Resisting Ruby Rose (The Ruby Rose Series) (10 page)

CHAPTER 14

Despite all of Quinn’s assurances that Liam’s decision wasn’t the worst of his entire life, I couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t handle the guilt and responsibility of introducing him to yet another terrible choice. H
e’d
already turned down several football scholarships from very respected Southern California universities for me. H
e’d
put everything on hold as he held my hand through the epic disaster of his senior year. And h
e’d
risked his life and those of his family members just by being near me. He had his whole future ahead of him. Being a professional spy, thief, and assassin shouldn’t be a career option for a barely eighteen-year-old dude.

And despite all of Quinn’s assurances that coming to my room wouldn’t be inappropriate at all, I didn’t like it. Well, I liked it as much as I didn’t. I hated who he was and what h
e’d
chosen for a job, but I couldn’t help be fascinated by his allure and skill set. Not to mention his style. And if there was a chance he could help me get Liam to change his mind, I had to take it.

“I’m going to shower,” I informed him as soon as we entered my room. “You stay out here. Then we can talk.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Quinn said, giving me a salute before plopping himself down on my bed, as if he had no doubt he would get me sideways before long. He stretched out, hands behind his head. “But feel free to holler if you need me.”

I shut and locked the door behind me. I hadn’t even touched the hot water, and I was already steaming. Turning on the shower, I stared into the mirror as condensation began filling the room. How could Liam have chosen to join Skryker’s team?

The longer I stood there, contemplating the escalating disaster I called my life, the foggier it all became. I wiped at the mirror to try and see myself more clearly, but every time it clouded back up again. As I brushed, flossed, and mouthwashed, I thought that maybe I could get to Liam and convince him that his decision was wrong. That the contract he signed wasn’t binding, and he could rescind because he was a minor. Except he wasn’t a minor anymore. H
e’d
turned eighteen several months ago.

“Damn it, Liam,” I said out loud, slamming my hands down on the sink. The sudden twitch of muscle shot a dull pain across my back, reminding me
I’d
been shot several times.

I took my shirt off and turned to see the three black-and-blue welts that had formed across my skin. Along with the scar on my abdomen, my body resembled a war zone. I remembered only a few nights ago, when Liam and I were in the cabin’s master shower. The way he ran his fingers over me, almost aggressively, carefully avoiding the healing scar. How could so much have happened between that intimate moment and now? How could so much distance have come between us so quickly?

After taking the longest shower of my life, one that would have had Dr. T and her water-conserving ways on high alert, I was drained. Any remaining energy had been washed away in the near scalding water. I got dressed still half-wet and escaped from the bathroom sauna.

“Now that was one hell of a shower,” Quinn said, still reclining. “I thought I was going to have to come in there after you.”

“I was dirty,” I said flatly. Too tired for clever banter, I squeezed my wet hair with a towel and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“I agree. You were quite the dirty birdy,” he said, moving over to sit at the edge of the bed with me. “But I didn’t mind.”

I rubbed at my face, not particularly up for fighting off his over-the-top, pub-crawling pickup lines. “Can you please just tell me what I can do to get Liam out of your little club?”

“Hmm, that’s a toughie,” Quinn said. “I would, but I’m afraid that you’re in no condition to powwow a plan right now. You’ve been through a lot. How about we rest for a while, then get to work on resolving the Liam problem?”

“But you were the one who wanted to come up and talk,” I clarified.

“Actually, I just wanted to come up. Talking isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

Oh, please! I threw myself backward on the bed and covered my face with my towel. Was everything fun and games to this guy? Unless there were men with guns aimed at us, he couldn’t be serious. All he did was flirt with me, push me against walls, and exasperate me.

“Quinn, why are you really here?” I asked through the towel. He was right about my not having enough energy for powwowing.

He didn’t answer right away, and after a few moments of silence, I took the towel away to find out why. I flinched when my eyes opened to find his face inches from mine. How had I not heard or felt him move so near? Normally, I had personal-space radar better than most NASA technology.

“I’m here because I’m supposed to be here,” he said, so close I could actually taste his spicy scent. He was on his side with his head cradled in one hand. “I’m here because I want to be here.”

As if he were a spider and I was the fly caught in his web, I didn’t move. Yes, I was afraid of him and what he might do, but he was such a beautiful, charming, sexy spider.

Just when I thought he was going to kiss me, his eyes left mine, and he gently raised my tank top to inspect the scar on my abdomen. Too stunned to react, I let him.

“Nice battle wound,” he said, almost in admiration or awe. I flinched again when he ran his fingers over the fleshy skin, though the feeling there was still sketchy at best. “I’ve heard the story of how you got it. Very brave, Ruby Rose. Very brave indeed.”

He pulled my shirt back down, and in one swift motion lifted the hem of his own. His pants hung low, and just above the waistline of his boxers were three small scars the size of quarters.

“You were shot?” I asked, rolling on to my side to face him.

“One, two, three times.” He pointed to each bullet wound. “Lucky for me, the bullets went right through.” He turned slightly so I could see the exit wounds in his back.

“Yeah, lucky,” I joked, feeling slightly rejuvenated by his show and tell—and maybe also by his exposed body. “How did it happen?”

“A botched job in Cairo,” he said, lowering his shirt again.

“Cairo?” My ears perked up. Not only had he been to Cairo, but h
e’d
been shot in Cairo. This was not an average boy whose problems included poor surfing conditions, not getting enough action from his girlfriend, or bad grades. “What were you doing in Cairo?”

“That’s sort of classified information.” Quinn’s eyes glistened in amusement. “
I’d
tell you, but then
I’d
have to kill you.”

“Right,” I said. “I forgot you’re a teen assassin.”

“Actually, I prefer ‘spy-kid.’ Has more of a Disney ring to it. Plus, we do a lot more than pull triggers, you know.”

Another jab at Liam—it was clear that Quinn didn’t respect him at all, but I didn’t want to go there right now.

“OK.” I sat up and faced him. “What do you do ‘a lot more’ of then?”

He sat up as well, but didn’t turn to face me. He stared ahead instead. I followed his gaze to a framed picture of my family on my dresser. The photo was taken two years ago, the last time we went on vacation together to Catalina Island. In that moment of smiling faces and sun-kissed skin, we were a happy family. I knew now that it was partly a façade, but no matter how hard things were behind the scenes during that time—my mom’s career, my dad’s drinking, my OCD focus on grades and training—I cherished those moments.

Quinn’s staring made me feel uncomfortable. I didn’t know him well enough to invite him into my life in that way.

“Quinn, tell me what you do,” I asked, trying to draw his attention back to the issue at hand.

“We protect people. Guard things of importance. Provide a measure of justice. You know, stuff like that,” Quinn said, but without the smile his tone implied. He was still staring at my family photo. “And occasionally we shoot people.”

“How can you be so glib?” I asked, flustered by his attitude.

He scratched at his jaw for a moment before standing to retrieve the photo. “Tell me, Ruby, given the opportunity to go back in time and prevent your family from being destroyed, would you do it?”

I stood and snatched the frame from his hands, as if the object were a precious part of me. “Of course I would. What kind of question is that? But the reality is that I
can’t
go back in time. My dad is dead and gone, and nothing that I do will bring him back.” My own words stung. It felt like I was dishonoring his memory by denying the fact that he was still with me on some level.

“Right, but perhaps you could prevent it from happening to others. Think of all the other little Ruby Roses out there who still have their families intact, but certain persons are threatening to take them away.”

I shook my head as I put the photo back on the dresser. “Are you telling me that you consider yourselves some kind of charitable superhero group, ridding the world of villains who threaten to destroy little girl’s lives?”

“Of course not. We get handsomely rewarded for our labor.” Quinn smoothed out his designer clothes. “And it’s not always random little girls’ lives in need of saving. Sometimes it’s corporate executives’ freedom, state senators’ reputations, the general population’s safety—or one particular family whose lives are being destroyed by a rampaging lunatic with ties to international drug and arms dealers.”

“But you haven’t been hired to save this one particular family,” I argued. “So you’re here out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Who said we haven’t been hired? Just because we’re actively recruiting you, and apparently now your ex as well, doesn’t mean that Skryker hasn’t been contracted by the United States government to pursue your dear detective. Two birds, one stone. Though it looks like three birds now, doesn’t it?”

My ex? My dear detective?
Too much of what he was saying was both wrong and unfathomable for me to correct him all at once. So Skryker was willing to give me a ludicrous amount of money, unlimited resources,
and
help in the form of a handsome partner to “pursue” the man responsible for my family’s destruction. A man I wanted to bring to justice anyway? And bonus: he picked up a vengeful teenager with striking good looks named Liam Slater along the way!

“Can’t Skryker just take out Martinez himself? Can’t you or one of his other bankrolled assassins do it, since he’s paying you millions already?”

“Where’s the fun in that? You’re the one who should have the honor.”

“Wow. Just,
wow
.” I shook my head, trying to wrap it around all these ridiculous facts and assertions. “You’re a piece of work.”

“Thank you,” he said, checking his phone. Did he just get a message?

“I meant it as an insult,” I assured him.

“Right,” he said, giving me only half his attention and the other half to whomever was on the phone. He sat against the edge of the dresser as he texted a reply.

I waited for him to turn his attention back to me, but full minutes passed with his eyes and fingers glued to his phone.

“Who are you talking to?” I asked, my curiosity growing to unwarranted proportions.

“A girl I met in Paris last week,” he said, nonchalantly.

“What?” I clenched my jaw, as if I had any reason to be annoyed by this other than the fact that we were in the middle of a very important conversation.

“I’m just kidding,” he said, looking up at me in delight. “Though it’s nice to know you care.”

“I don’t care!” I fell back down on my bed, putting my towel over my flushed face again. “Stupid, jackwad, cockeyed mother of . . .
 
” I muttered my favorite semi-curse words under my breath.

“Like I told you, dirty birdy,” he said. “I have to go. But I’ll be back later. I’ll do that thing girls love and sneak in here and watch you sleep. It’s not creepy at all.”

“Fine, just go.” I crawled up to my pillow and under my comforter. “Nothing I say or do matters anyway.”

He leaned down and tucked me in like an old friend. But when he put his lips to my ear to whisper, I got a very new-friend feeling. “Sleep tight, Ruby Rose.”

Even when Quinn was gone, his smell lingered. And as I drifted to sleep, I fought my unconscious fantasy of what it would be like to have him curled up behind me, just like Liam used to be.

CHAPTER 15

“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” Dr. T’s voice brought me back to the light of day and the darkness of life.

I made some weird groaning and stretching noises before my brain formed actual words. “How long did I sleep?”

“I don’t know.” She tucked some hair behind my ear, just like my mom used to do. “When I got home last night around 7:00, you were already passed out. And it’s 9:30 a.m. now, so that’s at least fourteen hours.”

I rolled my head and sat up to stretch. Dr. T was a sight for sore eyes. Very literally sore eyes. “Any news on my mom?” I asked.

“Not much, but she’s making remarkable progress. She’s healing like it’s her job.” That was her version of an inside joke. I smiled.

“I must’ve dropped by the hospital yesterday afternoon right after you left,” she continued. “She wasn’t able to say much, but she consented to an essential oil foot massage to boost her immune system.”

I cocked my head. “You did that for her?”

“Anything I can do to help.” Dr. T’s eyes softened, and her lips pursed. “You know, in a few weeks they might be able to move her home for full-time care. I think you should consider being there when that happens.”

“Are you kicking me out?” I asked, only half-teasing. For some reason, the thought of moving “home” terrified me. It would mean that
I’d
forgiven my mother completely when I hadn’t. That I trusted her when I didn’t. But it would also mean I loved her, which I always did. Always would.

“You know I’m not,” Dr. T said. “It’s entirely your choice.”

“OK, I’ll consider it.” I ran my hands through my now dry but totally snarled hair. “But is that even an option right now? I mea
n . . .
she’s still in bad shape, right?”

“She’s still coping with some very serious injuries, but no longer in critical condition. Bu
t . . .
” Dr. T paused, doing her usual search for the perfect words, “
. . .
the question is what kind of quality of life she’ll have.”

“What do you mean, ‘quality of life’?” I asked, my heart racing to wake me up in earnest.

“Ruby, you have to understand that she sustained quite a bit of trauma to her brain, several broken vertebrae, a cracked hip, and dozens of cuts and bruises over her entire body. If she ever talks normally or walks well again, wel
l . . .
it will be almost a miracle.” The verbalization of each injury was like a kick in the face, taking my breath away. No one had been so frank with me about her condition. Maybe Mathews and the doctors didn’t want me to worry. Maybe they thought omitting the truth about her injuries would keep my spirits up and in turn keep my mom progressing. But they had to know
I’d
find out eventually.

“But she’s an amazing woman,” Dr. T continued, “and nothing would surprise me when it comes to Jane.”

I nodded, appreciating her blend of brutal honesty and total faith that Jane could make a miracle recovery. Dr. T might not have been my therapist any longer, but it didn’t mean that her words weren’t therapeutic.

What she didn’t see—or pretended not to see—was the overwhelming rage I had for the man behind all this. He wasn’t going to get away with his blind destruction anymore. No matter what it took, I would bring him to justice. Even if it meant embracing Black Tide’s help.

“Anyway, I have some breakfast for you if you’re hungry.” Dr. T patted me on the leg and stood up. “Get cleaned up a bit and meet me in the kitchen?”

“Sure, thanks.” Right before she left the room
,
I stopped her. “For everything. I mean—thank you for everything.”

She gave me a sparkling wink. “Anytime.”

As I was putting my wobbly legs into jeans, I realized it had been over twenty-four hours since
I’d
eaten anything. And since hospital Jell-O didn’t qualify as real food, it had been more like thirty-six hours since any nutrition had entered my body.

Suddenly, I was ravenous. Everything I planned to do and everyone I planned to see would have to wait until
I’d
devoured Dr. T’s breakfast.

I checked my phone again for messages. If Liam was going to be more than twenty minutes late, the least he could do was message me or answer his cell. I was starting to worry. Had he only made it one day as one of Skryker’s pawns?

The beach was crowded for a Thursday morning; maybe he couldn’t find me. But then again, if he couldn’t remember where “our spot” was next to the pier, then he deserved his #1 position on my shit list right now.

I crushed the bulbs of kelpy seaweed between my fingers like he used to do. I imagined each one was his head, and I could squeeze the stupid right out. Signing up with Skryker wasn’t his calling. Liam belonged in college, playing football, working a part-time job at the gym, and hanging out with friends at parties. Not traveling the world committing illicit and often criminal acts.

“Hey, Ruby.” His voice behind me made me jump, even though I was waiting for him. My jaw dropped when I saw what he was wearing—a wetsuit? With the suit hanging low on hips and a short board under his arm, he came strolling up to face me. “Sorry I didn’t call you to tell you
I’d
be a little late. No cell phone.” He held his arms up to indicate there was no room to store one in his wetsuit.

“I don’t understand.” I stood to face him. “I thought you came to talk, not to surf. And where did you get all this new stuff? That’s a brand-new board.”

He scanned my face as if to read my Ruby Rage Detector. “Well, I’m sure you’ve heard by no
w . . .
” He trailed off, unable to finish the damn sentence.

“Oh, I’ve heard, all right,” I said without raising my voice—the bite was in the tone. “I’ve heard that you decided to throw your whole life away! And for what? A new surfboard? Money to burn? Why didn’t you at least call me? Talk to me about this before you decided?”

He hung his head, not in shame but in calm defiance. “I don’t need your permission or input on how I choose to live my life or spend my money.”

“
Your
money? You mean Skryker’s money.”

“It’s in a bank account with my name on it, so it’s mine now.”

“How much?” I asked, skipping past the semantics of whose money it really was.

“Don’t worry about how much.” He scratched at the new wax on his board. “It’s enough to get me and my family some of the things we never dreamed possible.”

“Like what? A few new toys?” I tried to hold back the condescension in my voice, but it was seeping through. “Liam, you have everything you need. You have a family who loves you.” He didn’t understand that
I’d
pay millions to have what he had. They might have resented the hell out of me by now because of all the time Liam and I had been spending together, but they would always love him—money or not.

“Yeah, well, my family deserves more. And now they’ll have it. My mom won’t have to work in a bar six nights a week. Christian and Tug won’t have to worry about having enough lunch money ever again. I don’t expect you to understand.” Every word that left his mouth was soaked in spite.

“It’s not that I don’t understand your wanting to help your family, but why are you treating me like this?” I asked. “I’m not your enemy. I’m your girlfriend!”

He raised his head to look me straight in the eyes as he ripped my heart out. “Not anymore.”

My face scrunched up in what was surely an unattractive way as I tried to process his words. “We had a fight, Liam. More like a misunderstanding under a stressful set of circumstances. We didn’t break up! Why would you say that?”

“If you don’t know why, then you’re definitely not as smart as everyone thinks you are. But the thing is, I’m not as stupid as
you
think
I
am, and I know you don’t need an explanation from me.” His eyes were pale and hard as stone.

Was he alluding to my sort of rejecting him in the shower? Or did he think that
I’d
cheated on him with Quinn? Or was he talking about how I might have emasculated him by telling him he couldn’t handle the task of getting us out of the cabin alive and went off with Quinn instead?

“I don’t think you’re stupid,” I said, considering reaching out and touching him. Afraid of his eyes, I looked at his body and the scars on his arm and side. I remembered the day I first saw them. We were right here. He was pushing me to open up to him. He was relentless. Just like I had to be now. “I honestly don’t understand what’s going on with you. I know I’ve made some poor decisions. I’m not perfect. But I’m sorry for everything.” Humility wasn’t my strong suit, but
I’d
try anything at this point to crack his icy shell.

He took a few steps so that his bare triceps touched my shoulder—I faced inland, and Liam faced the ocean. Neither of us looked at the other, but at least we were close. “Sometimes we can’t take our choices back,” he said.

“What are you talking about?” I needed specifics, not vague quotes that could be taken from artwork at doctors’ offices. Off the top of my head, I could recall a dozen choices
I’d
made that couldn’t be taken back—and a lot of them involved murder. So yeah, I understood the concept. But which decision couldn’t he take back? And why wouldn’t he answer me?

“Liam,
what
choices? Killing LeMarq’s twin? Joining Skryker?” I asked.

Telling me that you loved me?

“No,” he said, shaking his head and blowing out a breath of obvious annoyance.

“Look,” I said, “I’ve thought about it, and I don’t think your contract with Skryker is legally binding at all. I know you’re technically an adult now, but contracts for the purposes of committing a criminal act are considered null and void—”

“Ruby, stop!” He raised his voice and turned his head to look down at me. “This is what I’m talking about. You think you know what’s best for me. You think you get to control me, make decisions for me. But I’m a big boy! News flash: before the Infamous Ruby Rose came into my life, I could actually tie my shoelaces on my own.”

“Why are you so mad?” I said, getting quite mad myself.

“Because I don’t want to be your pet anymore. I don’t need you constantly underestimating me and shutting me out.”

“I don’t do that!” My voice was far too loud for discretion at this point. Two kids throwing a Frisbee stopped to snicker at the couple having a public fight. “All I’ve ever tried to do was protect you and keep you away from the horrors of my life.”

“Exactly. It was never your job to protect me. All you’ve ever done is push me and try to ‘keep me away.’ Well, mission accomplished. You’ve effectively pushed me out for good. I told you that I loved you, I went with Sofia to protect you, I’ve put myself out there for you in too many ways to count, and you’ve never really let me in. I’m not sure you ever can.” Liam started walking away, only stopping to zip up his wetsuit.

“Please, Liam,” I said, nearly begging. “Don’t do this. I’m sorry. If you could just give me a chance to explain myself bette
r . . .
I need you.” The groundbreaking words stopped Liam as his feet hit the whitewash.
I’d
never said I needed anyone. Not out loud.

With his back still to me, he turned his head so I could see his profile, his shaggy hair parted so his scar was just visible. I wanted to reach out and grab him, to remind him of all the times we opened up to each other. The scars we shared, the tenderness we experienced. He was the only one
I’d
ever told about my dad’s shoreline—right here on this very beach. “You don’t need m
e . . .
you never did. And, anyway, you have Quinn now.”

He took off at a full run and dove into the foaming water, paddling out past my shoreline.