Page 75 of Trust My Bodyguard

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 becausethe 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.

---