Free Resisting Ruby Rose (The Ruby Rose Series) by Jessie Humphries Page B

let me help you put it on.”
    All she did was nod. She wasn’t mad at me. She wasn’t even freaking out like I would have anticipated. She was listless, as if in shock. Chase, too. Though he might’ve have had an extra dose of fatigue from being out most of the night before.
    “It’s going to be OK, Alana. I promise,” I said as I helped her pull the vest over her head and secure the straps. I remembered that my dad once told me I should never make promises I couldn’t keep. That’s why he never promised me he would always come home. That h e’d never leave me. He knew all too well how high the chances were of breaking his word. But I didn’t take my words back. I would do anything to save her, Liam, and Chase from this mess.
    “Take these,” Quinn said to me, handing me several full clips and a handgun that looked an awful lot like my first gun-love, Smith. I let the weight of it in my hand fill me with energy. I could do this.
    “Ruby, we don’t have to do what they say.” Liam put his hand on my arm. “We can wait it out. Help has got to be here soon.”
    “Yeah, but we can’t be sure it’ll be soon enough.” I put one of the clips in, letting the slide and click tell him what words alone couldn’t convey. I was ready to fight. Everyone was. All the weapons had been passed out, cocked, and loaded. Even Alana’s.
    “Liam,” Quinn said with finality. “Follow Sofia’s lead. I will take care of Ruby. Do you understand?”
    As if ganging up on him, Sofia grabbed Liam by his bulletproof vest with surprising strength. “Let’s go.”
    “Everyone else, follow me,” Quinn ordered as he made his way to the rear of the room.
    “Holy shit,” Chase muttered as he watched Sofia almost drag Liam in the opposite direction. Liam wasn’t exactly resisting, more like waiting for me to fight for him. “Is this happening?”
    Liam finally broke Sofia’s hold on him as they reached the door. “We need to stay together, Ruby. I’ll do anything to keep you safe.” A glistening resolve formed in his eyes. Even from across the room, the glare penetrated me. I knew h e’d kill again, or die trying, to get me out alive. I didn’t doubt for a second that he would risk everything for me.
    “If you want to keep her safe, come with me,” Sofia said, not backing down. “Now.”
    “Go, Liam,” Quinn ordered, herding Alana, Chase, and me toward the back of the house. I could have fought against it, but I didn’t. I could have argued that it was too dangerous, but I didn’t. Instead I walked backward, following Quinn—knowing he was right. This was the best plan we had.
    As I watched Liam’s heart break, I thought about using the L-word, just in case I never got another chance. But again, I didn’t. He was risking his life to keep me safe, and I was letting him. His disappointment turned to resolution as he gave Sofia the nod of acquiescence.
    Only then did I see how Sofia was communicating with Quinn—through earpieces. She put one finger to her ear and confirmed, “In position.” She was wearing my soft pink Roxy hoodie with bright yellow rays of sunshine, filling it out in the chest area far better than I ever could. She might’ve been the sexiest bodyguard of all time.
    I took Alana’s hand and led her to the back door. Joining Quinn in the kitchen, Alana, Chase, and I stayed low beneath the window line.
    “In position,” Quinn spoke into his earpiece. “On my count.”
    “So what?” Chase started. “We just run and hope for the best?”
    “No, I go first.” Quinn pulled out what looked like a hand grenade out of his vest.
    Alana gasped when she saw it, expressing what I felt.
    “It’s a diversion,” Quinn explained. “I throw it out and run. I signal for you to run. I’ll cover you. Simple as that. Understood?”
    “Understood,” I said taking the initiative. “I’ll cover you.”
    I squeezed Alana’s hand, not sure who I was trying to reassure—her or me. She was shaking.
    Quinn