Nia put an arm around Ivy and pulled her close, even thoughshe was several inches shorter. She wore a light blue sundress with sparklinggold heels. “Now, come tell me what you’ve been up to because rumor has it thatyou and Leah have been in touch. I would love to hear how that girl is doing. Isure miss seeing her.”
Ivy stumbled and then let Nia lead her toward the livingroom. What could she say? She didn’t want to give Leah away, but Nia seemed togenuinely like her. “Truth be told, and you’ve probably already heard this, butwe started an online company that chases down predators before they can get tokids. We caught one just the other day.”
She tried not to sound too proud, but frankly, she was.They’d worked hard to catch that asshole, and now he was in prison.
“Excellent,” Nia said. “I would like to get involved ifpossible.” She frowned. “Although I know Leah is still playing hard to get forJasper.” She tossed her purse toward the sofa. “It is a lot of fun to watch,just so you know.”
Ivy could only look at the woman, not sure what to say. Athan’sgrams was much different than she’d expected, and she felt like she’d found anally. Maybe even a friend. Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it from her pocketto read the screen. “Oh, no,” she said.
“What is it?” Nia asked, leaning over.
Ivy looked toward the door and then back at the phone. “It’sLeah. She found the main guy we’ve been trying to get, and he’s arranged for ameet later.” She bit her lip. There’s no way Athan would let her go.
Nia quickly zipped up her coat. “Well, then, let’s go help herout.”
Ivy frowned. “I’m not sure how long Athan will be gone.”
Nia retrieved her purse. “It sounds like they were headed totorture and interrogate somebody, and that has to do with Baston, the moronwho’s been chasing me through time. They won’t be back for a few hours.” Hervoice remained cheerful, even as she discussed torture. She waved her handdismissively in the air. “It’s nothing we need to worry about right now.However, you know what this means?”
Ivy took a step back. “It means that I can go and help Leah,and you can stay safely here.”
Nia threw back her head and laughed. “There are two guardson the elevator doors on the parking level. Honey, you’re going to need my helpgetting by them.”
ChapterTwelve
Oh, this was most definitely a mistake. Ivy knew it thesecond they reached the dilapidated motel on the far side of town. There was nocoincidence that BlueEyes237 and Harry, the pervert they’d just caught, livedand operated out of the same town. She and Leah had been tracking these jerksfor almost three months, and they had a nice little gang going in the largecity of Buffalo. She was happy to be taking them down, but she should not havebrought Athan’s grandmother with her.
Nia, who had insisted upon driving, stopped the stolen SUVaround the corner from the motel. The woman had been surprisingly quick aboutthe theft. She’d also knocked out two of the guards at the elevator withoutmuch effort. Of course, they hadn’t been expecting it, so they shouldn’t beblamed.
Ivy shook her head. “You really shouldn’t have knocked thoseguys out.”
“Oh, they’re fine,” Nia said. “They’re immortal. They’ll beembarrassed, but they’ll survive.”
Ivy had no doubt Athan would be furious that she’d left togo meet Leah again. But considering she’d brought his grandmother, yeah, shemight as well go on the run like Leah.
Nia reached out and patted her hand. “Stop worrying so much.We’re doing something good, right?”
Ivy scratched her chin as the silence surrounded them. It wasstarting to get dark, and they would need to move inside soon. “Aren’t you alittle bit worried about your husband? The one thing they asked us to do wasstay safe.”
Nia laughed. “I’ve been mated for three millennia. Safety isan illusion, but it’s nice that you still have it.” She opened the door andjumped out of the vehicle. “Come on, let’s go see Leah.”
Thunder rolled high above, and a light rain pattered as theyran across the parking lot and around the corner toward door number twelve.
Ivy knocked quickly, and Leah opened it. Her eyes widenedwhen she saw Nia. “Grams,” she said, pulling her in for a hug. “It’s so good tosee you.” She looked out at the darkness and tugged both women into the motelroom. “What in the world are you doing here?”
Ivy blinked, surprised. She had expected anything but joyfrom her old friend.
Nia laughed and hugged her again. “Oh, I was finally meetingIvy, and she received your text, so I thought I’d come help.”
“That’s fantastic,” Leah said, grinning. “I missed you so much.”
Nia nodded. “I know. I miss you, too, but there’s noquestion they’ve been watching me just in case I caught up with you.” Shehip-checked Leah. “When are you going to stop running that boy in circles?”
Leah frowned. “I’m not running him in circles. I just…itdidn’t work, Nia.Wedidn’t work.”
Nia rolled her stunning eyes. “Oh, please. You’re just beingstubborn, and so is he. But he will catch you at some point. You know that,right?”
Leah grinned, and a dimple winked in her left cheek. “Maybe,maybe not. I’ve gotten pretty good at this thing.”
