Iron Scythes

Outside the Gates

The phone would not stop ringing in my head. Where the hell are you Ivy?

I am Olivia, Ivy’s best friend and research partner. We have a strict safety system. She always checks in no matter what. But tonight she missed the emergency window by two full hours. My stomach twisted as I sat at my kitchen table with my laptop open and notes spread everywhere.

I grabbed my phone and dialed her number again. Straight to voicemail.

"Come on Ivy," I said out loud. "Pick up. This is not like you. Talk to me."

I started digging hard with everything she had told me before she left. The Iron Scythes. The toxic dumping by the river. The anonymous files. I typed fast and pulled up every public record I could find on the energy company she mentioned.

"Got you," I whispered when the name popped up. Riley. Vice president of a massive energy firm with deep pockets. I kept digging and found recent land purchase attempts right next to the Iron Scythes territory. Huge money. Politicians in their pocket. Everything smelled rotten.

My fingers flew across the keys. "They want that land bad. Really bad. Look at these dates. They match the dumping reports Ivy mentioned."

I picked up the phone and tried Ivy again. "Ivy if you hear this call me back right now. I found solid connections between Riley’s company and forced land grabs. They are trying to push the club out completely. This is bigger than we thought. Be careful out there. I mean it."

I stood up and paced my living room. The clock showed it was well past midnight. Ivy never missed check-ins. Never. Something was very wrong and I could feel it in my bones.

Back at the compound they moved me to a smaller guarded room deeper inside the building. Reid stayed right on my heels the whole way. He closed the door behind us and locked it with a heavy click.

"You do not have to stand so close all the time," I said turning to face him.

Reid crossed his arms and leaned against the wall like he owned the place. "Jude said constant guard. That means me. Get used to it sweetheart."

I sat on the edge of the small bed. "You enjoy this dont you? Playing babysitter to the big bad reporter."

He smirked and stepped closer. "I enjoy keeping troublemakers alive. Especially mouthy ones who keep pushing my buttons every chance they get."

I glared up at him. "I am not trouble. I am trying to help your club survive whatever Riley is planning."

Reid sat down right next to me on the bed. His leg pressed firmly against mine. "Helping by sneaking around our river at night? By accusing us of poisoning half the county? Yeah real helpful."

"That was before I knew the full story," I shot back. "Now we both want the same thing. To stop Riley and clear your club’s name."

He leaned in. His voice dropped low and rough. "You talk a big game for someone trapped in here with me. But you are in our world now. My world. I decide how safe you stay."

My heart beat faster but I refused to move away. "I can take care of myself Reid. I have been doing it for years."

"Yeah?" he said with a dangerous smile. "Then why does your breathing change every single time I get this close? Why do your eyes keep dropping to my mouth?"

I swallowed hard. "Maybe because you are annoying and pushy."

Reid laughed softly. "Liar. I see the way you look at me. All fire and fight mixed together. Makes me want to push you even harder just to see what happens."

"Keep dreaming," I said but my voice came out softer than I meant it to. The heat between us felt impossible to ignore.

At my house I kept digging deeper. Riley’s company had bought up land all around the club territory in the last year. I found old news articles about missing environmental reports and quiet payments to local officials. This was no small operation. This was calculated.

"Come on Ivy," I whispered to myself. "I need you to check in. I am getting really scared here and I do not scare easy."

I grabbed my keys from the counter. If she did not answer soon I would drive toward their territory myself. I could not just sit and wait while my best friend was in danger.

Back in the room Reid still sat way too close. His arm rested behind me on the bed.

"You are not what I expected at all," he said quietly. "Most reporters would have broken down crying by now. You just keep fighting and talking back."

"I fight for what is right," I told him. "And right now that means clearing your club’s name and stopping Riley before she destroys everything."

Reid reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my face. His touch felt rough but warm. "You are going to be a handful. But I think I like it more than I should."

I swatted his hand away even though part of me wanted it to stay there. "Focus Reid. We have real enemies coming for us. This is not the time."

"Oh I am focused," he answered with that same dangerous smile. "Focused on keeping you alive and figuring out why I cannot stop thinking about that smart mouth of yours."

My cheeks burned hot. "You are impossible."

"And you are stuck with me," he said. "Get comfortable because I am not letting you out of my sight."

I paced my living room faster. The connections between Riley and the land deals looked worse the deeper I went. She had private security teams on payroll. Lots of them. If they were already moving on the club then Ivy was in serious danger and I was running out of time.

I tried her phone one more time. Straight to voicemail again. "Ivy please," I said out loud. "I am on your side. I am coming for you. Hold on."

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. That was when I heard the engines outside. Two black SUVs with no lights pulled up fast in front of my house. My blood ran cold.

Masked men jumped out carrying weapons. They moved toward my front door with clear purpose.

I ran to the back room and grabbed my laptop and notes. "No no no. Not now."

Heavy boots kicked my front door hard. Wood cracked loud. I looked for a place to hide as the door burst open behind me with a violent crash.

I ducked into the hallway closet and held my breath. The men moved through my house calling out for me. My heart pounded so hard I thought they would hear it.

This was real. They were here for me too and I was completely alone.