I drop my head and clear my throat, not really sure what to say when Ice breaks into my thoughts.
"Prez, I have something I want to bring to the table."
I look up at him and then over to Nitro who grins at him and then gives a small nod. "Church, one-hour, brothers. We have a few things to go over." He turns to Ice. "We'll give you two a bit of privacy." He winks at him and begins to walk away, before turning back to us. "Nova, feel free to play that whenever you wish. Mase, come on, kid, let’s go." He holds out a hand for my little brother, who jumps from the stool and follows them out of the room without so much as a backward glance at me.
Ice grabs my face in both of his hands, his eyes flick back and forth over mine for a few seconds before his lips crash onto mine, his hands tangling in my hair, his tongue pushing its way into my mouth as our teeth clash. I fist his T-shirt, pulling him to me. My stomach flutters with need.
He pulls away from the kiss, leaving me breathless. I bite the inside of my cheek, feeling nervous that the guys have left us alone in here.
"Dragonfly, I need to tell you something," he says as he takes a seat on the stool, pulling me into his lap.
"Oh?" I say, a little croaky.
"I need you to remember that you are safe here. That we're going to protect you both," he states, his eyes locked on mine. They are steel grey today. I love how his eyes change colour with how he feels, like right now I can tell that he's worried and angry all at the same time. I'm just hoping that he's not angry with me, although I don’t think he has a reason to be.
"Okay?" I respond in question.
"Your uncle was here—"
"Oh my god," I rush out, cutting him off. I push on him, trying to stand, but his arms wrap around me, holding me tighter.
"Baby, breathe, he's gone and you're safe," he tells me, trying to get me to calm down. But I don't know that I can, I'm starting to freak out.
"Does he know we're here? Do we need to leave? Oh god, Ice, he's going to kill me. I need to go, I need to get Mason out of here." My words rush out of me, my heart racing as I feel the panic budling up inside of me.
My body heats, my breathing becomes erratic, and my visions begins to blur as the panic attack threatens to engulf me.
I feel Ice grip the back of my head and pull me forward, resting his forehead on mine. "Dragonfly, I need you to breathe, just one breath at a time. I've got you, you're safe, just breathe, baby."
I feel his other hand rub up and down my back as he pulls me closer to him. He repeats over and over again that I'm safe and to breathe with him. I fight through the panic, and within what feels like minutes, my breathing slows and my vision returns.
"Are you okay?" he asks, worry lacing his voice.
I nod. "I'm sorry. I'm so scared, Ice," I admit.
"I know, baby. But I promise that you're both safe here. We will protect you. You have to believe that, I need you to believe that."
"I do. But I don't want you all to think that I expect you to, or that I'm using you. What if you guys end up with shit because of me?" I tell him.
"Any shit we get will not be on you, it will either be something of our own doing or something your uncle does, but neither is your fault. You are not responsible for the actions of others. You're giving yourself way too much power, baby," he says with a smile.
I drop my head and rub my hands over my face. "What did he want?" I ask.
Ice grips my chin and lifts my face to look up at him. "Some shit about wanting to thank us for helping you and wanting to know if we knew where you had gone, claiming that he just wanted you both back safe. I could have lied and kept his visit from you, but I don't want to do that, I won't keep things from you. But I don't think we should say anything to Mason."
I bite the inside of my cheek again. "I don't know how I feel about keeping things from Mason. I know he's only nine, but is it right to keep this from him?" I ask.
Ice grabs both sides of my face. "I'm not saying we never tell him, just not right now. He spends so much of his time worrying about you, I think we should let him be a nine-year-old boy for a while. Just for a little bit. Let’s give his little brain a rest from the worry."
I smile. "You've been amazing, Ice—"
"Max. We're alone, please call me Max."
"Max. I really am grateful for everything that you and your club are doing for us. Thank you," I tell him, then lean forward and place a gentle kiss on his lips.
Chapter Forty-Four
I hated leaving her sitting at that piano alone, but I needed to get into Church. I know I said I had something to bring the table, but this meeting wasn't called for me, it was already planned after her uncle just rocked up here.
