Chapter Ten

Eugene heard a clock bong three when he arrived at the docks. He had the bag of stolen treasure in hand. He kept glancing over his shoulders, not trusting any shadow or noise. He didn't want to take any chances, especially with her.

He was sure of it now, who the writer of the letters was and who had freed the Stabbington brothers. He'd recognized her handy work with the jail cell, heard the testimony of the guards who had been attacked. Only she would go to such lengths to ruin his life. After all, he'd ruined hers. Though, that wasn't even half the story.

It was always foggy at the docks, no matter the time of year. A thin haze hid all nooks and crannies to hide in and Eugene kept shifting his eyes, poised for anything. He heard the click of a heel behind him. He spun around and there she was, the last woman he had loved.

She looked good. Really good. Her dark hair was much longer now and fell down her back in heavy curls. Her blue eyes caught the dim flickers of the sparse lamp light. She still wore a red jacket that fit tightly over her bosom, the top her breasts threatening to fall out if she bent over too far. She wore tight brown pants with black lace up boots stopping at her knee. She had always looked good, but she'd really upped her style since he last saw her. She flashed a smile at Eugene.

"Hello, Flynn." Her deep, womanly voice fell like bells. The words were sweet, as well as haunting. She giggled. "Oh, wait, you're Eugene Fitzherbert now, aren't you? 'Prince Eugene?' I don't know, I like Flynn better. The name doesn't sound quite so pathetic."

Eugene gritted his teeth. He wasn't going to let her get to him.

"It's just Eugene, Ruby."

"Oh, not even a title. Even after you returned the lost princess home? What a shame." She pouted her lips out at him. "Still, I must say you've work up a nice little con for yourself."

"Con?"

"Oh, please, Flynn, don't pretend for me." Ruby started to pace in a circle around Eugene. "You're only with that silly little girl because she's a princess. As soon as you get what you want from her, you'll be gone. Tell me, what lie did you feed that wide-eyed little princess of yours anyway? 'I love you. I'll never leave you. I'll never betray you.' She must have bought it, because I hear you're living like a king."

Eugene said nothing to her, which irked her slightly.

"I can't really believe you actually love that child. She's a little bit of an airhead." Eugene clenched his fists. "And she certainly doesn't have the womanly figure I know you love." Ruby stooped in front of Eugene, her round bosom catching his eye. He quickly thought of Rapunzel and took a deep breath. "And if I were her and had you as a husband, I certainly wouldn't be spending our married life in boring royal meetings all day." Ruby traced her finger down Eugene's chest. He quickly took a step back from her.

"You've been watching her?" The thought horrified him.

"Observing, I'd call it," she said off-handedly. Eugene caught her wrist.

"I don't want to play any games, Ruby."

"Oh, I don't want to play games either, Flynn." Ruby said, smirking at him. She pulled her wrist from his hand and looked up at him through her long lashes. "I have something else in mind."

"Well, get it out of your mind and get out of here." He held out the sack of jewels and gold. "I want you to leave and never come back to Corona." He dropped the sack at her feet. She looked down at it, then began to chuckle.

"You came here to pay me off? Oh, Flynn, that's so cute and so you. You always did like to run away instead of fight. You only ever really cared about yourself. That's why I'm surprised you're living 'happily married' and in a palace no less!" She paused, almost glowering at him. "I recall that being our dream."

Eugene said nothing. Ruby stared him down. She wasn't going to accept his silence this time.

"I love Rapunzel, Ruby."

"Love?" Ruby began to laugh hysterically. She held her sides as she tottered over. "Since when does Flynn Rider know anything about love? Where does the man who broke my heart have the audacity to speak about love?"

Eugene rounded on her.

"Oh, don't act like you never betrayed me before. How many times did you leave me to be captured? Must have been, oh, I don't know, at least a dozen times, probably more."

"But I always came to get you."

"Four times. Four times you sprung me out of jail. All the other times, I had to get myself out and find you. And when I did, you had already spent what we stole on more clothes, more wine, and bought other men's company. At least I was faithful to you! I was never with anyone else, but you! You had all of me, so don't play yourself the victim. Now, take this and get out of here." Eugene picked up the sack of stolen gold and shoved it into her arms. She dropped the sack and stepped over it.

"I'm not really interested in that sort of thing anymore, Flynn. I've moved on to better plots of deceit. But you know, this desperate little plea for me to leave, it sounds more like you're trying to protect your own self interests rather than your little princess."

"How do you mean that?"

Ruby grinned at him.

"I'm your past, Flynn. I know all your secrets, and let's face it; none of them are very nice. What would the royal family think of you, or the kingdom, if they knew everything I know about you? I mean, you have it made here. I'm sure you don't want to jeopardize that."

"I want you to leave. You threatened my wife and I'm not going to allow you the opportunity to harm her. Now get out!"

"Oh, you thought I was going to hurt her? Oh, Flynn, you misunderstand." Eugene looked at her confused, but suddenly became aware of his surroundings. He saw movement in the shadows, but he realized what was happening too late. He was grabbed from behind and forced to the ground. Ruby glowered down at him.

"You see, Flynn, I don't have any interest in that princess of yours. I'm more interested in destroying everything you've worked so hard to get."

"What do you mean?" asked Eugene as he struggled against his captor.

Ruby smiled down at him.

"You'll learn soon enough."

Something struck the back of Eugene's head and his world turned black.