Page 74 of Theirs to Take

“It’s more complicated than that,” Millie said.

“More complicated how?” Ruby asked.

“We slept together and now; he’s giving me the cold shoulder. I’m not sure what I did wrong, but he won’t talk to me about anything but work and this thing with Luke,” Millie admitted.

“That sucks, Millie,” Ruby said. “Was it just one night?”

“Yeah—one wonderful night,” Millie gushed. “And then, he left out of here so fast the next morning, it was as if his ass was on fire. I had already agreed to work at McTavish at that point. I would have never taken the job had I known that he was going to treat me this way. I don’t know that I can keep the job because seeing him every day, and having him ignore me, is painful, you know?”

“I don’t,” Ruby said. “I’ve never had something like that happen. Honestly, I have very little experience with men. Lukewas my first,” she said, letting a small sob escape at the thought of wanting him to be her last too. “God, if something happens to him, I’ll die.” Millie sat down next to her on the sofa and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“He’s going to be all right,” Millie assured.

“How do you know that?” Ruby asked.

“Because Ranger is good at what he does. Hell, he’s a trained killer and probably overqualified to handle what’s going on with Luke. He’ll bring your guy home and then, you can help me find a new job.”

“Or I can help you figure out how to get Ranger to talk to you again. There has to be a reason why he’s giving you the cold shoulder. Maybe he’s worried about getting you tied up in all of this. Maybe it’s his way to keep you safe, Millie,” Ruby offered. It was a long shot. Ranger was most likely being an asshole, but she liked the idea of having Millie hanging out around McTavish Industries. The thought of having a friend around the office was a nice one, and she wasn’t ready to give that up just yet.

“It’s a nice thought,” Millie said. “But I’m not convinced that’s what is going on. You don’t have to sugarcoat things for me, Ruby. I’m a big girl and can handle being disappointed.” Ruby smiled and nodded.

“How long do you think it will take before we hear from them?” Ruby asked.

“Soon,” Millie assured. “I’m sure that we’ll hear from them soon.” Ruby wanted to call her out for sugar-coating things for her now, but she was too tired to argue. If Millie said that the guys would be in touch soon, then that was what she’d believe because thinking otherwise was just too painful for her.

Luke

Luke sat in the hard kitchen chair and stared down the tall guy in front of him. They had taken turns punching him in the face and he was pretty sure that not only was his nose broken, but his jaw was dislocated. The only thought that kept him going was the fact that Ruby had probably made it to Ranger and Luke knew that his friend would keep her safe.

“This can all be over if you just tell us where Won’s family is,” the tall guy promised. Luke was sure that it would all be over for him if he actually knew where the guy’s family was. They’d have no problem killing him once they got the information they were after.

“I’ve told you; I don’t know where they are now,” Luke said. “I heard a rumor that they were being held in North Korea when I was stationed over there, but that was five years ago. I have no clue where they are now. You’re wasting your time.”

“We don’t believe that you don’t still have connections,” the other guy said. “You could find them if you really wanted to. Maybe we should get your little girlfriend back and then, you’ll cooperate.”

“No,” Luke shouted. “We made a deal.”

“Which you aren’t upholding. Did you really think we’d just let her go? We put one of our guys on her. He followed her back to an apartment complex nearby. One phone call and we can have her back here to help encourage you to give us the information that we’re looking for.”

Shit—Luke was worried about something like this happening. Why did he believe that they would just let Ruby go? He knew better but he was blinded by hope that the woman he loved, and his unborn child might make it out of this mess—the mess that he created by dragging Ruby into his life.

“Make the call,” the tall guy insisted.

“No,” Luke said. “I’ll find them for you. Just give me some time to make a few calls.” He wasn’t sure who he could call, but stalling was his only option. One thing was clear, they weren’t going to leave him or Ruby alone until he found the answers that they were looking for.

Luke watched the two idiots holding him at gunpoint, hoping that they’d believe his lies when the kitchen door opened. He looked back to find Ranger standing in the doorway, wearing his easy smile. What the fuck was he doing? He just walked into the house and was basically handing himself over to the bad guys.

“It’s about fucking time,” Luke grumbled. “Although handing yourself over to them isn’t a plan that I would have gone with.”

“I’m doing what I need to do to save your fucking life, Luke,” Ranger growled. “I know where Won’s family is. I’m the one you two idiots should have been tailing all these years, not Luke. I’ll tell you what you want to know once you let my friend go.”

The tall guy chuckled, “We’ve already made a deal with this one,” he said, nodding to Luke. “Now, you want for us to let him go so that you can sit in his place and tell us the same lies?”

“It’s not a lie,” Ranger said. “I have the clearance necessary to know where Won’s family is. Luke doesn’t. You want youranswers, you let him go. I’ll tell you where to find his family—today, right now. Luke might be able to give you information from five years ago, but we all know that won’t help you today.” The two guys looked at each other as if trying to silently decide what to do, and Ranger rolled his eyes. “The offer expires in sixty-seconds. How about you two come up with a plan—and fast?” Ranger asked. If Luke’s fucking jaw didn’t hurt as much as it did, he’d bust out laughing at his friend. Ranger was an asshole to the two guys holding guns at him, and wasn’t that just his way? He didn’t give a shit about the way things should be—Ranger made and lived by his own rules.

“We have a counteroffer for you,” the tall guy said to Ranger. “We won’t kill him just yet, and you give us the information that we’re after.”

“How is that a counteroffer?” Ranger asked. “I mean, usually you give something and get something back in return. But you two seem to only want to take from this situation. I don’t find that to be very fair.”

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