Riskier Business (Crossing the Line 0.5)(31)

One of Jim’s eyebrows rose. “You expect me to believe you’ve managed to hold on to all of it, without spending a dime?”

Pamela lifted one shoulder and let it fall. “I live thrifty. I even have a Costco membership.”

Even in the midst of this f*cked-up situation, Troy had to acknowledge the fact that Ruby had clearly gotten the smart-ass gene from her mother.

Jim tapped the gun against his thigh, considering Pamela through narrowed eyes. “Now, I’m a gambling man. And that’s exactly what I’d be doing by walking out of this room on nothing but your word, giving you more time to run to the police and tell them what you saw.” He tilted his head. “Too bad your word doesn’t mean a rat’s ass to me. Not to mention, I’d have to be a world-class idiot to let a do-gooder cop walk out of here after I’ve given him a mild concussion and threatened his life, as well as his girlfriend’s.”

“I wouldn’t lie about this. I’ve had a good run, but I’m not going to make Ruby pay for my mistakes anymore. Our mistakes.”

“How noble of you to make that decision for us.”

She shifted on her feet, letting her nerves show for the first time. “Come on, Jim. Let Troy walk out of here and we’ll go get your fifty grand.”

Jim laughed. “You don’t get it. I never really expected to get this money back, Pamela. This is about way more than money.” He pointed the gun at her. “No, I’ll take my fifty grand and cut my losses. And you’re finally going to get what’s coming to you.”

…

Ruby threw a handful of money at the cab driver and sprinted from the vehicle the second it stopped moving. Not knowing which direction to go, she scanned the posted sign embedded in the motel’s stucco wall and ran left through the deserted parking lot for room 225. Her heart thudded in her ears, stomach hollow with the worry that she’d come too late.

When she saw the door sitting slightly ajar, she slowed to a walk, terrified over what she would find on the other side. Her father’s angry voice reached her then, telling her at least someone was still alive in there with him. She didn’t give herself time to feel relief or worry over which person remained alive, her boyfriend or her mother. Allowing the thoughts to fester would only debilitate her, and she was racing the clock.

She took a deep breath and pushed open the door, taking in the entire scene in one wide-eyed glance. Pamela facing away, arms raised as her father pointed the gun at her head. Troy, bound and bloody against the wall. For one brief, horrifying section, she thought the blood pouring down his face came from a bullet wound, but then he saw her and tensed.

Deducing quickly that her mother was in the most danger, Ruby shot forward and inserted herself between Pamela and the gun, ignoring Troy’s choked command to stop. Immediately, Jim lowered the gun, betraying himself. Despite everything he’d done to make her life hell, at least a tiny part of him cared about her. Enough that he didn’t want to shoot her, at the very least. She needed to use that.

“Please, put the gun down.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Troy struggle to his feet. “Ruby, turn around and walk out of here. Now.”

She gave a tiny shake of her head, not willing to lose sight of her father and the gun. “I can’t. You know I can’t.”

Jim jerked his chin in Troy’s direction. “Listen to him. I’ll give you ten seconds, then all bets are off.” His throat worked with rare emotion. “I’d rather not do this in front of you.”

“Don’t do it at all,” she pleaded. “Please. Don’t take them from me.”

“This was in motion long before you were born. She knew better than to come back to New York. I spared her once. I can’t do it again. Your boyfriend is just an unfortunate bystander.” His eyes closed briefly. “Move out of the way, Ruby.”

She swallowed hard. “No.”

Jim heaved out a sigh. Then he pointed the gun at Troy.

Ruby’s vision went black around the edges. “No. No.”

“There’s two of them, Ruby, and only one of you. You can’t do anything to stop it.”

Ruby’s panicked gaze connected with Troy. When she saw the resignation on his face, a sharp sound of grief escaped her lips. He nodded once, as if trying to reassure her. “It’s okay, baby. It’ll be okay.” She jerked back around to find her father’s finger tightening on the trigger. Ruby didn’t think. She just moved, throwing herself across the room in front of Troy, shielding him from the inevitable bullet. At the last second, she saw something spark in his eyes. He’d anticipated her move, known exactly what she was going to do before she’d even processed it. Using his body, he spun her around and pinned her hard against the wall, his muscular frame jerking with the impact of the gunfire.

Her screamed denial was drowned out by the blood rushing in her ears. Troy inhaled shakily near her forehead, then dropped to his knees. She wrapped her arms around his midsection to keep him upright, but couldn’t support his weight. When they both went down to the ground, Ruby could feel moisture rushing over her hands. Blood. “Oh, God. No. Troy, no.”

Blue eyes dull with pain, he spoke. “You didn’t do this, okay? Don’t waste time…blaming yourself.” He winced. “Fuck. I love you so much. You know that, right?”