Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 87

She bundled Mira up so tightly against the night chill that not a hint of cold could seep in, holding her close as she hurried under the streetlights and stopped at a late-night pharmacy for medicine.

With the bag of meds in hand, Ruby was just about to leave when a hand shot out and blocked her path.

A group of drunk men staggered in front of her.

The ringleader was a young guy with bleached blond hair, flanked by a handful of equally wasted, punked-out friends.

Ruby's brow furrowed. A chill ran down her spine.

She tried to turn and slip away, but the blond wasn't having it. He and his friends swaggered into her way, blocking her escape.

"Hey there, gorgeous! Why the rush? Come on, add me—just scan the code," the blond slurred, grinning wildly as he shoved his phone in her face, its glaring QR code filling the screen.

One of the cronies snickered, "Boss, you really want a mom out on the streets with her kid? Not exactly picky, are you?"

"Oh, what do you know?" the blond snapped back, eyeing Ruby up and down with a leering grin. "Look at that waist. Those legs… damn, she's got it going on!"

The others bunched closer, their gazes crawling all over Ruby as they exchanged filthy glances and laughed crudely.

Ruby felt like a piece of meat on display. Their brazen stares made her skin crawl, but with sick Mira cradled in her arms, she just ducked her head lower and gritted her teeth.

"I don't have my phone," she muttered, voice low and tight.

"Whoa! Lady, did you get run over or something? What's up with your voice?" one of the punks jeered, setting off a chorus of raucous laughter.

Ruby forced herself to ignore them, but the group had her surrounded, drawing the attention of a few passersby. Some looked at her with pity, but as soon as they recognized the blond's face, they quickly averted their eyes and hurried on.

"Fine, no phone? Give me your number!" the blond demanded, shoving her shoulder.

Unsteady, Ruby staggered back a few steps, nearly losing her balance. The blond shoved his phone at her again, its screen glaring in the darkness.

"What, are you deaf as well as mute?" he sneered, his wingman moving in to grab a fistful of Ruby's hair.

Ruby's eyes widened in panic as she tried to wrench herself free. In the scuffle, her mask got yanked off her face.

All at once, the noisy street went silent, save for the faint pulse of music from the bar down the block.

The blond's eyes went wide, the alcohol shockingly clearing from his face.

"You…"

Ruby quickly ducked her head, snatched up her mask from the ground, and hurriedly tugged it back on, keeping her face buried, desperate to avoid their gaze.

She tried to slip away while they were still stunned, but the blond seized her arm.

"Guys! Show some respect—say hi to the lady!" he crowed, clutching Ruby tightly, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He couldn't believe his luck—under that plain getup was a face that could stop traffic. Even the scar on her cheek didn't matter. He felt like he'd just won the lottery.

The blond beckoned his crony over, then suddenly slapped him hard across the face. "What's wrong with you? You hurt her, you idiot?"

Ruby flinched at the sudden violence, glancing at the crony, whose scrawny face flushed red and started to swell.

"Let me go!" Ruby gasped, her voice trembling. She didn't dare stick around—who knew if the next blow would land on her?

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