Risking it All (Crossing the Line, #1)(5)

Grinding out his cigarette on the bottom of his shoe, Bowen felt sick.

With guilt, with dread. “You can’t prove that.”

Newsom smiled without humor. “We wouldn’t need to. The mere suggestion would put a target on your back. Her back.” The commissioner paused as that horrifying statement sank in. “Until now, we haven’t fully committed resources to ending your little run as king. That could very easily change. I suggest playing ball, Driscol. Unless you want to end up behind bars, just like dear old dad.”

The impact of that statement sent Bowen back in his chair, but he made it look casual at the last minute. Just like his dad. He couldn’t think about that right now. Not with these cops staring at him like a science project. He’d had Ruby’s back since childhood and vice versa. She never would have given the police leverage to use against him. It would be a cold day in hell before she told another living soul. Unless…

“Let me guess.” Bowen swiped a hand through his hair. “Troy Bennett is on the other side of that glass. He’s the one who so graciously offered my services.”

Newsom’s lips twitched. “You catch on quick. Ever think of joining the force?”

The officers behind him laughed as if the mere idea of him being anything but a criminal was hysterical. For once, he didn’t really blame them. Bowen turned toward the two-way glass and showed it his middle finger. Ruby’s boyfriend, the man who’d managed to put the pool hustler on the straight and narrow, had been a f*cking thorn in his side since day one. He should have known when Ruby hooked up with a cop that this was inevitable.

Seconds later, the door opened and Troy strolled in holding a cup of coffee.

“Bowen.”

He didn’t return the greeting, jerking his chin at Newsom instead. “Before, my answer was no. Now, it’s hell no.”

Troy’s mouth tightened. “Can I have a moment with him, Commissioner?”

Newsom gave a brusque nod and left the room, followed by his two flunkies.

Bowen lit another cigarette and tossed his lighter onto the table. “You’re wasting your time.”

“Why haven’t you been returning your sister’s phone calls?”

The question threw him, before it circled back around and pissed him off.

“What the hell is this? A family therapy session?” He pushed to his feet and paced. “There was a time when you didn’t want me within a hundred yards of her.”

“She misses you.” Troy shrugged.

“When she’s unhappy, I’m unhappy.”

Bowen ignored the stabbing feeling in his chest. “Yeah? She has a funny way of missing me. Telling her cop boyfriend the one thing that could f*ck me over.”

“It won’t f*ck you over, because you’re going to help us.”

“Not. Happening.”

Troy walked to the metal table and flipped open the file. Bowen watched as he sifted through some papers and pulled out a picture. “I’m not supposed to show you this until you agree to help, but I’m going to anyway. You know why?”

“I couldn’t care less.”

“Because

I

trust

you,”

Troy

enunciated.

“Enough

to

convince

Newsom that you’re redeemable and could make a difference in this case.

This is my ass on the line, too.”

I trust you. Bowen didn’t want to hear those words. Didn’t like the way they made him feel. He shouldn’t be trusted.

Not after the things he’d been compelled to do. Not after he’d let his own father get put behind bars. Let his sister nearly get murdered. “Sorry to let you down, but I’ll take my chances with a bull’s-eye on my back.”

“We don’t have any other options here, man. You’re a part of that world, and if the alternative is Newsom dropping a dime on Ruby—and finding a reason to put you in a cell—you have to do it.” Troy shook his head. “You know I’ll protect your sister. Even if it means we have to leave the city and never come back. Leave behind everything she’s worked for. But I don’t think that’s what you want.” With a curse, Troy threw the photograph down onto the table. Resolutely, Bowen kept his eyes up, refusing to look. Troy pointed down at the picture. “This is your chance to make up for the shit you’ve done. A chance to do something good. Ruby sees the good in you. Are you going to prove her wrong?”

“Fuck you,” Bowen said through his teeth, hating Troy with every cell in his body for using his weakness against him.

He didn’t care about many things in this world, but he cared about his sister.

Which is why he’d completely cut her out of his life. “And while we’re on the subject, keep her the hell away from me.

I don’t want to see her in the neighborhood.”

“Still protecting her?” Troy asked quietly. “We both know that’s my job now.”

“Then do it. Keep her out of Brooklyn.”

Troy

nodded

thoughtfully,

still

watching him closely. Wanting to escape that observation, Bowen glanced away, his gaze accidentally landing on the photograph.

Everything inside him went still. He’d scooped up the picture to get a closer look before his brain registered the action. “Who is this?”