“You remember I’m right here, right?” I rolled my eyes at the nickname. I knew exactly where that started and I could appreciate the fact he shortened it, but seriously…
“Was I not supposed to?” Bodhi deadpanned as we stepped out into the cold. Ivy laughed and gave Bodhi a kiss on the cheek. There was an ease to him around Ivy that I’d only seen when he was with Mayhem.
Where it was a possessive protectiveness with Mayhem, Bodhi’s watchfulness with Ivy was far more brotherly. I could respect that.
Once she was in the car though, I glanced at him. “Does Mayhem know you call her PPG?”
He smirked. “Yes. She doesn’t have a problem with it.” Then he clapped me on the shoulder and I chuckled.
My phone buzzed as I slid into the passenger seat. Adam planned to go out when we were back and he was asking for an ETA. So far, we’d stuck to the plan of no one moved alone.
Mayhem consented to the bodyguard when we couldn’t be there or she wanted to handle something solo. Ezra was never left alone. He refused bodyguards so he was stuck with us or Mayhem. Preferably, one of us as well as Mayhem.
Granted, his choices had been about protecting Ada and Lainey. I could respect that. But it was going to take a while for Adam or Lainey to not worry if he was out of their sight. Time they needed to heal and until we dealt with everything, they weren’t getting that time.
So, Ezra dealt with the overprotectiveness the same way Lainey did. Adam, Bodhi, and I were afforded a little more freedom, but we were still trying to make sure we weren’t flying solo. Too many players on the board.
Now we had unknowns.
Easier to defend if one of us was there and not chasing after the fact. We’d gotten lucky when that corrupt son of a bitch took Lainey. Damn lucky.
On our way back now. You have backup?
He didn’t make me wait too long.
Meeting with friends. May ask B to go with if he’s available.
That worked.
“Adam has a meeting,” I told Bodhi. “I’ll have Ivy and Ezra, you free to go with him?”
“Yep,” Bodhi said, then glanced at the time. “Lainey will be another hour at least. Let me know when she gets back?”
“Done.”
A soft laugh came from the backseat and I glanced to where Ivy grinned widely at us, hands clasped together, and just looking altogether too delighted.
“What?”
“Nothing,” she said, her smile growing. “Just enjoying the vibe in here.”
The vibe…
I rolled my eyes but that just made her laugh more. “Behave brat, or I’ll tell the boyfriends on you.”
“Tell them what?” She dared me, not sounding even a bit chastised.
“I don’t know, I’m sure I can think of something.” Despite my protests, I was chuckling right along with her.
“Hate to break this to you, Milo, but if this is your idea of intimidation, it needs work.” The observation from Bodhi cracked Ivy up further and I caught the hint of a smile on his face.
Shaking my head, I went back to scanning the streets as Bodhi drove. I recognized the route he was taking and the changes in roads as he checked for tails. Just because we were paranoid didn’t mean people weren’t out to get us.
At his place, Bodhi parked in the garage and rode up with us. Ivy gave us both a patient look even if she did shake her head. She got it, even if we were entertaining her. Fuck knew she was used to being watched over. The Vandals weren’t letting her run alone, not yet and maybe not for a long while.
They all needed to heal.
“Oh, thank fuck, they’re home,” Ezra said in the most aggrieved of tones. “Now you can leave and not sit there glaring at me like I’m going to poof and disappear.”
Adam rose as we entered and he was already collecting his coat. “Emersyn,” he greeted my sister and offered her a one-armed hug. She returned it easily and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Don’t mind, Ezra. He’s in a mood.”
“Yes, I’m in a goddamn mood. I’m not five. I can look after myself for a few minutes.”
“Clearly,” I said as I tugged off my own coat and then took Ivy’s. “You sound very mature at the moment.”
“Bite me, Hardigan.” He only trotted out my last name when he wanted distance these days. I could respect it.
Ivy laughed. “We’ll look after him. Go to your meeting.”
“Stay inside,” Bodhi said. “Doors locked.” Then he pointed to the coat closet. “Gun’s in a small cupboard in the back. Milo can show you the safe room.” Those instructions were all for Ivy’s benefit. Then Bodhi lifted his gaze to mine and I nodded once. I had them both. No one would touch them on my watch.
“Thanks,” Adam said. “I’ll talk to you more later,” he added for Ivy. “Ezra, don’t be a dick to your cousins.” Then he was out the door with Bodhi right behind him.
Cousins.
“Assholes,” Ezra muttered and Ivy bumped me with her hip as she passed me.
“Be nice,” she scolded Ezra and he gave her a dark look as she stared down at him, hands on her hips. Ezra wasn’t a bad guy most of the time, but if he took that attitude out on her, I was gonna feed him my fist.
