Chapter 15

Marco reaches over and grabs my hand. He mouths the word sorry to me, and I shake my head. This isn"t his fault, and that's the last thing I would ever want him to think. It's my job to take care of him, and so far I'm not doing so great. This was my mistake. I never should have left Luke's.

He'll come for us, I mouth back to Marco and squeeze his hand in reassurance.

He nods, already having so much trust in Luke. He will come, but I wonder where that will leave things. I broke his trust right when it could have been the beginning of something between us. This will ruin any chance we might have had. That is if I don't get him killed in the process. I fight back tears, not wanting to upset Marco further.

Marco presses his lips together hard, and I can tell he's still worried. I'm the one that always gets our father's wrath, so he knows the punishment will fall on me. I don't know if it's because I'm a female or because I resemble my mother. Either way, there was never a time that I was Daddy's little girl.

"Boss wants us to head to the house," Grant tells Stoker while tapping away on his phone. I wonder if he's seeing double. I peek over at the tiny woman who is toying with the end of her braid. You'd think we were on some leisurely drive.

"No shit," Stoker mutters, clearly still pissed off.

Grant pulls the sun visor down to inspect the gash on his head. I get a good look at his injury in the mirror, and I'm not upset that there's blood dripping from it and a knot is forming.

"Little bitch is going to get it." He slaps the sun visor closed, and I swallow hard.

I'm afraid of what they're going to do to her, but she doesn't seem fazed. Either that or she's very good at hiding it. What kind of life would one live to have that level of calm?

"It's a lesson, you dipshit. She never should have gotten the drop on you." Stoker reaches over and pops Grant in the back of the head. "You could have gotten us both killed."

"You think I could have killed you both?" She perks up, sounding chipper at the compliment.

Stoker glances back her way but doesn't respond.

"You're strange," Marco says, and I can tell he's keeping a close eye on her. Who knows what she might do next?

"Thanks." She gives him a big smile, letting those dimples show, and then winks.

"What's your name?" he whispers to her.

She leans close to tell him. "Rue."

"Shut the fuck up back there," Stoker barks, and Rue rolls her eyes.

The SUV falls silent, and with every mile that takes us closer to my father's, the dread in my stomach grows. I remind myself that no matter what, my father's bruises fade, but my night with Luke will last a lifetime.

"So who is this boss guy?" Rue inquires. I guess she's not from around here.

"I'll gag you," Stoker barks, and no one has time to answer her before we're pulling up to my father's building.

"Kel," Marco whispers, nodding to where my father's car is pulling up too.

Both Grant and Stoker get out to open the doors for us, and I get out first. My eyes lock with my father's, and I see Jackson is right behind him. Lovely. When my father smirks, it catches me off guard.

"Welcome home," he says and then motions for us to go into the building.

Why is he in a good mood? My heart sinks because this can't be good. Did he do something to Luke?

"Watch the hands," Rue yelps as Grant pulls her onto the sidewalk. My father stops walking, making us all pause.

"And what do we have here?" His eyes roam up and down Rue's body. I don't know my father's type, but Rue is petite and extra girly. Barbra on the first floor is the opposite in every way.

"She saw us taking Kelly and Marco. We had no choice," Stoker says. He hides it well, but I know he's worried they might be punished for the slip-up.

"I also did that." Rue points her pink nail up at Grant's face, not bothering to hide her smile.

"Is that so?" my father chuckles.

"I'll handle her, boss." Grant tightens his hold on Rue's arm.

"Ow! I bruise easily, you big troll," she huffs at him.

"We'll see just how much you bruise?—"

"Bring her inside," my father orders, cutting off Grant.

Grant masks it, but I know he's pissed. Now he has no choice but to follow orders. We all go into the building together, and I suppose none of us have a choice.

"This place is a lot better on the inside," Rue chirps, glancing around and taking in her surroundings.

"Can I gag her, sir?" Stoker asks as we step onto the elevator.

"I might do that myself later." My father clicks his tongue, and out of the corner of my eye I catch the first appropriate reaction from Rue. It happens quickly, but she twists her lips in disgust before relaxing them back to normal.

Maybe she's putting on a brave face. Or she has a lot of bravado. That kind of backtalk is going to get her more than killed. She stole from me, but I think she might have tried to save us. Who"s to say Rue isn't a thief with a conscience? I suppose some criminals have lines they won't cross. It's too bad Vince Sledge isn't one of them.

I tense when a hand moves to my hips and squeezes hard. I bite the inside of my cheek and will myself not to move when what I want is to elbow Jackson away from me. I"m back within his reach, and my stomach clenches.

When the doors to the elevator slide open, I release the breath I was holding. Everyone starts to step off, but Jackson keeps his hold on me for a beat.

His mouth comes to my ear, and there's a chill that follows. "You're not going to get away this time."

As quickly as I can, I jerk away from him and rush into the apartment.

The door slams behind us, and I realize we're not home.

We're back in hell.