Page 20 of Tempest

“Ivy’s mama called Rory to let her know that she was going to be out for a couple of days. She’s fine. The bullet only grazed her arm. She’s at home, and resting comfortably. Bea told Rory that Ivy is fit to be tied, though. The fact that someone got a piece of her is making her madder than a rattlesnake. That’s a quote, by the way.”

Striding away, Ryan moved into the bedroom and started throwing things into a duffel. “I hope like hell I can get out tonight.”

Grady followed him and leaned against the doorframe. “Your flight information was emailed to your phone. Rory made you a reservation as soon as she got off the phone with Bea.”

“Why would Rory send me? How did she know about Ivy and me?”

“The question isn’t what Rory knows, but what she doesn’t know. The second is a much shorter list. Your flight takes off in three hours. So get your stuff together and I’ll take you to the airport.”

“I wonder if this has anything to do with her daddy’s passing.”

“According to Rory, he was a wildcatter, so he could’ve left behind a ton of money or rights to a well. Texas is one the few places that men can still chase their fortune looking for oil. Maybe Ivy’s dad had some luck and struck gold.”

“God damn, what a shit show.”

“We don’t have a lot of resources in Texas, so call if you find something that you don’t like.”

“I have a couple of buddies who live in Texas. Mac is a Team guy and has an outfit that trains dogs for different law enforcement agencies as well for the private sector. I have another buddy, Rick, and he runs his family’s ranch. If I need anything, I’ll give them a call.”

“That works,” Grady responded.

“Does Ivy know I’m coming?”

“I don’t think so.”

Ryan studied his friend and wondered why he’d left it at that. “I knew there had to be a reason that she wasn’t responding to any of my texts. Apparently, shit got real when she went home. Why wouldn’t she call me?”

“Ivy doesn’t seem like the type of woman to ask for help. So it’s not real surprising. Don’t go in with guns blazing. She’ll kick your ass out before you clear the front door. I learned that with Sara. Asking is important. Also listening, apparently.”

“Got it. Ask and then do whatever the hell I was planning in the first place to secure her safety.”

“No, ask what she needs and listen. Take that into account and then…do whatever the hell you were planning in the first place.”

“Roger that.”

He grabbed his Sig hand gun, slipped it into the case, and shoved it into his bag. If he needed more fire power when he arrived, he could call Mac or Rick and they could supply it. Why in the hell someone would take a shot at Ivy was a mystery. One that he was going to figure out.

“Let’s get you to the airport,” Grady said, as Ryan lifted his bag over his shoulder.

“Thanks, man. Are you guys going to be okay with me being out of the office for a couple of weeks?”

They climbed into the truck and Grady shook his head. “This is what we do. Protect those who need us. Ivy is one of ours, and if it wasn’t you, then we would send someone else.”

“I’m the best one to protect Ivy.”

“Trust me, no one thinks differently,” Grady replied as he drove up the street.

Ryan stared out the window and thought about his last conversation with Ivy. Did she have time to grieve before someone started threatening her? Did she even know how to grieve for someone who was never a big part of her life? He never figured how to do it when his mom died, and sometimes he wondered if that door was ever going to find a way closed. He understood what Ivy was going through, and maybe together they could figure how to out to lay to rest the ghosts of the people who had left them. But first he was going to take care of the son of a bitch who thought he could raise a gun in the direction of his woman. The fact that he was thinking of her as his after one date didn’t bother him a bit.

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