to his muffled cries anymore.

Taehyung looked over to me and stopped his brother from removing my uncle's underpants. Taehyung walked toward me. "Do you want to hear what he has to say before you go?"

I wasn't sure but I gave a very small nod.

Taehyung went back and pulled the sock out of my uncle's mouth. "I'm sorry," Durant croaked. "Please forgive me." His eyes begged me.

Taehyung looked at me, cold gray eyes emotionless despite what he had been doing to my uncle. "Do you forgive him?"

Could I forgive him? Can you forgive having your childhood destroyed? Having your innocence ripped from you? Losing that childlike trust in your family in the worst way possible? "No," I said.

Taehyung stuffed the sock back into Durant's mouth.

I had to go when Taehyung brought the knife down onto my uncle's chest. I closed the door and took a shuddering breath then stiffened when I noticed Namjoon heading my way, carrying transfusion bags. I moved to the side so he could enter, but he returned a moment later with empty arms.

"I'm going to take you to Jungkook's room. Taehyung will join you later."

I didn't say anything, just watched the tall blond man. We walked in silence, and when I stepped into Jungkook's room, he left me alone. I walked over to the bed and crept under the blankets, staring into the darkness. The bed was too heavy with the memories of the past, even if it wasn't the same bed where it had happened.

Slipping out of the bed, I curled up in one of the armchairs, not bothering with a blanket. Much later, the door creaked open. As the light spilled in from the corridor, I could see Taehyung dressed in his wedding suit.

Then he closed the door, bathing us in darkness. He stopped halfway to the bed. "You can sleep in the bed. Jungkook won't require it tonight. It's ours."

I swallowed. "I haven't slept in a bed in years."

"Why?" There was no judgment in his voice, only mild curiosity.

"Because that's where it happened," I choked.

"He begged for death in the end if it's any consolation."

I sucked in my breath. Was it? It shouldn't have been, but part of me

felt consoled. "Thank you," I whispered.

"The power he still holds over you ... that's something you have to break."

I stood and slowly walked toward the bed. In the dim light I could only make out Taehyung's tall form, but I had a feeling he was watching me.