Dare to Dance: The Maxwell Series (23 page)

T
he next morning
, Kross and I sat in a busy coffee shop in a suburb of Boston. The constant drone of the coffee machine, the voices, and the chairs scraping against the floor competed with the pounding in my ears. Every time the door opened, my head shot up along with my pulse.

Kross slid his hands across the table and latched onto mine. “Ms. Waters will say yes.”

I wished I had his confidence. Visits with Raven were supervised. I didn’t think Ms. Waters would spend the entire day with us. I also would have bet my life she wouldn’t allow Kross and me to take Raven unsupervised.

“But first, I have to come clean,” I said. That was the scary part. I didn’t want to lose Raven. Yet I knew in the long run, Kross was right. Ms. Waters did need to know the truth, not only to help my case, but also to help protect Raven.

“So, you fought for money. You didn’t go to jail. You still worked legally as a waitress.” He traced circles on the backs of my fingers.

The soothing sensation did nothing to erase the nausea in my stomach. Even the coffee aroma that I loved smelled putrid. But in the midst of my internal turmoil, his words were soothing. I would die for Raven.

The door opened, and Ms. Waters breezed in. I waved a shaky hand. She padded around two tables, removing her gloves. When she reached us, her dark gaze regarded me then Kross.

Ever the gentleman, Kross rose and pulled out her chair.

Ms. Waters angled her head as though surprised. “Thank you.” She lowered herself into the chair, then Kross returned to his. “What’s so urgent that it couldn’t wait until Monday?” she asked matter-of-factly.

I hated that we had to bug her on a Saturday. I also hated that time was of the essence since Kross was fighting tonight. “We’d like Raven to spend the day with us.” I held my breath.

She swung her creased forehead from me to Kross then back to me. “Why today? Why the last-minute desperation?”

I knew she would sense that something wasn’t right. Kross and I went through every objection Ms. Waters might have. We didn’t want to lie. We also didn’t want to alarm her since we didn’t know for sure if Trent would harm Raven. He’d never said he would, although the underlying threat was out there. Our plan was for Kross to bring Raven and me to his house in Ashford, where I would stay with his parents until his fight was over.

“My parents have been dying to meet Raven,” Kross said. “We’d like to take her out to their house in Ashford for the day.”

At first, Kross had been reluctant for his parents to meet Raven until the paternity test came back. But now that Kross wanted me in his life, it didn’t matter. Raven would be with us regardless of any paternity test.

“You could’ve asked me this on Monday. Again, what’s the urgency? Does this have anything to do with what I overheard at the gym about Ruby being a prostitute?” She said the last word in a low voice.

I heaved a sigh. Here went nothing. “I told you that I had a job waitressing at Firefly. That’s true. What I haven’t told you was I’d been in two street fights for money. However, in no way have I made money selling my body.” The coffee shop wasn’t exactly the best place to talk about me, although judging from the noise level, people were engaged in their own conversations around us.

Her jaw dropped as her eyes narrowed. “Okay. I’m a little shocked at the fighting, but I still feel you’re not telling me something. What am I missing?”

She wasn’t about to allow Raven to spend the day with us unless we told her the real reason. Even then, she would say no. Or hell no, especially if she suspected that Raven’s life was in danger. With my luck, she probably thought Kross and I would run with Raven. That idea wasn’t far-fetched in my mind. Several times since yesterday, I had considered snatching Raven from her foster family and leaving the state.

A phone shrilled. Kross glanced at his on the table. Ms. Waters dug in her purse for hers. As she pulled it out, the ringtone grew louder.

“Hello,” she answered. “When? How?” The fright in her voice matched the fear on her face. “Did you call the police? I see. Yes. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She lowered her phone, inhaled all the coffee-laden air, then blew it out as her eyes darted between Kross and me several times. “Does the urgency of your request have anything to do with the fact that Raven is missing?”

“Fuck,” Kross muttered.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The noise in the shop dulled. The room and the people in it shuddered in and out of my vision. I blinked and blinked and blinked until Ms. Waters’s cold, soft hand landed on mine.

“Ruby.” Her voice was far away.

Kross flew out of his chair and rounded the table to my side. “Baby, breathe.” His lips were on my ear, warm and soothing. “We need to go.”

“I want you two to come with me. I’m meeting Mr. and Mrs. Santos, Raven’s foster family, at their home. They’ve already called the police.”

“Give me the address,” Kross said in a harsh tone. “I’ll meet you there.”

I rose like a zombie, every limb locked, while Ms. Waters jotted the address on a napkin. When I was on two feet, I faltered into Kross.

He grabbed the napkin from Ms. Waters with one hand and wrapped the other around my waist. The minute his hand was on my hip, something in me snapped. I bolted out of the coffee shop, pushing people out of the way. Once outside, I hunched over and lost the contents of my stomach.

A little boy passed by with his dad. “She’s sick, Daddy. We should help her.”

I wiped my mouth as I dropped down onto the curb next to a parking meter. No amount of help would erase the bile, acid, panic, and fury, as well as the need to kill the person who took Raven. Trent Baker’s threats were on repeat in my head. Maybe he didn’t take Raven. Maybe something else had happened.

“She’ll be okay,” Kross said behind me before his hand was on my back. “Ruby, we need to go.” His voice had an edge to it.

“Go straight to the address I gave you,” Ms. Waters said in a tone that permitted no argument.

I got the feeling that she thought we were responsible. She would be right. I was the one at fault. I was the one who had put Raven’s life in jeopardy. I deserved the worst punishment.

Kross helped me up then ushered me to his truck across the street. Once we were both strapped in, I busted out crying. “This is all my fault.”

Kross wheeled out of the parking space before he took my hand. “Don’t go there. You were doing your best to survive and get Raven back.”

I appreciated his words, but it didn’t help take away the panic or fear. “Do you think Trent took her?”

“One hundred percent. Once we’re done with Ms. Waters and the foster family, we’re going hunting.”

R
uby
and I were a block from Firefly. After hours of confessing to Ms. Waters and answering the cops’ questions, I was a bomb waiting to explode. The Santos’s home was more than suffocating with Mrs. Santos crying, Ms. Waters scolding Ruby for putting Raven in harm’s way, and the cops interrogating us as if we were the ones who had kidnapped Raven. We answered all their questions and explained what we knew, and we told them that we suspected Trent Baker.

Waiting for the light to turn green, my mind jetted through ways to kill Trent. The fucker had had the nerve to kidnap Raven in broad daylight at the Boston Public Garden. Okay, I was getting ahead of myself. Maybe someone else had taken Raven. It just seemed coincidental given Trent’s threats.

According to Mrs. Santos, she’d gotten a phone call while she and Raven were at the Boston Public Garden, waiting to get on the swan boat ride. She turned away for a split second. When she hung up the phone, Raven was gone. She didn’t see anyone in line that stood out to her, but she said Raven had waved to someone. Before she could see who that person was or ask Raven who she had been waving to, Mrs. Santos’s phone had rung.

The light changed. I gunned the gas. Ruby jerked forward then back as she snacked on her fingers. On the drive from the coffee shop to the Santos’s, Ruby had been a complete mess, crying and saying how she was at fault for Raven going missing. But since we left the Santos’s house, she had been super quiet.

With one hand on the wheel, I reached over and plucked her hand from her mouth. “We’ll find Raven.” I couldn’t have said if I believed my own words. But I had to. I had to hang onto the notion that my little girl would be okay.

Ruby tucked her hands in between her legs. “The cops said she could be lost in the gardens. What if she wandered into the water?”

“Hey, didn’t you tell me she knows how to swim?” The thought of her going into the water had crossed my mind since Raven loved the ducks and swans. But with tourists and the swan boats traveling the lagoon, I was confident someone would’ve seen her in the water. “The cops are searching the entire area in and around the Boston Public Garden. We’ll head over there after we confront Tommy.” We would’ve gone there first, but my gut was telling me that Trent took Raven. Since the cops were on their way to question him, I wanted to question Tommy. He might be able to shed some light on the situation. Besides, I doubted that Trent would answer the cops’ questions truthfully.

I wheeled into a spot across from Firefly. The neighborhood seemed eerily quiet for midafternoon. Then again, except for the bakery and diner, most of the other buildings around Firefly were empty, with For Rent or For Sale signs on them.

I hopped out of the truck with my adrenaline in overdrive. The steam coming out of my nose, the fire burning in my chest, and the need to strangle someone drove me into Firefly.

“Wait, Kross,” Ruby shouted as she hurried to my side. “Don’t knock Tommy out until we get answers.”

I wanted to kiss her for that last statement. I was expecting her to say, “Don’t do it. Your career is important, blah, blah, blah.”

Blood comes first.

“I want a piece of Tommy before you.” Her small hands were balled into fists.

That’s my girl.
Her mood had instantly changed after she’d confessed to Ms. Waters about her illegal fighting, the money she owed Trent, and Trent’s threats to bury her case with a judge he knew. Needless to say, Ms. Waters wasn’t too happy with Ruby or me.

“There will be consequences for your actions,” she’d said, wagging a finger at Ruby. “Major consequences. I want both of you to stay put. We’re not through.”

As soon as she had left the room, Ruby and I snuck out of the house. We would both deal with the aftermath of the consequences once we had Raven in our arms.

“Baby, do all the damage you want. Just save some for me.” That was, if Tommy was even inside. Or maybe we would get lucky and find Trent inside, or even Raven.

Nah, Trent wouldn’t have been that stupid. But a father could hope.

Firefly was like a dungeon—dim lighting, musty odor, sticky floor, and cold atmosphere. Pete’s head swiveled around like a scene from a horror movie. Okay, I was exaggerating a little.

“You’re not welcome here,” he snapped, pressing his meaty hands into the bar as though he was ready to vault over it. I was ready for him to do just that. Instead, he watched us as we wound around the bar and tables that were inhabited by a handful of people.

“I work here, and I need Kross with me,” Ruby spat out in a voice that sounded as though a man occupied her body.

Pete cocked his head as he regarded Ruby. I couldn’t quite grasp if I was turned on or freaked out by her sudden transformation. The woman I loved was deathly determined to chop off heads, and for that, I was more turned on.

Pete took long strides until he was blocking the hall entrance. “Where do you think you’re going?” He crossed large arms over his chest.

“Let us through, Pete.” Ruby’s voice was saturated with sugar and all female this time. “We’re not here to cause trouble. We just need to speak to Tommy.”

Pete glared at me. “He’s not here.”

I almost threw him the finger, but fighting with the asshole would only delay our mission, and time was of the essence. I had four hours until my fight and less than thirty minutes to get my ass to the gym for my pre-fight warm-up and strategy meeting with Jay.

“I’m allowed back,” Ruby said, using her sweet tone again.

Pete frowned. “Not anymore. Tommy wanted me to tell you you’re fired.”

Out of nowhere, Ruby throat-punched Pete. His face darkened to a deep red as he choked, holding his neck.

That dire need to kiss her coursed through me.

“My child’s life is on the line. So go fuck yourself.” Ruby ducked under his arm and ran down to Tommy’s office. I hesitated for a split second to make sure he didn’t get any crazy notions to hurt her.

His eyes bulged out of his bald head. “I didn’t know. Still, you got ten minutes before I call the cops.” His voice was strangled as though someone was squeezing the life out of him.

He could call in the cavalry. I wasn’t leaving until I got answers. I rushed into the office.

“I don’t know where Trent is.” Tommy leaned back in his desk chair as though he didn’t have a care in the world, while Ruby loomed in front of his desk, ready to pounce.

“Liar,” I said as I stormed in, kicking the piles of boxes out of my way until I was standing next to him. “You tell us where he is”—I plucked him out of his chair, grabbed his ostrich-like throat, and clamped down on it—“or else there’s a hospital room with your name on it waiting for you.”

Ruby darted around to Tommy’s other side.

Tommy shifted his dark gaze between Ruby and me.

“Tell us where Trent is,” Ruby commanded in that low voice that I was beginning to find sexy.

He opened his mouth, so I eased up on the stronghold. He gulped down air.

“Tommy, we’re talking about a little girl, my little girl,” Ruby said. “If she gets hurt, you could go to jail for kidnapping.”

His eyes became as big as basketballs.

I removed my hand. “Talk.”

“Maybe I should call Kross’s friend, Dillon. Oh, what did you tell me one time about Dillon.” Ruby pressed her forefinger to her mouth. “Yeah. ‘He’ll fuck me up. Well, it’s not just Dillon, but his crazy brothers.’ That’s what you told me. Not that Kross can’t put you in the hospital.”

Fear slashed Tommy’s ugly features at Ruby’s threat.

I couldn’t help but smirk at Ruby. “Good one.” I’d forgotten that Tommy shit his pants every time he saw Dillon.

“You need to talk to Alex.” Tommy raised his hands. “Honestly, I don’t get involved with Trent except for the fights here.”

Ruby and I backed up as Tommy held onto his cluttered desk.

“Do you know anything about Trent kidnapping my little girl?” Ruby asked.

“I haven’t spoken to Trent in two days,” Tommy said. The serious expression on his face led me to believe he was telling the truth.

Splotchy red marks dotted Ruby’s face and neck. “Were you lying when you and Trent told me that you lost ten thousand dollars because I was late for the fight?”

I noticed when she got nervous, her fair, creamy skin showed the signs.

Tommy scratched his dark head. “No. When you didn’t show that night, Trent and I were furious. But he stood to lose more than me. He’s a greedy bastard. He said you would pay us back no matter if you won or lost.”

Greedy or not, ten thousand dollars was nothing to a man like Trent, who was richer than Donald Trump. Maybe Trent lured Ruby into his deal to have sex with her. Part of me believed that was one of the reasons. I did agree with Tommy, though. Trent gave me the vibe of being quite greedy. What didn’t register in my brain, though, was kidnapping someone for the measly money.
People do things all the time that don’t make sense. Greed and power are usually at the crux of people’s actions.
Again, I shouldn’t have been questioning any of this since Lacey’s grandfather had kidnapped her until her old man could produce a book that was a map to buried money. Not only that, Trent stood to make more than the ten Gs if I threw my fight.

Ruby let out an exasperated breath.

“Look,” Tommy said, “I’m into petty shit, but not kidnapping. No fucking way.” His tone was serious and firm. “Trent, aside from his greed, he’s got one big fucking ego. His actions are driven by power. He’ll stomp on you until you’re nothing, and he gets what he wants.”

I believed him. Penelope’s old man, Mr. Harris, had been through the wringer when Trent tried to buy his company. I wasn’t certain of all the details, but Mr. Harris’s company went bankrupt because of Trent Baker.

“What’s he making you do?” Tommy asked.

Ruby raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know? You’re his business partner.”

Tommy pressed his lips into a thin line. “Again, I haven’t talked to him.”

“He wants me to throw my fight tonight.” I had come in there with the intent to beat answers out of Tommy. But his meaningful tone and expression led me to believe he wanted to help.

“So he can get his ten Gs and then some,” Tommy said.

“I know Alex works for Trent, but why would she know where Trent was?” Ruby asked.

That revelation was news to me. I was beginning to wonder if all waitresses at Firefly worked for Trent.

Tommy sucked on his cheek. “Mm. If you knew she worked for Trent, then I thought you would know the rest of the story. Alex is in charge of all his girls. She’s responsible for getting them outfitted, giving them pointers, the whole nine yards before they meet with clients.”

My jaw hit the floor.

On the other hand, Ruby didn’t seem too surprised.

“Why does she work here?” I asked. I was missing something. If she worked for Trent, he had to be paying her a decent wage or better money than she was making waitressing at Firefly. Maybe Trent was so power-hungry that he wouldn’t pay Alex enough to support herself. Or maybe he was holding something over her head like he was with Ruby.

“Or live in that dump above the bakery?” Ruby asked.

“I can’t answer that. What I do know is Alex hasn’t shown up for work in two days. I’ve tried her cell phone. All I get is her voicemail. You live with her,” Tommy said to Ruby. “Don’t you know where she is?”

Ruby released a frustrated sigh. “I’ve been staying at Kross’s a lot.”

“I’ll need her cell number,” I said.

Ruby started for the door. “I’m going to check her apartment.”

“Ruby,” Tommy called. “You may not believe this, but I am sorry. I was serious when I told you that you would be good at fighting.” Sincerity weaved through his tone.

She gave Tommy a cursory glance before she rushed out.

I bobbed my head. “Cell number.”

He wrote it down on scrap paper.

I snatched the crumbled paper. “I’m not sure you helped us, but thanks for apologizing to her.” Then I ran out, down the hall, past Pete, who had a satisfied grin on his face, out the main entrance, and right into the hands of Detective Rayburn, who was holding Ruby’s arm as she hung her head.

I stopped cold, confusion clouding my brain for a brief second until I remembered Pete’s threat with the cops, hence the satisfaction written all over his ugly mug. “Mark, what are you doing here?” Detective Mark Rayburn wasn’t a beat-cop. He didn’t respond to disturbance calls.

Mark was decked out in his normal plain-clothes uniform of jeans and a shirt. His gun was strapped to his holster, which peeked out from underneath his leather jacket. “I heard your name on the radio. I figured I would respond. What’s going on?”

Ruby flicked her disheveled head toward the bakery with a pained expression on her face.

“I never formally introduced you to my girl, Ruby,” I said as I nodded at her.

Mark released her. “I remember her from the gym that night.”

She sprinted down to the bakery then vanished into the entry beside the store.

Mark motioned to chase her.

I blocked his way. “She’s not going far.”

“I know we’re friends, dude, but I’m a cop first. So get out of my way.”

I held up my hands. “Hear me out.” I plastered on a pleading look, at least I hoped I did.

“You got one minute,” he said.

As we walked to Alex’s apartment, I filled him in on the entire situation, leaving nothing out.

“I’m sorry, man,” Mark said as we climbed the stairs. “Let’s see what’s going on in the apartment. Then I’ll make a few phone calls.”