19. Ivy – My Savior, My Protector
NINETEEN
IVY – MY SAVIOR, MY PROTECTOR
Ivy
When the men go just outside the door for a smoke, I can faintly hear their muffled voices. We’ve been here for hours, and my anxiety is clawing at me. I glance at Milly. “Do you think they’ll kill us once you give them the money?” My voice cracks, and Sammy’s face floods my mind.
“Yes.” She clears her throat. “We’ve seen their faces.”
Her words cut me open. “When you go into the bank to withdraw more money, alert the teller. Tell them what’s happening.”
“No.” Her tone is firm. “They’ll use you as collateral—or worse, they’ll kill you.”
Tears spill down my face. “At least one of us will survive... This is all my fault. You wouldn’t even be in this mess if it weren’t for me.”
Pain flashes across her face as she places a steady hand on my leg. “No, it’s not your fault. And I won’t risk your life to save my own.”
Her unwavering loyalty and integrity leave me grasping for words. I’ve never had a friend like her. “What are we going to do?”
Straightening, she tightens her jaw. “We hide in the bathroom. When they break in, we fight like hell. We just need to stall as long as we can. Remember, aim for their eyes, noses, throats, or groins. These men aren’t the brightest.”
Since she’s Reaper’s sister, I’m not shocked she knows self-defense. I glance down at my self-defense ring. It’s time to test it out.
The doorknob jingles. We bolt for the bathroom. The larger man lunges, but I’m faster. Milly and I scramble inside and slam the door shut, throwing our weight against it. Boom . Boom . Boom . His fists crash against the door, jarring our bodies with each hit. My heart pounds in my ears.
“Open the fucking door!” he screams. “When I get my hands on you two...”
A small whimper escapes my lips as he shoves against the door, nearly forcing it open, but we force it shut again.
“FUCK!”
“Do you hear that?” Milly asks.
I pause, listening intently. The pounding and yelling dull against the backdrop of a new sound... a rumble. My eyes well with tears. Motorcycles. Hope surges in my chest. Jett.
Bang!
The earsplitting sound makes us scream. He shot a round through the door. For a split second, I brace for pain, but it doesn’t come. I frantically check myself, then Milly. We’re unscathed.
“That was a warning,” the man growls. “I’ll shoot again if you don’t open this door.”
Then, chaos erupts. The front door crashes open, shouts fill the air, and two more shots are fired. My breath catches, panic spiking at the thought of Jett being hurt.
I hear a scuffle, then a man cries out, and then... silence.
A soft knock on the bathroom door makes me flinch. “Ivy, it’s me. Open up.” Jett’s low voice soothes me. The heavy pressure on my chest lifts.
Still trembling, Milly and I step back. The door swings open, and Jett steps inside. He looks so murderous that even the devil would be scared. But then his face softens when his eyes land on me.
I collapse into his arms. He pulls me close, murmuring, “Shhh... Little Bird, you’re safe.” His warmth seeps into my trembling muscles. He cups my face, scanning me for injuries. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I manage, though my voice cracks. Then I see it. Blood. Bright red against his shirt. Panicked, I tug at the fabric. “Where are you hurt?”
“It’s not my blood.” His answer is a little wicked... a little dark.
Relief crashes over me like a tidal wave, and I take my first full breath since this ordeal began.
Milly cries out, “Twitch!”
“I’m here,” Twitch reassures, stepping into the bathroom behind Jett.
“Close your eyes,” Jett orders me gently.
“What? Why?”
“I would prefer you not see them.”
Though blood isn’t unfamiliar to me or Milly, I trust him. I close my eyes and allow Jett to guide me out of the bathroom. His protective presence calms me. The metallic scent of blood invades my senses, and the carpet is tacky under my feet. I breathe through my mouth, shoving away any sympathy for the men who would’ve killed us. I begin to understand Jett’s cold rationality.
Fresh air greets my skin as we step outside. “You can open your eyes now,” Jett murmurs.
I do, blinking against the sunlight.
“We need to get out of here,” he says as we walk toward his bike.
Milly stands next to Twitch. I rush to her, pulling her into a fierce hug. My voice wavers. “I’m so sorry, Milly.”
“It’s okay,” she whispers, her hand squeezing mine. Jett tugs me back gently, handing me his helmet. I climb onto his bike and settle in behind him. But all I can think about is Sammy.
Still in shock, we go back to the clubhouse. When we arrive, everyone’s outside waiting for us, worry etching their faces. Reaper and Ava rush to Milly, while Elena makes her way to me.
“Where’s Sammy?” I blurt, scanning the crowd. I have to see her.
Elena wraps her arms around me as Bomber speaks with Jett. “She’s in her room, playing with Zara. We didn’t want her to feel overwhelmed with everyone’s emotions.”
I exhale. “Thank you.” Jett’s arms wind securely around my waist, fueling my strength. “I want to see Sammy,” I tell him softly.
He nods. “Come on.” We walk inside.
Just as we step forward toward the stairs, he pauses, gazing down at me with a tenderness that sends warmth through my chest. “Let me clean you up first.”
He leads me to the kitchen, his arm firmly around me, grounding me. He wets his hands under the tap and gently wipes my face clean. His touch is cautious, but it brims with an intimacy that makes me close my eyes.
“Forever won’t be long enough with you,” he murmurs, his hazel eyes filled with raw emotion.
He continues to save me time and time again. He’s been my lifeline through everything. I never dreamed I would meet or be in love with someone like him—my green-flag killer. Pushing onto my tiptoes, I kiss his lips.
He cups my face. “I mean it,” he says, his eyes intense. “I can’t bear to lose you—life wouldn’t be worth living without you.”
I meet his gaze, my heart aching with happiness. “I love you too.”
He presents me with a devastating smile that only I am privileged to see. I place my hand on his chest, over his heart. “If people could see your soul, they wouldn’t be scared of you.”
He covers my hand with his own. “My heart started beating only when I met you.”
Laughter bubbles through me. “I want to go through this beautiful, crazy life with you.”
He chuckles softly, kissing me tenderly. He takes his club vest and shirt off so Sammy doesn’t see the blood, then hand in hand, we go to see her. And as we climb the stairs, I know everything will be okay—with Jett by my side.