Page 28 of Rules

"A taser?" My voice rises. "Tobias, I don't—"

"And no more–"

Something in me snaps. The fear about Martha quickly transforms into indignation at being ordered around.

"Hold on." I closed the distance between us, planting my hands on my hips. "You don't get to march in here and startbarking commands at me. This is my shop. My business. My life."

"This isn't up for negotiation, Ruth." His eyes flash. "These people are vicious. They don't steal; they hurt. Deliberately."

"I understand that. But you can't just order me—"

"I can and I will." Tobias moves toward the door, "I'm also having a deputy drive by regularly. And where is Joey? He's small but he's a good alarm system."

"What? He's with my Aunt. Are you assigning deputies to me?" The fear I initially felt is being thoroughly consumed by irritation. "Don't I get any say in this?"

Tobias turns and looks at the door, when he turns back his expression softens slightly. "Ruth, Roo, be reasonable. Four business owners have been attacked in less than a week. Martha's shop is three doors down from yours."

"I am being reasonable. I'm happy to take precautions, but I don't appreciate being treated like I'm incapable of making my own decisions." I cross my arms. "Are you giving these same orders to all the shop owners?"

He hesitates, and I know I've touched a nerve.

"You work alone," he finally says. "That makes you vulnerable."

"So does Calvin at the hardware store. Are you ordering him to buy a taser too?"

Tobias's jaw tightens again. "Calvin has security bars on all his windows and a shotgun under the counter."

"Well, I'm not getting a shotgun." My anger is building. "And I can't afford to hire Mary full-time just so I'm not alone."

"Then adjust your hours. Open later, close earlier."

"And lose the business I've spent years building? No." I shake my head firmly. "You don't get to decide how I run my shop, Tobias."

"Damn it, Ruth!" His voice rises, frustration evident. "Why do you have to be so stubborn? I'm trying to keep you safe!"

"What do you care if I'm safe!" I snap back, then immediately regret my tone. The hurt that flashes across his face makes me pause. "Look, I appreciate your concern. Really. But I can't just rearrange my entire life because some criminals might target my shop."

"Don't you get it? What if they hurt you?" His voice drops, almost breaking on the last word. "What if I'm not here to..."

The unfinished thought hangs between us. I move closer, close enough to catch the scent of his aftershave.

"Tobias," I say softly. His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see past the professional concern to something more personal, more raw.

"I can't have you get hurt," he says simply. "I don't know what I would do."

"Why?" I press, stepping even closer. "Why me, specifically?"

He swallows hard, and I watch the internal battle play out on his face. Just when I think he might actually answer, he shakes his head and steps back.

"Because it's my job to protect the citizens of this county."

The professional mask slides back into place, and I feel something inside me snap. Without thinking, I turn and storm toward the back room.

"Where are you going?" he calls after me.

"Away from you!" I toss over my shoulder, pushing through the swinging door into my workspace.

I hear his heavy footsteps quickly following me. Good. Let him. I don't care. My business, I make the choices.

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