Chapter 4

Tommy

Had Ruby forgotten everything Tommy had taught her? The kitchen windows were open, and anyone could remove a screen and climb in. Easy access, easy escape since the kitchen faced the backyard. Tommy shook his head.

Time for a lesson. He seized his knife from his back pocket and jimmied the screen. After a faint scratching sound, it was off. Sure, he'd give her a scare, but maybe the adrenaline would knock some sense into her and she'd be more cautious. He'd rather give Ruby a fright than let her receive a knife blade to the stomach or worse. If a killer was after Ruby and she was off her guard, this might be the wakeup call she needed.

If he was the assassin and had snuck in this far...the image of her injured made him clench his jaw. He hoisted himself through the open window. The sounds of the TV carried from the living room. Clanging metal rose over the noise of the show. A faint sent of smoke lingered in the air. He clicked his knife closed and shoved it in his back pocket, and it reminded him of the lesson taught when Ruby was fourteen. He'd scolded her about not drawing her knife fast enough and he subdued her five times in row. He'd expected her to blush, instead she countered with 'Why don't you let me win once in a while?'

He couldn't. Not for her sake. If he was too easy, the criminals definitely wouldn't be. He cared too damn much about her to give in.

Now, ten years later, he was stalking through her kitchen to teach her another lesson. One for which she'd hate him even more. He frowned as his chest tightened. It didn't matter what she thought of him as long as she was alive and safe.

He crept forward towards the living room. First thing tomorrow, he was having an alarm installed on her windows and doors. He didn't care how much she protested and would pay for it himself.

A quick peek around the corner showed the TV on, a pillow propped up. Maybe she's asleep. Still, he snuck into the living room. Three steps into the room often squeaked, he remembered from his last visit, so he shifted to the right to avoid it. Nearly to the back of the couch, his pulse raced. What if he surprised her with a kiss? She'd probably knock him out.

Sure she'd be pissed, but if he was lucky she'd cling to him and kiss him back as she did earlier. He shook his head. No, he wouldn't kiss her again. Too dangerous for them both. He needed his head focused on finding the guy who took a shot at her. He couldn't do that if he was kissing her instead of paying attention.

Damn, did the pillow move?

He gritted his teeth. Suddenly, Ruby leapt up from the couch and sprayed something in his face. Burning liquid coated his face as though someone made a sledgehammer from fire ants covered in gasoline, lit it, and hit him with it. His eyes swelled shut. Despite the tears streaming down his face, the burning only intensified.

"Shit! Tommy?" Ruby's voice came from his left. "What the fuck?"

His vision was blurry. "Pepper spray? I'd rather take a kick to the balls." He coughed as the Caspian swelled his throat and no doubt his face was already puffing up.

"Here." She grabbed his arm and pulled. "Let's wash it off with the Dawn dish soap."

He stumbled after her, his coordination off as he fought not to rub his face. That would only spread the pepper. Once at the sink, she turned on the water and poured soap in his hands. He scrubbed his face, then she guided his hands to the water, and he rinsed the suds off. They repeated the process until he could open his eyes and the sting had lessened.

"Got any medicated wipes for pepper spray?"

"Sorry, no. Guess I should buy some," she said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

He grunted and washed his face one last time, then his hands twice. The pepper oil easily spreads to other areas of his body if he didn't get it off. When he was done, she handed him a towel.

"Better?" she asked.

"A bit." Not really. The burn still lingered, but he managed the pain.

She smacked his arm.

"Ow, what was that for?" He tossed the dishtowel on the counter.

"For scaring me and breaking into my house." Her hands fisted at her hips. "You're lucky I don't like guns."

"Then don't leave your windows open at night." He took a step toward her. "Someone took a shot at you and you make yourself vulnerable to another attack?"

Her frown deepened. "Maybe they wanted to shoot you and had bad aim."

"No." He didn't want her dragged into his mess if it was the pimp. If the guy had been a sniper, she might not have been so lucky. "I'd bet money you were their target."

"Because of Westridge?" She ran a hand through her red hair. "Will we ever stop living in his shadow?"

Without a word, he took a step toward her and pulled her into a hug. All the signs were there that Ruby's fiancé was trouble, but he'd walked away because of his desire for Ruby to be with him instead of being a true friend. God please don't let this be the pimp after me and trying to hurt her to get to me.

She pushed away from him. "I never asked for any of this."

"I know." Uncle Gustin was the one with a counseling degree, among others. All Tommy knew was how to fight.

After a few more sniffles, she pushed away and scrubbed a hand down her face. "Sorry. I hoped my life would return to some normalcy after we caught Westridge. Now I've got a killer after me with lousy aim."

Her eyes were puffy. How to cheer her up? Didn't think a sparring match would cut it.

"I noticed you burnt popcorn and I - "

"Don't start." She crossed her arms.

The floor squeaked when he took a step forward. "No, I mean how about unburnt popcorn at a movie? The new Bond movie came out yesterday."

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Even if I look as if I crashed into a hornet's nest with my face."

She laughed. "It doesn't look that horrible. Looks like you got a bad sunburn, that's all. And we'll have to be cautious in case the gunman is following us."

"So that's a yes?"