Ivy took a long time answering. “Have you talked this over with Kelan?”
Fiona fought tears. She didn’t want to go, even in these small steps. She just couldn’t see any alternative. “Some. I kind of want to have things organized before I tell him more. And I was also wondering if you would rent one of your apartments to me. That way, I can get my feet under me before deciding what’s next.”
Ivy gestured toward the side chair next to her desk. “Fee, do you love Kelan?”
Fiona blinked her tears away and swallowed hard. “Yes.”
“You know I told you about my crisis a little while back? I learned something going through that, something unexpected. Our guys love us in a deep and abiding way. We aren’t just adornments to them; we’re essential to their lives. I can’t, in good conscience, agree to something that would hurt Kelan and negatively impact the team. I’ve been there. I did that. I know what that cost is.”
The tears did fall then. “King will never stop, Ivy. I’m a danger to them if I stay.”
Ivy teared up, too. She took a set of keys out of her desk drawer. “Ace has the apartment on the second floor. Go take a look at the one on the top floor. I’m not saying I agree to this. I need to hear that this is okay with Kelan—not because he’s the boss of you, but because you’re a couple now. You need to do things as a couple. Really, really, think this through, Fee.”
Fiona took the keys and stared at them in her hand. Every instinct she had screamed it was a bad decision. She looked at Ivy. “I will. Thank you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Fiona walked up the two flights of stairs. There was only one apartment on each of the floors above Ivy’s diner. She unlocked the door. A wave of stale air swirled around her. The windows were closed, trapping in the heat of the September day. Flies buzzed at the front window. There wasn’t any furniture, but there wasn’t any debris from the last occupant, either. It had the standard complement of rooms: living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and two bedrooms. It was a big space for just one person.
Fiona heard the stairs creak. She’d left the front door open. Someone knocked on her door then popped a head inside.
Ace.
Her purple hair was shaggy. She wore big hoop earrings with half a dozen littler rings in the cartilage farther up her ears. Her makeup was perfect, like she had a crew of makeup artists at her full disposal.
“Hi,” Ace said. “I heard someone up here and was curious.”
Fiona smiled. “I was thinking of renting this place.”
“I thought you lived up at the big house with Ivy.”
“I do.”
Ace folded her arms and stepped deeper into the apartment. Her perfectly sculpted brows lifted. “That’s kind of an odd arrangement.”
“I guess so. It’s like a sorority house on campus…except it’s different.”
“What are they doing up there? The guys?”
Fiona looked at Ace, measuring her interest in the team. “I don’t know. It started out as a team retreat. I guess they liked the area and decided to stay longer.”
“But what do they do? I’ve heard the gossip, and I’ve seen the pictures of them and their guns the time the deputy pulled them over.”
Fiona shook her head, feeling uncomfortable with the direction of Ace’s questions. “I don’t really know. I’ve been preoccupied with school.”
Ace nodded toward the bruise on her face. “Do they keep you there against your will?”
Fiona touched her bruise. “No. Not really. It’s complicated.” She looked out the window to the town’s main street, avoiding Ace’s intense and pale green eyes. “You ever wanted to just disappear, Ace?”
“Yes.”
“How would you do it?”
“Why do you want to disappear?”
Fiona felt ill. “I’ve recently learned I’m the daughter of a crime lord. He wants me under his control. I’m a danger to anyone I’m around.”
Ace seemed preternaturally still. “Who’s your father?”
“A bastard named King.”
“Shit.” Ace tore her eyes from Fiona and glared at the wall.
“Do you know him?”
“I can help you disappear.”
“Do you know King?”
“He sounds like a power-mongering sonofabitch. I know his type.”
“He’s everywhere. He knows everything. I don’t know how I could slide under his radar.”
“I do.”
Fiona met her eyes, held them in silence for a long moment. “Will you help me?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know about disappearing?”
“I’ve had some experience doing it. Do the guys know you’re King’s kid?”
Fiona nodded. “In fact, they helped me get away from him recently.” She pointed to her chin. “Hence the bruise.”
“It isn’t easy disappearing. Everyone you meet or talk to or accept help from becomes a target of those after you. If you’re in a controlled situation now, might be best to hang tight there a while.”
“What were you running from when you disappeared?”
“Some bad people.”
“Are you safe now?”
“For a little while.”
“You should come to the house and talk to the guys. They would help you.”
“That’s what Val said.”
“Maybe you should listen to him.” Fiona couldn’t help but grin at the irony that she was giving this tough girl survival advice.
Ace returned her smile as she followed Fee to the door. “Maybe I will. I tell you what. I’ll come talk to the guys about my issue, if you’ll rethink leaving the big house. For a while, anyway.”
Fiona busied herself locking the door. Before she could answer, Ivy called up to them. “Fee! Come down here. I have something to show you.”
Fiona looked at Ace, then both of them hurried down the stairs. Ivy met them at the main level. Her face was tense, her eyes bright. Fiona frowned. “What is it?”
Ivy turned and walked into the back door of her diner. The girls followed her. She stopped at her office and pointed to a box sitting on her desk. It was a shiny red decorative gift box about six square inches.