Ruby
My back ached.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a white ceiling. The unnaturally clean scent of the hospital hit my nostrils. I hated this smell. I was connected to a monitor and it beeped to the rhythm of my heart.
Well, at least I survived. I should've been happy about that fact.
I thought I was going to die for which I was even ready. At least I had a second chance to confess my love for Vexon. I could also see Everley for one last time.
"You need to stay here for three more days. Seriously, Gem. What were you thinking when you stood in front of that bullet?" Vexon asked me with wild worry.
Oh, how much I missed his voice!
I tried to sit up.
"Wait, let me help you," he said, holding my hand. I sat up on the hospital bed. It felt better than lying flatly. "Why did you have to save me? You could have let me get shot and��"
I put a finger to his lips. "Hush. I didn't wake up to hear you complain about what I could have done. If I wanted, I could have stayed in the safe-room, but I didn't want anything to happen to you. What would I have done without you?"
I put my hands on my lap.
"What about me? Do you know how much pain I was in knowing something had happened to you?" Vexon asked.
"Well, one of us had to get shot. So I figured let the woman do it because of course, only a woman could still find a way to keep talking even after death."
He chuckled and cupped my cheeks, saying, "Don't do this ever again."
I would do it again and again, Vexon��every time I need to save my loved ones.
"So can we start our life over now? We could have a clean slate," I said, anxiety rushing through me.
At the mention of it, Vexon twitched his lips. "I just spoke to Newana on the phone. She said that the gun that was used to shoot my mom, you couldn't have even known how to use it then," he said.
My heart throbbed in my throat. "Why are you still looking into this? Let bygones be bygones. I shot mom and that's i��" Vexon interrupted me.
"It was a bolt action revolver. Tell me what really happened that day," he said, "Newana already told me who she taught to use that gun, but I need to hear it from you."
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. It was the moment of saying what really happened that day. I started saying, "When I thought mom was about to pull the trigger on me, I closed my eyes, and then, I heard gunfire, but I never felt a bullet enter my skin. I opened my eyes and saw her lying in a pool of blood."
Vexon held my hands firmly and said, "And then?"
"I heard a tiny voice say 'Mom?' and I turned to see Eve, holding a gun in her hand. She mumbled, 'I will never let anyone hurt my mom.' Those were the exact words she said." Tears slid down my cheeks as I remembered how she looked with her small hands around that pistol.
"What? Ev..." Vexon trailed off as realization struck his eyes. "Continue," he said at last.
"I knew you would serve justice to the person who shot your mother. I told Eve not to tell anyone what happened, ever. I took the gun from her and told her to run away."
"She... she didn't even look sad or guilty, Ruby."
I nodded. "Eve thinks she did nothing wrong. She just wanted to save her mom and that's it. I was so scared when I saw the look on her face. I just didn't want you or the Gladiolus to hurt her, so I took the blame."
"You should have told me. I asked you so many times if you had really killed her. Ev needs to see a psychiatrist. She has even shot me in the hand, remember?"
I looked at Vexon.
That night, when Vexon was about to pull the trigger on me, Everley shot him in the hand. The bullet just barely grazed his hand. He still had the scar. Everley begged Vexon to not kill me. I was alive today because of her.
Vexon told me that he would lie and say that I was abducted by enemies of the Gladiolus and that he wouldn't rescue me.
'I will arrange your escape, but don't expect me to provide you with anything else,' he had said to me that night.
He helped me run away, but I stumbled upon Mrs. Nivekle and she helped me from there.
"Gem?" Vexon said, bringing me out of my chain of thoughts.
"No, Vexon. Eve doesn't need a psychiatrist. Look at it from her point of view. Newana and Kace were never really around. She didn't get much attention from them."
"When she got the motherly attention from me," I continued, "She became possessive. All she wanted was to keep me safe. She was afraid that I would leave her too."
Vexon nodded. "So do you think she will be fine if we raise her properly from now on?"
"Indeed," I answered.
"By the way, I missed being called Gem. I hate it when you call me by my name."
Vexon leaned towards me, a smirk forming over his lips. "Oh, really? Well, guess what?"
My heartbeat increased as I replied, "What?"
"I missed you," he whispered. Then he lifted my chin up and added, "And this."
Vexon placed his lips on mine and I smiled into his kiss. I loved this Mafia king and I was glad that he loved me.
Why had I never seen this side of him?
He had done everything for me. It was time for me to do everything for him. I wanted to confess my love but now was not the time. I would do it in a special way, once I got released from this ugly place.
___
"You have proved that you are capable of being a queen time and time again. The Gladiolus is proud of you," Vexon said as he spoonfed me soup.
I arched an eyebrow and said, "Really?"
He hummed in response.
"What about Eve? Do they know the truth? Did you��" I started, but he cut me off.
"Don't worry. I told the Gladiolus the truth. I can't hide anything from them. They all agreed to never speak of it. Ev will never be criticized, I can assure you of that."
"Good. Don't you worry either, we will fix Eve's problem," I told him.
"By the way, the Gladiolus wants to throw a party at the base for you after you are released. They want to apologize personally; especially Mysa," Vexon informed me.
"Tell them to arrange it after a week. I need some time to rest..." and to confess my love, I finished in my head. I wished I could say it out loud, but it would have ruined my entire plan.
"Okay. I need to make a phone call. Excuse me," he said as he kept the bowl of soup on the table and left the room.
After he was out, I took my phone and dialed Nafeesa's number. "I still hate you, but you have to do me a favor," I said once she answered.
"Hmm�� Why do I feel that despite my annoyance for you, the favor will be worth it?" she asked.
I chuckled. "For the first time, you have got the right feeling."
