“Looks like I’ll get to drive your baby after all,” I say, grinning at her.
“You know, I’m only allowing that because my leg hurts like a bitch, but you mark it in any way, and you’re a dead man, Mr Rhodes.”
“I promise not to hurt her. Where are we heading, anyway?”
“It’s about thirty minutes away.” She unlocks the car, but I keep her behind me for a moment before moving closer to the vehicle. “What?”
“We don’t know who’s after you or what they may do.”
“Nobody’s going to blow up my car, Blake.”
“But kidnap and assault is fine?” I check under the chassis for any foreign objects, but there’s nothing obvious, so I run my hand under the arches of each wheel before deciding it’s clear. “All good.”
“It was driven back already. You’re paranoid.”
Well, that is a label I’m okay with for now.
I watch as she checks her bag waiting for her in the car and then gaze over her curves as she runs her hands over the shiny red paint job. How the hell Landon got the car back so fast is beyond me, but it seems in perfect condition still.
I fire up the engine and enjoy the rumble as it comes to life.
“Try not to enjoy this too much, Blake. You won’t be driving her again.” Ivy slams the door after her and buckles up.
“That’s a promise I can’t keep.”
After a quick pit-stop at my place to grab a change of clothes and overnight bag, we’re back on the road. The journey takes longer than Ivy’s anticipated half hour. While we were still in traffic, I made several turns in the opposite direction to check for tails. It infuriates Ivy, but there’s no way I’m taking any more chances. And even on the main road out towards Earlwood, I pull off and wait to look for any suspicious or similar behaviour. Not until I’m one hundred percent sure do we make the final leg of the journey.
We pull up to a long, gravelled drive, and I finally get a glimpse of the upbringing Ivy had. A grand house complete with the wisteria growing up on one side is my first impression. Stately and perhaps over the top, but I don’t have to live with it. It does make me think of Ivy’s trips all over the world, though. War zones, remote locations, danger, all a very long way away from this. What made her leave all this behind?
I recognise Landon’s car parked in front of the steps to the front door. After the conversation with him throwing his weight around about everyone hunkering down here, I assumed it would be better protected than it looks. Anyone could drive up here if they knew the address.
“Oh, and by the way, my parents still live here. So, it looks like I’ll be introducing you to them while we’re here.” She gives me a wicked grin that captures everything I love about her.
Holy shit.“Great,” I respond, as Ivy leans over to kiss me before exiting the car.
An older gentleman, in what can only be described as a butler suit, appears as Ivy makes her way up the front steps. I grab our bags and follow. “Good morning, Miss Broderick. Landon is waiting for you both in the library.”
“Thanks for the message, Geoffrey. This is Blake.” She reaches back for my hand and takes it, and I appreciate the visual confirmation of who I am to her.
Geoffrey nods his head as we enter. “Mr Blake.”
“Just Blake is fine.”
Ivy leads us through a spacious hallway towards one side of the house and then through a solid wood door which turns out to be the library. An arrangement of poufy chairs and settees sit in the centre; a piano and small bar also contribute to the decor. The shelves of books seem like decoration rather than actual reading material.
“We’re here. Now, any chance we can go to my room before we get stuck into all of this?” Ivy gestures with her hands.
“If by this, you mean what the hell is going on, then no. I want you both to walk me through every fucking detail that’s gone on since you stepped foot off the plane from Afghanistan.”
I can imagine Ivy’s eye roll at this command. I feel bone-weary, and my head is starting to throb again.
“What about Kalif? He was the one who abducted Ivy in Afghanistan. I don’t think he should be taken off the table just yet, I start, wanting to make sure Ivy doesn’t skip that little part. This isn’t the time to keep information to herself. It’s a long shot, but if he was willing to kidnap her there, it’s not a huge stretch he’d want her taken out regardless of where she is in the world.
Landon stands and paces towards the bar, a growl of annoyance resonating around the room. “Kidnapped twice in the same fucking month? Ivy, for the love of God.”
“It’s a little early for that, isn’t it?” she chastises.
“Not when I’ve got to deal with you, it’s not.”
