I didn’t like the idea of being away from Ivy, but I knew having her around the bar wouldn’t work either.
“The club doesn’t have a safe house, Lark.There’s navigation on that truck, why don’t we go to them?”
“That’s not my call, and a safe house doesn’t have to be owned by the club, Nickel.Have her stay with that friend of hers – he’d do anything to help her.”
I ignored his suggestion.“Do you want me at the bar earlier than normal?”
Lark hummed so low, I almost missed it.“Nah.You sound like you’re ready to go off half-cocked.That won’t help any of us, so get here at three.”
He ended the call and I saw Ivy was on the phone again with a humongous smile on her face.
She looked up at me and her smile dimmed by a degree.“Listen, Chad, you’re the one who told me I have to roll with whatever punches life throws at me.Same goes for you, so let Kristen know we aren’t meeting at the bar tonight.Maybe she can meet for lunch today, even though it’s Wednesday.”
Shit.
Every Wednesday, Mickayla insisted on having lunch with me and Killian.
Ivy had gone quiet again while she closed her eyes and shook her head.She opened her eyes and looked at me.“Well, you’re gonna have to make a table for four because I have a feeling Ryan isn’t leaving my side.”
The moment she ended her call, I crossed my arms on my chest.“What’s going on?”
“We have a lunch date with Chad and our friend Kristen.And if it helps any, we’re going to Kickback’s, so at least that’s something to look forward to in a couple hours.”
I nodded.“We’ll be a table for six because Mickayla has this standing lunch date with me and Kill.I’ll text her, so she can get us a table.”
Chapter 18
Growing on Me
Ivy
“Doyouhavemorethan one gun?”Ryan asked.
I nodded.
He tipped his head toward my bedroom.“Get them both and make sure they’re loaded.”
I failed to hide my eyeroll.“An empty gun is just a paperweight.”
He kept a stoic expression.“If you say so, but I want you to spend the night with Chad or your other friend – even better if your coworkers don’t know about them.”
I twisted my hands up in concession.“Kristen fits that bill, but she has nowhere for me to sleep because she has a one bedroom studio and her brother is currently staying on her couch.”
He closed his eyes for a beat.“Then stay with Chad.If I can, I’ll pick you up when I’m done.”
“Why can’t I stay here?”
“No gate.You own this place, right?”
I laughed.“No, I’m renting, sadly.And hypocritically, given my profession.”
His lips pressed together as he contemplated my words.“That makes it harder for someone to find you in the property databases, but I’d rather not leave you alone.”
A sleepover at Chad or Kristen’s place would be fun, but not half as fun as staying with Ryan.
He mistook my hesitant expression.“I’ll be picking you up after my shift – probably around eleven-thirty or midnight.”
“You could check in with me and—”
