Chapter 2
Ivy
I take a careful sip of the water, watching Hawk carefully. His face remains unchanged, and I end up chugging half of it before I can stop myself.
“We have more water, Ivy,” he tells me. “You don’t have to ration.”
In response, I drain the bottle, tossing it in the trash can on the side of his desk. He turns back around and grabs another, handing it to me this time.
“I feel like I’ve sold my soul to the devil for a glass of water,” I mutter.
He laughs again.
“A blind man can see you’re in trouble,” he says. “You wanna tell me where you got that shiner?”
“No,” I answer, taking a sip from the new bottle.
He nods and smiles, leaning back in his chair.
“Fine with me,” he shrugs. “I wouldn’t want to have to testify on your behalf. So, what’ll it be?”
“I’ll stay,” I say, shocking myself. “Until my car is fixed. And I’ll pay my way however I have to.”
“Good,” he says, tapping the top of his desk and standing up. “I’ve got a toilet brush with your name on it. Follow me.”
He walks toward the door, opening it and waiting for me. I reluctantly get up and follow him. Blaze is still standing on the other side, either listening or waiting for me.
“I’m showing Ivy around,” Hawk tells him.
He nods and falls in step behind us, walking back toward the bar.
“This is the bar,” Hawk points out, obviously. “It’s a popular hangout spot. It’s the only part of the club open to the public.”
“When we feel like it,” Blaze mutters under his breath.
I just nod, clutching the bottle in my hand like it’s my only lifeline.
“Pool tables,” Hawk says, pointing to them as we pass. “Boxing ring.”
“Not for the public,” Blaze chuckles.
“And here are the rooms,” Hawk says as we walk down a long, narrow hallway. “They aren’t much, but they’re clean. You’ll make sure they stay that way.”
“And you’ll have your own bathroom,” Blaze adds.
Again, I just nod, unsure how to react.
Hawk pushes open a door at the end of the hallway, and he’s right. It’s not much. There’s a small bed pushed against the wall, with a small table next to it with a lamp on top. A tiny closet faces the bed, and on the opposite wall is the door to a small bathroom. The bare wood floor is clean, at least, and the bed is made.
“There’s a deadbolt on the door,” Blaze says, breaking the short silence. “This is the best room in the house.”
“Okay,” I say, because “thank you” seems too much like acceptance.
I don’t want to be here, but there are worse places. I know that for a fact.
“We have a club doctor,” Hawk says. “If you need one.”
I meet his eyes, and the intensity in them is too much for me to handle. He’s clearly angry, but not at me. It would be touching in another setting. Here, it’s too much.
“I’m fine,” I say. “Where are my things?”
“I put your backpack in the closet,” Blaze confirms. “Is there anything else you need from your car?”
“No,” I answer quietly, and I don’t miss the look that passes between Blaze and Hawk.
“Let’s go meet the others, then,” Hawk says, turning and walking out of the room. I know I have no choice but to follow him.
What passes is a blur of faces and names that I can’t keep track of. Blaze tells me there are 25 men in the club, but they aren’t all here. I don’t care. I don’t plan on sticking around long enough to meet them all.
We round a corner and I nearly run into a brick wall of a man. I step back and come face to face with a huge man who seemingly came out of nowhere. He’s taller than even Hawk, with close-cropped dark hair and a tattoo across his neck that reads, "No Mercy."
“This is Ghost,” Hawk says, and I hear Blaze snicker, though I can’t figure out why.
Ghost doesn’t smile at me. He doesn’t say “hello” or hold his hand out to shake mine the way some of the other men did. He glares at me, in fact.
“Easy, there,” Blaze tells him. “Ivy’s staying with us for a while.”
“A short while,” I emphasize, proud that his stature does nothing to intimidate me.
“You okay’d this?” Ghost asks, turning to Hawk.
“Yes,” he nods. “Maverick is working on her car.”
Ghost nods, then disappears down another hallway as quickly as he came. Blaze shoots Hawk another look, and Hawk nods, as if they’re having a private conversation without words.
“I’ll handle it,” he says.
“Why don’t you get settled in?” Blaze offers. “Do you remember how to get to your room?”
“Yes,” I say, desperate for solace.
“If you get hungry, come to the bar,” Blaze says. “Felix can whip you up something.”
“And then he’ll show you the ropes in the kitchen,” Hawk interjects. “You can have the afternoon because you look like you might fall over, but no handouts.”
“I haven’t asked for any,” I shoot back.
He smirks and nods, taking off in the same direction as Ghost. I turn and head back to the small room waiting for me. Once inside, I bolt the door and collapse on the bed.
The mattress is thin and the springs squeak a little, but my body doesn’t seem to care. Every muscle finally relaxes now that I’m alone. Tears start gathering at the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.
This isn’t safety. Not yet. This is just a pit stop, and probably not a good one. But it’s my only option for now, and I have no choice but to take it.
Ghost
“I don’t like it,” I tell Hawk, pacing the length of his office. “We don’t know anything about this girl.”
“She’s a girl, not a bomb.” Blaze laughs.
I glare at him, but Hawk holds up a hand before I start swinging.
“She isn’t vetted,” I remind both of them.
“No,” Hawk answers. “She’s not. We’ll cross that road when we come to it.”
“If we come to it,” Blaze cuts in.
I want to punch him. What the hell was he thinking, bringing some strange girl into our home? This is just like him. He’s gotten lucky so far, but one day he’ll bring the wrong stray home, and it’ll be my job to clean up the mess. Today could be that day.
“It’ll be fine, Dante,” Hawk says, using my government name. It’s his way of asserting his power, but it rubs me the wrong way.
“Not if the guy who gave her those bruises comes looking for her,” I grumble.
“What’s he going to do here?” Blaze laughs. “He wouldn’t even get past the gate.”
“Blaze,” Hawk says warily. “Ghost is right. We need to know more about her.”
“You get her to tell you, then,” Blaze smirks at me. “I’m not getting my head bit off.”
“She’s tiny,” I roll my eyes. “If you can’t handle a chihuahua, don’t bring one home.”
“Everyone’s tiny to you,” Blaze answers, and Hawk shoots him a look.
“You brought her,” Hawk reminds him, and I almost smile with satisfaction. “See what you can find out.”
Blaze puts his hands up in surrender.
“Fine,” he groans. “But she won’t tell me anything.”
He leaves the room, and I turn on Hawk.
“You gave the okay,” I remind him.
“She’s not going to be any trouble,” he says calmly. “I can guarantee it.”
“Can you?” I seethe. “Because we’ve been through this before and–” I falter. He doesn’t need to be reminded of the past any more than I do.
“Talk to her,” he says. “She’s a victim. She’s all bark. And she’ll be out of here the second her car is fixed.”
“Then I better put some fire under Maverick’s ass,” I say, turning to leave.
I head toward the back garage where Maverick has finally returned with her car. It’s a beat-up old clunker. I’m surprised it drives at all, but I don’t say as much. I want her out of here as fast as humanly possible, so it’s up to Maverick to perform a miracle.
“How’s it look?” I ask carefully.
“Like it’s held together with chewing gum and luck,” he says from under the hood. “The transmission is shot to hell, the tires are all bald, I think the head gasket is blown.”
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath. Maverick’s a wizard under the hood, but even he can’t fix all that in a couple days. “Thanks, Mav.”
“Yep,” he says, without looking up from the engine.
She’ll be stranded here for God knows how long. Blaze better be having better luck getting her to open up. I’ll be damned if I let her stay here without knowing exactly what we’re agreeing to. I don’t care if Hawk agrees. I’m not letting us get set up for a takedown.
I head back inside, running into Blaze.
“Well?” I ask gruffly, but his face tells me everything I need to know.
“She’s had a rough day. Give her some time.”
I push past him, toward her room.
“Ghost, come on man,” he tries, hot on my heels. “She wouldn’t even open the door.”
I turn to face him.
“This is my job, Blaze,” I remind him. “You know what happens when we let people in without proper vetting.”
“No one blames you for–” he starts, but I cut him off.
“I’m handling this,” I say. “Stay out of my way.”
He sighs and heads toward the bar. I find myself in front of the girl’s door, banging on it loud enough to wake the dead.
“I told you to go away, Blaze,” she calls out, irritated.
“It’s not Blaze,” I shout back. “Open the damn door or I’ll open it myself.”
There’s silence for a minute, then a soft “click” as she turns the deadbolt. She opens the door a fraction, as if that would stop me from pushing it in.
“What?” she barks harshly.
Her tone is so forceful, it surprises me. And pisses me off.
“Who the hell do you think you are talking to us like that?” I shoot back. “You’re a fucking guest--a stray. Show some damn respect!”
She doesn’t cower at my words.
“Did you need something, or…?”
That’s it. I push open the door and brush past her, sitting on her bed without asking. She turns toward me, her arms folded and a murderous look on her face.
“You can’t just barge in here,” she screams. “Get out of here.”
“Calm down, princess,” I shoot back. “I’m not here to hurt you, unless you give me reason to.”
She doesn’t back down from the threat. I hate to admit that Blaze was right. She’s a tough nut to crack.
“Who are you running from?” I ask point-blank.
“That’s none of your goddamn business,” she answers with venom in her voice. “If there’s nothing else.”
She gestures toward the door, clearly wanting me to leave, but I don’t budge. I’m not leaving here without answers.
“Hawk has the authority to let you stay,” I tell her. “But one word from me, and you’re out on your ass. So either tell me what I need to know, or–”
“Throw me out,” she challenges. “Please. I didn’t ask for any of this.”
I stand, towering over her in the small space, but she doesn’t shrink. She meets my posture with her own defiant stance, and I’m almost impressed. I take in her bruises and can’t help but wonder what the other guy looks like.
“Ghost,” I hear Hawk calling for me. “We got trouble.”
“You better go,” she sneers. “Daddy’s calling.”
I shoot her another glare before brushing past her to find him. I don’t realize she’s following until I reach the porch and see her standing there, still glaring at me. She’s ready to go another round.
“Sheriff,” Hawk mutters when he sees me.
He glances at her, then, but must decide she’s no real threat as Red pulls up in his shiny new cruiser. Nobody in this town is stupid enough to think a cop can afford it. He’s on the take, and not with us.
“Afternoon, gentlemen,” he says with faux pleasantry as he gets out of the car.
“Sheriff.” Hawk nods, leaning against the support beam. “Something we can help you with?”
Red takes a look at Ivy, and the way he eyes her makes me want to step in front of her and shield her. Old habits, I guess.
“New club slut?” he asks, unprofessionally.
“That’s not in your purview,” Hawk shoots back, putting on the voice he uses for all officials.
“If I were you, I’d be careful who you shelter,” Red leers.
Hawk goes down to talk to him in a low voice, and I notice Ivy shrink back into the club.
What the hell have we gotten into?
