Page 12 of Hollywood

I held out my hands and Ruby came willingly enough, letting me tuck her against my shoulder, her butt seated in the crook of my elbow. I hugged her close.

“I’ll go see what’s happening,” Aiden offered. “Is there any other family we can call?”

“Oh, shit—er…” I winced and glanced down at Ruby, who was watching our exchange. “Shucks, I mean. Carrie’s got a sister here. Kelly. I think I have her number buried in my phone somewhere.”

Mainly because she’d called to tell me off on Carrie’s behalf—but Aiden didn’t need to hear all my bullshit drama.

“Okay, why don’t you call her?” Aiden said. “Hopefully, I’ll have some good news to share by the time she gets here.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

Knight and Joyride had hung back, quiet shadows as Aiden and I spoke. As soon as he rounded the corner, leaving our sight, Ruby started crying.

“Aid—” she choked out.

Aw, she’d learned his name. I tried to jiggle her like he had. Patted her back. “It’s okay,” I murmured. “It’s okay.”

My heart pounded, saying it was very muchnotokay. I didn’t know the first thing about taking care of a toddler, much less one who must be confused and scared. Aiden hadbecome her safe person, the port in the storm, and now he’d just walked out of sight, too.

I turned helplessly toward Knight. But for once, he wasn’t rushing to the rescue. He shrugged. “Only child.”

Joyride tickled her side, and she sucked in a surprised breath. Then broke into another set of wails.

He cringed. “Well, I tried.”

Okay, looked like it was up to me. I continued to jiggle and pat her gently as I walked toward the nearest bank of chairs. “It’s going to be okay, Ruby. Your mommy’s going to get better, and you’re going to be with her again. But for now, you’re safe with me. Safe with Daddy.”

Her cries had softened, and she was sniffling in between hiccupping sobs. I sat down with her, bouncing her on one knee, and pulled out my phone. She watched me thumb through my past calls, searching for the number that had come from Carrie’s sister. I didn’t get a lot of calls from unidentified numbers, so it didn’t take long.

Ruby calmed down while she watched, distracted by the phone.

“Daddy’s going to make a phone call,” I told her. “You remember Aunt Kelly?”

“Kel,” she repeated dutifully, but I wasn’t sure if it actually meant she remembered her or not. At this age, who knew? She might. Or she might just be repeating after me.

I hit Call and lifted the phone to my ear. Ghost arrived in the waiting room and joined us. Knight filled him in on the very little we knew while I listened to the line ring.

Ruby sagged in my arms, eyes droopy. Poor thing had probably exhausted herself with that crying bout. I doubted it was her first. A car accident was probably frightening, and then being separated from her mother, surrounded bystrangers. My heart ached for her, and I held her a little closer against my chest.

She leaned in against me, and one thumb made its way into her mouth. She sucked it gently. I wasn’t about to tell her not to take comfort where she could get it. I rubbed her back. “Yeah, you’re okay, Ru-Ru. Daddy’s got you.”

The line picked up on the third ring.

“Who is this? I’m not in the mood for?—”

“Kelly, it’s Hendrix.”

“What the fuck do you want? You know what? I don’t even care. I’m not going to let you get to Carrie through me.”

“Wait! Don’t hang up.”

She hesitated. “Why shouldn’t I?”

“Carrie’s at the hospital. She’s been in an accident.”

“What?” She sucked in a sharp breath. “Ruby?”

“Ruby’s okay. She’s with me.”