Resisting Ruby Rose (The Ruby Rose Series) Read Online Free

I thought at first, too, but then he sent me the email with all the pictures of the place and stuff.” He turned the laptop so I could see the grandeur of the rustic mansion. He clicked through pictures of massive bedrooms, a private movie theater, an indoor pool and hot tub, a state-of-the-art gy m . . . and if all that weren’t enticing enough, the last image he clicked on was of an outdoor shooting range.
    Liam knew exactly what he was doing. I put my head in my hands to gather strength against the attack on my weak spot. I hadn’t been able to train properly in months, and not just because of the still tender scar tissue in my side, but because guns and knives were a strict no-no according to the terms of my “arrangement” with the powers-that-be. Liam was well aware that I’d been going crazy without my usual outlets.
    “I can’t leave her, Liam—” I started to say.
    “Just hear me out. The doctors said they’re not going to let her wake up for at least several days, and that you don’t need to be there. Plus, I talked to Mathews, and even he said it’d be better if we could get you somewhere isolated and safe while they investigate. He’ll send a couple of men along with us to keep an eye out for any threats. So why not get away from everything for two days? We could be back by Friday.”
    Holy onslaught of calculated convincing! But while Liam’s arguments were exceptionally persuasive and entirely logical, the idea still didn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t bear to think that my mom could take a turn for the worse while I wasn’t here. And I felt like I should be actively pursuing Martinez, not off on a getaway.
    “But what if she needs me? What if she can sense that I’m not there?” I asked, knowing my mom never “needed” me. Or at least that’s how it had to come to feel.
    “Ruby!” A shrill, high-pitched girl voice nearly shattered my eardrums. “Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygos h . . . ” Alana had made her way to the top of the staircase.
    “Yes, she knows,” Liam said, sounding slightly guilty.
    “What?” I turned to him and bulged out my eyes. “You told her before you told me?”
    “Not really. Chase did. He sent an email to both of us at the same time,” Liam explained under his breath so Alana wouldn’t hear.
    “Before you go getting all excited on me, Alana,” I said, sitting forward, “this isn’t happening. I’m not about to go on a vacation while—”
    “It’s not a vacation,” Liam interrupted. “It’s more like an opportunity to go somewhere safe with the people who love you most. We’ll sneak away so the paparazzi don’t know. We could be together while your mom heals. She’s going to be OK. You know that.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t know that. The doctors can’t guarantee anything. You heard them say that.”
    “I also heard them say that sh e’d survive. And you’ll be there when she wakes up, I promise. It’s only a few hours away. We could come back anytime we want, day or night. Something changes with your mom, and we’ll be here before you know it.” He took my hand in his.
    “We’re your family, Rue.” Alana put her arm around my shoulders. “We want to take care of you.”
    I stood to shake them both off me. “Let me just think about it, OK?”
    After staring at the endless blue ocean and sky for too long, I went back downstairs and found Dr. T in her office.
    “Hey,” I said, leaning on the doorframe in case she was busy and didn’t want me to come in.
    “Hey back,” Dr. T said, her all-knowing eyes crinkling at the sight of me. “Come in. I haven’t seen you since early this morning.”
    I trudged in and slumped into one of her oversize chairs. Pulling my knees to my chest, I closed my eyes to organize my thoughts.
    “I need to talk to you, Dr. T,” I said, opening my eyes. Sh e’d rolled her chair close to mine—the position we used to sit in during the good ol’ days when she was my official therapist.