Page 39 of Ivy and the Deathstalkers

“That's my area, no worries, beautiful. You won't go hungry here.” Cree beams with pride at the thought of being able to cook for our mate. He doesn't have a lot of opportunities to do more than grill for the club when we have meetings here.

Her jaw drops, and she turns to face him. “You cook?” she asks.

“I like to dabble in it.” He shrugs.

Jax snorts, “Dabble my ass. The fucker’s too modest. He could be a Michelin chef if he wanted. Instead, he chose to hang out with us dumb sons of bitches.”

We all laugh but Ivy's eyes twinkle. “So, if I were to say, I want an extra cheesy, extra meaty lasagna, that wouldn't be a problem? I'm fucking starved.”

Oh hell, Cree makes a mean lasagna. If the way to Ivy's heart is through her stomach, I may need to learn to cook.

He tells her, “It's been a long twenty-four hours. How about I just whip us up something quick and easy and we have lasagna tonight? Add in a salad, fresh garlic bread and what would you like for dessert?”

Her mouth drops open. “Surprise me.” She gives him a megawatt smile.

“You got it. I'll whip us up some food while you guys show her the rest of the house,” he says as he makes his way to the kitchen.

While she's looking around DJ calls us all together for a second. Ever the organizer, he realizes one thing… “Guys, we don't have a spare bedroom. We converted all the extra rooms into offices. Where is she going to sleep?”

Ivy sneaks up behind DJ while my brothers argue over where she's going sleep, and clears her throat. I bite my lips together to smother my laugh as my brothers jump.

“Well if you’d ask me where I’d like to sleep… Beck is the only one of you not fighting over me like I’m some toy. So… I'm sleeping with him. At least tonight.”

I’m shocked, but also absolutely thrilled that she's picked me. There's a few grumbles, but we all agree.

Turning to her, I smile. “I can show you my room and we can get Kelly settled, if you want.”

She gives me the megawatt smile she gave Cree moments ago and I lead the way down the hallway to my room. It’s actually probably the best room for her to choose. Unlike some of my brothers, I tend to be a bit of a neat freak. I'm sure we can find the perfect spot for Kelly.

“Wow. It’s…clean.”

“Ha! You should see Jax’s room if you’re expecting a mess.”

She shudders. “I think I’m good here, thanks.”

While she walks around my room, checking everything out, I take her bags to my closet. When I come back, she has Kelly’s travel cage set up on my dresser by the door, across from the bed. The snake in question is coiled around my mate’s arm as she has been since she slipped out of her cage when we got here.

“She likes to be by the door in case an intruder comes in while I’m sleeping. She’s very protective of her mommy. Aren’t you, baby?” she coos at her snake while she pets her. After a few minutes, she digs in Kelly’s bag and dangles a freeze dried mouseover my dresser. Kelly flicks her tongue at her and unwinds herself from Ivy’s arm, slithering to the dresser and snatching the mouse from her “mommy’s” hand.

With her settled, we head back out to the rest of the guys where Neo finishes the tour. The last place we take her is the center patio area that's inside the U-shaped in the back of the house. Occasionally, we have club barbecues out here or parties, at least a couple times a year.

There's a stone fire pit, roughly three feet around in the center of the area with seating all around. It has special slots and areas that we can turn it into a grill when we have parties. It always has wood ready to be lit. King walks over, pulling out a lighter and starts it. It's not a big fire. Just a small one.

I leave Ivy sitting in one of the adirondack chairs and go to the mini bar off to one side and fix us all drinks. The guys are chatting and Ivy is listening as they fill her in on everything to do with the compound.

About forty-five minutes later, Cree brings out a big bowl of stew for each of us. I can tell by the rolls they’re the store-bought kind but they work. Can’t have fresh baked bread every day, I guess. Everyone digs in and it’s silent for a while with the exception of Ivy’s moans after every bite.

Ivy looks lost in thought as she eats, I’m surprised by what she says when she finishes her last bite.

“My parents kidnapped me, didn’t they? They were assassins hired to kill my parents and instead of killing me too, they took me and raised me as their own.”

“Probably,” King agrees softly.

“I should hate them for that. But I still love them. They were good parents. I know they loved me. If it weren’t for them, I’d be dead… But if it weren’t for them, my biological parents would be alive.”

“Maybe. Not likely, though. Shiftlan would have sent other assassins after your parents. It doesn’t matter who did it. Either way, they would be dead. If it was any other assassin, you’d probably be dead with them. It’s ok to be confused and have mixed emotions. The people who raised you, who made you who you are, hid an enormous secret from you. Learning our parents’ secrets can be life-altering in the best of circumstances. That’s not this. But we’re here for you, Ivy. No matter what you need. If you just need a shoulder to cry on. If you want to kick someone’s ass. You have six mates who would do anything for you. Lean on us. That’s what we’re here for,” I tell her.

She gives me a watery smile and we’ve barely scratched the surface of this trauma iceberg. But I really hope she listens to me and lets us help her through it.

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