Page 195 of Burning Ember

The three of us study the rundown brick building, and for the second time, I question if the old woman was yet again lying through her teeth.

She said that the day after stealing my bag, Ivy tracked her down and demanded it back at knifepoint. I couldn’t help but fight a smile. When Taz threatened to pull out his own knife if she didn’t tell us more about her, she gave me this address, and said she’s followed Ivy here once.

“What was it?” I ask, my eyes studying a few of the broken windows.

Mav, who’s standing next to me with his arm around my waist, shrugs and replies, “Don’t know.”

“Rhines Boxin’ Gym,” Taz mutters as he makes his way past us and heads toward the door. “Shut down a year ago when the owner was robbed and killed. Fuckin’ tragedy. The guy was the best boxin’ coach in the state.” He yanks on the door, but it doesn’t give. After reaching into his pocket and pulling something out, he kneels and works at the lock.

“Are you breaking in?”

“No, Doll. I’m admiring this lock because I want one like it for my very own.”

“How many times have I told you not to call her that?” Mav growls.

“Well what the fuck am I supposed to call her? She hates Pumpkin, and Little Stray gets me a fat lip. If you didn’t want us callin’ her Doll, then maybe you shouldn’t have put it on her property patch.”

I slap Mav’s chest and mildly scold him with the look I throw his way. “Doll’s fine.”

“No it the fuck isn’t.”

“It’s either that, or the whole club is going to call me Ginger Snack or Cherry Girl, both you also hate.” When Mav continues to brood about it, I sigh, “Mav.”

“Baby, I don’t want other people callin’ you what I call you when—”

“I guess I could call her baby instead.” Taz stops for a second and turns his head around to smirk at Mav.

When Mav’s arm drops from me and he takes a step toward Taz, I wrap my arm around him and haul him back. As Taz resumes his work on the lock, Mav glares daggers into the back of his head, and after a minute, he mumbles, “Doll’s fine.”

Taz stands and pulls the door open. “See, I knew you’d see it my way.” He enters the building, and Mav and I follow. We then stand side by side as we take in the dilapidated building.

There’s enough light streaming in through the dirty windows that you can see most of the interior of the space. It’s long and quite wide with a V ceiling that has all the scaffolding showing. The walls are brick and were once painted white, but the paint’s chipping and peeling away now. Boxing equipment, most of it in pretty bad shape, is hanging up or littering the floor. The floor itself is wood and is covered in a layer of dust and dirt. The only things in decent condition are the two boxing rings on the far side of the room, which look a lot like the ring the club has set up in the garage.

“What do you want?” A sharp youthful voice rings out, and three things happen. Mav moves his body directly in front of mine and Taz’s hand dips into his vest. Then Taz spots her and points to the form standing in a darkened doorway, halfway on the right side of the gym.

“Ivy?” I ask.

My question is greeted by silence. “It’s Em—it’s Red. Do you remember me? From the shelter?” I step out from behind Mav, though he tries to stop me, and when I’m finally successful, I see his hand is also inside his cut. I inwardly groan as I think about what she’s seeing. Two big, tattooed bikers ready to shoot her.

Yeah, there is no way she’s going to come any closer with these two right here.

“Mav. Can you and Taz wait for me outside? I want to talk to her alone for a minute.”

“No.”

Rolling my eyes, I grate out, “Luce. Do I need to remind you why we’re here? Why I’m here with you? It’s because of her help, so stop freaking out for a second and think about it. She wouldn’t hurt me and you two don’t look very friendly. If I have any chance of getting her to accept my help, you need to let me talk to her alone.”

“Yeah, but we don’t know if she’s here alone.”

We stare down each other for a minute before he bends over and pulls a smaller gun from inside his boot. He places it in my hands. I know how to use it now thanks to him and Griz, but I still don’t like carrying one around. Lily carries hers in her purse, but with Will, I don’t dare.

“I’ll be right by the door. You see anyone else, you call for me. You feel like somethin’s wrong, you get the hell out of here.”

“I will. Now go.” I tuck the gun away and then push him toward the door. “I’ll be fine.”

“She’s four months pregnant with your kid . . . you really gonna leave her in here alone?”

“Taz,” I hiss. “Not helping.”