Page 64 of Big Daddy Christmas
Ruby
She lived full time with a sadist. She had been tormented and teased and mindfucked into a whimpering puddle of subbie goo more times than she could count. Not a week went by without her Daddy finding some new way to take her to the edge of what she thought she could handle, and often beyond.
But nothing Beckett had ever put her through compared to the stress of smiling and pretending everything was okay while she chatted with her friends. It was torture, and not the kind she enjoyed.
And she wasn’t getting a break anytime soon, it seemed.
“All right, spill,” Silver whispered as soon as they settled in the chairs they’d been pointed to so they could get their hair done.
“There’s nothing to spill,” Ruby whispered back, praying she sounded convincing enough for Silver to drop it.
No such luck.
“Bullshit. Lottie may not have picked up on it, but you’re hiding something. And you said—” Silver paused and flashed a smile for their stylists. “Could you give us like, ten minutes?”
If anything, the women standing behind their chairs looked grateful. “That would be great, actually. Could use a bit of fresh air. The hairspray fumes are starting to get to me.”
“Perfect. Thank you.”
As soon as the stylists stepped away, Silver turned back to Ruby, her expression serious. “You lied. Or Frankie lied. She told us you were running late because you’d gotten in trouble with Beckett. But then you told me he hadn’t punished you. So what’s the deal?”
Shit, shit, shit. Glancing around to be sure they weren’t overheard by anyone who might go blabbing to the bride, Ruby leaned in and dropped her voice. “I’ll tell you, but you can’t react and you cannot tell anyone.”
“Cross my heart.”
“It wasn’t totally a lie. I really am in so much fucking trouble. Apparently when I got home, I was more drunk than I realized and I kind of hid the wedding rings.”
To Silver’s credit, she hid whatever reaction she might be having ridiculously well. Other than the sheer disbelief that coated her voice when she spoke again. “You did what? Why the hell would you hide their rings?”
“I didn’t mean to. Fuck.” Ruby blinked back yet another wave of tears. “I was just trying to fuck with Beckett. I don’t even remember moving the boxes.”
“Okay.” Closing her eyes, Silver dragged in a breath, and Ruby swore she could hear her brain working. “Did you try retracing your steps?”
“Yes, but I can’t remember.”
“Let’s try it again. Just to see. Close your eyes.”
There was absolutely no way this was going to work, but at that point, Ruby would have been willing to stand on her head naked in the middle of downtown Charleston if she’d thought it would help.
“Good,” Silver said when Ruby obediently closed her eyes. “What’s the last thing you do remember doing last night?”
“Umm. I know I moved a bunch of stuff on the vanity around.”
“No. More specific. What did you move and where?”
It was a struggle to pull the memory up with any clarity, but the more she focused on the sink, the toothbrush holder, their toothbrushes, the clearer it became. “I switched our toothbrushes. And then I moved the beard oil he’s been using to the other side of the sink. That stuff smells amazing, by the way. Have you smelled Beckett lately?”
“I don’t make a habit of going around and sniffing my friends’ partners,” Silver returned dryly. “Okay, what next? Really focus on what the room looks like, and try to pinpoint as many of those small details as possible.”
They went through it, step by step, with a few frustrating stumbles whenever Ruby hit a mental block. But eventually they made it to Beckett’s nightstand.
“Oh my god,” Ruby whispered. “There they are! Three black boxes.”
“Three? Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Maybe one is Lottie’s engagement ring? I don’t know.”
“Weird, but not important. Try and picture yourself picking them up.”
