Page 62 of Theirs to Take

When Ruby was in college, she decided that being a part of the in crowd was overrated, so she’d go it alone. She had a few friends that she’d hang out with or go to dinner with, but nothing ever happened to her. At least, not until now, and maybe that was what had her packing her stuff like she couldn’t get out of her apartment or her life fast enough.

“Ready,” she said, standing in the corner of her family room, holding her two bags in each of her hands.

“That was fast,” Luke said, crossing the room to take them from her.

“You don’t have to carry my bags, Luke,” she said. “I don’t mind.”

“It’s the least that I can do,” he offered. “I mean, I did pull you into this mess. If I just left you alone and didn’t show up on your doorstep this evening, you wouldn’t have to leave your cozy life here.” She wasn’t about to tell him that she hated her life or that it wasn’t very cozy. Ruby would keep all of that information to herself. Luke probably already thought that she was pathetic, and she didn’t need to give him any more reason to believe that about her.

“He’s not wrong,” Ranger grumbled. “But we’ll find a way to get you out of this, Ruby,” he offered. She nodded at Luke’s friend and pasted on her best smile, trying not to seem too eager or giddy about the prospect of heading out on the run with Luke.

“I trust that you will,” she said. “Thank you for agreeing to keep an eye on Millie for me, Ranger.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he said. “I’ll need to stay here to do that,” Ranger said.

“Here?” Ruby squeaked. “Why do you need to stay here?”

“Well, Ranger and I were talking while you were packing and we think it might be best for him to hang out here—you know, let the guys who are trailing me think that we’re still here. It will give us a head start and he’ll be able to keep an eye on Millie. It’s really a good thing.” Ruby couldn’t argue with any of what Luke had just said, but she wanted to protest. She had personal things in her apartment that she really didn’t want Ranger or any other man to see.

“Don’t worry,” Ranger said, “I won’t go through your nightstand drawers,” he teased as if reading her mind. She couldfeel her cheeks heat that he had guessed correctly as to where she kept her girly things.

Both guys chuckled and Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “He was only kidding, honey,” Luke assured.

“Didn’t sound like he was kidding,” Ruby grumbled.

“You two need to head out. I’ll create a distraction out in the parking lot. You two need to slip into my pick-up truck and head out. Try not to let the two guys sitting in the white sedan, in the back of the lot, see either of you. Got it?” Ranger asked.

“Easier said than done,” Luke mumbled.

“What about Millie—can I say goodbye?” Ruby asked.

“No,” Luke said. “I’m sorry, but we can’t take the chance that she’ll either cause a scene or get us noticed somehow. Besides, it’s best that she knows as little as possible about where we’re going or that we’ve leaving in the first place. If they catch on that we’ve taken off, they might try to question Millie and that won’t end well for her.” Ruby hated that her friend was in danger. She hadn’t known Millie for very long, but she liked her. Ruby considered her a friend and she wouldn’t ever want anything to happen to her.

“I’ll come up with an excuse to tell her and when that fails, I’ll figure something out. But I won’t let them get to her,” Ranger assured.

“Whoever they are,” Luke added.

“I’ll be in touch soon,” Ranger promised. “We’ll figure this out.”

Luke took the keys out of his jeans pocket and tossed them to Ranger, and he did the same, giving Luke his keys. “Oh—you’ll need a key to my apartment,” Ruby said. She walked into her kitchen and found the spare keys to her front door that she kept in her junk drawer. She handed them over to Ranger and he smiled down at her.

“Love the keychain,” he said, turning it over in his big hand. It said, “Worlds Best Dad,” and was a Father’s Day gift that she never got around to giving to her father. Instead, she stuck her extra keys on it and tossed them into her junk drawer.

“Thanks,” she said.

“I’m sure that there’s an amusing story behind it, but we don’t have time for that,” Ranger insisted, “Dad,” he quickly added. She rolled her eyes at him and grabbed her purse.

“We’ll let you know when we get to the safehouse,” Luke said.

“Great,” Ranger agreed. “Let’s move.” They all headed out of her apartment and for some reason, she took a last look back as if she’d miss the place which was crazy because she had only lived there a short time. Maybe it was the fact that it was the first place she’d felt at home since moving out of her parent’s place. It might not be much, but it was hers and that felt like it counted for something.

Ruby was tired of being in the truck. It felt as though they had been driving for days, not just hours. She knew that every time she asked Luke if they were almost there yet, she was slowly driving him crazy.

“Are we—” she began, and Luke sighed.

“If you’re going to ask me if we’re almost there again, honey, I’m going to lose my damn mind. We still have another two hours until we reach the safe house that Ranger arranged for us.”

“I’m trying to be patient,” she mumbled. “But it’s already been four hours. I had to pee about an hour ago and well, I’m hungry,” she said.

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