Rebel (Renegades #2)(56)
Author: Skye Jordan

So much betrayal lay between Rubi and Dolph, she couldn’t even begin to describe the damage to their relationship. Or, she realized-maybe for the first time with any clarity-fix the damn thing.

“I’ve offered to buy the house,” she said. “He’s always brushed me off. And before you ask, yes, I offered him market price. I never expected any favors.”

“Why didn’t he sell it to you?”

“Anything related to money is a game for him. He’d never tell me why, just refused. Or ignored. He’s excellent at pretending I don’t exist.”

“You don’t have to tell me,” Wes said, “but I’m curious. What is market value?”

“Last time I offered-about three months ago-fourteen million.”

Wes whistled softly through his teeth. “That’s some big cash. I knew you made good money, like really good money, but I didn’t realize… I don’t know if I can afford all the work you’ve already done on the rig.” He hummed, the sound worried and melodramatic. “I may have to pay it back in favors.”

That made a smile lift her mouth. She knew what kind of favors he had in mind. But she was too disjointed to banter with him. “I told you, I’m charging you Jax’s rate.”

“Yeah, but we never discussed what Jax’s rate is.”

“I never let Jax pay for anything.”

She rested her elbow on the door handle and rubbed her forehead. The futility of going to Dolph’s office was sinking in. She’d never get a real answer from him. She’d never be able to instill the concept of personal violation or common human decency he should have employed in this situation. She knew-knew-none of that worked with Dolph. Hadn’t worked for decades. Yet, she needed to go. Needed, one more time, to see his in-your-face disinterest firsthand.

No matter how badly the little girl inside her wanted to believe that one day Dolph would wake up and realize his mistake of alienating his only child, the adult in her knew it wouldn’t happen. Ever. She’d been needing to let go of the irrational hope for years.

This was the last straw for Rubi. She loved that house. He knew it. And he couldn’t have cared less.

Today was the day.

“You have to know that won’t fly with me,” Wes said. “You have to know I’m going to pay you for your time.”

“Wes, please don’t start that now. I’m not going to argue over something so ridiculous.”

“It’s not ridiculous. You’ve put off other work to-”

“Fine.” Irritation burned across her nerves. “Fine, Wes, pay me. I’m not going to argue with you.” Bitterness saturated her words and guilt flooded her chest. She covered her face with her hands. “I’m sorry. God, I’m not mad at you.”

He parked in front of the building, turned off the engine, clicked his seat belt free, and reached across the console between them. Rubi planted a hand against his chest before he could pull her into his arms. “Don’t make me go all soft right before I have to be tough.”

A slow grin turned his mouth, and one hand brushed hair off her face. “I can make you go all soft? Really?”

“Would you stop?” She pushed him away. “I don’t even know why I’m here anymore.”

Jerking the door open, she stepped onto the sidewalk.

“Because that dick made you waste a perfect strawberry shortcake, that’s why.”

Wes fell into step beside her as she started toward the massive glass front doors. A security guard sat behind a desk in the lobby, the building’s lights still burning down on him. Rubi recognized the man’s long thin face beneath the brim of a navy baseball cap with the word SECURITY across the front.

Frank glanced up, his face weary-until he recognized her. Then he broke into a surprised smile that shot pleasure through her and stood quickly, his movements still fluid for his age.

“Well, looky here.” He came out from around the desk, arms open and immediately enveloped Rubi in a hug. That spark of pleasure expanded as she wrapped her arms around the older man’s middle and pressed her cheek against his chest, eyes closed. This was how a father should react. This was how she should feel about a father. Yet this man was no more her blood than Wes.

“Rubi, darlin’.” His Southern accent was still thick. “So good to see you.”

“You too, Frank.” When she pulled back and smiled up at him, she suddenly felt tired. Like her soul had been bruised. “How are you? How’s Lucy?”

“I’m great. Lucy’s better.” He slid his hands down her arms. “Just finished her second round of chemo and lives in the wigs you two picked out for her. She loves them.”

“I knew she’d pull through. She’s a fighter.”

“Like someone else I know.” His light blue eyes had clouded over in the years since she’d seen him, but they still flickered with humor and warmth.

Rubi’s grin tipped into a grimace as she stepped away. “Speaking of fighting…”

“Here to see Dolph, huh?” He cast a glance toward Wes. “He looks like he could hold his own.”

Rubi introduced the men, and Wes came forward to shake Frank’s hand.

“Any friend of Rubi’s is welcome here,” he said, then to Rubi, “I have to tell him you’re on your way up.”

“I know. It’s fine.” Rubi reached out and squeezed his arms. He had worried over her so much in her younger years. “Everything’s fine.”

“All right, then.” He nodded resignedly and turned toward the desk again. He touched something on the control panel, and the elevators nearby dinged, the silver doors sliding open. He shot Rubi a grin and said, “Shields cloaked.”

A laugh bubbled from her. “Right. Thanks for the reminder.”

Inside the elevator, Rubi pressed the top floor, then leaned against the wall opposite Wes.“Shields cloaked?” he asked.

“An old joke between us. Once too often he had to watch me come out of this elevator crying. He pulled me aside and explained the whole Star Trek ‘shields cloaked’ thing.”

Wes nodded slowly. “That’s…ominous.”

Rubi lifted one shoulder. “More…inevitable.”

She closed her eyes, pulled in a breath, and blew it out slowly through her lips. Her anger had ebbed into annoyed resignation, and she knew that had a lot to do with Wes.