“Sorry to bother you, Al. Remember that child custody case we were talking about?”
“Sure. Lewis right?” the judge asked.
All the blood drained out of me. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but reality sank in.
I yanked the phone out of his hand before hauling the piece of technology against the wall. Then I stalked into the bedroom, slammed the door, and slid down to sit on the floor with my knees to my chest. I took several breaths as I scrambled to think of my next move. I wasn’t changing into that dress or doing anything with him. That man wasn’t touching my body. You don’t exactly have a way out. You’re on the fortieth floor. The only way to freedom is the door you came in.
My gaze darted to the large vase of flowers on the dresser. If I threw that at his head, it would give me a second or two to escape. Then what? He has men watching Raven’s foster family. He’ll go after Raven. Not if I get to her first.
I pushed to my feet. In five strides, I had my hands on the vase. As soon as you walk out with a large vase of flowers, and you’re not dressed, he’ll stop you before you have a chance to throw it at him. Make him believe you’re doing what you were told.
Reluctantly, I shed my clothes then piled them in a heap on top of my coat, which was in a plush chair by the window. When I bent down to pick up the lingerie, I caught my reflection in the window. I stood in my bra and panties with fear carved into my pale features. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath as the voices in my head argued with one another. Don’t do this. I have to go through with the deal. No, you don’t. Yes, I do. He wasn’t lying about the judge. I covered my ears and silently screamed, shut up!
Inhaling the fragrant flowers, I opened my eyes then pulled out my pictures from my coat pocket. Looking at Raven’s pictures always calmed me. I found the one of her modeling her new outfit. I smiled as I ran a thumb over the picture. “I love you, baby girl.” I picked through the rest, stopping on the one of Kross lounging on the lawn under an oak tree at the academy. God, he was handsome as he grinned at me with his sparkling blue eyes.
“I love you, too,” I murmured. “I’m doing this for us. I hope you can forgive me.”
A knock sounded. “Ruby, hurry up,” Trent said in a taut tone.
“I’m almost ready,” I fired back.
I pocketed the pictures. When I did, my hand landed on my knife. Instantly, a new plan emerged. I quickly changed into the skimpy black dress that revealed way too much of my cleavage and legs. I slid my feet into the six-inch heels, fluffed up my hair, pinched my cheeks, and steeled my shoulders. I checked myself in the full-length mirror in the bathroom, turning from front to side. My legs appeared long, my calf muscles accentuated, and my thighs toned. Wow! Where did those legs come from? As I admired my small waist and larger-than-life breasts, I would have sworn that the person I was looking at wasn’t me. I was pretty. I pulled my hair forward to drape over my breasts. A giddy feeling coursed through me then quickly vanished. I wasn’t here to look pretty. Yeah, but you’ll certainly blind him. He won’t know what hit him.
On my way out, I grabbed my pocketknife. It was small but could be effective. As I wobbled to the door in those shoes, I wished myself luck. I would either fall at Trent’s feet because of my clumsy gait, or if I had the stamina, I would dig one of my heels into his groin.
With a killer smile on my face, I clutched the knife behind my back and walked out.
Trent’s head came up from where he sat on the couch before his body shot upright. “Holy shit!” His dark gaze swept over me as though he was painting slime on my body. “Turn around.”
“I’d like a drink,” I said, distracting him for a moment so he wouldn’t see the knife. I darted my gaze to the door, which was no longer blocked by his big body, then back again.
He cocked his head. “You want to try for the door again? Or maybe we can call Judge Carroll again.”
I wanted to inflict pain on Trent before I did anything else. “I asked for a drink.”
He nodded a couple of times. “Sure. Sure.” He scurried from the living room into the kitchen.
I crossed the room carefully until I was standing at the island that separated the kitchen from the living room. With the granite countertop as my shield, I placed my hands in front of me then unleashed the blade.
Trent made quick work of getting the glasses, ice, and a bottle of vodka. He set the ingredients down on the bar as his gaze got stuck on my cleavage.
“Drink,” I said again.
He blinked before pouring vodka into both glasses. Then he slid one glass across the counter. I didn’t drink alcohol. I’d tried beer once after I stopped breastfeeding Raven. I didn’t like the taste, and I’d never tried any hard liquor. Tonight, I needed more than a picture of Raven to calm my nerves. I probably needed that entire bottle of vodka if I was going to stab him.
He raised his glass. “Cheers.”
I grabbed my glass and brought it to my lips. “Fuck you.” Those were the only words that came to mind.
He narrowed his eyes as he sipped. “You didn’t believe that I knew a judge?”
I’d wanted to believe he’d been bluffing. I down the vodka in one shot then winced. A stream of fire slid down my throat, and as it did, I choked.
Trent rounded the island. “Are you okay?” Gone was the roughness in his voice. In its place was a caring quality that gave me the impression he could be a nice guy instead of a jerk.
I continued to choke, hunching over slightly. Nice man or not, when his hands landed on my arms, I plunged the knife into his thigh.
“You bitch,” he shouted in that gruff, slimy undertone that was stronger than before.
I ran for the door. When my feet hit the tiled foyer, my right foot twisted. I listed to one side, the wall catching me.
“Get back here,” he bit out as heavy footsteps thudded.
I wobbled two feet to the door. I had my hand on the doorknob when someone pounded on it from the other side. I turned the knob just as Trent’s hand landed in my hair.
I screamed, turned, and punched him in the nose. He didn’t flinch or remove his hand. All he did was grunt while blood slid down his upper lip.
Someone banged on the door again. “Ruby!”
“Kross!” I shouted.
“Open this door,” Kross barked.
Trent pulled hard on my hair.
I managed to twist around, the pain in my scalp burning, feeling as though Trent was ripping out my hair. I kneed him in the groin. His face reddened as he let go of me.
I opened the door and practically knocked over Kross.
He grasped my hips. “What the fuck is going on?” His neck corded as he examined me. Then he gently pushed past me into the suite.
My heart thumped as I followed him. “Let’s go. We don’t need any trouble.” I almost laughed at myself for saying that. If I didn’t want trouble, then I shouldn’t have shown up there or agreed to Trent’s demands, or stabbed him.
“A little late for that.” Kross’s fists were balled at his side as he stepped deeper into the room.
Trent had retreated to the kitchen, where he was pouring himself another vodka. He eyed Kross then me, appearing as though he didn’t have a care in the world, almost as if he’d been expecting Kross to show up. “What you did, Ruby, will cost you more than money now.”
“Touch Raven, and I will kill you.” My voice was even.
Kross’s eyes became pinpoints as he regarded me. “What are you talking about? What’s going on?”
“I messed up.” I hugged myself, feeling naked beneath his scrutiny.
“Your girl owes me ten Gs,” Trent said in a nasal tone. “But now that you’re here, Maxwell, I have a better plan to get my money back.” He downed the vodka.
Kross jerked his head at me, his carotid artery pulsing at what had to be two hundred beats per minute. “How in the world do you owe him that much money?” Contempt coated his words.
“Don’t judge me,” I snapped.
Fire flickered in his eyes. “What happened in the last week for you to fall prey to this fucker?”
My own pulse increased astronomically. “It’s called survival.”
“I’ve been trying to help you since I found you. Instead, you ask him.” Kross stabbed a finger at Trent, anguish flitting across his face.
Holding back tears, I pushed down all my emotions for the moment. This wasn’t the place to cry, scream, apologize, or anything else. “It’s not like that.”
“Then tell me what’s it’s like. Tell me that the girl I love isn’t here to sleep with this fuckwad. Tell me that the girl I love didn’t make a deal that involves our daughter.”
The room spun for so many reasons. I knew I should have pleaded my case. I knew we shouldn’t have been discussing any of this in front of Trent. Except I couldn’t help but ask, “You love me?”
Trent clapped, severing the fireworks that were shooting off in my chest. “Wonderful,” he mocked. “I want my money, and Kross, you’re the one to deliver.”
Kross set his attention on Trent who held a napkin to his nose. “I’m not fighting for you,” he said as though Trent had approached him already.
“You don’t need to fight for me. But you do need to lose that fight of yours tomorrow night.”
“Or what?” Every facial muscle on Kross looked ready to burst open.
I held my breath, knowing what was coming.
“Do you ever want to see your daughter again?” Trent asked.
Kross leapt across the room then grabbed the collar of Trent’s shirt. “You so much as touch her, you’re a dead man.”
I ran to Kross. “Stop. Trent has pictures of Raven. He’s been following her. He threatened to bury my paperwork with a judge.” I didn’t want Kross to agree to Trent’s deal, but I also didn’t want him to cause more trouble for us.
“Listen to your girl,” Trent said. “I can make it so you’ll never get custody of her.”
Kross shoved him. “Bullshit. No one has that much power over a judge.”
Trent’s back hit the fridge. “Do you want to test that theory? I can call Judge Carroll again. Right, Ruby?”
“Kross, he’s telling the truth about the judge. He called him in front of me.”
“I’ll pay you the ten Gs,” Kross said.
Trent barked out an evil laugh. “No. The deal changed when Ruby stabbed me and you stormed in here. You know I can file charges against Ruby.”
I didn’t have the energy to protest. If he did press charges, then that would add to my growing list of ways I’d screwed up my chances of getting my daughter out of foster care. More importantly, the cops could arrest me for prostitution since I was there to have sex with Trent. Then I would definitely lose custody.
The silence grew to a deafening height as Kross considered Trent then me. We could explain our predicament to Ms. Waters. Then she would know that I was illegally fighting, prostituting my body to pay back a debt, and that I stabbed Trent. Aside from that, she followed the laws of the system. She would never believe that someone could pay off a judge.
“So what’s it going to be, Maxwell?” Trent’s voice severed the brick wall of tension.
I couldn’t let Kross throw away his career. The entire time we’d dated in high school, he’d talked about boxing, and how he would be the one to beat someday. I just didn’t know what else I could do. Trent didn’t want me anymore. Trent didn’t want the ten thousand dollars. If he was planning to bet on Kross losing, then he stood to make more money.
“Don’t do it, Kross.” I grabbed his hand, then I glanced at Trent. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do to work off that money.”
Before Trent could respond, Kross blurted out, “You got yourself a deal.”
“You can’t do that,” I protested.
Trent smirked. “Glad to see you came to your senses.”
“Go get your clothes,” Kross demanded rather roughly.
I obeyed since I couldn’t do anything else. Once Kross and I were alone, then maybe we could come up with another plan that wouldn’t cause him to lose his fight. One that would help us get Raven back at the same time.
I piled my clothes in my arms then hurried out. The faster we got out of there, the less of a chance that Kross would beat the lights out of Trent. We couldn’t afford more trouble.
“Remember what’s at stake,” Trent said loudly as Kross and I walked out.
I swore I would find a way to get back at Trent.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kross
I wore a hole in my bedroom rug as Ruby sat ramrod straight on my bed, gnawing on her fingers. Kade, Kelton, and Lizzie weren’t home, which was good for the time being. Otherwise, I might have lashed out at them. I didn’t want to subject them to the rage flowing through me.
It was all I could do not to bite Ruby’s head off during the distance from Trent’s place to mine. To a large extent, I was furious more with Trent than her. I’d been wracking my brain on how to handle the situation, but I kept coming up empty except for killing him. If I ran the situation by Kelton, I could already hear his response: “You have no evidence. Threats won’t get a cop to call you back, and hearsay doesn’t hold up in court.”
Man, how did my life change so fucking drastically within the span of a month? I shouldn’t have been blown away at the sight of Ruby standing in nothing but a scrap of lingerie in Trent Baker’s penthouse. The woman had surprised me and brought me to my knees time and time again since I’d found her. But I was appalled that she could have even entertained the idea of giving herself to a sleazebag like Trent, even more so since she’d told me she loved me.
I’d been on my way to Firefly to see Ruby when Norma called.
“Get over to the Lexington ASAP. Ruby is in trouble,” Norma had said. “That Trent Baker guy is involved. She’s in a penthouse in that apartment building.”
I knew something had been off with Ruby. She’d acted weird and had been whiter than a ghost when she was at the gym earlier that day.
I had tried to probe Norma for more details, but my cell reception had dropped. Like a wild man, I’d sped through the streets of Boston in a daze. I couldn’t get past the doorman fast enough until I’d threatened him with his life. Then when I’d heard Ruby scream, I wanted to kill. I still did, but not her. Save your frustration for the ring. The way I was feeling, Reggie Stockman would be a dead man if I let loose the rage inside me. Maybe it was best if I threw the fight.
“Kross, stop,” Ruby blurted out.
“Stop what? The hurt I feel because you didn’t come to me for help?”
She lifted her chin. “Why? So you could look at me differently? Or stop me? Then what would’ve happened? You would’ve killed Trent and anyone that got in your way. Then you would mess up your chance to fight. You said yourself you couldn’t get into trouble with your coach. And what about Raven? If you landed in jail, then you wouldn’t have a shot at getting custody of her.”
Squatting down in front of her, I placed my hands on her bare knees. She was still wearing that skimpy dress. As soon as my palms touched her soft skin, something in me snapped. It was as if the contact with her switched off my anger. “I don’t see you any differently. If I did, I would’ve walked away the minute I saw you fighting at Firefly that first night. But after everything you’ve told me, I’m still here. I love you, Ruby Lewis. Even if Raven wasn’t my daughter, my feelings for you would be the same, flaws and all.” I did love her. I couldn’t deny it any longer. When I was away from her, she was all I thought about. When I was with her, I couldn’t get enough of her. The sad part of my declaration was that I had probably always loved her but had never had the balls to admit it to myself.
She gave me a weak smile, and my heart sputtered. I’d expected a happier reaction than that.
“Kross, you can’t throw that fight. I can’t let you do that. I can work for him. This is my mess. I’ll do whatever he wants until I can pay him back.”
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br /> I stiffened. “You’re not working for that man, not in this lifetime. Don’t even start with telling me I’m bossy because no matter how you slice it, Trent will have you under his thumb for the rest of your life. There will always be something or some deal that locks you to him.”
She threw up her hands. “Then what are we supposed to do? I’m worried about Raven. What if he harms her?”
I rubbed along her thighs. “I lose the bout tomorrow night.” For fuck’s sake, I had to. According to Ruby, Trent was telling the truth about the judge. That didn’t really surprise me, given the mess that Kade had been through with Lacey’s mob family and how they’d had the Boston Police Department in the palm of their hands. “Trent isn’t going to do anything stupid.” The man might have been into stealing cars and preying on women to get them to sell their bodies, but I didn’t get the impression he would harm a child.
“What about your career?”
I would still have a career in boxing, of that much, I was certain. It just might not be with Gail Freeman or even Jay. “Ruby, you and Raven are my life. Blood comes first. Again, I love you.”
She launched herself at me, throwing her arms around my neck.
Finally, my heart opened wide.
“I thought I would never hear those words from you,” she said. “As I tell Raven all the time, I love you bigger than the universe.”
Laughing, I fell backward, taking her with me. “Bigger than the universe?” I guessed it wasn’t any weirder than Kade telling Lacey that he loved the crap out of her.
She sat up, straddling me, beaming from ear to ear. “Yeah. Raven loves when I tell her that.”
I drank her in, from her million-watt smile to the velvety feel of her thighs to her breasts that were falling out of that skimpy dress. At that moment, my dick jumped, or tried to. She was sitting on it, and that thought alone made more blood rush south.
Then the light went out in her eyes. “Do you think losing will end things with Trent?”
I lifted up to rest on my elbows. “It will. Because if he doesn’t back off, then I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he goes down.” I wasn’t certain how yet. I had to get through the fight first. Then I could figure out a plan.
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