Page 32 of Demon

She looks up at her mom. “I can wait for pancakes.”

Ivy smirks. “I bet you can.”

Sammy peers down at my bedside table. “What’s this?” she says, and picks up a carefully folded crane.

“An origami bird,” I answer.

She twists it around, checking it out from every angle. “Can you teach me how to make one?”

My eyes widen in surprise. “Sure, let’s go to the computer room and grab some paper.”

I get out of bed, and Ivy and Sammy move aside. As I walk past Ivy, she mutters, “Thank you.” I pause and give her a brief nod. Having someone thank me all the time is strange, but it’s starting to grow on me. I get this surge of dopamine every time I’m with Ivy. She’s different to anyone I’ve met, and I like being in her presence.

As we walk down the stairs, I can hear movement in the kitchen. I gather Ava and some women have already started to cook breakfast. I go to the computer room and get some paper and scissors from the desk and then lead Ivy and Sammy, who are following close behind me, to the dining area.

We take a seat, and I get to work cutting the two pieces of paper we need. “The paper has to be square for it to work.”

I hand Sammy one piece of paper. She enthusiastically watches me.

“Fold it in half,” I say while showing her how. “Repeat in the other direction.”

Ivy sits next to Sammy, puts her hands over her daughter’s, and shows her what I mean.

“Turn the paper over,” I say.

As I give Sammy the rest of the instructions, Ivy helps her when needed. Before long, Sammy is smiling from ear to ear with the finished origami bird in her hands. She leaps off her seat and throws her arms around my neck. I stiffen slightly at first, then ever so gently put one arm around her back. A weird sensation washes through me.

Grasping the origami bird I made, I pinch and pull the bird by the neck and tail. “You can make it flap its wings by doing this.”

She joyfully darts around the room, making the origami bird’s wings flap and making whooshing sounds.

I look up at Ivy. Her eyes are lined with tears.Have I fucked up?

She sniffles and lowers her voice. “Sammy’s father would have nothing to do with her. It means a lot that you took the time to teach her something.” Her voice cracks as she finishes the last few words.

My hands itch to touch her but remain where they are. I have no right to comfort her because if she knew what my hands are capable of, she’d think very differently about wanting her and her daughter to spend time with me. But no matter what happens or how she feels about me, I’ll keep them safe.

“It’s shit about her dad. Sammy deserves better.” I despise neglectful parents.

She sighs. “Yes, she does. Who taught you how to make the origami birds?”

“My sister.” I think back to that day. “She came home one day from school and was so excited to show someone how to make one and that someone happened to be me. After that she always had a couple of them in her room, so it reminds me of her.”

Ivy leans in closer and puts out her hand, but she frowns and stops herself. She has a natural instinct to ease people’s pain, but she can’t help me. No one can.

She lowers her eyes, then raises them before she asks, “Have you heard anything about the people after me or my ex?”

“Not yet. The organization doesn’t give a shit about anything but getting their money back. They’ll be after you, but once they find out you’re under the MC’s protection, they might change their mind.” Key wordmight. People like them are unpredictable.

Her shoulders slouch and she bites her lower lip. I watch the movement, enthralled, and wonder what she tastes like.

“Breakfast is ready,” Ava calls out. Sammy rushes out at full speed.

As we sit at the table outside, Zara, Twitch, and Rage introduce themselves, followed by Dolly and Trixie. I sit back and watch the interactions like I usually do. After breakfast I yawn. The lack of sleep is catching up with me.

“Go lie down for a while, we’ll be all right,” says Ivy, her face soft.

I know they will be. I stand and go, but there’s a weight in my chest when I leave her and Sammy and go to my room. But as soon as my face hits the pillow, I crash.

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