Chapter 23 Stay away from her
CHAPTER 23
Stay away from her
Leo immediately turned to her. “Are you okay?”
“I just need to use the bathroom,” she said softly. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
He studied her face carefully, then leaned closer. “Two minutes, Ruby, not more.”
She nodded.
But before she could step away, Leo caught her hand.
“Ruby.”
She looked back.
“If you feel uncomfortable… Call me. I’ll come.”
Something tightened inside her chest at how serious he sounded.
“I will,” she promised.
He let her go slowly.
Ruby slipped through the side hallway toward the guest bathrooms. The noise from the ballroom faded behind her, replaced by softer music and the distant echo of footsteps.
The hallway was wide… too wide. Empty, and quiet. She exhaled shakily, trying to gather herself.
She rounded a corner—
And crashed into someone.
“Oh!” Ruby stumbled back.
Strong hands steadied her by the arms.
“Easy there,” a low male voice said.
Ruby lifted her eyes—and froze.
A man stood in front of her, tall, broad shouldered, wearing a dark suit slightly less formal than Leo’s but still rich. His eyes were sharp, hazel brown, and his smile was… charming, but dangerous. Familiar somehow.
His voice dropped.
“You must be Ruby.”
Ruby’s heart jumped. “Y yes… I—I mean… how do you know my name?”
The stranger chuckled, letting go of her arms but staying close enough to make her uneasy.
“Oh, sweetheart. I know more than your name.” He leaned a little closer. “I’m Trent.”
Ruby’s blood ran cold.
Trent, Leo’s brother.
The one he hated, and had heard only whispers about.
She stepped back instinctively.
Trent tilted his head. “Relax, little flower. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Ruby’s stomach twisted. “I… I need to get back.”
“Why?” Trent asked with a mocking softness. “Afraid of me?”
“No,” Ruby whispered, though her voice betrayed her.
Trent smiled like a predator who enjoyed the chase.
“I’ve been meaning to meet you,” he continued. “Leo doesn’t bring girls home, ever, not even the good ones. So when he walked in tonight with you on his arm…” He whistled. “Well. I knew you must be something special.”
Ruby looked away, uncomfortable. “Please… excuse me.”
She tried to walk around him, but he stepped in her path.
“Tell me something, Ruby.” His voice dipped closer. “What exactly are you to my brother? A toy? A distraction? Or something else?”
Ruby flinched. “That’s none of your business.”
Trent’s smirk grew sharper. “Oh, sweetheart… everything that has to do with Leo is my business.”
Her throat tightened. She needed to leave. Now.
“I should go,” she whispered.
But Trent leaned a hand against the wall beside her, blocking her escape.
“You know,” he said quietly, “Leo may seem strong, but he has weaknesses. Deep ones. He just hides them well.” Trent’s eyes roamed her face. “And you… you look like one of them.”
Ruby swallowed, shaking her head. “Let me pass, please.”
He chuckled. “You’re shaking. Why? Did Leo not warn you about me?”
Ruby didn’t answer. She tried to step back, but the wall pressed cold against her spine.
“Relax,” Trent murmured, his eyes too curious, too knowing. “I only want to talk.”
Ruby’s breath quickened.
Then—
Footsteps.
Fast, heavy, sharp.
Ruby didn’t even need to turn to know who it was. She felt it—felt the shift in the air.
Leo appeared at the end of the hallway, an expression carved in stone.
His eyes were blazing.
“Ruby.”
Her heart collapsed in relief. “Leo…”
He strode forward, every step echoing with fury held by a thin, breaking thread. His gaze snapped to Trent.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Trent lifted his hands casually and stepped back. “Talking.”
Leo’s jaw tightened. “Stay away from her.”
Trent smirked. “You didn’t introduce us. Thought I’d do the honors.”
Leo positioned himself in front of Ruby, blocking her entirely from Trent’s view.
“I won’t say it again,” Leo warned, voice low and deadly. “Stay Away From Her.”
Trent chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “Relax, big brother. I didn’t touch your little gem.”
Leo’s fists clenched.
Trent winked at Ruby past Leo’s shoulder. “See you around, little flower.”
He strolled away casually, whistling as if nothing had happened.
Leo didn’t move until Trent was completely gone.
Only then did he turn to Ruby, eyes scanning her face, her hands, her posture—checking for any sign of harm.
“Ruby,” he said tightly, “did he touch you?”
Ruby shook her head quickly. “No. He didn’t. I—I just wanted to go to the bathroom and he—he—”
Leo cupped her face gently, forcing her eyes to meet his. “You’re safe now.”
Her breath trembled. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“Ruby.” Leo’s voice cracked slightly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
He pulled her into his chest.
And Ruby let herself fall into him—shaking, overwhelmed, heart pounding against his suit.
In that moment, with the party music echoing faintly in the distance and the shadows of the hallway around them, there was only one truth:
Leo would burn the world down before he let anyone touch her.
\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`
Leo held Ruby for a long moment. Just anchoring her trembling body against the steadiness of his own. His arms were warm, firm, unyielding as steel. She felt his heartbeat — fast, tense — like he was holding back a storm for her sake.
Only when her breathing slowed did he pull back slightly, his hands still on her shoulders.
“Look at me,” he said softly.
Ruby lifted her eyes.
Leo exhaled, long and controlled. “I’m taking you back to the ballroom. You stay with me. Understood?”
She nodded.
He was protective in a way that made her chest tighten. She had never been someone worth protecting before. Never had someone arrive in the dark at exactly the moment she needed them.
Leo took her hand.
And held on.
The hallway slowly filled again with the distant hum of music as he guided her back toward the party. But Ruby could feel the subtle tension in his stride a stiffness, a barely contained fury simmering beneath every step. His grip tightened slightly, like he was afraid she might slip away again.
As they neared the entrance to the ballroom, the noise swelled laughter, chatter, glasses clinking life continuing, unaware of the danger Ruby had just escaped.
Leo leaned down. “Stay beside me. Don’t speak to anyone unless I’m with you.”
Ruby swallowed. “Okay.”
He walked her back into the glow and noise.
Heads instantly turned.