Survivor

Chapter 17

Ruby stared at Nikita, mouth open in shock. This mansion was the last place where she would have expected the brown-haired woman.

"How... I was so worried, I thought something bad had happened to you! Are you okay?"

Before Nikita could answer, the man spoke, a confused expression on his face.

"You know each other?"

"Nikita flew with Sam and me on vacation to LA. At least I thought at the time that it was just a holiday."

The man raised an eyebrow at what Ruby had said and looked at Nikita. She nodded, before gesturing from Ruby back to the driveway.

"All of that is over, go back home. I'll stay here for a while."

Ruby clenched her teeth, anger boiling up inside of her. Everyone told her to just go back and it was starting to piss her off.

"No, I'm not going home. First, I am fucking kidnapped by Sam, then I have to play his messenger, the guy here looks like he had a date with a gallows, you disappear without a trace and then I find you here of all places. I'm not fucking stupid, and I don't think this is all just a big coincidence, so I'm staying until someone will explain to me what the hell is going on here!"

Breathing hard, a sudden wave of tiredness hit her after her outburst. For a moment there was silence. Then Nikita looked at the man next to her.

"She's right. Sam dragged her into this. I can't just let her walk around out there unprotected, especially after she already saved my life twice. Even if you don't care, a life debt is not something I can ignore. I have to protect her until I can pay it back."

The man pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a deep sigh.

"Do you trust Ruby?"

Nikita looked at her with a serious expression, letting her gaze slide over the red-haired woman stopping at her light green eyes.

"I don't distrust her." After a moment of silence, she nodded. "Yes, I trust her."

The man raised an eyebrow, but after Nikita said nothing more, he threw his arms in the air in annoyance.

"Fine, she can stay, but you're responsible for her. And keep her away from Aaron, he doesn't like strangers."

With that, he turned around and disappeared into the same room from which Nikita had come earlier. Nikita looked at Ruby until she met her gaze. When she caught Ruby's attention, a smile bloomed on Nikita's face, the first genuine impression of happiness she saw from the woman with the golden eyes. The sight made her belly swoop with something.

"He's not angry with you, if that's what you think. Just worried about his family. His name is Benjamin."

Nikita stepped away from the door and made an inviting gesture into the house.

"Come in."

Ruby hesitated for a moment before walking past Nikita, looking around the hallway. To the right of the front door was a floor-to-ceiling mirror. Ruby watched Nikita close the door and when she turned around their eyes met again in the reflection. Silence hung between the two women and Ruby could feel her heart thudding in her chest. But then she remembered Nikitas words and a confused look spread on her face.

"What do you mean I saved you twice?"

"Doesn't matter. First, tell us what you know about Sam."

"Wait, who is us-"

Ruby cut herself off, as she followed Nikita and entered a large living room. Benjamin was sitting on a large cream-colored couch, arms crossed. Ruby just glanced at him, but then her eyes locked onto the other two man in the room. One sat on a massive leather armchair next to the couch, knees wide open, one hand resting between his legs the other laying on the thigh of the younger-looking man next to him. The big dudes buzzcut and the stubble on his face made his grim expression just more prominent.