Page 8

“Are you okay?” Ruby asked, feigning concern.

She studied her reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing herself beneath the too-light foundation and garish purple lipstick.

She looked less zombie and more like a vampire costume at a bad nightclub.

She flashed her teeth at the mirror, snorting at her own reflection then covering it as a cough.

Jonah turned a charming smile to Blakely. “Would you mind getting her a glass of water? I think she has something stuck in her throat.”

Blakely nodded, stood, and teetered on her heels. Jonah jumped up, his hands clamping on the woman’s shoulders and steadying her. A deft hand slipped into his pocket before she righted herself.

“Excuse me,” she mumbled, pulling the door shut behind her as she left.

Jonah sighed, plopping back into his chair and rubbing his temple. His on-camera persona evaporated, leaving his usual gruff and grumpiness. “We should plan for when she comes back, make her arrest look good for the camera, especially since it’s your first video.”

A flash of pink darted in the corner of her eye—Blakely, sprinting across the backyard, her stilettos sinking into the grass with every step, a large tote bag clutched to her chest.

“You think so?” Ruby snickered.

Jonah didn’t look up from the makeup products he absently fiddled with. “Why not?” he muttered, sniffing a tube of mascara.

“I don’t think she’s coming back in here.”

“Why wouldn’t she?” he huffed. “It’s not like she could run in those heels.”

Blakely had made it roughly halfway, grass flinging up with every step. Ruby fought the urge to cheer her on. “So she didn’t steal your wallet?”

“My wallet?” Jonah patted one pocket, then the other. “Where’s my wallet?”

Ruby bit her lip to stifle a laugh as Kavya swung the camera around to film the backyard. Blakely had made it to the yard’s edge and was now attempting to fling her tote bag over the fence. “And that’s not her trying to avoid getting arrested?”

Jonah’s head snapped toward the window as Blakely’s bag snagged on the edge of the fence, its contents spilling across the yard. His groan was barely audible over Ruby’s laughter. He leaped up, sprinting toward the door. It didn’t budge.

“She locked us in here!” he fumed, ramming his shoulder into the wood.

Ruby nodded. “Obviously. Girl has like ten warrants, she wouldn’t make a mistake as dumb as not locking the door.

But,” she mused, tapping her fingers against the wood of the desk.

Blakely gathered her spilled possessions from the lawn, scrambling on her hands and knees to pick up every item, “She also could’ve just gone out the front. So. Maybe not the brightest?”

After a few futile attempts to break the door down, Jonah turned, panting, and grabbed the chair next to Ruby. He flung it toward the windows and the glass shattered, shards littering the floor of the study.

“The house owners are not going to like that,” Ruby quipped. “What is it with you and breaking windows?”

Jonah scowled at her, practically baring his teeth before he realized the camera was still rolling. His expression morphed into a cocky grin as he stepped through the glass, winked at the camera, and sprinted across the field.

“Blakely!” Jonah yelled. “There’s no running from justice.”

Ruby cringed. “Do people really like when he says stuff like that?”

Kavya nodded behind the camera. Shrugging, Ruby passed through the gap and strolled across the lawn. Her face lit up at the swing set and she made her way over. She pumped her legs as Blakely, now sans-bag, swung a leg over the fence.

Jonah lunged to grab her ankle, but Blakely kicked out, her stiletto cracking against his jaw. He flinched back with a hiss of pain. Blakely’s palms slipped at the impact and her crotch slammed into the wood. Ruby winced.

“I’m not going back!” Blakely screeched, her pink nails taking his cheek, clawing for the eyes. “Do you know what prison food tastes like? And the uniforms are a polyester blend! I have sensitive skin!”

“Blakely, please come down from the fence,” Jonah pleaded, dodging another heel to the face.

Balanced precariously on the edge, she flapped her arms like a frantic bird, face flushed as she wobbled in place. Each time Jonah reached for her, she kicked out, one foot after another, like a bizarre Cossack dance.

Ruby continued to pump her legs, enjoying the feel of the breeze and watching as Blakely’s heel grazed Jonah’s forehead, then his wrist. Jonah weaved and ducked, avoiding most of her strikes, but finally stepped back, exasperated.

One of Blakely’s heels had flung loose and rested against the grass. Her trousers had caught on the wood and she half dangled off the fence. Jonah tried to help her down and she bit him, sinking her teeth into the palm of his hand.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he turned to Ruby, a bruise already blooming on his cheek. “Any chance you wanna help, partner?”

“Why? You’re doing so well on your own.”

Sweat mixed with the smallest tinge of blood and dripped down his cheek. “I’ll tell Lucas you’re not cooperating.”

“Awe, don’t tell head honcho on me.” Ruby had long since grown bored anyway.

She hopped off of the swing set, landing perfectly on her feet and stepping toward the fence. Jonah lunged at Blakely’s ankles. She slipped the bangle off her left wrist and threw it, clipping his ear as Ruby arrived.

Blakely squawked in panic. “Back off! I’m not afraid to ruin your pretty face!”

Ruby’s hand flew to her chest in mock surprise. “Bless your heart,” she cooed. Grinning wickedly, she planted her foot against the fence. With one solid kick, it toppled over. Blakely lunged in the opposite direction, flinging herself into a startled Jonah’s arms.

Before Blakely could recover, Ruby grabbed her by the collar and hoisted her into the air like a rag doll. Jonah scrambled to his feet, shaking his head and pulling out handcuffs from his back pocket.

Blakely cuffed and secured, Ruby kept a firm grip on her with one hand, while the other hand reached toward Jonah’s face. She gently brushed her fingers along his bruised cheek. He stilled, his breath catching. She stabbed at the bruise and he groaned.

She smirked. “Damn, I really thought I would be the one knocking you down a peg.”

Jonah leaned in slightly, a playful glint in his eyes as he glanced at the camera. “Tried that once—didn’t mind it.”

Ruby paused, smile twitching. “Being knocked down?”

“Pegging,” he replied with an easy grin, his voice low and teasing.

Kavya gagged dramatically from behind the camera. “And that’s a wrap,” she muttered, cutting the feed as Ruby groaned and shoved him away.