Chapter 16 #2
‘Get in here,’ Maddog ordered, and Ezra obeyed, finding Lira, Analise and Jem already seated.
‘Sit,’ Maddog barked. Ezra sat. The gangster assessed him critically.
‘Well, you look worse than usual, so I’ll keep it simple for you.
’ He took a seat at the head of the table.
‘You are now in the headquarters of the Order of the Dawn, which I’m assuming Jem has told you about.
This is our meeting room. No one knows about this place, or about the Order, except those who are involved and Father Blackwood, along with select members of the Church. ’
Jem cleared his throat. ‘Maddog is our uncle, Ez. Our father’s brother.’
The anger that Ezra had been keeping at bay roared like a wounded beast. Betrayal tore into him.
He knew it was unreasonable, but he’d thought Maddog trusted him, respected him in his own rough way and for a moment, Ezra was thrown into the past and it was his former colleagues staring at him.
The words rushed out before he could stop them.
‘You’re fucking joking right? You know what, don’t bother.
I’m not surprised because why the fuck would anyone tell me what was going on?
What—’ He broke off suddenly, his eyes sliding to Analise, whose glower seared his face.
‘Feels like shit, doesn’t it, Ezra?’
Jem rubbed at the back of his neck, his expression torn. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘I’m not,’ Maddog said sharply. ‘You were on a need-to-know basis, Tarrenfire. And there was a lot you didn’t need to know, until now.
’ He raised his eyebrows at Ezra, as if in a challenge, then shifted to Analise.
‘You will both be staying here from now on. It’s safer this way.
Now, Tarrenfire, Jem tells me you’ve got a demon mark on you—’
‘Ives,’ Analise cut in coolly. ‘His name is Ezra Ives, but I’m guessing you knew that.’
Her fury was a living thing, powerful and hungry and clawed. Ezra offered her that knife in seriousness. The look she was giving him now made him wonder if she’d plunge that blade into him if he gave her another chance.
Maddog inclined his head. ‘And you must be the death witch.’
‘I’ve got a name,’ she said waspishly.
‘And a temper to match that hair, I’m guessing,’ Maddog chuckled. ‘Apologies, Analise. Considering the situation, precautions have been taken. The club is protected, with both alarms and alchemy, so that means no one leaves or enters this building without me knowing.’
Analise muttered something savage under her breath.
‘The club is operating as normal,’ Maddog told them.
‘Hernan will be watching the main doors, and he’s taking his new role seriously.
So don’t think about trying to slip past him, Ezra.
He owes you a punch in the teeth, which I’m sure he’ll happily deliver.
Fight nights are cancelled for now, though.
’ He sat back. ‘You have the run of the place during the day.’
‘Oh, I don’t have to stay locked in my room like a naughty child?’ Analise bit out.
‘You have access to the kitchen, the roof if you want some fresh air. The bathroom is on the same floor as your room.’ He stood, as did Lira, telling Analise she’d show her to her room. Scowling, Analise followed them out, leaving Ezra and Jem staring at one another.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,’ Jem said.
‘At this point, nothing surprises me.’ Ezra rubbed his cheek wearily. ‘But if you’re going to be holding me prisoner, I want in.’
Rather than jumping for joy, Jem frowned.
‘This is what you wanted, isn’t it?’
‘But do you want it? You can’t join because you’re feeling self-destructive and you want to hit something, Ez.’
‘You were right—I need to get my life back, and it won’t be my old life. I’ve accepted that I’ll never reclaim the person I was, and I don’t want to, so, it’s time to be something else.’
Jem was still frowning. ‘Is this because of what’s happened with Analise? Because if that’s your reasoning, that’s not enough. This is serious—what we’re trying to stop is serious.’ He sighed, smoothing away his frown with his fingers. ‘You knew it would come out eventually.’
Ezra pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d never forget the way she looked at him in that moment: the shock that arrested her features and beneath it, like something coming to life, anger. Not the barbed looks she’d thrown at him before, but true unfiltered fury. He deserved it, every bit of it.
Jem was watching him.
‘I’m on the Devil’s most wanted list, apparently, so I’d like to do something about that,’ Ezra said.
Jem was silent for so long, Ezra's newfound sense of purpose started slipping away. Eventually, his friend nodded.
‘Me too,’ a voice snarled.
Both Jem and Ezra jolted. Analise was in the doorway, arms folded, face hard.
‘Analise—’ Jem began.
‘Listen,’ she cut in. Her voice bounced off the walls, her rage slamming into Ezra’s chest like a bullet.
‘It looks like I’m involved in this, whether I like it or not.
You’re locking me up again. I’m not an idiot.
I’m a death witch who can see Familiars.
I don’t know what else is going on, what else you want from me, but there must be something. ’
‘Very astute,’ Jem mumbled.
‘Either I’m in your little group or I’m going home and this time you won’t stop me.’ Magic coiled around her hands and when she noticed where Ezra’s eyes lay, she all but bared her teeth at him.
Jem sighed. ‘We need your magic. I had Ezra find you. Yes, Father Blackwood asked him first, but I was the one who told him to bring you back here. The Church and the Order—’ Jem stopped abruptly.
Ezra’s conversation with Blackwood that morning had made him suspicious enough. Now, Jem had nearly put his foot in something—a very un-Jem like thing to do—which caused Ezra to realise the Church and the Order were butting heads.
Analise glared at Jem. ‘If you want me to help you, you better start talking. If you want my magic—’
‘Magic you don’t have control over or know anything about,’ Jem argued.
Her expression was cold. ‘Then I’ll learn, somehow.
Might be a little challenging, considering anyone who could have taught me is either dead or in hiding.
So if you want my help, tomorrow you’re going to tell me all I need to know.
And,’ she added, her cheeks red, ‘keep him away from me, or I might remove a part of him he needs to live.’
She stomped out.
‘Are you going to be able to work with her, Ez?’ Jem asked.
Ezra scoffed, but it lacked his usual effort. ‘Are you questioning my professionalism?’
‘I’m questioning whether you can stop looking at her for more than two seconds so you can concentrate on your new job,’ Jem replied. Then, softer, ‘she’ll forgive you, eventually.’
Ezra wasn’t sure about that.