Iron Scythes

Fragile Truce

The door opened and Jude walked in with Reid and Ezra right behind him.

I stood up fast and held out the blood-stained badge. My hand shook a little but I kept my voice steady. "Someone slipped this into my pocket during the chaos. Look at it."

Jude took the badge first. His fingers brushed mine for a second. He turned it over and frowned. "Where did you get this?"

"It was in my jacket," I said. "One minute I had nothing. The next it was there. Someone wanted me to have it."

Ezra stepped closer and took the badge from Jude. He studied it for a long moment. His sharp eyes narrowed. "This is from Riley's energy company. High-level security. Not the kind of thing that ends up in a random pocket."

Reid leaned over Ezra's shoulder. "Riley? That snake who has been trying to buy up our land?"

"Exactly," Ezra said. "This badge means the corporation is involved. They are framing the Iron Scythes for the toxic dumping. They want us out of the way so they can take the land."

I crossed my arms. "That matches everything I found in the leaked files. They dump the waste. Blame your club. Force you off the property. Then they build whatever they want."

Jude looked at me hard. "You really believe that?"

"I know it," I said. "And now we have proof someone inside your club or at the scene is working with them. They planted this on me to make me look guilty."

Reid paced the small room. "So what do we do boss? We cannot let her walk out of here with this kind of information."

Jude stayed quiet for a few seconds. He rubbed his jaw and looked at each of us. "We keep her alive. She stays under club protection for now. Full lockdown stays in place but she is not a prisoner in this room."

I let out a breath. "Thank you."

"Do not thank me yet," Jude said. "You are still a risk. But killing you or locking you away makes us look guilty. We need answers."

Reid stopped pacing and stared at me. "Who is going to watch her? She has already proven she is trouble."

"You," Jude answered. "Reid you are her personal guard. You stay with her at all times. No exceptions."

Reid's eyes widened. "Me? You serious?"

"Dead serious," Jude said. "You found her. You watch her."

Reid looked at me and something hot flashed in his eyes. "Fine. But if she tries to run I will tie her down myself."

I met his stare. "I am not going to run. But I am not going to sit quietly either. I can help you."

Ezra raised an eyebrow. "Help us how?"

"I am a good investigator," I said. "I have contacts outside. I know how to dig into corporations like Riley's. Let me work with you instead of treating me like an enemy."

Jude crossed his arms. "You want us to trust you that much?"

"I want a truce," I answered. "A fragile one. You keep me safe. I help you find who really killed your president and who is framing the club. We both win."

Reid stepped closer to me. His voice dropped low. "You think you can handle being around us twenty four seven? I do not play nice."

"I can handle you," I said. Heat rose in my cheeks but I did not look away. "I have handled worse than a grumpy enforcer."

A small smile tugged at Reid's mouth. "Grumpy? That is cute. You have no idea how protective I can get when something belongs to me."

"I do not belong to anyone," I shot back. But my pulse quickened at the way he looked at me.

Ezra watched us both with quiet interest. "She is smart. Her mind works fast. We could use that. If she really wants to help she might prove useful."

Jude nodded slowly. "I am willing to try this. But the second you betray us Ivy the deal ends. Understand?"

"I understand," I said. "I am not here to destroy your club. I am here for the truth. The real villains are the ones dumping poison and killing people to make money."

Jude stepped closer. His presence felt solid and steady. "You are brave. Most people would beg to leave right now. You are asking to stay and fight."

"I do not beg," I told him. "And I do not run from hard things."

Reid moved beside me. His arm brushed mine on purpose. "Good. Because I am not letting you out of my sight. You eat with me. You sleep where I can watch you. Got it?"

"Sleep?" I asked. My voice came out a little higher than I wanted.

"You heard me," Reid said. His eyes ran over me slow. "I take my job seriously. Especially when the job looks like you."

Ezra cleared his throat but a small smile touched his lips. "Her courage is impressive. And her intelligence could be an asset. We should listen to what she knows about Riley's company."

I turned to Ezra. "They have money and connections. Politicians. Mercenaries. They want this land bad enough to kill for it. Your president might have been resisting them."

Jude nodded. "That fits what I have been hearing lately. He was tense. He knew something."

Reid stayed close to me. "If they want her dead we make sure they do not get close. She is under Iron Scythes protection now."

"I appreciate that," I said softly. "All of you."

Jude looked at me for a long moment. His eyes held a mix of duty and something warmer. "We protect our own. Even if our own is a stubborn reporter who walked into the fire."

"I am not one of you," I said. "Not yet anyway."

Reid smirked. "Give it time. You might grow on us."

Ezra watched me with quiet fascination. "Your mind works different from most. You see patterns. Connections. That could save all of us."

The tension in the room felt thick. Reid stood possessive and close. Ezra studied me like I was the most interesting puzzle he had seen in years. Jude carried the weight of leadership but his eyes kept returning to me with growing responsibility and interest.

Reid's phone suddenly rang. He pulled it out and answered. His face changed as he listened. The voice on the other end was distorted and cold.

"The reporter dies tonight," the voice said loud enough for all of us to hear. "She is not leaving the compound alive."

Reid cursed and hung up fast. He looked at me with fire in his eyes. "They are coming for you."

I swallowed hard but lifted my chin. "Then we better work together. Fast."