Sloan
The woman’s red hair fell past her shoulders in soft waves. Her sparkling green eyes challenged Sloan to do his worst even as the soft tilt of her lips begged him to be merciful. He’d never seen such a striking contrast of vulnerability and strength in a woman – or anyone for that matter.
He glanced between the two police officers and the brothers. “Maybe you wouldn’t mind if I went along. I could be your advocate and legal counsel and your brothers can be assured nothing will go wrong. I’ll arrange for my assistant to have our vehicles picked up.” He glanced between Ruby and the police officers. “It’s only for overnight observation, correct?”
“Yes. They won’t even hook an IV up to her. She doesn’t have to change into hospital clothes or anything.” The cops relaxed, leading the way from the house. They didn’t use handcuffs which left the tension at a lower level that was manageable for the group.
Ruby cast desperate glances at her brothers, but continued following the cops out with her arms tucked tight against her chest.
Sloan climbed into the back seat of the police car next to the woman. She had gone from being a twenty-eight-year-old to looking like she was sixteen again.
He hadn’t known her when she was younger, but he could see in her gaze that she was never really young. She’d been faced with adult issues well before she should have.
She veered off from the path to the cop car and went to the El Camino. The police paused, tensing up. Ruby waved her hands in their general direction and called out, “I’m not going to run. I need my stuff.” She rolled her eyes and ducked into the back of the mock-truck bed.
She dragged her rollaway luggage and a backpack on her shoulder and handed them to the first cop she came to. She smiled with sugar-sweet sarcasm. “Thanks.” And climbed into the back.
Sloan grinned. She’d taken back her control and he wouldn’t do anything to get in the way.
The cop put her bags into the trunk and they climbed into their respective seats.
As the police officers started the car and backed up, Sloan leaned over, tapping Ruby softly on the elbow. “Don’t think getting arrested together means we’re getting hitched.” He sat back up and buckled his seatbelt. He held up his hands in mock warning. “I’m not emotionally available.” He winked, trying to soften any expectations she might think he had helping her. He was a newer advocate for rape victims and his approach was often clumsy which he tried to make up for with jokes.
Ruby scoffed. Rolling her eyes, she chuckled dryly. “No way, I will never get married or fall in love. So, don’t worry about it, cowboy.” Her pride bristled and Sloan realized she wore much more than sarcasm as a shield.
He leaned back, relaxed. Trying to help her ease into the situation would be harder than just teasing jokes here and there. “Why not? Not all men can be bad.” He knew she was bitter. According to her aunt, Ruby had been through a lot. Was it enough to ruin her opinion of all men? “Are all men so awful that you have to write us all off?”
“There’s only one boy I need.” She wrapped her arms tighter around her waist and leaned forward, resting her forehead on the seat. She sighed. “I’ll never find him. I can’t do this on my own. It’s hopeless... He’s lost to me.” She sobbed quietly into her hands, her shoulders rocking up and down.
The attempt to hide her emotions affected Sloan more than he thought possible.
Softly, he reached out and touched her arm. “Maybe I can help. I know some of your situation. Your aunt called me and thought you might need help.”
She whipped her head up, eyes blazing through the wet tears sparkling on her lashes. “You’re working with my aunt? That’s not exactly the most glowing recommendation for you. She doesn’t care about me.”
Sloan reared back at her vehemence. She could attack him with the passion in her gaze. He spoke calmly. “I’m not sure what you think your aunt is up to, but she just said you had a history and that maybe I could help. She said she was sorry for anything that she had done and she would be paying penance for the rest of her life. I don’t really care what she’s done. The only thing I know is that she called me and gave me the information to find you. If you’re willing to take my help, I’m determined to make sure we do whatever we need to for your future to be successful.”
He twisted in his seat and met her gaze, carefully waiting until she stilled and focused on his eyes. “Please, at least listen to what I can do for you.”
She squinted, distrust heavy in the shadows of her green irises. “No one can help me.”
“I think you’d be surprised. I own the nonprofit organization Parker’s Plan. Helping women in your situation is what we do. We advocate for victims of rape and their families, especially those who are the results of rape. Like unwanted children who were cast off by family members.” He hid the sharp pang of rejection that always hit him whenever he thought about what he’d been through himself.
For all the people he was helping, he still hadn’t been able to help himself.
Ruby lifted her narrow chin. She bit her lip and arched an eyebrow. “You know I was raped? Did you tell my family?” Bright pink spots highlighted the tops of her cheeks and her chest rose in a shallow, rapid pattern.
Sloan kept his voice low. He’d obviously hit on more than just a touchy subject with the incident. “No. I didn’t tell anyone. I won’t tell anyone. I’m just here to help you.”
She glanced embarrassedly toward the police officers who were caught up in their own conversation. Ruby lowered her voice and whispered hurriedly. “It was a long time ago. I’m over it. I should be over it. Things just keep coming up to remind me. Remind me of everything that was taken away.” Bitterness haunted her eyes and unexplainable pain Sloan hoped he never understood.
“Why should you be over it? Did they give you a timeline for grief? Did you see any counselors for this?” He swallowed, was he brave enough to go all in with her? Could he help her?
“I didn’t see any counselors for anything. I just kept my head down and did what I was told. I grieved... the best I could.” She turned away from him, staring out the window with her fingers over her mouth.
Sloan let her be. He recognized her vulnerability for what it was. He also sensed the presence of a part of her which resonated with something within his own heart. There was a piece of her the little boy inside him wanted to run to.
Ruby acted like a mother with a child she wanted to protect.
She was looking for someone to love.
Just like Sloan was looking for redemption.