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“I found our girl,” Liam winks at Ronan, “beautiful with a touch of evil,” he whistles. “Just my kind of woman.”
“Liam,” Ronan clips.
“Yeah,” he washes down his waffles with another sip from his juice. “She is in the Bratva territory, but I was able to get her to book an appointment with me, so we will be meeting with her in a few at your girl’s bakery,” he points at me with his glass.
Ronan rolls his eyes at the comment.
“She thinks we want to do a tasting, so I’m sure she has been working all night to put something together for me and my bride-to-be,” Liam chuckles. “As if,” he snorts.
I want to add something to the conversation but don’t know what to say because I’m still trying to wrap my head around Ruth's betrayal.
“Eat up, we have a long day ahead of us,” Ronan snaps and I nod, looking down at my breakfast.
It will be a long day indeed, but if it can end with me in his arms again, I don’t mind.
* * *
“We are here,” Liam announces as if I don’t know we are at my bakery.
He has parked a little away from the shop, and in the distance, I can see Ruth standing outside in a checkered dress and a white apron with cupcake motifs on it.
“Cake tasting,” I chuckle at the irony. How many times have I baked cake for others and thought of how it would be like to be the bride and walk in to have my very own tasting?
Ronan steps down from the car and stretches his hand out for me like he has been doing since last night. I drag my butt on the backseat of the car until I get to his side of the door, then place my hand on his palm. Ronan clasps his strong hand around mine and leads the way.
As we get closer, Ruth sees us. She freezes like a deer stuck in the headlights of a car at night, and then makes a run for the bakery. Ronan charges toward her, slipping a foot through the door just before she slams it. He pushes in with his body, throwing Ruth off balance, and she stumbles to the floor.
I feel adrenaline coursing through me at the sight of Ronan unleashing his most brutal side.
“I will be here,” Liam says before returning to the car.
I walk into my bakery, which no longer feels like it is mine. Nothing has changed, but somehow, everything feels different. Perhaps, I’m the one who has changed.
“What do you want, why are you here?” Ruth stutters when we are both standing in front of her.
“You seem on edge Ruth. What is the matter,” smirks Ronan, with a teasing tone to his voice.
“I’m… I’m sorry,” Ruth stutters, her body trembling and her eyes going wide in a frenzy. I just wasn’t expecting you.”
“Ruth, it’s okay, we just came here to talk” I say to her gently.
“Who were you expecting Ruth. Your new buddies? Who have you been hanging out with lately? Do you know there are some dangerous people around here?” Ronan keeps speaking, venom in his voice.
“I didn’t mean to do it,” Ruth cries. “Please don’t hurt me!”
“Ruth, I told you we are here to talk. Ronan, let me talk to her,” I say, turning to him with annoyance.
“Why do you think we want to hurt you? Olivia is your friend. Are you feeling guilty about something?” says Ronan, with the same tone as before.
“I didn’t mean to kill anyone, I swear,” she squeaks the last part as Ronan takes a menacing step towards her, but I halt him by grabbing his wrist.
“Ruth” I say calmly. “So, you did it? Why? Why would you do that to me. I thought we were friends. What have I ever done to hurt you?” I ask her, tears in my eyes.
“I wanted your bakery to go under… a-and they told me they could help! The laxative… it was only to mess up your order, give you a bad rep, I-I-I… didn’t know the bride was allergic t-to laxatives.”
I knew she did it the minute I saw the apron, but hearing her admit to it is a different kind of betrayal, and all I can think is… why? Why would she want to hurt me that way? What did I do to deserve it?
“Why?” I search her eyes, but her gaze drops to the floor.
