save me - taylor swift

Ruby was sixteen when Dominic found her. She was all bones and fury back then, fists bloodied as she fought off two grown men in the back alley of a convenience store. Her face was bruised, her lip split, but her eyes burned with something wild—something raw. Most people would've walked by. Some would've called the cops. Dominic didn't. He stood and watched her win that fight, then offered her a hand when she staggered back, breathless and bleeding.

She didn't take it right away. She never trusted easy. But Dominic had seen something in her, something worth saving—or maybe something worth shaping. That night, he gave her a warm meal and a place to sleep. The next morning, he introduced her to a gym, a trainer, a world she never knew she could belong in.

From then on, Ruby was his. Not in a trapped way, but in the way someone belongs to the one person who gave them a second shot at life.

Dominic never coddled her. He wasn't that kind of man. But he taught her how to fight, how to shoot, how to disappear in plain sight. He trained her to be sharp, calculated, lethal—but he also gave her a home, a purpose, a name in the world of ghosts and shadows. And while he didn't say it, not ever, Ruby knew he cared.

He let her get away with things others would be punished for. He always stood behind her, silent but unwavering, when anyone in the network dared question her. And even now, years later, when she'd grown into the woman everyone feared or respected or both, Dominic still looked at her like she was the sixteen-year-old kid he'd pulled from the gutter. And for that, Ruby would always carry a quiet loyalty, no matter how far she drifted from the life he'd built for her.

"Ruby, are you fine?" Taylor's voice cut through the silence of the car, pulling Ruby out of her thoughts like a hook to the chest.

Ruby blinked and glanced over, catching the worried look on Taylor's face. She winced slightly, realizing she hadn't heard a word of what the blonde had been saying.

"Shit—sorry," Ruby said, shifting her hand on the wheel. "Yeah. I'm fine. More than fine, actually." She offered a quick, reassuring smile.

Taylor studied her for a moment longer, then let out a soft breath. "I was talking about the music event tonight. I asked if you'd want to come with me."

Ruby's face softened immediately. "Yeah. Yeah, of course I'll come. If you want me to, I'm there."

Taylor's lips curved into a small smile, and she settled back in her seat, watching the world blur past her through the window. "Could you wear a suit?" she asked after a pause, her voice a little lighter, more playful. "I love when you wear them."

Ruby chuckled, eyes still focused on the road ahead. "Yeah, I figured you had a thing for that." She gave a soft smirk. "Sure. I'll wear whatever you want."

Taylor's eyes sparkled. "Perfect. I'll text my stylist and have them prep one for you."

"Perks of being with a pop star," Ruby teased, her voice low and fond.

-

The rest of the drive was quiet but comfortable. The city buzzed around them, headlights slicing through the evening haze, but inside the car, it felt still—like they were in their own little bubble. When they finally pulled up in front of the house, Ruby parked and killed the engine, then got out and followed Taylor inside.

They walked up to Taylor's room together, the air between them charged but calm. Ruby peeled off her clothes once they were behind closed doors, revealing the dark sports bra and boxers beneath. She sat at the edge of the bed, her toned arms resting on her thighs, waiting patiently for the stylist to drop off the suit.