Surviving Ice

I nod to Ivy. “We should go.”

“You missed me that much?”

“Something like that.”

She throws the tube into her purse and stalks toward me, pausing as her dark gaze touches my mouth. “What happened to your lip?”

“Walked into a wall.”

Her eyes narrow, and I know she’s thinking of calling me on that bullshit. But all she says is, “That takes talent.”

I ignore her sarcastic tone and rope an arm around her back, guiding her out of the restroom and toward the cash registers at the front, my eyes sca

While she’s checking out, I pull out the wallet I lifted, flipping it open to the picture ID.

Mario Scalero .

I warned Bentley to keep them away, but in a way I’m glad they didn’t listen. At least now I know that Scalero is a threat to Ivy, and I don’t think finding that video is going to change that. Another reason for me to stick close to her.

Ivy tosses a second duffel bag on the front porch, waving a hand dismissively. “I can’t deal with this mess for another second today. Are you almost done?”

I shut the door and test the key. The bolt fastens smoothly.

“Well, look at you.”

I hand her the key. She smiles sheepishly. “Thanks for the help.”

“You’re welcome.”

“So . . .” She hesitates over her words. “Dakota’s making di

She’s chewing on her lip. She wants me to come, but I think she’s afraid I’m going to turn her down, and I don’t think her ego can handle being turned down right now. Under that tough exterior, I’m begi

I scoop up her bags and march down the stairs without giving her an answer, sca

“Thanks. I’d love to come.”

She presses her lips together to keep me from seeing how much that pleases her. “Just to warn you, though, she’s a little bit out there.”

“I noticed.” The woman is stu

“So you noticed that, too,” she murmurs with a wry smile. “I think she’s always been a bit ‘spiritual.’ ” She uses her fingers to air-quote that word. “Even before she started smoking. Speaking of weed, how are you with seaweed?”

I chuckle. “I’m not sure how to answer that.”

“She likes to experiment with strange ingredients. Last time I had di

Other stuff? This is all I saw her bring from the house. “What stuff?”

“Just that shitty old computer from the shop.” She opens the door to her backseat and backs up so I can toss her duffel bags in. “I packed it up last night after you left. That and my kit . . . I bring it home with me every night, anyway, but thank God I left it in the car, or those assholes would have torn it apart. Oh my God.” She shakes her head. “I would have gone homicidal if they had fucked up my kit. That’s the only thing I own that I actually really care about.”

Her words drift as their meaning begins to sink in.

Her kit.

She brings her kit everywhere with her.

But . . . I frown. No. I saw the inside of it yesterday. There wasn’t any videotape in there. I would have noticed that.

“Hey.”

I look down to find her already sitting in the driver’s seat, seat belt on, engine cranked, staring at me. “Are you going to follow me?”

TWENTY-THREE

IVY

This was a terrible idea.

The cramped quarters, the quinoa and seaweed wraps; Jono, the homeless man Dakota invited over for di

All of it.

“This was a great idea! I’m so glad you’re all here with me tonight.” Dakota reaches out to squeeze my biceps with her left hand and Jono’s hand with her right, gri

“Sebastian, please, help yourself to more if you’re hungry. I’m sure your appetite is impressive.” Dakota throws a wink my way and I roll my eyes in return. She’s not the most subtle with her sexual i

He nods his thanks between mouthfuls of the hamburger I threw on the grill for us the second I saw what was on the menu tonight, seemingly protective of the left side of his mouth, where it’s slightly swollen. The fact that he stormed into the women’s restroom with a bloody lip, giving me that lame-ass excuse about ru

I’ll ask again later, maybe.

If I have a chance. He hasn’t said much of anything since we stepped inside the house, and I’m wondering if he regrets accepting this invitation. I wish I could read minds right now. Or at least his steely expression.

Jono doesn’t need encouragement, though, reaching over to take another helping.

“So, when did you two meet?” I ask casually.

“Just today,” he says, not bothering to wait until he’s done chewing to speak. “I was getting breakfast at the shelter when this vision strolled through with those squares.” He smiles at her. It doesn’t take a genius to see that he’s already madly lusting over her, as most guys do.

“Really. Just today.” I glare at her. This isn’t the first time I’ve sat at a di

As soon as I have a chance, I’m going to take Dakota by the arms and shake some sense into her. How much can she possibly know about this guy in ten hours? He could be a serial killer, and she invited him into her house! Is she pla

Suddenly I’m happy that Sebastian’s here. With a gun.

Sebastian must be thinking the same things that I am. “Have you lived in San Francisco all your life, Jono?”

He nods. “Born and bred. In the Bay City area, anyway. My parents still live out in Diablo. I visit them sometimes.”