Maze (The Ballerina Series #2) Read online

  “That’s all true. I hated driving and Shel loved the carts. We’d taken that same dangerous path many nights during the summer at the beach. And I know she would have been drunk. I had been drinking that night, too. I no longer blame myself, or you. I haven’t for a long time now, but your texts meant a lot to me. It kept me close to Shel on a day when I needed someone to acknowledge she once lived. What she meant to me. You did. So thank you for that.”

  I wrapped my arms around her and drew her to me, but before I could do anything else the car pulled up in front of her condo.

  “We’re here,” Terry said needlessly through the speaker.

  I glanced up. Yep, we were. I untangled us and by the time I reached for the door handle it was already being opened for me.

  We went up to her place and after Ivy opened the door we found the condo dark. I remembered she’d left a lamp on near the windows when we’d left earlier. But Dante could have turned them off. No sooner did I think that when I realized there was someone on the couch. In fact, two someones. One on top of the other and they were as still as stone. From the whiff of sex in the air I knew what they were doing.

  I put my arm around Ivy and guided her to her room without looking in the direction of the couch or who was on it. It wasn’t until we got to her room and closed the door that she sat on her bed and giggled.

  “Oh, God. I’m glad it was dark in there.” She laughed. “I wonder who Dante’s hooking up with now?”

  “Don’t know and don’t care.” And I didn’t as long as it wasn’t Ivy. He and I had made peace but I wasn’t stupid. I knew if I blew it he’d be right there to console her. Fucker. And that is exactly what he’d been doing.

  “I wonder if it’s a guy? Oh my God, I so do not need to see that, or him with Christy either.” She began to laugh again and put her hand over her mouth to stifle her mirth.

  I smiled, she’s so naïve. Then I frowned. Maybe it was getting too crowded with us all here. We’d been spending most of the time at Ivy’s only going back to my place in Brooklyn a couple of times over the last few days. Mostly because the condo was near the hospital. But Joe hopefully would be out in another day or so, and I needed to turn my attention to the gym. There was a nice two-bedroom apartment on the second floor of the building. I knew I owned the building, but if the apartment was rented out I didn’t know if I’d be able to break someone’s lease. I remembered Uncle Tsang told Joe how he’d had it renovated a year ago and rented it out. It was why, when we’d made plans to return to the U.S., we didn’t stay there. I wondered if may be it was now available? I’d check first thing in the morning. Once Ivy’s cast came off it would be easy for me to help her exercise every day so she could dance again. If the apartment was available it might be a good place for us, Ivy and me. That is, if she even wanted to be with me 24/7.

  I watched her beautiful smile, she was probably still thinking about walking in on Dante and his friend. But my thoughts held my attention. I couldn’t believe I actually stood there, leaning against the door, contemplating setting up house with someone. Living with someone. In truth, the idea of getting that close to anyone, willingly making such a commitment, had never entered my consciousness. Anyone that was, except for Ivy. Yes. I want to be with this girl 24/7. The idea should have freaked me out. Instead, my heart filled with joy at the thought of sleeping and waking with her in my arms. Every fucking night. Damn, my dick twitched.

  The way she made me feel so good, went beyond the rocket to mars sex we shared. I wanted us to build a life and grow together. Hell, someday maybe even have kids together. Shit. Where did that come from? But I knew in my gut. I loved her. That’s all there was to it.

  “Why are you standing way over there?” she asked once she stopped giggling.

  “I’ve just been thinking about something.”

  She sat up as if she sensed my seriousness.

  “How would you feel about the two of us getting a place together?”

  She stared right back at me her eyes wide. I could tell I surprised her with my question. “I don’t know. I guess I never really thought about it. What about Dante?”

  I shook my head. “He’s already got this condo, and you told me he could afford this place on his own. I’m thinking maybe he needs his own space, as do you and I. I love you, Ivy. I want to be with you all the time.” I pushed myself away from the door and walked over to the bed and then sat beside her. Taking one of her hands in mine I raised it to my lips and brushed a kiss over her knuckles.

  “I like falling asleep with me curled around you and waking up with you curled around me. I like us planning out our days the night before or that morning. I like that you know where I am and that I’m coming home to you. I like it all and I want it all with you.”

  Damn, I was no poet, but I needed her to know how I felt. I wanted all of those things but I also wanted to protect her. Just in case. I could do it in the part of Chinatown Tsang controlled, and better at the gym. It was neutral ground, but also the Tong owned most of the businesses on that street. I knew who the ruling Triad members were in the area, but I figure I needed to get to know the legit business owners that made up the Tong now, too. By taking over the gym and retiring from fighting, I’d become one of them. I was probably their youngest member. Chinatown wasn’t as large an area as it used to be and it was mostly evenly matched up now between Triad and Tong, as to who owned what.

  I looked into the eyes of the woman I loved for such a very long time and waited for her to tell me we’d build a life together. Yeah, I wanted us to live together, but I wanted more for us, too. First, I needed to show her I’d be able to take care of her in all ways.

  She clutched my hand. “Are you sure, Maze? That’s a big step.”

  “I’m ready. And someday I will offer you even more.”

  Her eyes went even wider at my words. The brown in her pupils seemed to glow before her next words put a punch in my gut. “I love you so much. Don’t let me down.”

  “I promise I won’t.”

  “All right.”

  I leaned into her and captured her mouth again. When I could bring myself to separate I told her, “Tomorrow morning I’m already scheduled to meet with Uncle Tsang and a contractor but I’m going to call him first and I want you to come with me. There’s an apartment over the gym. I’m not sure if it’s available but if it is we can take a look at it. See if you like it and if you want anything changed. If it’s not or you don’t like it then we can look for something else nearby.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  I folded her in my arms and together we lay back on the bed and just held on to each other, content to merely be, for now.

  ****

  The next morning, Terry dropped us off at the gym. I pushed against the entrance door and it opened. The gym was closed but we were expected. As soon as we walked into the place we found Uncle Tsang near the main training ring waiting for us. He wasn’t alone. There were two other men with him. The tall portly guy with a tool belt strapped around his girth I figured for the contractor, and the tall thin one with the briefcase, the equipment rep. I’d spoken to Tsang earlier this morning and he said the apartment was vacant. The tenant had cleared out last week. So the apartment was mine to do what I wanted.

  First, we went through the main floor that made up the gym. There were two locker rooms. Men and women. A massage room, two offices, and two private training rooms. These were on the perimeter of the main training area, which held exercise equipment, and, of course, the fighting ring sat dead center of it all. Not a whole lot needed to be done to the place. We’d just have to bring in some new equipment and replace a few things. Ivy suggested redoing the shower areas. They were pretty beat up, and she had some great ideas.

  We took the private elevator near the office in the gym to look at the apartment. Which could also be accessed directly from the street entrance by a set of stairs. The layout was pretty sweet. To my surprise I found three bedrooms and not the two I origin
ally thought. One was considerably smaller and could be used as an office. The walls were all brick. The floor looked like some sort of stained burnt bronze cement. Two of the bedrooms had smoky sliding glass doors and the third a traditional door. The place held lots of windows and open space. But all that mattered was Ivy loved it. Only one problem—no furniture. So an hour after leaving the gym, that’s what we were doing. Who would have thought me, Mr. Tough Guy, would be fucking furniture shopping? I didn’t care how I looked. I would have dragged a fucking couch through Chinatown if that’s what my Ivy wanted.

  “So when are you going to tell Dante?” I asked, as I held the door open for Ivy at the ABC Carpet & Home store. We’d just spent the last three hours there. Next time someone says the words shopping and furniture together I might have to drop ‘em. This shit was exhausting. We explored eight floors of any and everything you might need, or not, for your home.

  “When we get back to the condo.” She shrugged.

  I was glad she didn’t appear to have a problem breaking it to Dante that he was losing his roomy. “Good, cause the mattress will be delivered tomorrow and I want us in our own apartment by tomorrow night.” It was true. I’d arranged to have the furniture delivered within the next week. The bed frame wouldn’t get there until after the mattress. A few things would take longer. But for the first time in my life I was creating a home, for Ivy. I should be scared as shit because I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. But damned if I wasn’t excited to keep house with her.

  “When are you going to tell Joe?” she countered.

  “He already knows. Tsang told him when I asked him about the apartment this morning. They were going to offer it to me. Joe will stay with Tsang for a few days after he gets out of the hospital. So I’d like to stop by my place first and pack up some stuff and then we can go to the condo and get some of yours.”

  “Okay but it’s going to take more than one trip. I’ll probably need a couple of days.”

  “That’s fine. I travel light, not much to move. I’ve got about two suitcases to fill, a couple boxes, and I’ll be done.” Soon as I spoke, my phone chimed that I had a text. I checked it. “Feel like going to a party tonight?” I asked Ivy.

  “Party? Whose?”

  “Vin. A good friend of mine. He and I fought once in Japan when I first got there and we keep in touch.” By nature fighters were competitors so it was difficult to make friends with someone you might have to kick the shit out of. But Vin was different. “He’s pretty cool. He returned to the U.S. a couple of years ago and stops by the gym to keep in shape. He no longer fights but he follows the fighting circuit. And if I know him he bet on my fight.”

  “Did he bet on you?”

  I grinned. “Damn straight.”

  “I’d love to meet your friend. Do you want to go?”

  I nodded. “It might be fun.”

  “Okay then.”

  Grinning, I texted Vin back.

  Chapter Seven

  Ivy

  I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect at this party, given a former fighter hosted it. I was shocked when Terry dropped us off at the 230 Fifth bar. The roof top club on Fifth Avenue was really nice. His friend had rented out the place for the night.

  “What does this Vin do now?” I asked.

  “Some kind of stock broker.”

  I glanced at Maze. “I thought the market was bad?”

  Maze looked around at the opulence and crowd. “Apparently not for everyone.”

  “Maze! Man!”

  I turned around at the voice booming over the music, only to stare at the dark shirt-covered chest of the person calling Maze’s name. I leaned against my crutch as my eyes traveled upward. I had to tilt my head back to see his face. Holy Shit! This dude was huge. He made linemen look short and skinny. And Maze fought him and beat him.

  My gaze returned to Maze who grinned back at the guy and had already taken a sideways step toward him in greeting. He had his arm raised, bent at the elbow, and held in front while he leaned in close and sorta kinda hugged the other person. I hid a smile. Such a guy.

  “Vin. Hey, man. How’s it hanging?” Maze said.

  Vin smiled and his gaze shifted to me. Maze still held my hand and I knew it wasn’t lost on Vin. “Pretty damn fine from where I’m standing,” Vin said.

  “And if you want to stay standing don’t touch.” Maze smirked, then introduced us. “Ivy this is our host, Vin. Vin, my girl, Ivy.”

  Vin’s eyebrows rose to almost touch his hairline. “No, shit. It’s nice to meet you, Ivy. So this is the one?”

  “The only,” Maze beamed.

  I glanced back and forth between them missing something. “What?”

  “I saw a poster of you once in his room,” Vin volunteered.

  “What?” I repeated confused. I’d been to Maze’s room. There was no poster of me. But when I looked at Maze, damned even in the dull lighting I could see his blush.

  “Ah, yeah. I had posters of some of your performances in my place back in Japan.”

  I was intrigued. “Oh. Where are they now?”

  Maze rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah, still in my room here. I just put them in the closet.”

  I grinned. He was so cute when he blushed, and Vin cracked up, patting him on the back.

  Vin glanced at my crutch then down at my cast enclosed foot. “What happened to you?”

  I could get around on only one crutch now. “I pulled a tendon.”

  He winced. “Ouch.”

  “She’ll be fine.” Maze held me tighter against his side. I loved his optimism.

  Vin placed his hand on Maze’s shoulder. “Hey, man, that was one wicked ass fight. I’ve never seen you move better. And I just want to thank you for the money I made off that fight.” He waved his other hand around. “It helped pay for this little party here,” Vin laughed.

  Someone called his name and he turned in that direction then nodded. “I gotta make my rounds but I’ll come back. Have fun.” He shook Maze’s hand. “Ivy, real nice meeting you.”

  “You, too,” I replied.

  Vin gave me a quick hug then got swallowed up amongst the bodies.

  “Come on,” Maze said, moving farther toward the center of the roof.

  Good thing the place wasn’t too packed. Not like the only other time I’d been there. If it were I’d have had a hard time maneuvering through a crowd on a crutch.

  It was a little chilly up there, but the heaters placed throughout took the edge off. The view of the Empire State Building and the skyline of the city was stunning and worth a little shiver. We found a low sofa for two and Maze took my crutch and placed it against the arm. Before we sat down, he pushed the table away a little more so I could stretch my leg out. His thoughtfulness warmed me to my soul.

  “This is a great view,” he said, twisting to look at the vista over his shoulder then he looked back at me. I shivered.

  Maze wrapped his arm around me. “Cold?”

  “No, a little warm actually.” And I was. My reaction had nothing to do with the external temperature but the way he made me feel. Excited.

  Maze found us a spot right near a heater and I took off my jacket. A waitress came over to us and asked if we needed anything from the bar. She also left us a little platter of appetizers.

  “Nice,” I said when she walked away. “Your friend certainly knows how to throw a party.

  Maze chuckled. “Yeah, he does.” He picked up a little puff creation off the plate and held it in front of my mouth. “Open.”

  He placed it on my tongue but I clamped my lips around his finger so he had to pull it out. He did, real slow. “Damn girl.”

  I grinned, chewed, and then leaned forward to kiss him. The waitress came back with our drinks and she placed a large red reserved sign on the table in front of our seats. “If you wish to move around this should ensure your place is saved.”

  “Thanks,” Maze said.

  After she moved off, he picked up his shot of
Cuervo Gold and I grabbed my beer. “To us.” He raised his glass toward me and I clinked my bottle against it.

  “To us,” he repeated.

  We drank and I swayed in my seat to the rhythm of the music. It had been too long since I danced. And I hated it.

  “Do you want to dance?” Maze asked.

  “I want to, just not sure with this stupid cast.”

  “Come on.” He insisted as he grabbed the crutch near him and handed it to me. He stood up and moved aside, pushing the table out so it was easier for me to hobble past it. Then he led us to the dance floor. We stayed toward the edge of it and danced. I’d never enjoyed dancing more. Maze took my crutch, but placed my arms around his neck. Hanging onto my crutch, he wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me up and we gently moved from side to side.

  After we danced a few songs he asked, “Ready to sit down?”

  “Yeah, I’m getting a little tired.”

  He led the way back to our table, but as I glanced past him I saw a couple of guys sitting there, and a third standing behind the seat. I’d left my jacket draped over the back of it yet people still sat there, ignoring the red reserved sign. Where was our waitress?

  I rested my hand on Maze’s shoulder, and I felt the muscles in his shoulder tense. Despite that, he didn’t stop walking until we reached the table.

  “I believe those seats are reserved for us,” he stated. His voice low and cold. I’d never heard him speak that way. Not even the last couple of times I’d been with him when he fought. I prayed this wasn’t going to revert into one of those. I couldn’t take it.

  Please no.

  “Maze, right?”

  What? The guy knew him?

  The one who’d spoken had Asian features but his hair was dyed white blond and he had black roots. The other person seated next to him also had Asian features but his hair was black. Both men appeared slender and perhaps Maze’s height.

  Maze didn’t reply, but the freeze radiating off his body, if such a thing were possible, sent a chill down my spine. I kept a grip on Maze’s shoulder, trying to hold him back but knowing if he decided to fight I would not be able to stop him.