Burning Ember (68 page)

“What do you want?” A sharp youthful voice rings out, and three things happen. Mav moves his body directly in front of mine and Taz’s hand dips into his vest. Then Taz spots her and points to the form standing in a darkened doorway, halfway on the right side of the gym.

“Ivy?” I ask.

My question is greeted by silence. “It’s Em—it’s Red. Do you remember me? From the shelter?” I step out from behind Mav, though he tries to stop me, and when I’m finally successful, I see his hand is also inside his cut. I inwardly groan as I think about what she’s seeing. Two big, tattooed bikers ready to shoot her.

Yeah, there is no way she’s going to come any closer with these two right here.

“Mav. Can you and Taz wait for me outside? I want to talk to her alone for a minute.”

“No.”

Rolling my eyes, I grate out, “Luce. Do I need to remind you why we’re here? Why I’m here with you? It’s because of her help, so stop freaking out for a second and think about it. She wouldn’t hurt me and you two don’t look very friendly. If I have any chance of getting her to accept my help, you need to let me talk to her alone.”

“Yeah, but we don’t know if she’s here alone.”

We stare down each other for a minute before he bends over and pulls a smaller gun from inside his boot. He places it in my hands. I know how to use it now thanks to him and Griz, but I still don’t like carrying one around. Lily carries hers in her purse, but with Will, I don’t dare.

“I’ll be right by the door. You see anyone else, you call for me. You feel like somethin’s wrong, you get the hell out of here.”

“I will. Now go.” I tuck the gun away and then push him toward the door. “I’ll be fine.”

“She’s four months pregnant with your kid . . . you really gonna leave her in here alone?”

“Taz,” I hiss. “Not helping.”

As we get closer to the door, I push them both out of it and then shut it a little to at least give Ivy the sense that we’re alone.

I turn around and see that Ivy, if it’s even her, hasn’t moved from the doorway. But after a minute or so passes, she does ask, “What do you want? Your stuff?”

It’s her.

“That would be nice, but that’s not why I came looking for you. I owe you money.”

Again I’m met by silence.

“You said if I won the lottery, to repay the favor. I didn’t win the lottery, but I can pay you back. And I wanted to say thank you for helping me out when you did.”

“It was just five bucks, Red, not a kidney.”

Inwardly, I smile, remembering now her sassy personality. I didn’t realize I could miss something I didn’t necessarily like to begin with.

“Yeah, but that five bucks put me straight on the path to a better life. A good life. I met a good man and some good people. I have a home now, and a family. I have my daughter back and a baby on the way.”

More thick silence, and then she replies, “That’s real good, Red. I’m happy for you. Really. But I was just kiddin’ around when I told you to pay me back. I only said that to make you feel better about takin’ the money.”

“I know. It doesn’t change the fact that I can and want to pay you back, though.”

If I’m not mistaken, she disappears from the doorway. My heart falls and the hope filling me dwindles away. Even my shoulders lower in defeat as I exhale. But then I hear rustling. I startle as something hits the floor and slides across it. “It’s your bag,” she says. “Leave the money on the floor, if it means that much to you. I’ll get it later.”

She turns again.

“Wait!”

“What, Red? I’m growing old standin’ here.”

“I can help you. I can offer a whole lot more than five dollars.” Chancing it, I take a couple of steps forward until I see her back up a step. “My friend owns a bar and really needs a table busser. She also needs a sitter for her kids. I told her about you and she’s willing to give you a shot. My boyfriend and his friends own some businesses. If you don’t want to work for my friend, he said he’d find you another job that pays a decent wage. We also have an apartment above our garage and it’s yours—”

“People don’t help people out of the kindness of their hearts anymore, Red.”

“Not true. You helped me.”

“Not out of kindness. More out of guilt.”

“Does it matter? I still owe you. I’m offering you a chance to get yourself off the street for a little while. Maybe longer.”

“What makes you think I need your help?”

“Look where you are, Ivy? This building isn’t safe. You’re too young . . .” My voice trails off as she disappears.

I figured this would happen. I didn’t know what other way to offer her help, though. I know from our interaction at the shelter that she’s lived a hard life at such a young age, and that she doesn’t trust people in general.

“Ivy, your dad was right. It really doesn’t rain all the time. But I think . . . I think sometimes you have to accept help from other people when you really need it. I have a friend that did that for me, and I’d like to do the same for you.

“I don’t need a mother.”

“Good, because I have my hands full as it is. I could be a friend though, if you’ll let me.”

“And what about those bikers? The ones you came in with? Are you telling me there’s no strings attached to the help they’re givin’?”

“My boyfriend and his friend? No. No strings. They want to help you too, because you helped me. They won’t hurt you.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe you?”

“No, but if you’ll give us a chance, we’ll prove that what I’m saying is the truth.” I move closer and grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. As I turn and head toward the door, I say, “I’ll wait outside for ten minutes and let you decide. If you don’t come out by then, we’ll take off.”

I leave the dark interior and for a moment, I’m blinded by sunlight. Then Mav is there and he’s checking me over. He then pulls the bag from my shoulder, palms my face with his other hand. “How’d it go?”

I shake my head. “We’ll see. Can we wait for a little bit?”

He nods and says, “Yeah. Let me put this in my saddle bag.”

I ask Mav and Taz to wait by the bikes in case she comes out, and I lean against the brick building. Every few minutes, I check my phone. When eleven minutes pass, I head toward Mav. He pulls me in for a hug and whispers in my ear, “We’ll try again after she’s had some time to think about it.”

Taz throws his leg over his bike and starts it up. But then immediately he shuts it down. When I look his way, I notice his eyes are focused on something behind me. Turning, I see Ivy standing with one hand around the belly of a charcoal-colored cat, and the other clutching the strap of the gym bag she’s got over her shoulder. She’s standing in the open doorway again. Her gaze bounces from Mav to Taz, and then to me.

I approach her slowly. Her leaf-like green eyes are striking against her pale skin, even though there’s a ring of black eyeliner surrounding them. She’s dressed in black like before and wearing those same laced up boots.

“Hey,” I say, I didn’t think you we’re going to come out.”

“Neither did I.”

Her eyes roam over me. “You look good, Red. Healthy.”

“Thanks.”

“So you’re a biker chick now, huh?”

A slow smile spreads across my face. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“And you’re really preggers?”

“Yes, just over four months along.”

Her mouth twitches. “So you didn’t really take my advice about buying some protection.”

I grin. “I was buying condoms when I found that friend I was talking about.” The cat wiggles in her arms and tries to get loose, but she adjusts her grip on him.

“Who’s this?” I ask and motion to the cat. Reaching out, I pet the cat, and it lifts its head to meet my hand.

“I call her BB. Black Betty” She rolls her eyes. “And yes, I realize she’s not black.”

She looks from me to Mav. “So is he the baby dadda?”

“Yes. That’s Mav. Or people call him Luce. He’s my boyfriend.” Mav mutters a hello to her from behind me. Her gaze swings back to Taz. “And that’s Taz, his friend,” I say. “They’re only here because they wouldn’t let me come alone.”

“For good reason,” Mav rasps in aggravated tone.

Dropping her voice, Ivy asks, “How come that one is lookin’ at me like he wants to gnaw on my bones and spit them out after?”

I shrug. “That’s just how Taz looks at everyone. But don’t worry about it. He’ll be on his best behavior. He owes me, so to collect I’ve asked him to give you a ride back to where we live.”

“You’re gonna have to leave the cat,” Taz states.

He pulls a toothpick from his pocket, but pauses when she says, loud enough for him to hear, “Look, I don’t know you from Adam, but fuck you asshole if you think I’m leavin’ my cat.”

Taz growls and the toothpick falls from his fingers.

I bite my lip to stifle my laugh.

Taz glares at her and then me. Mav comes forward and offers, “I’ve got one empty saddle bag if you think she’ll be okay ridin’ in there. It’ll be about a fifteen—maybe twenty minute drive.”

Ivy nods, but before she hands over the cat, she asks Mav, “No strings, right? If I want to leave—”

“You do as you please. Consider it my way of sayin’ thanks for helpin’ Ember when you did.”

“Ember.”

“Yeah,” I answer. “That’s me. Ember Pierce.”

She studies me for a moment and dips her chin. “Jett Rhines. But people just call me Ivy.”

Endings are bitter and sweet like the scent of a garden.

EMBER

The truck stops and I hear Will giggle with excitement. I can’t see her because there’s a blindfold over my eyes. But I hear everything, even when Mav opens his door, and then shuts it.

A few seconds later, my door opens and he reaches over me to remove my seat belt. He takes hold of my hands.

“I still don’t see why if we’re going to an art exhibit, I need to be blindfolded.”

“Because it’s a special exhibit. You’re not peeking are you?” he whispers into my ear. I open my mouth to answer, but his teeth nip my earlobe and my mouth falls closed. Shockwaves of pleasure skate down my body.

“This is so not fair.”

“Shhh,” he replies and gives me a chaste kiss.

After he pulls me from the truck, he takes one of my hands and Will takes the other. They walk me ten steps before they let go and Mav moves behind me. He unknots the bandana around my eyes, and it falls away.

“Oh, my God! Is it . . .” I spin around and take in Mav’s pleased expression. “You did it. You rebuilt it?”

He grabs my hips and pulls me closer. “Not exactly. I had to make a few changes so it would better fit the family that’s gonna be livin’ in it. Changed the design some, because they’re not from around here. Made a few rooms bigger, the master, and the office. I also extended out the kitchen, dining room area, and added a shop in the back.”

“Oh.” Trying to cover up the disappointment that immediately hits me, I ask, “Is she okay to go in there?” Will walks to the front door and opens it without knocking.

“Yeah. They haven’t moved in yet. She was here with me last week when I had to come check on things, so she knows her way around.”

“So you sold it already?”

“It sold right away. Got a really good deal on it too. Do you like it?”

Masking the sour feeling swirling in my chest, I reply, “I love it.” I turn in his arms and take in the beautiful house. It’s springtime now and bright colored flowers fill the flowerbeds. It was one of the first things I noticed, because it reminded me of home. But really the home itself is eye-catching. It’s two stories high, and is mostly a sand-colored stucco. A few of the walls have a more modern look with the small stone slabs, which are a mixture of colors, browns, reds, tans, and off-white. The red accents match the cherry wood of the lavish front door and the wood of the garage doors. Even the windows add a little something extra to make it stand out. It’s a perfect blend of the southwestern adobe style you see around here with the layered box design, but it also reminds me of the opulent homes in San Diego that you usually see by the ocean.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

“Come on, let’s go see the inside.” He grabs my hand and proceeds to give me a tour. Takes me through the upstairs first, the bedrooms, the bathrooms. We pass Will playing in what looks to be a little girl’s room that’s painted purple and has a window seat overflowing with pillows and stuffed animals. Mav continues to pull me forward before I can inspect it further. He shows me the master bedroom, and the space is enormous. Big enough for two king beds and then some. Next he leads me through a door that is attached to the master bedroom. I’m anticipating a bathroom, but when he walks me into a nursery, my feet stop moving.