Ruby

I walked out of the bedroom and into the living room. Neco was standing at the breakfast bar with Hunter. Zeke was there, too. They were deep in conversation. Neco was propped against the counter, feet bare, mug of coffee in one hand. The expression on his face was serious, eyes intense. They slid to me as soon as I hit the room. The intensity changed slightly, in a way that had tingles shooting up my spine, making me scalp tingle. Last night was the fifth night he’d slept with me. Every night he just . . . kept showing up. Lulu had been suspiciously quiet on the subject. Well, at least she hadn’t been grilling me about it. This morning, though, I’d woken up to find him gone. I was ashamed to admit how fast I’d jumped out of bed and rushed out here.

The realization that I was starting to need him, to expect to find him beside me, wrapped around me when I woke, was a shock to the system. I was also angry with myself for being so damn needy. Jesus, I couldn’t do this to myself anymore. Last night had to be the last time. I was slipping . . .

Who was I kidding, I’d already slipped.

Shit.

So much for being strong.

His pale eyes did their usual top to toe, then his lips compressed into a hard line and he pushed away from the counter and strode toward me.

He stopped in front of me and I tilted my head back to meet his darkened gaze. “What’s going on? Do you have news about Scott?” So far Scott was still MIA. No one had seen or heard from him, and getting information out of Neco or Hunter . . . or any of the guys, for that matter, was like pulling teeth. I hated being kept in the dark. Especially since it involved me.

He shook his head and surprised me by giving me something. “Nothing yet. Zeke stopped by Jimmy Mason’s, doesn’t look like Scott’s been there.”

Jimmy was Scott’s best friend, the only one I knew of, which is what I’d told Neco. Dammit. I wanted this over with already. “I can’t think of anywhere else he’d be.”

“We’ll find him.” Neco’s eyes dropped to my chest and he froze for a second before his eyes darted back to mine. “Go get dressed, Ruby.”

His words startled me. I frowned up at him. “What?”

“Get dressed,” he repeated.

I looked down. I was in my ratty shorts and baggy tank. I looked scruffy, but I didn’t get what the big deal was. “What’s the problem?” I asked. He was crowding me now, forcing me to take several steps back.

“I can see your tits clear though that tank.” He moved a little closer, so close I could feel the heat radiating off him. “You may as well be standing there fucking topless.”

Heat crawled up my neck. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” His intense gaze intensified further and he lifted his hand, fingers sliding over the bare skin of my shoulder, causing goose bumps to break out along my arms. “I don’t want anyone seeing you like this but me.”

What the . . . what?

I didn’t exactly want to flash my tits to everyone either, still I found myself pushing for him to give me more. “Why?”

“Why do you think?”

I swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. “I have no idea, that’s why I’m asking.”

His thumb brushed my wrist. “A lot of things have changed, Ruby.”

My heart started pounding. “How?”

“I think you know,” he said, voice dipped lower.

Nope. Not at all. Because he couldn’t mean what I was starting to think he meant. No way. My brain refused to even contemplate it.

My head was still tilted back, staring up at him, and he did not break eye contact, not once, green peepers boring into mine. It was kind of freaking me out.

“Nec,” Hunter called, breaking whatever the hell this was.

I took a step back. “I’ll just go and um . . . get dressed then.”

His eyes dipped to my chest then back up. “You do that.”

I spun around and speed-walked back to the bedroom, feeling his eyes on me the whole way.

After everyone left, I talked Lulu into going to lunch. I’d been cooped up in this apartment for days. I was close to climbing the walls or tearing my damn hair out. We went to one of our favorite cafes and I ordered coffee and a giant piece of carrot cake. Lulu got a coffee as well, but went for the chocolate cake instead.

“I can’t believe we were allowed out on our own,” I said around a mouthful of cake, rolling my eyes.

Lulu chuckled. “You’re disgusting.”

“Never said I was a lady.”

“No one would mistake either of us for that.” She took a sip of her coffee. “And we’re not alone. Zeke’s here.”

I looked around, but didn’t see him anywhere. Not a surprise. Even though we didn’t have a visual on him, you could bet he had us in his sights. “All this is a little extreme, don’t you think?”

Lulu put down her fork. “You were beaten so bad you were in hospital for three days, Ruby. And the guy who put you there hasn’t been found.” She shook her head. “You know it’s not.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Look, I know it can be stifling, but it’s for the best. Just until we know Scott’s off the street.”

Lulu had gone through a lot a short time ago. Only her situation had been way worse, and she’d had more than just one drug-addled idiot to worry about. Honestly, I didn’t think Scott would come after me again. “Whatever happened with him that night was a one-off, I’m sure of it. He’s never tried to hurt me before. Honestly, I’ve put it down to a psychotic episode brought on by all the drugs he’s been doing. He probably doesn’t even remember doing it, let alone expend the energy to come after me again.”

Lulu took another sip of her coffee. “You’re probably right. Still, no reason to take chances, not until we know exactly what’s going on.”

“I guess. I just want things to get back to normal. I want to start my job with Harry and put all this behind me.”

We both ate some more cake, then Lulu smirked at me. “So, does Neco hog the covers?”

I shook my head. “I have no idea what he thinks he’s doing, I just know it has to stop.”

“Stop?” She looked taken back. “I thought he’d finally pulled his head out of his ass and you two were together?”

The center of my chest started to ache. “We’re not together.” Or were we? I was so confused.

I don’t want anyone seeing you like this but me.

At first I thought he was trying to take us back to that place when we’d been best friends, always there for each other—but what friend said something like that?

She leaned in. “Has he kissed you?”

I shook my head. Those kisses before I was hurt didn’t count. He’d made it clear they didn’t. And he hadn’t tried to kiss me again. So, despite what he said this morning, I wasn’t going to fool myself it meant something . . . more. He was an intense guy, always had been. It was more than likely just him being overprotective again. “No.”

“Has he copped a feel?”

I nearly spat out my coffee. “No! He hasn’t done anything. It’s like he thinks I’m the same scared, defenseless kid who used to climb in his bed all those years ago. What he’s feeling right now is guilt, nothing more.” I wasn’t counting the boners digging into my ass every night. I was sticking with my theory of “he’s a guy and I had an ass that just so happened to be squished against his dick.” It had nothing to do with me, and that included the morning wood. That was just biology, not lust. The fact he didn’t seem to be the least bit embarrassed about it just confirmed it. Not to mention he’d never once tried to do anything about it . . . or should I say, with it.

Lulu looked disappointed. She wasn’t the only one. “Maybe he’s working up to it,” she said hopefully.

I shook my head. “What’s between me and Neco is complicated, yes. But I don’t think he sees me as anything more than a sister.” That had to be it. And more than likely the reason he hadn’t kissed me again. Maybe when he had, that’s exactly how it felt. Like kissing his sister.

“I don’t know if I believe that,” she muttered then finished off her drink.

I shrugged and quickly changed the subject. “So, is Josh with Sara today?”

Lulu smiled, eyes so warm and filled with love that I felt a pang of jealousy. “Yep. They adore each other.” She chuckled. “He has his aunt wrapped around his little finger.”

“You have such a great family,” I said before I could school my words.

She dipped her chin. “I’m lucky.”

“You deserve it, this amazing life you have now.” Lulu had been through awful things, things no young girl or woman ever should. If anyone deserved happiness, it was her.

She squeezed my hand. “I want the same for you.”

I forced a smile. “I know you do. I can’t imagine it though,” I said truthfully.

Her soft smile slipped. “Ruby, when we’re told enough we don’t deserve something, we start to believe it.” She gave my hand another squeeze. “You don’t talk about it much, but Hunter’s said a few things about your stepmother . . . and what he has said was bad.”

I didn’t talk to anyone about my childhood accept Neco. I knew he’d shared with his best friend, and I knew Hunter and the other guys had seen and heard things when we lived on that street. Usually, I would deflect, change the subject, but Lulu was different. She’d shared so much with me, I wanted to give some of that back to her. Show her how much I valued her as a friend.

My fingers tightened around my coffee cup. “My stepmother was abusive. She genuinely hated me. I don’t know why, to this day I don’t know why. She was just a cruel, selfish, ugly person. She called me names every day, enjoyed humiliating me. She’d sometimes go away, and lock me out of the house.” A lump expanded in my throat. “When I was eleven, her and one of her boyfriends force-fed me vodka and got me drunk purely for their own entertainment. She would deny me food until I was sick with hunger, or . . .

Lulu’s hand tightened around mine. “My God, Ruby . . . I’m so sorry you went through that . . .”

I’d been rambling, the floodgates of my nightmare life pouring from me. I quickly shook my head. “I’m okay,” I said. “I survived.”

“Where is she now?”

“I don’t know. When I left, I never looked back.”

Lulu held my eyes. “You’re the strongest woman I know, Ruby Styles.”

I squeezed her hand back. “Ditto.”

We finished our cake after that, talking about lighter things. She understood like no one else that’s what I needed. Another reason I loved her so much.

We finally left and were heading down the street, back toward the apartment when the sound of squealing tires followed by the ear-splitting screech of metal against metal filled the air. I jerked back when Scott’s car slam to a halt in front of us, the side of it all fucked up from the cars he’d just sideswiped. He jumped out instantly, running at me, and I shoved Lulu behind my back.

Scott’s eyes were wide, darting all over the place as he grabbed my wrist and jerked me forward. “Let’s go, quickly. It’s not safe.”

I yanked my arm out of his hold. “What the hell’s going on, Scott?” Weirdly, all the fear I’d had vanished. My roommate was scared and paranoid, and despite the beating he’d given me, I didn’t think he really wanted to hurt me.

His eyes locked with mine. “Please, Ruby, we have to go . . .”

I heard the sound of boots pounding on the pavement and spun around. Zeke was barreling down on us. Scott spotted him and cursed, then reluctantly letting me go, dived back into his car and tore off down the street before Zeke could get to him.

I stared after Scott. What the hell was that? Zeke rounded us up and bundled us into his SUV before I knew what was happening, then he was driving, phone to his ear, talking to Van.

I sat there stunned through the whole thing. Lulu held my hand and I felt hers trembling in mine. Scott had freaked her out. She’d been through more than enough already.

I couldn’t take much more of this, of hiding, of sitting around waiting for someone else to save me, to work out what in the hell was going on.

I wasn’t afraid anymore. I was pissed the hell off.

Zeke took us to the agency. Lulu and I were sitting on the couch in Van’s office when Neco and Hunter walked in. And dear God, the look on Hunter’s face. He looked ready to tear shit apart. That look was because of me, because of my shit.

Lulu was up and at his side before he’d fully gotten through the door. He cursed, wrapped her in his arms, lifted her off her feet, and walked out, kicking the door shut behind them.

That just left Neco and me.

I stared at him and he stared back. “I’m fine. Look, I don’t think Scott is a threat, he’s just . . .”

“Let’s go,” he said cutting me off, voice coarse, like gravel.

I stood, and since he obviously wasn’t in the mood to discuss Scott, I asked the first question to pop into my head. “Where are we going?”

“You can’t stay with Hunter anymore. You’re staying with me.”

“But . . . Hunter said I could . . .”

“He wants to make sure his woman and son are safe. Having you there puts them at risk. They’ve been through enough already.” He opened the door. “Jude will bring your shit over later.”

I shoved my hands in my pockets. Hunter wanted me out of his place. I got that, and I knew it was for the best. I would die before letting anything happen to Lulu or Josh. But staying with Neco . . .

My gaze slid back to him. He stood in front of me like a statue, hard and unmoving, nothing coming through, no fierce emotions, not like Hunter, nothing like the way he’d looked at Lulu when he walked in. It gutted me a little bit . . . okay, a lot. Though I’d tried to tell myself sleeping in the same bed as Neco, doing whatever the hell it was we were doing, wouldn’t get to me, it had. And I hated that I still had the ability to feel pain over him, especially when he’d never offered me more than protection.

I wanted to say no. Spending more time with him was not a healthy choice for me. I was well aware of my weakness for this man, but right now, there weren’t any other options jumping out at me. I was stuck.

I crossed my arms. “That’s the last thing I want.”

“I know,” he murmured.

Nothing else needed to be said. The decision was made. Until Scott was caught, I would be living with Neco.

As I walked out into the hall, his hand went to the back of my neck, fingers curling around it in a way that could only be described as possessive. My first instinct was to shove him off, to tell him to back the hell off. He was messing with my damn head with all these touches and looks, and he wasn’t even aware he was doing it. Instead, I headed to the elevator, mindful that, despite his lack of emotion, he was worried and trying to do the right thing by me.

It was getting harder and harder to push my feelings aside to appease his, though. Something had to give, and soon. I couldn’t do this much longer.

I didn’t see anyone else in reception and I assumed Hunter had taken Lulu home.

We climbed in the elevator, walking out into the parking lot a minute later. Neco was still being quiet. I was kind of surprised how calm he seemed. Yeah, Neco could be emotionless, but that didn’t include anger. He let me know when he was unhappy, no holding back. I glanced over at him. He was close, eyes scanning the parking lot, his right hand down at his side. That’s when I realized he was holding a gun.

“You think that’s necessary?” I said, looking pointedly at the piece in his hand.

“Not risking it.” We got to his car and he opened the passenger side. “He tried to snatch you off the street in broad daylight. Fucker’s capable of anything.”

I climbed in and he shut the door after me. The driver’s door opened and he got in beside me, started up the SUV, and we tore out.

I turned to him. “Whatever is going on with Scott, I don’t think he wants to hurt me, not really . . . There’s something else . . .”

Neco turned to me eyes sharp. “He beat the shit out of you.”

“He was high, confused, agitated, I don’t know . . .”

“Are you making excuses for that fucker? Really?”

“No . . . I . . .” What? I let out a long breath and shook my head. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, what Scott was trying to do.”

“At this point, all we know is he hurt you and could do it again. That’s the part I’m focusing on.”

I didn’t reply and stared out the window. There was more to this whole thing, I just didn’t know what. All of a sudden I felt tired, exhausted. I had almost fully recovered from my injuries, despite a few remaining bruises. I’d managed to cover most of them on my face with makeup, but I knew they were there. Evidence of my weakness, my damned stupidity. The fact that I’d placed my trust in the wrong person. So no, I wasn’t making excuses for Scott. I despised the creep, but I got the feeling he was worried about me in his own fucked-up way, or at least wanted to warn me about something. At the apartment before he attacked me, then again earlier today, he’d said it wasn’t safe, emphasizing that we had to go, we had to get away. Could be the ravings of a paranoid drug addict on the edge, or it could be something more . . .

I dropped my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes. If I could’ve wished myself away in that moment, I would have. What the hell was wrong with me that people wanted to shit on me all the time? My stepmother had done her best to cut me down, from a very young age. To her I was worthless, and she wanted me to know it. I’d worked so hard to erase her cruel words, the awful things she’d put me through, to convince myself that I wasn’t what she said I was, that I was strong . . . that I was more. But then I’d gone and run around after Neco like a fool. He’d been stuck with me for years. His pathetic little shadow.

Jesus. I wanted to run as hard and as far as I could, but I was trapped. He was stuck with me again, until this mess was sorted out. My mess. A mess that he would have to clean up for me—again.

I glanced over at him, at the way his thick, long fingers gripped the steering wheel, the way the veins and tendons stood out, the way his biceps bulged and jumped as he drove. I lifted my gaze to his throat, his jaw, the way his nostrils flared and his eyes blazed . . . with white-hot rage.

I jolted.

Okay. I’d been wrong. Neco wasn’t calm, not at all. He was furious. Then I felt it, throbbing through the car, heavy and thick. Violence. The kind that was capable of the most terrifying acts, the kind that if you ever found yourself in the presence of it, you wouldn’t walk away. You’d run.

“Neco,” I whispered.

“Don’t,” he rasped. “Not one fucking word, Ruby.”

I wasn’t stupid enough to push it. Not this time.