Sinner Hunted (Sinner Security Book 1)

by Raven Gale

  Her phone rings and she glances at it, frowning. She doesn’t recognize the number, but it is from the United States. Could it be him? She hates that she thought it immediately.

  But she can’t help but answer.

  “Hello?” She holds her breath, waiting to hear who answers.

  “Ruby? I hope you don’t mind me calling. I just wanted to check on you.”

  Ruby lets her breath out slowly as she hears Ember’s voice. “Of course not. I’m happy to hear from you. Did the woman and children get to safety?”

  “In the process still, for a few of them. Some didn’t want to go home. I don’t think their homes were safe either, from what we could gather. But we are finding places for them.”

  “Good. Did you need anything else?” Ruby tries not to sound short, the picture of English manners, but she honestly doesn’t understand Ember’s reason for checking on her.

  She has been cranky for days and really doesn’t feel like dealing with anyone, let alone a practical stranger.

  “I don’t mean to bother you,” Ember pauses, and Ruby feels awful. “When I met Carter, I had planned just one night with him. One amazing, wild night of abandon.” Ember laughs but Ruby can hear the hint of sadness in her voice and immediately wonders about how they ended up together.

  “It didn’t work out the way you wanted?” Ruby asks when the woman pauses once again.

  “It worked out the way it was meant to be. I knew after that first night I would never be the same, I would never want to be without him.”

  Now, her voice is filled with love. Ruby is shocked at how her heart tightens in her chest, her entire body filled with longing and not a small amount of jealousy at it.

  “How did you know?” Ruby’s voice shakes with her fear.

  Fear that she has already missed her opportunity. An image of Colin, sleeping in her bed, his hair covering one eye, face relaxed and young looking. Could you love someone after just one night?

  “My heart broke as I flew home. I had no way to reach him. I heard nothing for a very long time, and then he met me in another city. After sharing a few days, I decided I couldn’t let him go. So I went to him. I risked everything but I gained more than I could have ever dreamed.”

  Ruby wants that, more than she could dream.

  “What are you saying exactly?”

  Ember laughs. “I’m saying don’t let Colin get away. He will try because he’s just like Carter. They think they are saving us but in reality, they are just terrified of hurting us. Their demons ride them hard some days, but a very wise woman once told me that because of that, they love hard. And that kinda love is worth everything.”

  To be loved hard sounds amazing.

  “I don’t even know if that’s possible, keeping him. I don’t even know how to get in touch with him. I don’t even know if he’s still in England.”

  “Oh, he’s in England. Today, he’s at his mom’s. She just messaged me, letting me know that he was finally facing some of those demons that are riding him hardest.”

  Ember doesn’t elaborate, for that’s Colin’s story to share. She just hopes he does.

  “Listen, he’s staying at Park Grand, if you want to go find him. I’m not sure which room. I’ll let you know when he’s headed back to the city.”

  “Why are you helping me?” Ruby inquires as she takes her stairs two at a time.

  “Because I’ve seen your face before, when I looked in a mirror. I’ve seen the one Colin was wearing on Carter’s. It takes a special person to love someone like them. I believe you are that kind of special. I hope you don’t mind, but Erik told me about your brother. I think you can help each other.”

  Ruby tenses at her words. She feels a sense of anger at Erik for sharing her personal business.

  “It’s fine.” Her voice doesn’t sound a bit like it’s okay, but Ember doesn’t comment on it. “I’d appreciate any help you can give me.”

  She has adopted her posh accent, the one that locals know mean she is distancing herself from them. Ember doesn’t recognize the change or is choosing to ignore it.

  “Great. Call me if you need anything. I do mean anything. Joe will help, I’m sure. I mean, I haven’t asked but he will. Okay, I’ll let you go. Remember to call me.”

  “I’ll wait for your message.” She starts to hang up but instead continues, “Thank you, Ember.”

  “No problem. I really hope we can become friends.” Ruby can imagine the dark-haired woman grinning.

  She hangs up without responding, something inside unwilling to let anyone else in, not willing to let her heart be hurt even more. The ‘friends’ she has are not and have never been true friends. They hold no access to her true self.

  If she’s honest with herself, she hadn't been herself with anyone for most of her life. Except that night. That night, she bared more than her flesh.

  She takes a bag out while standing in her huge closet, a room filled with the armor she wears to protect herself from the social backstabbing and ladder-climbing. Gowns and suits, silly hats and jewels, the armor of a woman of her standing, passed down from mothers to daughters.

  She ignores it all and instead pulls things she wears to bring her happiness, things that soothe her soul. An old sweater of Mark’s, comfortable jeans, t-shirts, and then she throws more things in before striding out.

  It only takes her minutes until she’s out the door and driving toward the hotel. She lets the valet park her car and strides in, just like her mother taught her. She stops in front of the registration desk and smiles cooly at the man standing there.

  “You have a guest staying here; his name is Colin Martin. I want the room next to him.” Her brow raises when he doesn’t respond immediately.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t say if we have a guest by that name. Our guest’s privacy is our utmost concern.”

  She smiles again. “Does Jonathan still own this beautiful establishment?” She pulls out her phone and scrolls through her contacts, tapping one while keeping the cool smile on her face. “Hello. I’m at the hotel. If I hand the man my phone, can you help me get the room I want?” She listens as the man in question’s eyes grow large. “Of course, darling. I just wanted to get away from the house and get some pampering. Yes, of course. Tonight at eight would be wonderful. Just a moment.”

  She holds out her phone the man takes it his hand shaking a bit. “Hello?”

  Ruby fights the laughter that threatens to bubble up as Jonathan lets the man know she better be in the room she asked for within minutes.

  “Of course, sir. I’m sorry, sir.” He hands the phone back and waves his hand at a bellman. “Take Miss Chadwick to room six-oh-one. Your key, miss, and I’m sorry for the delay and inconvenience. If there is anything, I mean anything, you require, just call.”

  She follows the man up to her room and then closes the door, leaning against it. Dinner at eight, but she needs to get something from home to wear. Sighing, she pushes away from the door, goes to where the man had left her bag, and starts to pull her things out.

  Then a diabolical thought enters her mind. Ruby’s hands stop in midair, her shirt hanging from them. The look on her face is one every woman has worn at least once in her life. The look that says she knows how to get exactly what she wants.

  The shirt falls forgotten as she moves around the bed and sits. Pulling out her phone, she finds the call from this morning and then picks up the receiver from the hotel phone and dials.

  “Hello?” Ember cautiously answers.

  “Ember, it’s Ruby.”

  “Oh, hi. Nothing is wrong, is it?” Her voice instantly changes from cautious to concerned.

  “No. No, I’m fine. I just have an idea and I wonder if you could help.”

  “Do tell.”

  Ruby smiles at the excitement in the other woman’s voice and she does just what Ember asks. She lays out her plan to hopefully get Colin for herself. When she finishes, Ember is giggling gleefully.

  “I’ll make sur
e he’s there.” She laughs again and says two more words before hanging up. “Good luck.”

  Ruby is pretty sure she’s going to need it to pull it all off. She grabs her purse and leaves the room.

  Time to make him squirm.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It’s getting dark when he reaches the hotel. He had planned to come back today anyway, but Ember’s call had caused him to leave his mom’s house earlier than he had planned.

  She had seemed worried, distracted even, not like herself. So, here he was parking his car so he can go up and get the computers set up.

  He’s almost to the elevator when he hears a tinkling laugh. It stops him in his tracks, and he glances back over his shoulder, eyes roaming the lobby. Flaming red hair shimmers in the chandelier lights, and he turns slowly.

  Her body is covered in slinky sapphire fabric that shows her every curve, and the back is cut low, showing the expanse of her back, which is currently being gently caressed by some asshole’s perfectly groomed hand.

  Colin fights the urge to stomp across the lobby and snap the fingers that just glided up her spine. Her own fingers play across the man’s expensive suit for a moment before she pulls them back.

  Colin bristles when she lets the guy guide her into the dining room.

  “What the fuck?” He mumbles as he frowns.

  He looks around, trying to find Joe or any of the others. He sees no one. Why this hotel? He had told no one, except his computer guy, and he doesn’t know him well enough to know anything about her.

  Does he?

  He looks around again, but his eyes return to her. He walks to the maitre d and asks him for a table for one. He then guides him to a table in a dark corner with a clear view of her. As he sits, he asks the man about the beautiful couple.

  “That is the owner and his friend,” the man offers without pausing. Idiot.

  “They look happy.” The man smiles then hands him the menu as he turns away.

  They do, and he wants to punch the guy’s perfect teeth right out of his perfect face. He is everything Colin can’t be.

  Colin mumbles under his breath, “Fuck.”

  He watches as they eat and laugh, wishing he could hear what they are saying. He loves the joy he sees on her face at moments, although it is fleeting.

  They don’t notice when he follows them out. He watches the elevator and sees it stop on his floor. Taking the stairs three at a time, he is there in time to see them enter the room next to his.

  Another coincidence?

  He opens his door and closes it silently. Listening with his ear against the wall, he can hear the muffled sounds of them talking. Then it grows quiet and his heart pounds.

  He listens for a few more moments before forcing himself to turn away, noticing his new system sitting waiting for him to use it, and he does. He searches for the man, he searches her background. Only when he finds the information he’s looking for does his heart start to slow, does his jealousy begin to ease.

  His eyes glance back at the wall separating them. Jealousy. He’s never felt it before. He doesn’t like the feeling. Not one bit.

  He has no reason to at the moment. The man is no threat. A friend. Barely. He owns the hotel, a friendly dinner with a woman he’s known for many years. Nothing more. The man is very lucky that it’s nothing more.

  But he still can’t pull his eyes away from the wall.

  The soft strains of music begins to filter through the wall. It makes him wonder for a moment. She had a night with him. Is she looking for a night with another?

  Sliding his phone from his pocket, he scrolls until he sees the number he’s looking for.

  When the call is answered, he speaks immediately. “Tell me about Jonathan.”

  “Bot?”

  Bot imagines Erik wiping his hands over his face.

  “Jonathan who owns the hotel.”

  “He’s a friend of ours. He has been since we were kids. He has an interest in Ruby, but she’s never felt the same. Why?” His friend sounds genuinely surprised and interested.

  “I saw them eating dinner here at the hotel. He is in her room, as we speak. A room that is right next to mine.”

  “Umm, okay. Well, I didn’t expect that. What do you want to do?”

  Bot sighs. That is the question, isn’t it? “I don’t know.” That was a lie. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. “I’ve told you I’m no good, especially not for her.”

  “Yes, you’ve said that, but would you say the same about Joe or Jacques if they found a woman that might be the one?”

  He feels the denial boil up before Erik can even finish. He would want nothing but happiness like Carter found with Ember for all of his brothers. The problem is he is much worse than the others. He’s tried to hide it, but the intervention said that he’d done a piss poor job.

  “That’s your answer, Bot. Why not give her a chance? I know you had computers delivered. I know you plan to find Mark for her. You could also try to find yourself for her.”

  Erik hangs up before Bot can respond. He is left with his thoughts, and they run rampant through his mind. Before he realizes it, he’s up and almost to the door before he stops himself. He stands there, looking back and forth, unsure what to do.

  He hears the door next door open and close. His eye is glued to the peephole, watching the man in question move tensely down the hall. Didn’t go well, then. The thought makes Bot grin.

  He doesn’t know what she’s doing, but she is up to something. Bot forces himself to turn away from the door and makes his way back to the computers. Lacing his fingers together, he flexes them before placing them on the keyboard.

  For hours, the room is silent except for the clacking of keys as he digs deeper and deeper into Mark’s trail, searching for her answers.

  The sun is high in the sky when his fingers finally stop. Nodding, he pushes back and then stands. Turning away from the screens, he walks to the bathroom. The water is hot in seconds, steam filling the air, fogging the mirror. He strips and steps under the scalding water, letting it cascade over him. He stays there until the knots in all his muscles start to ease.

  Knocking at the door forces his head up, and turning off the water, he steps out and wraps a towel around his waist. The gun on the sink slides into his hand easily. He opens the door slightly and then exhales as bright green eyes lock onto his.

  “Ruby.”

  She smiles at the sound of her name on his lips. “Colin.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Here at the hotel or here at your room?” She leans against the door frame since he hasn’t invited her in.

  “Both.”

  He looks practically edible, the water drops still sliding down his barely golden skin. Her eyes slide over his chest and down stalling at the deep v at his hips. Dark hair curls around his belly button and then travels down beneath the snowy towel.

  “Ruby.”

  She looks up and smiles at his exasperated look.

  “The hotel, a friend owns it, and I needed a couple nights away from the house. You saw us last night.” She raises a brow. “At dinner. Downstairs.”

  She likes the look that moves over his face. The surprise that she had noticed him.

  “You saw me.” A statement, not a question, but she nods in affirmation. “Did you know I was here?”

  She shrugs.

  “They need to stay out of my business,” he murmurs as he opens the door, letting her in. “Have a seat. I’ll get dressed.” He steps away from her to grab the jeans he had left laying on the bed. “I was going to come to you later.”

  “Why?” She leans back against the bed while he debates what to tell her.

  He watches her while making up his mind. He doesn’t look at the computers; he decides to wait until he can confirm the information he found.

  “I was going to ask if Joe sent you.” She shakes her head in denial. “Erik?”

  Again, she shakes her head, and he frowns.

&
nbsp; “Does it matter?” She looks at him closely before continuing, “I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I’ve tried but I can’t.” She holds up her hand even before he opens his mouth to argue. “I’ve lost every person I love. I’ve refused to let anyone else get close, fearing they will disappear too. You are the first person I thought might be able to stay. The first I thought might be strong enough. The first I hoped would be.”

  She stays reclined as he stares at her. He sees hope in her jewel-like eyes. He feels his own sputter to life.

  “I’m not sure what you want from me.”

  She nods at his words, understanding. “I don’t know that. I just know that I don’t want to not try to find out.”

  Colin sighs, “I can only disappear.” He hates that it is the truth. “I am no better than the others that have left you. I will only break your heart.”

  “Fine. Then I want another night to forget, another night to hold close when I’m alone.” Her fingers move up to the pearl buttons holding the silk of her shirt closed. “Will you give me that? Can I give it to you?”

  His eyes are locked on her fingers, on the dove gray polish covering her perfectly manicured nails.

  “I can’t promise anything more,” he warns as he takes a step toward her.

  Courage, Ruby. Courage.

  She licks over her bottom lip before drawing it between her teeth.

  “I wouldn’t ask you to.” She holds out one of those perfectly manicured hands. She waits patiently until he takes it then she pulls him down to her.

  He lets her. He lets her take his lips and then he takes over.

  Every ounce of desire he’s felt and tried to ignore over the last couple weeks surges up. He pours into her, thrusting his tongue deep into the velvet heat of her welcoming mouth. He clings to her, like the life raft she is offering to be.

  The thought makes him pull back and look into her eyes, where he sees the same desire and something else. It’s something he doesn’t recognize immediately but it touches his soul. She pulls him back, and he lets her, letting go of the feelings battling within him.