Ruby Hill (Entangled Ever After) by Sarah Ballance Read Free Book Online Page A

why we have his prints on file.”
    Corbin turned and took in the asylum, flashing blue in the light from a half dozen patrol cars. Why a former resident would want to return to that hellhole was anyone’s guess, although Corbin had pegged the guy as such. “You’re losing me, Joe. What’s the bad news?”
    With a sigh, Joe planted both hands on the hood and leaned forward. “The bad news is there’s no way our buddy Floyd left fresh prints here.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because he died here over thirty years ago. Floyd Stanley is dead.”
    Corbin waved his arm and turned toward the rear of the car. “That’s bullshit. He’s right—”
    The backseat was empty. What the—? He threw open the front door and checked both seats, but Floyd Stanley was nowhere to be found. Only the handcuffs remained.
    Joe scrubbed his face with his hand. “We’re going to try to secure the place. New locks on all the doors. Board up any windows without bars, for whatever that’s worth. We’ll keep a patrol here until the media gets bored and moves off to sensationalize something else.”
    “We cuffed him, Joe. He was right there. You saw him .”
    Joe said nothing. Just stood there looking tired as hell.
    “ We had him .” Corbin looked again to the asylum. It sat in dead calm. Waiting. And in its shadow, Ashley. For a second, he thought he saw a man in a hospital gown standing behind her, but in a flash, he was gone.
    …
    “I’m fine,” Ashley said for the umpteenth time. She’d been poked and prodded enough by the paramedics. She didn’t need her team on her. They milled around like someone had disturbed their ant hill, and she wished fervently Joe or someone would escort them from the property.
    She would trade every one of the half-dozen people fussing over her for attention from one man.
    Corbin.
    He’d been there. Surely he’d believe .
    He stood across the tangled lawn, staring. She followed his gaze. Soft predawn light filtered Ruby Hill’s hard edges, but the asylum was no less imposing. No less evil. A shudder ripped through her, drawing the attention of a paramedic, but she shrugged him off.
    When she looked again for Corbin, she found him close. He was covered in dirt from head to toe. He’d let them clean his hand upon their exit from the asylum, and now the stark white bandage nearly glowed relative to the rest of him.
    “You should be on your way to the hospital by now,” he said.
    “I’m fine.”
    He frowned. “You nearly died in there. You’re going to the hospital.”
    The paramedic watched the exchange with rapt attention. He probably hoped for victory by proxy.
    “Beat it,” Corbin growled, earning a few steps of privacy. His glare bought a few more. To Ashley, he asked, “What did he say to you?”
    “Who?”
    Corbin hesitated. “Floyd Stanley. He’s a…former resident.”
    “He referred to me as Nurse Pearce. I’m guessing that was my grandma.”
    “Did he say anything else?”
    “He asked if I remembered him.” She paused. Chewed her lip. Looked at the spot where Corbin’s hand settled on his hip. Braced herself. “He wasn’t real.”
    “I know.”
    The admission tore through her. “You know?”
    “I saw Cash.”
    “That wasn’t him. Evil can manifest in many ways—”
    “No, this was different. It was Cash. You weren’t breathing.” He stopped. Took a shaky breath. “I want you to go to the hospital. I need to know you’re okay.”
    “I will,” she said softly.
    “Floyd Stanley isn’t leaving this place.”
    “I know.”
    “You can’t come back here.”
    She didn’t want to go back there.
    “You can’t because I don’t want to come back.” He turned. Lifted his shirt to show her his back.
    Scratch marks. Three of them, and they’d drawn blood.
    He dropped the shirt and twisted. Pulled her into his arms.
    She fell against him. Through all the dirt, she caught his familiar scent. It carried too many memories with it.
    The memories brought tears.
    “I