Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 25

Ruby wandered away from the community center, her mind numb and blank.

The entire walk home, she couldn't stop replaying memories she wished she could banish.

When Mira was first born, she'd been so tiny and wrinkled, barely five pounds and desperately in need of nourishment. But Ruby's own milk had been scarce, so she had to eat more to feed her baby. Yet the women in prison, who'd made a habit of bullying her, would snatch away her meals and leave her only scraps—cold leftovers, a few soggy vegetables, nothing that would help her recover.

Mira, still just a newborn, was always crying—she couldn't adapt to the harsh, noisy world behind bars. And those women, annoyed by the constant wailing, even whispered about slipping Mira sleeping pills just to shut her up.

One stormy night, thunder rattling the barred windows, Ruby woke to find her daughter missing from her side. In a panic, she discovered the women had taken Mira and pressed sticky tape over her mouth. If she hadn't gone wild and wrestled Mira free, that tape—wrapped tight over her nose and lips—would've suffocated her baby in the middle of that violent storm.

And why? All because they feared Mira's cries would bring the guards around for a surprise inspection, interrupting their late-night poker game.

What on earth had Ruby done to deserve this? Why did everyone seem to despise her, determined to make her and Mira's lives a living hell? She'd learned to keep her head down, to obey, to not make trouble. Was it just because she was alone, had no connections, was an unwed mother—was that enough for them to abuse her without a second thought?

"You all hear? Stephen Shaw's been promoted. He's taking Fiona's spot."

When Ruby returned to the dormitory, her roommates were deep in a gossip session.

"That position is a goldmine," one woman said, shaking her head. "All those holiday gifts coming in, none ever making it past Fiona. No one dared complain, either—she controlled all the schedules. Everyone wanted that job, and now it's just landed in Stephen Shaw's lap?"

"They finally got rid of Fiona, and we get Stephen Shaw? Didn't he give Ruby trouble last time?" another muttered, clicking her tongue. "Poor girl."

"I know exactly how Stephen Shaw got that job," a broad-shouldered woman continued, her voice low and important. Her husband worked as a guard at the center and always brought home rumors.

"Who helped him?" someone asked, voices rising in curiosity.

"They say it's Cassian—the richest man in Quinborough."

"No way! You're telling me Stephen Shaw's related to Cassian? If he's got ties like that, why is he still working here?"

"Not related, apparently," the woman explained with relish. "Rumor is, Stephen Shaw cozied up to Mr. Veyne, and just a word from him got Stephen the promotion. That's all it took…"

Across the room, Pamela sat quietly, her gaze full of worry fixed on Ruby.

But Ruby didn't notice. The words around her faded into a dull buzz. Her ears rang; it felt as if invisible hands were dragging her down into a black abyss. The gossip in the background kept going, voices drifting farther and farther away.

"Ruby?"

"Ruby! Mira's crying!"

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify