Ruby Redfort: try not to scream

Chapter 20- Part of the deal

Ruby awoke to a sound she had hoped she would never have to hear again. The tap tap of Italian leather shoes on the floorboards of the Crew's drawing room. Her eyes flicked open to find she was alone in a room with the one man she feared more than anything. The Count.

"Miss Redfort," he growled. "What a pleasure it is to see you again,"
Ruby scrambled to her feet, looking into his eyes but instantly regretting it. They were completely black and showed no emotion, like sharks.
"It's been a while. How've you been?" Ruby said, trying to remain calm.
"Oh you know, as villainous as ever,"  he smiled. "I was sorry to hear about Kekoa. I understand she meant a great deal to you." He paused to smile. His teeth were bright white against his pale skin and black eyes.
"I regret to inform you that something has happened to another friend of yous,"
"What are you talking about?" Ruby's voice cracked in fear.
"I'm afraid Samuel Colt is currently with Lorelie and well... I'm not sure if he'll make it,"
Ruby crumbled to the floor. She could barely breathe.
"Yes, it is a shame," mumbled The Count. "But you know, you could save him,"
Ruby looked up, confused. She tried to stop her hands from shaking.
"How?"
"You know it's not them I want. The only person I really want dead is you. I won't hurt any of them ever again. All you have to do is die," his smile widened and Ruby shivered.
"Why would I ever agree to that when I don't trust you at all?" She growled, standing up.
"Fine,"

At that moment the door burst open and Hitch and Clancy ran in. Instead of running or backing off, The Count's smile only spread.
"Perfect timing," he sneered. "Seen as you are not willing to cooperate, Miss Redfort, say goodbye to your friends." He pulled a gun out from his jacket and aimed at Hitch. Ruby moved faster than ever before. She leaped across the room and pushed Hitch out of range. The bullet scraped the side of her arm sending blood trickling down to her wrist.
"Ok," she blurted out. "Ok. Fine. But you can't hurt them and you let Colt go and I swear to God that if you so much as come near any of them, I will kill you," Her breathing was rapid as she clung to her arm in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
"I don't doubt it," The Count's eyes glinted in the thin light. Ruby turned to Hitch who was still on the floor and when she looked back up, The Count was gone.

Hitch stood up and noticed the blood seeping from Ruby's arm.
"Ruby, why did you do that?" he gasped, still confused about what had happened.
"What? Was I just supposed to stand there and let you die?" she winced.
"Your so stupid kid. Look at your arm," He tore the bottom of his shirt and tied it around her arm stopping the bleeding.
"Hey, it's part of our deal. I do what I'm told as long as you don't call me stupid if I take a bullet for you," she smiled weakly.
A voice came from Hitch's earpiece.
"What's going on? Redfort's earpiece is down and we heard a gunshot. Hitch?" LB's gravely tones were unmistakable.
"The Count decided to show up. Ruby was drugged and is now bleeding pretty badly," answered Hitch.
"He shot at her?"
"No. He was aiming for me. Redfort took the blow, pushing me out of the way," Hitch smiled at Ruby, thankful to be alive. LB took a moment to respond.
"Blacker has Rodriguez in custody and is on the way to put him in prison along with his son, Connor. Bring Redfort to HQ and get her checked out by SJ," The call was cut.
Hitch managed to get both Ruby and Clancy out of the party by persuading Ambasador Crew that it was very important that Clancy come with Ruby to the hospital. He drove them both to Greenwood House and they entered Spectrum. Clancy stayed in Ruby's room, knowing that HQ wasn't exactly a place he was invited to enter. They walked through the green room and into the orange corridor where SJ and the health section was.

"It's Ruby," said Hitch as he walked in, half carrying, half assisting Ruby.  She sat down on one of the chairs as SJ examined her arm.
"You're going to be ok, Ruby. It'll leave a nasty scar but you'll be alright after a few days."
Ruby sighed. "It hurts like hell,"
"I bet it does," said SJ, laughing slightly. "You're very lucky to have her Hitch. That kind of gun at such close range would have given you a slow and painful death. I think you should thank your lucky stars that this kid loves you,"
"I'm one lucky agent that's for sure," he grinned and looked at his watch.
"LB?" asked Ruby.
"Yep, she wants to see us all,"
"Thanks SJ," smiled Ruby as they left the room.

They turned down the red corridor and went into Ruby's office and sat on the couch was LB.
"Glad to see you alive, Redfort," she murmured. Ruby contemplated making a sarcastic comment but then remembered what she had just agreed to. She wouldn't be alive for much longer. She just gave a thin smile.
"I hear you took the bullet for Hitch," Ruby stayed quiet and just nodded. "Why?"
"I care about him and besides I thought that The Count already had one agent,"
"Which agent?" LB looked confused. Hitch's face suddenly snapped back around to face Ruby, remembering what had been said. Ruby had agreed to something. She had bargained with The Count. Ruby shifted uncomfortably in his gaze.
"The Count has Colt but I think he's gonna let him go," said Ruby.
"He already has, Redfort. Colt came back in a few minutes ago," said LB.
"Is he alright?" asked Ruby.
"He's a little shaken up but apparently it's on account of you that he was set free,"
"Really? What did you do?" asked Hitch. Ruby noticed the suspicion in his face.
"I don't know. Maybe he thinks killing Kekoa was enough," Ruby was a pretty good liar so it slipped past LB. Hitch, however, was not falling for it. He didn't say anything in front of LB but he had his suspicions.

Thanks for reading xxx