33. Ruby

“Call us the second you’re ready to leave and we’ll be here to get you. And remember, you’re perfect just the way you are, baby girl,” Jace repeated.

He’d said the same thing at least three times on the drive over to her parents’ estate. She knew that both of her Daddies were anxious about not being there with her, but they were trying to keep it together for her sake.

She just knew if she showed up with one of them, her parents would turn their noses up to either one of them and she didn’t want to subject the two people she loved the most to that sort of treatment. The questions that would follow were also something Ruby wanted to avoid.

“I will, Daddy. I promise. I’ll be just fine. You two go do something fun. Go have a beer or something. Let loose for once. But no strip clubs. I’d hate to have to show up and scratch the stripper’s eyes out for looking at you guys,” she said with a grin.

Jace and Zane stared at her in shock before Zane started shaking his head and Jace chuckled.

“Baby girl, you are so fucking precious,” Zane said.

She giggled. Only her Daddies would think that of her after threatening to scratch someone’s eyes out.

“I love you guys. I’ll be fine. Besides, my parents will be so busy chatting with all their snooty rich friends, they’ll just ignore me, which is for the best. Once I’ve made enough of an appearance, I’ll call you to come get me.”

Zane reached back and pulled her hand to his mouth. “I love you, little one. Can’t wait to get you home tonight and get you back into your happy Little headspace.”

Jace got out of the car and opened the back door, helping her out of the back seat. Zane hadn’t been happy about her not riding in her booster seat, but he eventually gave in when she told him that the straps would wrinkle her beautiful dress. Once she was on her feet, she looked up at him and smiled.

“I love you, baby girl. Try to have some fun, okay?” Jace asked.

Fun. Yeah, she wasn’t so sure that fun was on the menu for the night, but she nodded.

“I will, Daddy,” she said, standing up on her tiptoes to kiss him.

“You look absolutely beautiful, Ruby. We’re so damn proud to be your Daddies,” Jace said as he brushed a stray hair away from her face.

“Thank you, Daddy. I’m proud to be your little girl.”

Once Jace pulled his Jeep out of the large circular driveway, Ruby made her way up the steps to the grand entrance of her parents’ mansion. A man with hard hair and dark eyes wearing a tux stood at the doorway with a clipboard in hand.

“What’s your name, please?” he asked politely.

“I’m Ruby Montgomery. I’m Evelyn and George’s daughter.”

The man smiled and nodded. “Thank you. There’s an attendant inside that can take your shawl and purse if you’d like. Have a great time.”

Offering the man a smile, she walked into the enormous foyer and sighed. She knew some people would walk into her parents’ home and wish they could live so lavishly, but it had never been something Ruby had been proud of or wanted. She would have lived in a shack if it meant having love and attention from her parents.

After handing her shawl to the attendant inside, she walked further into the house toward the grand ballroom.

“Ruby?” a deep familiar voice asked.

Turning, she recognized the man walking toward her.

“Nash? What are you doing here? Do you know my parents?” she asked.

He didn’t seem like the type of man who would be acquaintances with her family. He was too real and genuine for that.

“No. I’m here as security detail. I work for Damian’s private security firm. Jace and Zane aren’t with you?” he asked, looking behind her.

Shaking her head, she sighed. “No. I thought it would be better if they didn’t come. My parents . . . well, they aren’t exactly very welcoming unless you’re in their social circle.”

Nash smiled and nodded, a look flashing in his eyes like he was familiar with that notion.

“I hope they’re treating you kindly,” she said.

Reaching out, he hooked his index finger under her chin so she was forced to look up at him.

“You don’t worry about me, little bit. I can take care of myself. The guy at the door is Hudson. He’s a Daddy, too. Damian is also around here somewhere. If you need anything tonight, come find one of us, okay?” Nash said quietly enough that only she could hear.

She nodded. “Yes, Sir. You look very handsome in that tux, by the way. Maybe I’ll find you a single Little while I’m here.”

He gave her a stern look that made her pull her bottom lip between her teeth nervously.

“Don’t you dare. You and Addie need to stop trying to find someone to fix me up with,” he told her.

Shrugging her shoulders, she flashed a mischievous smile. “Can’t help fate, Nashy.”

Letting out a groan, Nash shook his head. “That nickname is not allowed. Don’t make me call your Daddies and tell them you’re being a brat.”

Ruby giggled and reached up to straighten his bowtie. “Okay, I’ll be good. I hope to see you again tonight. You might be the only person here I actually like.”

His face lit up in a smile. “Same here, little bit. You look beautiful by the way. If you were mine, I wouldn’t have let you out of my sight. Have fun, Ruby.”

“What are you wearing? You didn’t cut your hair,” her mother hissed as she pulled Ruby by the elbow toward the corner of the room.

Pulling her arm from her mom’s grasp, Ruby stared at the perfectly manicured woman. “I didn’t want to cut my hair, Mother. I’ve been trying to grow it out for years. And I wanted to wear this dress. I think it’s beautiful.”

Her mom looked her up and down with a look of irritation. “You look like you’re going to stand on a street corner. And what is this necklace you’re wearing? Did you buy that from the internet? I could have sent you some jewelry to wear that didn’t come from a coin machine.”

Ouch. That hurt.

“It’s good to see you too, Mom. Happy anniversary,” she replied through clenched teeth.

Evelyn let out a huff and spun around, plastering on a big fake smile before she walked away.

Letting out a sigh of relief that her mother was leaving her to go ruin other people’s lives, Ruby grabbed a glass of champagne as a server walked by with a tray full of crystal flutes. Maybe if she drank enough of the bubbly, she’d have a better time. At least she’d probably find it more entertaining.

“Hors d’oeuvre, miss?” a server offered, holding out a tray of tasty-looking snacks.

“What is it?” she asked curiously.

“It’s fig and pear bruschetta, miss,” the man said politely.

She smiled and nodded, picking up one of the tiny plates. “Thank you.”

The server smiled and nodded, walking away as she took a bite of the fancy appetizer. Realizing she was hungrier than she’d thought, she finished off what was on the plate, hoping her mother hadn’t seen her wolf down the snack.

Picking her champagne flute up from where she’d set it, Ruby took a drink and frowned. The bubbles felt like they were itching her throat. Swallowing her saliva, she panicked slightly as she realized she still felt the itch.

Looking for one of her parents, she spotted her dad first. Walking over to him, she smiled as politely as she could, trying not to be rude as she cut into the conversation he was having.

“Sorry to interrupt, Dad, but were there peanuts in the bruschetta?” she asked, her throat feeling scratchy as she spoke.

He looked at her with an uninterested look.

“Your mother planned all the food, Ruby,” he said before turning back toward the two men he’d been talking to.

Turning away from her dad, she scanned the room again and found her mother speaking with several women. Walking as calmly as she could manage, she tapped her mom on the shoulder.

“Mom, I need to talk to you,” she said.

Each swallow felt more difficult and she was starting to panic.

“What is it, dear? I’m speaking with Margaret and Jill at the moment,” Evelyn said tightly.

Pulling her mom away by her elbow, Ruby gave the other women an apologetic look.

“I just need her for one minute,” she told the women.

“Ruby, what are you doing? That was rude!” Evelyn snapped.

“Mom, were there peanuts in the bruschetta?”

Giving her an irritated expression, her mom looked her up and down again. “You’re all red and your skin is blotchy. You need to go to the bathroom and apply some coverup. It looks like you haven’t applied lotion or something.”

“Mom!” she snapped.

Evelyn’s eyes widened and then turned into a glare. “You need to be quiet. Are you trying to embarrass me?”

Taking in the deepest breath she could manage, which wasn’t much, Ruby closed her eyes, feeling tears welling up inside.

“I think I’m having an allergic reaction and I need to know if there were peanuts in the bruschetta or not. I need to know how seriously I’m going to react,” Ruby said in a pleading voice.

“Yes, there were peanuts in it. They were ground up and sprinkled on top. Any idiot would have seen that,” her mom answered.

Except she hadn’t seen anything ground up on top because she would have questioned it if she had.

“You know I’m allergic to peanuts. Why would you order something with peanuts, or at least not warn me?” she asked.

“Oh, like I’m supposed to remember that you’re allergic to something? You’re a grown woman, Ruby,” her mom hissed.

Okay, arguing about it was going to get her nowhere and with each passing minute, she could feel her air becoming more and more restricted.

“I need to get to the hospital. I don’t have my epi-pen with me because I don’t have my normal purse. Can you take me?”

Her mom let out an exasperated sound. “You’re being dramatic, Ruby. We can’t leave our own party. Have one of the security guards order a car for you.”

Looking up at her mom’s cold expression, Ruby backed away and practically ran toward the foyer. How could she have forgotten to bring an epi-pen?

As she walked down the marble hallway toward the front entrance, her foot slipped and she fell to the ground.

“Ruby?” Nash called out.

Looking up, she saw him running toward her.

“Ruby, baby, what’s wrong? Your lips are swollen. What’s going on?” he asked worriedly.

“I need . . . my Daddies . . . I’m h-having an allergic r-reaction and I don’t have my epi-pen. I n-need to g-go to the emergency room.”

Before she could even finish what she was saying, Nash had his phone up to his ear.

“It’s Nash. I’m at the same party as Ruby and she said she’s having an allergic reaction and she doesn’t have her epi-pen. I can take her to the hospital,” Nash rambled off.

He quickly put his phone in his pocket and reached down, pulling her up from the ground and into his arms.

“Your Daddies are only a block away and they have an epi-pen with them. They’re coming here to give it to you so you can stop reacting, and then we’ll take you to the hospital to get treated further. I need you to try not to panic, little bit. Take slow breaths with me.”

She nodded and tried to follow his instructions to breathe but everything seemed to be a blur. It wasn’t until she saw her Daddies running toward her that she actually felt as though she would be okay.