Trouble in Paradise
1227 Words
The next morning, Ivy woke up to shouting.
Not angry shouting.
Not fighting.
Just loud.
Very loud.
She groaned and buried her face deeper into the pillow.
A second later, another yell echoed from downstairs.
Then laughter.
Then someone yelling again.
“FOR THE LAST TIME, THAT’S NOT HOW TAXES WORK!”
Ivy blinked.
What?
Curiosity won.
She dragged herself out of bed, changed clothes, and headed downstairs.
The moment she stepped into the bar, she found chaos.
Luca was standing on a chair.
Ghost sat at a table looking completely dead inside.
Three other bikers were arguing over paperwork.
Maria stood behind the counter drinking coffee and pretending none of this concerned her.
“What happened?” Ivy asked.
Maria pointed at Luca.
“He discovered accounting.”
“I discovered corruption,” Luca corrected.
“You discovered numbers.”
“Exactly.”
Ivy laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound surprised her.
It had been a long time since laughter came naturally.
Luca immediately pointed at her.
“See? She gets it.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
Everyone turned.
Reaper.
Of course.
The room immediately settled.
Not silent.
Just calmer.
Controlled.
The effect he had on people was ridiculous.
He crossed the room toward Ivy.
Dark eyes scanning her quickly.
Checking.
“You sleep okay?”
The simple question warmed something inside her.
“Mostly.”
A lie.
But a small one.
The nightmares were becoming less frequent.
Still there.
Just less powerful.
Reaper seemed unconvinced.
Before he could question her further, Maria shoved an apron toward Ivy.
“Good. You’re awake.”
Ivy caught it automatically.
“What is this?”
“A job.”
She blinked.
“A what?”
Maria looked offended.
“A job.”
“I know what a job is.”
“Then put on the apron.”
Several bikers immediately looked interested.
Luca grinned.
“Oh, this is going to be fun.”
⸻
Two hours later, Ivy regretted everything.
Apparently Reaper’s Bar served actual food.
And drinks.
And tourists.
And locals.
And random travelers.
And every single one of them wanted something.
“Table three needs refills.”
“Table seven wants another burger.”
“Someone’s flirting with the waitress.”
Ivy froze.
“Wait. I’m the waitress?”
Maria looked unimpressed.
“You are now.”
The lunch rush hit like a hurricane.
Still, something unexpected happened.
For the first time in weeks…
I felt useful.
Not scared.
Not running.
Not hiding.
Useful.
The realization hit harder than expected.
Because after leaving Daniel, everything felt broken.
Including me.
But carrying plates?
Taking orders?
Working?
Those were normal things.
Things people did when life wasn’t falling apart.
The feeling almost made me emotional.
Almost.
Then a customer ruined it.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
I looked up.
A man in his thirties smiled from his booth.
Friendly enough.
Normal enough.
“What can I get you?”
His smile widened.
“Your phone number.”
Oh.
Before I could respond, a familiar voice spoke behind me.
“No.”
The customer visibly paled.
I didn’t even need to turn around.
Reaper.
Of course.
The man looked between us.
Then toward the expression on Reaper’s face.
Then immediately looked elsewhere.
Smart man.
“I’ll take a burger,” he said quickly.
“Excellent choice.”
I walked away before I started laughing.
Unfortunately, Reaper followed.
“What’s funny?”
“You.”
One eyebrow lifted.
“Dangerous answer.”
I smiled despite myself.
The look in his eyes changed instantly.
Enough to make my stomach flip.
Again.
⸻
That afternoon, Black Hollow felt almost normal.
I spent time learning names.
Talking to customers.
Listening to stories.
The town slowly unfolded around me.
Old farmers.
Truck drivers.
Families.
Retirees.
And somehow…
Everyone knew Reaper.
Not feared.
Respected.
The difference surprised me.
“You expected something else?”
I looked toward Sheriff Collins.
The older man had appeared sometime after lunch.
“I thought everyone would be terrified of him.”
The sheriff snorted.
“Some are.”
“Helpful.”
“He earned loyalty.”
My gaze drifted toward Reaper.
He was helping unload supplies outside.
Club members surrounded him.
Listening.
Following directions.
Trusting him.
The sheriff followed my gaze.
Then smiled.
“You’re in trouble.”
I nearly choked.
“What?”
“That look.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure.”
I escaped before he could continue.
⸻
The bookstore trip happened later.
After work.
After dinner.
After Ivy had finally convinced Reaper she wasn’t going to spontaneously combust if left unsupervised for five minutes.
Though apparently she still required supervision.
Unfortunately.
The bookstore smelled like paper and dust.
Perfect.
For twenty blissful minutes, she wandered the shelves.
No danger.
No drama.
No biker politics.
Just books.
Then the bell above the door chimed.
Every instinct inside her immediately reacted.
Not because of who entered.
Because of Reaper.
He froze.
Completely.
The shift was instant.
Predator.
The stranger looked out of place.
Expensive suit.
Expensive watch.
Expensive smile.
Everything about him screamed city.
Money.
Problems.
His gaze landed on Ivy.
Recognition flashed.
Cold.
Certain.
“There she is.”
Ice flooded her veins.
The stranger took one step forward.
Reaper moved faster.
Positioning himself between them immediately.
Protective.
Possessive.
The stranger laughed softly.
“I’ve been looking for her.”
“You found her.”
The temperature inside the bookstore seemed to drop.
The man’s smile faded slightly.
“She has something.”
Reaper’s expression remained unreadable.
“Not your concern.”
“It is.”
“No.”
The conversation felt like watching two wolves decide whether to fight.
Nobody raised their voice.
Nobody threatened anyone.
Yet the danger was unmistakable.
The stranger’s attention shifted briefly.
Past Reaper.
To Ivy.
“You should’ve destroyed it.”
Her stomach dropped.
The flash drive.
Definitely the flash drive.
The man’s expression changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely worried.
Not about himself.
About her.
“They’ll never stop looking.”
Silence.
Then Reaper stepped forward.
One step.
That was all.
The stranger immediately stepped back.
Fear flashed across his face.
Real fear.
“Leave town,” Reaper said calmly.
The man hesitated.
Then left.
The bell chimed again.
Gone.
Just like that.
⸻
The ride back to the bar was quiet.
The warning replayed endlessly in Ivy’s head.
They’ll never stop looking.
The words lingered.
Reaper parked behind the bar.
Neither moved immediately.
Rain began tapping softly against the windshield.
“What if he’s right?”
The question escaped before she could stop it.
Reaper turned toward her.
“What if they never stop?”
Silence.
Then:
“Then neither do I.”
Her breath caught.
The words weren’t dramatic.
They weren’t romantic.
He said them like a fact.
Like the sky was blue.
Like rain was wet.
Like protecting her was inevitable.
The truck suddenly felt very small.
Very quiet.
Very warm.
Neither looked away.
Something shifted between them.
Something fragile.
Something dangerous.
Then Reaper reached for the door.
The moment shattered.
But the feeling remained.
Following Ivy all the way upstairs.
Following her into bed.
Following her dreams.
Because for the first time since arriving in Black Hollow, she wasn’t wondering if she could trust Ryder Kane.
She was wondering what would happen when she finally stopped trying not to.
- Writer
