Page 10 of Tye (Rage MC: The Prospects #8)

Demi

T he rest of the sleigh ride was magical and wondrous. Despite the beauty surrounding me and Ice’s arm wrapped around me, and my being tucked under his chin, something was wrong deep inside. And it was me sabotaging myself. Ice hadn’t told me anything about his childhood, but from what he’d yelled at me at our first meeting, I knew it was bad. I didn’t want to be the next thing the media would chase him over.

Too many people knew for it to remain a secret. Back at home, I’d be able to hide on the ranch and nobody could intrude on our land without us knowing. But here? Security was tight, I knew that. Hell, I was still being followed by the shadow Drake had sicced on me. Even on our dates, he wasn’t far away. Guards also remained on Pops and my uncles. For now, if the shit hit the fan, I would be protected.

But that depended on Drake and Phoe’s generosity. If they decided to throw us to the wolves, I couldn’t stop them. That would mean every stinking reporter would dig into my background and discover the truth. And if Ice and I were in a relationship, it would be a further scandal attached to him.

Hell, even if we weren’t together, I could only imagine the speculation his name alone would garner. That’s what was holding me back. An absolute fear of Ice coming to the realisation I wasn’t worth the time, trouble, or effort. Ice had an image to uphold.

He was a Michaelson, his mother was famous, he had famous siblings; he was well known and respected in his career. Add to that, he ran a charity with his brothers and sisters and was seen as a role model. Being linked to a child of rape and an inbred one would tarnish his halo. It was selfish of me to potentially put him through that.

“Shouldn’t that be my choice?” Ice asked, jolting me.

“Huh?”

“All those thoughts. I decide if I want to be with you,” Ice replied, and I frowned. “Demi, you were muttering to yourself. It’s a rather endearing quality, but the thought process was disturbing.”

“I said all that aloud?” I gasped.

Damnit. I was mortified. Ever since I was young, I worked through problems vocally; it had amused my family to no end. I’d outgrown it as I got older, but when I was working with a problem horse, I regressed.

“Muttered it. I listened carefully. That’s a cute trait, but honey, your worries are moot.”

“What?” I asked with a chuckle.

“One of Mom’s English words. Sorry, it means—”

“I know what it means, Ice. It’s just strange hearing it from your lips,” I teased, trying to distract him.

It didn’t work.

“Your concerns, babe. Let them go. I’ve survived worse than gossip.”

“Don’t you have endorsements?” I asked.

“Yup, and I do not care if they cancel. I have my wages, and I rarely spend anything. I live simply. There’s also a trust fund from Mom. Demi, I play hockey because I enjoy it, not because of the money or sponsorships. Nobody dictates how I live my life.”

“But being linked to me… if the truth comes out…”

“I don’t give a flying fuck. I want you. Anyone with a problem can take a hike.”

The sleigh lurched, and Ice grabbed me as I realised we were back at the Hall. Christian looked over his shoulder at us as we pulled into the stable.

“I’ll put the sleigh away and brush the horses down. You two get lost before everyone descends on you,” he ordered.

“Thanks, bro,” Ice replied as he helped me down.

I snagged my scarf, and a grin crossed Ice’s lips.

“Do you have some washing to do?” he whispered in my ear.

“Yes,” I answered, refusing to blush.

Ice chuckled.

“Let’s go get it and stick it on. Anyone over the age of ten is expected to wash their own clothes. Mom has a laundry room, luckily, or we’d all be fighting. Come on,” he said and pulled me into the kitchen.

Mrs Ames and Erin looked up as we walked past.

“Are you having dinner tonight, Tye?” Mrs Ames asked.

“Please. But I will collect it if that’s okay,” Ice replied.

“I’ll put aside two trays for you,” Mrs Ames offered as Ice dragged me.

“Thanks, Mrs Ames,” Ice called over his shoulder as he pushed his head through the door. Once he was assured his siblings weren’t waiting for him, he yanked me through, his mind clearly on a mission.

◆◆◆

Once I’d shoved the evidence of our raunchiness in the washing machine, Ice tugged my hand and led me to a tower. As we walked up the stairs, he told me it was his mother’s private tower, which made me baulk, but Ice said he had permission. Right at the top was a Chinese-decorated room.

I was bemused when Ice introduced me to the Chinese Tea Ceremony. It was just another chance for him to charm me, and it succeeded. Ice was pulling out all stops to win me over, and he wasn’t failing.

“I need to get out of here,” Ice said to me, startling me.

“That sounds like an escape plan,” I replied.

“I’ve been cooped up here for nearly two weeks. Mom wouldn’t let me move at first, she had Dad threaten to tie me down. But as much as I love the Hall, I need a change of scenery. How are you driving in snow?”

“Pretty confident. Do you have snow chains for the tyres?”

“Yeah, Dad and Fanatic fitted all our cars with them when we heard the forecast,” Ice answered.

“Where do you want to go?”

“I really don’t care. None of us like being cooped up.” “Rapid City? The clubhouse? Pizza?” I asked.

“Pizza and a drink would be nice,” Ice mused.

“Done. Come on, let’s move. You better tell Mrs Ames we won’t want dinner,” I said.

“Girl. Behave. By the time we get into town, it will be one p.m. I’ll be starving by the time we arrive home,” Ice replied, looking offended.

“You had all those pastries and snacks on the sleigh ride!”

“I’m a growing boy,” Ice teased, and I laughed.

“I can’t imagine paying your food bills. Phoe must spend a fortune each week.” “Mom does. Luckily, we have most delivered. Mom and Mrs Ames used to go, but they had enough. Now, they only shop for meat and fresh produce. Everything else they order.”

“Like Grandma. She does much the same.”

“Come on, let’s escape!” Ice demanded and pulled me off the sofa.

◆◆◆

As we were sneaking out to the garage, I was aware of my shadow.

“What should we do about my guard?” I asked.

“He can follow. He’s not coming with us,” Ice sniped.

“That’s a bit mean.”

“Demi, we’re going on a date. It’s bad enough we’ve got security on us. I’m not having the fucker sit in the back of the car.”

“Why don’t we ask him to drive?”

Ice thought that over and then turned to my shadow, who was stood off to one side, but his eyes focused on us.

“I’ll drive, Mr Michaelson,” the guard announced and held out his hands for the keys.

“Thanks, Jerry,” Ice replied and handed them over.

To my surprise, a second man appeared.

“Jerry will drive, but I’m accompanying him as he’ll concentrate on driving,” he said.

“Life sucks, Josh, you’re fucking with my plans,” Ice snapped.

“You’ll get over it,” Josh retorted, and I laughed at the bland expression he offered, the opposite of Ice’s irate look.

“Ice, it’s fine. They’re doing their job,” I mumbled.

“Yeah, but I don’t have to like it.”

“No, you do not, but you can argue that in the car. Climb in,” I replied, shoving him.

Ice climbed in the back, and I joined him. I was a little relieved that someone else was driving. I was completely confident that I could drive in the snow, but accidents still happened. If I had one while Ice was injured, I could make him worse. My gut told me that the guards were fully capable of driving in this weather.

We hit the pizza place, laughing and joking, and Ice was in a great mood. The change of scenery cheered him up. Not that he’d been miserable, but there was a weight lifted off his shoulders.

We were sharing a large bowl of ice-cream when someone stopped at our table. A glowering man in a suit stared at me before offering Ice a hand.

“Dylan,” Ice said.

“Ice.”

“How’s things?” Ice asked, and if I wasn’t wrong, he seemed uncomfortable.

“No different. McKenna remains the same,” he answered, and I swallowed the mouthful I had.

Shit, this was Dylan Hawthorne. The owner of Hawthorne’s Investigations and a friend of McKenna. I knew who McKenna was; Uncle Deke had explained everything to us when he returned from Rapid City. I wanted to look away and hide, but I wouldn’t.

What happened to that poor woman wasn’t my fault, and I would not let anyone place the blame on me for something I’d not done. Dylan’s burning gaze held me hostage, but I wouldn’t flinch.

“You told Drake you’re out with the enemy?” Dylan sneered, his handsome face twisting.

“Demi isn’t the bad guy,” Ice snapped.

“Says who? She shares blood with Fury.”

“Not by her choice. I respect you but won’t allow you to insult Demi,” Ice replied.

I was growing tense, which worsened when a second man joined Dylan. His eyes were bloodshot, and there were bags under them. This fellow seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“You won’t allow?” the second man interjected.

“No, Davies, I won’t. Demi’s as much as a victim as McKenna,” Ice stated.

My head began to pound as the tension grew.

“I didn’t see Demi in that room,” the other fella hissed, leaning down and getting in our faces.

Ice stiffened.

“Where were you when my sixteen-year-old grandma was kidnapped and raped? Where were you when she had six kids forced on her? What about when my twelve-year-old mother was raped? Your friend is fortunate that she suffered an hour of rape. Try years of that shit or being made to carry your rapist’s babies. Imagine looking in their faces daily and knowing they’re only there because of rape. Or knowing that your twelve-year-old daughter was violated by her fucking father? You can point the finger at me, but fuck you both,” I flared.

“Davies, get out of Demi’s face now. Before you start something there’s no coming back from,” Ice warned as he slid out from the booth we were in.

His movement forced the man called Davies away, and Ice stepped in front of me.

“Demi’s a victim like McKenna. Her entire family is, and what Demi said is correct. McKenna’s gone through shit. Ain’t ever gonna deny that, and my heart bleeds for her, and I wish I could go back and save her. But blaming Demi and her family isn’t fair, Hawthorne. Blame those that attacked McKenna,” Ice said in a low voice and leant forward. “Those assholes are in jail, and you can’t get to them. That is making you frustrated. But I’m not going to sit here and let you malign another victim of Fury. That’s how a split between allies starts.”

“You fucking her? That why you’re coming to her defence?” Davies snarled, and I blanched.

Ice went rigid.

“Watch your mouth. You may be hurting over McKenna, but you don’t get to say shit to me. I’m not a kid anymore, Davies. Demi is not Fury. And nobody will let you punish an innocent because you can’t find that asshole,” Ice hissed.

“The definition of innocent differs between us,” Dylan interjected.

“Demi didn’t attack the warehouse or McKenna. That means she’s innocent. Ain’t no question there. Wasn’t Demi who hurt McKenna,” Ice insisted.

“Yeah, but did she know about it?” Davies pushed.

I’d had it. I yanked out my wallet, shoved three twenties on the table, and slid past Ice.

“Everything Drake put into place, I’ve agreed with. Being followed by a guard not having a phone or internet access unless someone checks what I’m doing. I’ve had my luggage searched and, near enough, a full cavity search.

“This, Ice, is the point I was trying to make earlier. No matter how I was birthed, I am tarred with his blood. Nobody sees past that. I’m his daughter, not my own person. This suspicion is what my family is fuckin’ afraid of, and these are your friends, the supposed good guys. Look at them. This is what being with me means. Judgement, isolation, alienation, and everything other negative connotation that comes with being linked to Fury. Do you get it now?” I demanded.

Without waiting for an answer, I shove past the three of them and head out the door. I was done with this shit. Uncle Deke went to Rage because he thought it was our best chance. I’d disagreed then and was being proved right.

My plan had been to leave the country and set up in Europe somewhere. Nowhere was safe for us in the good old states. Fury’s legacy would chase us from pillar to post. Ice didn’t deserve the shit that came from being Fury’s kin. He’d soon move on and realise he had a lucky escape.

I headed towards the SUV at a pace, aware that my shadow was on me once again. I had to get to Reading Hall and get my family out of there. Life was shit, and it just kept getting worse. Why Fury wouldn’t lay down and fucking die, I didn’t know. But he needed to. I hoped the allies ripped him apart when they found him, but my family would not know. It was time to head underground and hide out and stay there. New name, country, and home. Simple.

I was a few car lengths away from the SUV when suddenly I was lifted off my feet and blown backwards. With a sharp pain, I smacked into a wall and slid to the ground.

Shocked, I stared at where the SUV used to be but was now a mass of burning and twisted metal.

Bells rang in my ears as I could not tear my gaze from the fireball engulfing the car I’d rode in. My head was swimming, and my neck felt stiff. A figure appeared in front of me, their mouth moving, but I couldn’t hear their words. I recognised I was in shock but didn’t know what to do.

“Demi!” Ice shouted. He was moved aside by Josh, who began running his hands down me. I watched as Josh shouted orders over his shoulder, and I was picked up.

I saw Ice beside me, and Jerry was holding the car door of another SUV open. Without understanding what was happening, I was shoved inside, and Ice climbed in next to me. Josh jumped in the front seat, and we sped off.

“What on earth happened?” I asked as the ringing in my ears faded but became a shrill pain.

“The fuckin’ car blew up,” Ice replied.

“How?” I demanded.

“Good question. The police are on their way to investigate, and someone will talk to you at the Hall,” Dylan Hawthorne announced from the driver’s seat.

“Why is he here?” I asked Ice, glancing suspiciously at Dylan.

“Because he was our quickest escape,” Ice responded.

“I don’t trust him,” I stated, knowing Dylan could hear me. I was way past caring.

Dylan’s jaw clenched, and I felt a sharp pang of ‘gotya’. Clearly, Dylan Hawthorne thought himself entirely trustworthy, and I’d thrown shade on that.

“Babe, Hawthorne’s good,” Ice replied, and I held his eyes before pulling away from him. Hurt crossed Ice’s face, and he reached for me.

“No. You just said that man is good. He isn’t. That is an asshole. He interrupted our dinner to insult me because of who I am. How the fuck did I force Fury to rape my mother and give birth to me? That didn’t matter to that motherfucker. And you are sitting here telling me he’s a great guy. Not a chance in hell,” I rambled, ignoring the pain in my head.

“Sweetheart,” Ice murmured and reached for me.

“No, Ice. No. I’ve just nearly been blown up. I want my uncles and Pops,” I rejected him, shoving into the corner of the SUV.

“Demi, Hawthorne was out of line in the restaurant. But he’s protecting us right now,” Ice argued, and I snorted.

“How the hell do I know he didn’t plant the bomb? What about your asshole mate who thinks that he’ll get a strike in at Fury by killing me? The jokes on him; Fury doesn’t even know I am alive! Maybe your friend here told him about me,” I snap in defence.

I was hurt that Ice seemed to still trust Dylan after what happened in the restaurant. Yeah, Ice took my side, but he still respected and trusted that man. I did not. He’d accused and said vile things to me. If Ice wanted to be friends with someone like that, I didn’t want to be with him. It would only be a matter of time before Ice turned on me, too. Maybe Hawthorne’s words were already working on him.

“Demi, nobody would have told Fury about you,” Ice stated, horrified.

“I don’t know that, and I do not trust any of you. You asked me to come out for pizza; how do I know that you’ve not planned this with them?” I demanded.

Distaste crossed Ice’s face. “You can’t mean that?”

“Uncle Deke made a mistake. We should have taken care of ourselves and not trusted Rage. That’s one we can rectify,” I muttered and turned away.

Ice

Shit! Demi was beyond reasoning, and I wasn’t going to make things worse for her. Dylan caught my eyes in his mirror, and he made a grimace. I don’t know if he felt sorry for what he said, but he was remaining silent right now. Demi was obviously upset and in shock at the SUV blowing up. I’d not even had time to consider who was behind it. My focus had been on getting her safe. I’d give Hawthorne his due; he’d moved into action before anyone could blink.

A chill ran down my spine when I realised we could have been inside it when it blew. Or she could have got in, and I would have lost her. I’d give her some space right now, but whatever shit was going through her mind, she could forget. I had claimed her, and I was keeping her. If I had to lock her up and fuck her stupid till she agreed to be mine, I’d do so. Demi didn’t have a chance in hell of escaping me.

My phone pinged, and I saw a message from Dad. Nando Hawthorne was going to meet us at the Hall while Ramirez and Ben were at the scene. That was not the usual style of investigating. Usually, one detective or pair of detectives handled the case. Blast, I recognised what Dad wasn’t saying. Because this was about Fury’s family, it was all hands on the deck.

It was unclear whether they thought Demi was behind the bombing or the target. I reached out to Demi, but she withdrew from me again. Grinding my teeth, I allowed that but wouldn’t going forward. Demi was hurt; it was obvious she’d banged her head, and I thought she might have a concussion.

If I started an argument with Demi, it would make me the biggest asshole around. As much as I hated it, I’d let her have her space and lick her wounds. But she would have to get on board pretty soon.

Demi Moore was mine. I did not give a fuck who said what. Demi was a good person, and I loved her. I didn’t flinch at the thought; it was fuckin’ obvious Demi had consumed me, and I had fallen for her. Without Demi, I didn’t have a life. I’d give up everything for her.

My body craved her, and only she could sate my needs and soothe me. Let Demi lick her wounds; I’d be her calm in a stormy ocean. Demi just needed to realise that.