Riskier Business (Crossing the Line 0.5)(21)

He checked his phone again, in an attempt to distract himself from the fact that Ruby looked completely unfazed by their shady surroundings, reminding him she’d been in this situation too many times to count. Upon entering, she’d tossed the men, one of them an uncle she’d never met, a disinterested glance before screwing her pool stick together, leaning against the wall and promptly looking as bored as possible. Part of him f*cking loved her for that. Yet knowing it was an act, the rest of him just wanted to throw her over his shoulder and carry her out of there, damn the consequences.

Seeing that his friends still hadn’t called him with any news, Troy bit back a curse and shoved his phone back into his pocket. Shit. They were running out of time. He reminded himself that Daniel, Brent, and Matt were busting their asses trying to locate Ruby’s mother before this game began, but as time wore on, that possibility seemed less and less likely. The woman had made it damn near impossible to trace her, but as of this evening, they’d been closing in on her. He’d had to leave the station to pick up Ruby, leaving his three friends to put the final pieces together. Thankfully, he didn’t think he could find three more dedicated or capable cops to pick up the slack in his absence.

Troy hoped Jim never showed up. Or at least gave them a little more time to retrieve the information that would render this dangerous game unnecessary. He started to check his phone for the umpteenth time since they’d entered the hall, but the metal door creaked open and slammed, bringing his head up.

His body tensed and he took a step closer to Ruby, but instead of Jim walking through the entrance, Bowen swaggered in. He took in the entire place in one sweeping glance, through an eye Troy had blackened less than forty-eight hours ago.

“He always has to make a damn entrance,” Ruby muttered.

Obviously loving everyone’s focus on him, Bowen shivered dramatically. “It’s colder than a mother-in-law’s heart in here.” He didn’t wait for a reply, but strode toward their side of the hall and sat a short distance away from him and Ruby. Troy glanced back at her and she gave a small shake of her head, telling him she hadn’t asked Bowen to come. Noticing the tension that had crept into Ruby’s shoulders the second Bowen walked in, Troy made a decision. She already had enough pressure on her without their antagonism adding to it, and he wouldn’t allow the elephant in the room to stand between them a second longer.

Troy cleared his throat and jerked his chin at Bowen, signaling him over. Warily, Bowen stood and complied, arms crossed over his chest. “Yeah?”

“Listen, Driscol. I owe you an apology.” Bowen’s and Ruby’s identical double takes were comical. Or would have been, if the three of them weren’t standing in a decrepit basement in New Jersey, waiting to play a uniquely staked pool game against criminals. The things you do for love. “Instead of fighting against having you in her life…I should have been thanking you. For looking out for her when I couldn’t. All right? So, thank you.”

After a moment wherein Troy guessed Bowen was trying to gauge his sincerity, he nodded uncomfortably. “Okay, man. It’s no big deal.”

Watching Bowen’s tough-guy demeanor momentarily lift, Troy felt a stab of guilt. Bowen was just as lost as Ruby had been once, but he didn’t have anyone to pull him toward the light. No one except Ruby. And he’d been trying to take that away from him. “No, it is a big deal. I owe you.”

“Fine. That’s…fine.” Bowen yanked at the collar of his jacket. “Jesus. What does a guy have to do to get a drink around here?”

Troy stifled a smile, then glanced at Ruby. His breath caught at the look on her face. Fierce and beautiful emotion shone in her eyes, telling him he’d finally done something right. About time, Troy. And not a moment too soon.

“I love you,” she mouthed.

He winked at her. Later, Troy tried to communicate with his eyes. Later he’d tell her how much he loved her. Then he’d show her continuously, until their bodies gave out. A wave of impatience swept over him. He wanted this over, so he could take Ruby back home where she would be safe. As if his thoughts had conjured Ruby’s father, the rusted front door opened and Jim Elliott breezed in.

His attention swung between the group positioned at the bar and Ruby. “Oh, good. I was worried the party would start without me.”

One of the men stepped forward into the sparse light, his face a mask of irritation. Ruby’s uncle, Robert Bell, Troy guessed, based on his coloring and position within the group. “Not a wise move to keep me waiting, Elliott.”

“No? I guess that’s a matter of opinion.”

The group of men shifted in irritation. “My opinion is the only one that matters here.”

Troy could practically feel the surge of energy shoot through Ruby. He knew then, there was a part of his girl that would always thrive on the prospect of danger. That trait was part of her, something she’d been born with, and it was time he fully accepted it. Hell, he should be thankful for it. God knew their physical relationship required a healthy appreciation for danger. Not to mention, his job was infinitely more risky. Yet she’d never asked him to change. Not once.

God, I need to get her out of here. Need to tell her.

“Let’s agree to disagree for expediency’s sake.” Jim smiled at the angry man as he removed his coat. “Shall we knock some balls around?”