Riskier Business (Crossing the Line 0.5)(16)

Even in the near-darkness, she could see his features were tight, his fists bunched at his sides as he crossed the street. On autopilot, she stood and moved in front of Bowen.

“Don’t even think about fighting with him,” she warned him over her shoulder.

“If he calls me out, Ruby, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

She cursed. “Troy—”

“Get out of the way.”

Ruby pressed a hand to his hard chest, feeling a frisson of alarm at the cold expression on his face. “You need to stop and listen.”

Troy completely ignored her. “Let’s go, Driscol. Unless you’re planning on hiding behind her all night.”

Bowen immediately skirted past her, stripping off his jacket. “Sorry, Ruby. Tried my best. Is he left-handed or right?”

Christ, the jerk sounded almost chipper. “Stop this, now.” Keeping her hold on Troy, she tried to push Bowen back. “Troy, we were just talking. You’re being—”

“I’m being what?” His attention snapped to her. Words failed her in the face of his anger. “Jealous? I’ve never pretended otherwise. I’ve never been even remotely okay with this and I just found you glued together on the street corner.” He shook his head. “You had to know this was inevitable.”

“He’s right,” Bowen piped up behind her. “Let him get his shot at me. I’ve been wondering if he can protect you as well as he claims.” He tossed his ball cap on the pavement. “Time to find out.”

Teeth bared, Troy yanked her hand off his chest and pulled her behind his back. “Don’t interfere.”

Ruby lifted her hands and let them fall. “You know what? Go ahead and beat each other to a bloody pulp. Maybe it’ll dislodge your heads from your asses.”

There was no stopping it, she realized in a daze. The moment Troy reached her best friend, he reared back with a right hook and blasted Bowen square in the jaw. Bowen, looking momentarily stunned, staggered back, then lunged forward to tackle Troy down to the pavement where they traded a series of punches. They exchanged the upper hand several times as people gathered on the sidewalk to watch the fight, a couple of neighborhood lifers even nodding as if impressed. Ruby had never seen Troy fight, but Bowen, a street fighter since his early teens, had clearly met his match. Troy was relentless, never pausing in his assault, even as Bowen battled back. When she saw blood trickling into Bowen’s eye from a nasty cut, she forced herself between them. With his vision obscured, it would no longer be fair and she was tired of people being hurt because of her. She shoved with all her might to break them apart. Both of them backed off a little, presumably afraid they might accidentally hit her.

“That’s enough, Troy. You’ve made your point.”

Bowen swiped a hand across his mouth and laughed when he saw blood. “No one’s made me bleed in a while. Not bad. You’re still an *.”

Troy licked his split lip. “I’ll do worse if you ever touch her again.”

Ruby’s temper finally went through the roof. In that moment, it felt as though she’d lost her hard-won independence. These two men, whom she admittedly loved in very different ways, thought they could control her actions. They thought she needed protecting from herself, from everything. And she’d had enough. She was tired of having her judgment questioned.

“Well, I’m glad you two shitheads feel better.” She backed away from them slowly. “But I, for one, am done here.”

Troy’s expression turned wary. “What does that mean?”

“I don’t know. I just can’t look at you right now.”

“Ruby, listen—”

“I should listen to you now?” Her voice was incredulous. “After you completely ignored me and went straight for my best friend’s throat?” She suddenly couldn’t care less who was within earshot, the words spilling from her mouth in a choked whisper. “You’re taking the control I give you in bed and letting it spread too far. Rein it in or we’re done.”

“Way more than I needed to hear,” Bowen grumbled behind her.

Troy’s eyebrows had risen at her words.

“What?” Her throat felt tight, tears burning behind her eyes. She interpreted the surprise on his face to mean only one thing. He didn’t trust her around Bowen. Possibly never had. “Does it surprise you that I would mention our sex life in front of Bowen? Why?”

He took a step toward her, eyes narrowed as if trying to discern her point. “Let’s go home and talk. I don’t think we’re on the same page.”

Her laughter sounded slightly hysterical. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

A flare of alarm crossed his features. “You said one night. One.”

“Well, I changed my damn mind.” She split a look between them. “I can do that. I’m allowed. I’m also allowed to tell you both to back off. Thank you for your concern, but I don’t need protecting every moment of every day. You do me a disservice by acting otherwise.”

Bowen shifted on his feet. “Jesus, Ruby—”

“Why were you really here, Bowen? You live two stops away.” She blurted before the realization had fully formed, “Were you following me?”

He stayed silent a moment. “Look, I’m sorry. With Jim around…”