25. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
B rody
“All I’m hearing is excuses.” Nick stammers something but I raise a hand to quiet it before it pisses me off even more.
I woke up this morning with Ivy clinging to me. It was a struggle to pry myself free and soothe her back to sleep. She’s in a bad way after the night she endured. While the HEY team enjoyed frolicking at The Tavern and going home to their peaceful nights. Someone tried to kill Ivy and the people responsible for making sure that didn’t happen were at rest and oblivious.
I called for an urgent meeting to which I received reluctance and excuses. When I mentioned the reason, they were smart to show up within the hour.
Now, Nick, Zane and Sera are gathered around the table, looking at me. None can answer my question.
“Why the hell is Ivy still getting attacked?” I’m barely keeping it together. It dawned on me today just how risky the previous night was for her. What if the man had gotten into her apartment? What if he cornered her when she left? What if he followed her? All the possibilities flash in my head turning me into a tight ball of anxiety.
I pace the room to shake off some of the tension. I want to be out there, finding whoever did that and taking them down with my bare hands. The usually oversized conference room feels as though it’s closing in on me now.
“Christ, man, chill out,” Nick says. “You’re making all of us anxious with your pacing.”
I turn to face him where he stands at the end of the long table. “You should be anxious.” I swing my arm to include Zane and Sera so they don’t think they’re home free. “All of you should be anxious. Someone shot at Ivy. She could have died.”
“We realize that,” Nick says. “It’s crazy that happened since we caught the guy at fault.”
“What is crazy is that someone is still out there trying to get her. Clearly, whoever your investigation led to is not the one.”
“Or the only one,” Zane says.
I turn sharply to him. “Thank you, Zane. Really. That addition has solved all our problems.”
He scoffs at my tone and looks away.
I don’t care. We need something. Anything that points us in the direction to end this once and for all. It was a stroke of luck that kept Ivy alive. We can’t rely on luck. I need certainty. If something happens to her… I place both hands on the table and lower my head, trying to pull myself together.
“We all care about the Ross sisters,” Nick says. “Not only were they our first clients, they became our friends too. The only way to get whoever tried to do this is by looking forward. Not backward. We all saw the report. We followed due process and we caught the man at the record label. Everything pointed to him. If there was someone else flying under the radar, we can only get him if we use the new information we have, which is Ivy’s attempted murder.”
Attempted murder . I lift my head to the ceiling and pinch the spot between my eyes. Anytime I remember that she almost died, my world is rocked to its foundation. I don’t know how I can stay focused long enough to assist with the investigation if I can’t keep my mind of what could have been.
Exhaling, I face them. They all have different levels of worried expressions on their faces. I’m glad they realize how serious this is. “You’re right, Nick. We need to move forward. We know how the attack—” fuck “—on Ivy happened. Let’s hear your theories.”
They glance at each other.
“Come on.” My hands shake as I gesture for them to hurry. “We don’t have all day. Who knows what he could be planning? Any thoughts?” The last word comes out in nearly a hiss.
Sera’s the first to speak up. “Maybe someone else was working with the guy at the record label. Is that possible?”
Zane objects even before she’s done talking. “No way. I looked into it. He was working alone.”
She gives him a look. “You’re not infallible,” she murmurs. “No one is.”
“I’m not saying I am infallible,” Zane says. “I’m just saying that based on the evidence we had, there’s no way—“
“Yes, I get that,” she threw back. “But I don’t believe…”
“You know, all of this is speculation,” Nick joins the conversation.
My brains sparks with their mismatch of voices saying nothing that’s useful to the investigation. I rub my temple, willing them to shut the fuck up so I can think since they don’t want to. It gets too much and I—“Quiet! All of you. Shut it.”
Their faces spin to me, all frozen.
My chest rises and falls as I stare back at them. “If you’re not going to say something helpful, don’t say anything at all.” My throat constricts and my voice comes out tight. “Ivy’s in danger. We don’t have the time to waste.”
“You mean, Iris too, right?” Zane frowns at me. “Since they’re in this together.”
I nod quickly. “Of course. Of course.”
Nick’s eyes narrow. “What the fuck is wrong with you, man? You seem to be taking this harder than all of us combined. We are all worried but you’re… freaking out. Like crazy.”
I don’t know what’s happening. I’m not sure. This just tears me apart in a way I have no defense against. I drag in a breath that doesn’t quite reach my lungs. They all look at me like they expect a response but I have nothing.
“Ivy must mean a lot to you, right?” Sera’s head quirks to the side, curious eyes running over me like she sees something no one else does.
The realization hits me like a freight train on full speed. The others must see it on my face because their eyes narrow. I can’t let them think that my feelings for Ivy are getting in the way of my objectivity.
I whirl on Sera. “Who told you that, huh?” She stammers as she tries to speak. “You should mind your business. In fact, you’re disrupting this meeting by going off on a tangent. Go sit in your corner.” I stab a finger in the direction of her desk.
She rears back, hurt clearly spelled out on her face. With jerky motions she rises from her seat and stumps to her desk and plops down.
Glad I nipped that in the bud, I turn back to the guys. “Where were we?”
They’re… not impressed. Even Zane, who’s not Sera’s biggest fan, glares at me.
“What’s wrong with you?” Nick sneers at me. “You’re being a real douche, you know.”
“She’s talking nonsense. I had to stop that before we get distracted.”
“And? You could have told her that without making her cry.”
“Cry?” I glance over my shoulder and indeed, Sera has her head lowered. She’d never make it in the military if such a simple reprimand breaks her down.
“Go and apologize.”
I spin back to Nick. He can’t be serious.
“Else we won’t continue with this meeting.” His gaze is flinty. He’s dead serious.
I scratch the back of my neck. I’m doing this for Ivy’s sake. I’d stand my ground if we didn’t need to find the shooter as soon as possible.
I’m halfway to Sera’s desk when I look over my shoulder. The guys are watching me with stoic faces. For crying out loud.
“Sera.” I stop by her desk.
She looks up with big, sad eyes but thankfully, no tears.
“I’m… I’m—” I clear my throat.
Behind me, Nick shows me a thumbs up.
“Come back to the table,” I tell her. “The guys won’t continue the meeting without you.”
“I heard what Nick said, Brody. That is not an apology.”
For someone who is hurt, she seems quite fine enough to demand things.
“Fine. Sorry.”
“For?”
Fuck me . “For being rude to you,” I say in a rush. “Now get back to the table or I’ll—”
She raises a finger, silencing me. “Threaten me, and we’re back to square one.”
Wait a second. I thought I was the boss here.
Just then, a knock sounds at the door. I look over my shoulder and the guys shrug like none of them are expecting a guest. I go ahead and open up.
Ivy stands in the doorway, arms hugged across her midriff.
“Ivy.” I hold her elbow, pulling her in, and then I lean over to peek into the hallway. There’s no one there. I shut the door and turn to her.
“I didn’t see you when I woke up,” she says.
“I had this… thing.” I wave in the direction of the table. “How are you?”
Her face is drawn but the fearful look in her eyes from last night is gone. “I’m okay.” She wiggles her shoulders as if asserting the truth of that statement.
Nick clears his throat, reminding me we’re not alone. Which is good because I was seconds from pulling her into my arms to remind myself that she’s actually okay. That would only feed into the idea that Sera has already set in motion.
Ivy turns around. “Hi, everyone. I’m sorry. I’m still a bit shaken up.”
Sera rounds me to hug her. “It’s so good to see you. I’m relieved you’re fine.” She blocks my way and takes over ushering Ivy to the table. “The guys are already on it.”
“Hi, Nick. Hi, Zane.” She waves them as she sits down.
“I’m glad you’re alright,” Zane says.
“Yeah,” Nick concurs. “You’d look so weird with a hole in your head.”
I balk at that stupid joke but everyone at the table is laughing. Including Ivy. Buncha crazies .
“Where are we?” Ivy’s face turns serious once more. “I would like to help.”
“You can help by staying out of the way of bullets until we take care of this.” I clap my hands together. “So we were…”
“No, no.” Ivy catches my eyes. “I’m serious. I want to help. I minored in psychology in school. I understand how people think. I can help you guys get into the head of whoever’s doing this. If we can understand their motivations and what they’re up to, then it’d be easier to catch them.”
I chuckle because the fuck?
“Is something funny, Brody?” Ivy gives me a look.
I look around the table and I’m the only one who sees how laughable the idea is. Suddenly, when I think something is funny, they’ve all lost their senses of humor.
“No, we’re not doing that.” My gaze falls on her. “No way in hell.”
“Why not?” she demands. “It makes complete sense. You have a computer guy.” She points at Zane. “The PI.” She points at Nick.
“Don’t forget dashing.” Nick winks.
“And you, the muscle.” She stabs a finger in my direction. “Where’s the human element? Where’s the brains of the operation? I can help you get ahead of him.”
“Whoa. I don’t get a cool role?” Sera says.
Ivy stutters and finally settles on, “You’re the sunshine that uplifts everyone.”
Sera smiles, pleased with this.
“I can help, Brody,” she insists. “You have to let me.”
I try to catch the others’ eyes. Someone else must think this idea is absurd. They’re all quiet in deep consideration. “Really?” I take them all in. “You agree with her?”
“You don’t?” Ivy rises to her feet. “I was almost killed, Brody. I can’t sit around and do nothing. My sister is out there. What if it was her? What would I do?”
“You think no one cares that it’s you?” I do. Too much.
“Well, then let’s fucking go all in.”
“We can’t put you in the forefront of this, Ivy.”
“I was in front of the damned bullet. The killer is not playing nice. I have no choice.”
I start to shake my head.
“Really? Well, fuck that. If you don’t help me, I’ll do this on my own.” She starts to walk out.
The thought that she’d even attempt to face a man who’s ready to kill chills me to my bones. I grab her arm and pull her to a stop. “Go. Sit down.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“I really thought I’d need to make it to the door. Maybe pack my things.”
“Now’s not the time for jokes, Ivy.”
She returns to her seat.
But I’m not completely cool with this. I’ll never be but it’s better than the alternative. “Who’s in support of Ivy joining us?” Maybe the rest will dissuade her once she sees… Their right hands go up. All of them. Traitors .
Ivy smiles at me and I roll my eyes.
“Welcome on board, Ivy. Now, where were we?”