“You get to go home. I just came back to say thanks for all you’ve done today and to let you know you’ve earned Scar’s number. I’ll get an Uber from here.”

“Not a chance, Rubes. I’m not the numnuts who abandons women in the dark on the side of the road. Let’s see this through, you give me Scarlet’s number and we call it even.”

“Whatever beast lurks under that very sweet exterior; I think Scarlet will be lucky to have you anyway. Thank you.” I smile gratefully and sink back into the seat, glad he isn’t a numnuts.

“Not sweet,” he murmurs as he sets off to Newton-le-Willows to track down our designated woman. It’s halfway between Manchester and Liverpool which means so much messing about for Adam to go there, drop me back off at home and then get himself back to Liverpool, but he isn’t complaining about it. I will definitely put in a good word for him with my sister.

I close my eyes and the drive lulls me into a bit of a sleep.

The next thing I know, Adam is waking me up by telling me we’re at the address that Viper’s guy sent through.

I blink sleepily and yawn, wishing with every bone in my body that I could go back to sleep, but if I didn’t see this through and know for certain the woman is okay, then I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. Asking if he has a pen and a piece of paper, I write my number on it when he finds them for me.

I climb out of the car and open the garden gate. It’s a small, terraced house, so I knock softly and say loud enough to be heard through the door, but not so much that the neighbors can hear me, “Hi. I’m Ruby. I’m not going to hurt you, but I need to know that you’re okay. I was at Vinnie’s earlier. I know what he’s done and what he was going to do. I’ve made him pay. You don’t need to open up, just tell me that you’re in there and you’re safe.”

Then I wait. I’m not sure how long I’m supposed to give it.

“I’m fine,” a soft voice calls back about two minutes later. “I’m not opening the door.”

“That’s fine,” I say, “but will you come to the window?”

I step into the flower bed and knock lightly.

A few seconds later, the curtain is pulled back a fraction and a face appears in the gap.

I smile. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“I’m going to slip my number under your door. If you ever need anything at all, even if it’s just someone to cry with, I’ve got you. Okay?”

Her big eyes fill with tears, and she nods, letting the curtain fall back. Moving back to the door, I bend down and slip the paper under it. “Anything at all. I’ve got you.”

Then, I walk back to the car and Adam silently drives me back home.

“Here.” I thrust my phone at Adam, and he quickly takes Scarlet’s number. “I’ll let her know you’ll be calling.”

He snickers. “Probably for the best.”

“Give me a couple of days, please. I need to sleep for a day.”

“’Course. I enjoyed working with you today, Ruby. Or watching you work. You are every bit as exquisite as your rep says you are.”

“Sorry you didn’t get to end Vinnie yourself, and I also hope it’s not going to cause trouble with your family?”

“Nah. His dad married my mum, but he’s dead soooo…” He shrugs.

I get the feeling that he had something to do with that death, but I don’t pry. It’s none of my beeswax.

“Thank you again. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.” I climb out of the car, but stop when he speaks.

“Ruby. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is over. Vinnie might’ve gone against Viper, but he was still the head of a sector, and he still has men loyal to him. Expect blowback. If it doesn’t come, great, but if it does, be prepared.”

I nod, taking that in. “I will. Thanks.” I close the door and smile as he waits until I reach the front door before he toots his horn and reverses out of the driveway. I open the door, the first one back it seems, and head into the dark, quiet house. Like a robot, I walk to my bedroom and without even taking my boots off, I collapse face first onto the bed and I’m asleep in the next second.