27. Beck

Chapter 27

Beck

W hen we pull up to the ranch, I park Kira off to the side away from where we park the bikes. I know better than to block anyone's ride. On the way to Ivy's she explained the spell her friend put on her car and bike. I'll admit it freaked me out more than a little bit when Kira took over at Stanley's, but now that I have an explanation, I'm perfectly comfortable riding with her. Apparently, the feeling is mutual because she told Ivy she doesn't want anyone but her or me driving her. I may not be Ivy's favorite, but I feel like I have a leg up on the other guys now.

Before I shut off the engine, I stroke the steering wheel. "Thank you for letting me drive today." I can't feel her like Ivy can, so I don't get a response, but I know she understands me.

I hop out and grab Ivy's bags out of the backseat. She didn't bring much, so she's clearly not planning on staying long. We're going to have our work cut out for us, convincing her to stay, permanently.

The rest of the guys and Ivy show up. I'm surprised they didn't beat me here. I wait for them to park their rides and watch the wonder on Ivy's face.

"Wow, this is nice. I was really expecting some rundown, concrete jungle or something but it's really spacious. You can see every fucking star in the sky out here! I love how close to nature you are. If you hadn't noticed, my house is pretty far from my nearest neighbors, too. Not quite as out in the sticks as your place, though."

"We are scorpions, you know. Scorpions prefer the desert not cities," Neo chuckles as she takes in the outside of the compound.

"Shut up," she chuckles as she rolls her eyes.

The house is a typical Southwest stucco with terra-cotta roof. It's one story ranch style. However, ours is U-shaped to accommodate all six of us.

Looking over at Ivy, she's got her nose scrunched up. Then she asks, "Thought you said the whole club lives here? Looks awfully small for what… Three dozen or so."

King walks up beside her, wraps his arm around her waist, and guides her up the two steps to the wraparound deck. "We have roughly three dozen cabins throughout the five hundred acres that we own. That way they each have their own space and we have ours. And before you ask, they do not enter without knocking. They know better."

That seems to satisfy her. She grins, but it doesn't reach her eyes. My guess is she's not happy to be here. Well, we'll have to see if we can change that.

DJ walks up on the other side of her and opens the door. Walking in, she looks around at everything. Not sure if she's taking it all in or assessing what she can use to kill us in our sleep if we piss her off.

"Yep, this is what I expected. It looks like a typical bachelor pad." She's pretty much right. The main room is one giant open area with lots of seating and a giant stone fireplace on the east wall.

"This is the only section of the main house that other members of the club are allowed in," DJ explains to her.

There's a gourmet kitchen towards the back with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances that Cree insisted on. I swear if he wasn't a biker, he could've been a chef.

There's a table that seats twelve between the kitchen and the dining room also. It's made out of some exotic wood that has live edged I guess they call it. Kind of rustic, but blends in well with the cabin feel.

"Wow, that's an amazing kitchen. Too bad I can't cook to save my ass," Ivy chuckles.

"That's my area, no worries, beautiful. You won't go hungry here." Cree beams with pride at the thought of being able to cook for our mate. He doesn't have a lot of opportunities to do more than grill for the club when we have meetings here.

Her jaw drops, and she turns to face him. "You cook?" she asks.

"I like to dabble in it." He shrugs.

Jax snorts, "Dabble my ass. The fucker's too modest. He could be a Michelin chef if he wanted. Instead, he chose to hang out with us dumb sons of bitches."

We all laugh but Ivy's eyes twinkle. "So, if I were to say, I want an extra cheesy, extra meaty lasagna, that wouldn't be a problem? I'm fucking starved."

Oh hell, Cree makes a mean lasagna. If the way to Ivy's heart is through her stomach, I may need to learn to cook.

He tells her, "It's been a long twenty-four hours. How about I just whip us up something quick and easy and we have lasagna tonight? Add in a salad, fresh garlic bread and what would you like for dessert?"

Her mouth drops open. "Surprise me." She gives him a megawatt smile.

"You got it. I'll whip us up some food while you guys show her the rest of the house," he says as he makes his way to the kitchen.

While she's looking around DJ calls us all together for a second. Ever the organizer, he realizes one thing… "Guys, we don't have a spare bedroom. We converted all the extra rooms into offices. Where is she going to sleep?"

Ivy sneaks up behind DJ while my brothers argue over where she's going sleep, and clears her throat. I bite my lips together to smother my laugh as my brothers jump.

"Well if you'd ask me where I'd like to sleep… Beck is the only one of you not fighting over me like I'm some toy. So… I'm sleeping with him. At least tonight."

I'm shocked, but also absolutely thrilled that she's picked me. There's a few grumbles, but we all agree.

Turning to her, I smile. "I can show you my room and we can get Kelly settled, if you want."

She gives me the megawatt smile she gave Cree moments ago and I lead the way down the hallway to my room. It's actually probably the best room for her to choose. Unlike some of my brothers, I tend to be a bit of a neat freak. I'm sure we can find the perfect spot for Kelly.

"Wow. It's… clean ."

"Ha! You should see Jax's room if you're expecting a mess."

She shudders. "I think I'm good here, thanks."

While she walks around my room, checking everything out, I take her bags to my closet. When I come back, she has Kelly's travel cage set up on my dresser by the door, across from the bed. The snake in question is coiled around my mate's arm as she has been since she slipped out of her cage when we got here.

"She likes to be by the door in case an intruder comes in while I'm sleeping. She's very protective of her mommy. Aren't you, baby?" she coos at her snake while she pets her. After a few minutes, she digs in Kelly's bag and dangles a freeze dried mouse over my dresser. Kelly flicks her tongue at her and unwinds herself from Ivy's arm, slithering to the dresser and snatching the mouse from her "mommy's" hand.

With her settled, we head back out to the rest of the guys where Neo finishes the tour. The last place we take her is the center patio area that's inside the U-shaped in the back of the house. Occasionally, we have club barbecues out here or parties, at least a couple times a year.

There's a stone fire pit, roughly three feet around in the center of the area with seating all around. It has special slots and areas that we can turn it into a grill when we have parties. It always has wood ready to be lit. King walks over, pulling out a lighter and starts it. It's not a big fire. Just a small one.

I leave Ivy sitting in one of the adirondack chairs and go to the mini bar off to one side and fix us all drinks. The guys are chatting and Ivy is listening as they fill her in on everything to do with the compound.

About forty-five minutes later, Cree brings out a big bowl of stew for each of us. I can tell by the rolls they're the store-bought kind but they work. Can't have fresh baked bread every day, I guess. Everyone digs in and it's silent for a while with the exception of Ivy's moans after every bite.

Ivy looks lost in thought as she eats, I'm surprised by what she says when she finishes her last bite.

"My parents kidnapped me, didn't they? They were assassins hired to kill my parents and instead of killing me too, they took me and raised me as their own."

"Probably," King agrees softly.

"I should hate them for that. But I still love them. They were good parents. I know they loved me. If it weren't for them, I'd be dead… But if it weren't for them, my biological parents would be alive."

"Maybe. Not likely, though. Shiftlan would have sent other assassins after your parents. It doesn't matter who did it. Either way, they would be dead. If it was any other assassin, you'd probably be dead with them. It's ok to be confused and have mixed emotions. The people who raised you, who made you who you are, hid an enormous secret from you. Learning our parents' secrets can be life-altering in the best of circumstances. That's not this. But we're here for you, Ivy. No matter what you need. If you just need a shoulder to cry on. If you want to kick someone's ass. You have six mates who would do anything for you. Lean on us. That's what we're here for," I tell her.

She gives me a watery smile and we've barely scratched the surface of this trauma iceberg. But I really hope she listens to me and lets us help her through it.

"Thanks, Beck. I think I've had enough revelations for a lifetime. I'm exhausted. I'm gonna go lay down, if that's ok."

"Of course, love. Get some rest. You'll need your strength for when we find Stanley."

She nods and stands to leave, my brothers and I follow her lead and each give her a good night kiss on the cheek as she passes us.

We all have another drink once she leaves. Once we all have drinks in hand, we discuss how to safely get all her highly venomous friends here and where would be the best place for them. Once that's worked out, we all drift off to bed ourselves for a few hours of shuteye.

I make my way into my room, trying to be quiet and not wake her. Kelly lifts her head from her perch and flicks her tongue at me. She doesn't attack. So I guess she doesn't find me as a threat. That's good. I'd kill myself before ever being a threat to my mate. Speaking of, she's curled up on her side, and fuck she's naked. It's interesting that she chose that side. I sleep on the right side of the bed and never told her but she's curled up on the left. I try not to disturb her even though all I want to do is roll her over and fuck her hard. Stripping down to my boxers, I crawl in and drift off to sleep, raging hard-on and all.