Maze (The Ballerina Series #2) (19 page)

I
stepped out of the room, but Maze was already headed in my direction. He gathered
me into his arms and kissed me. I kissed him back. Giving him all of the
passion he needed right then.

“Are
you okay?” I asked.

“I
will be. I have to go down to the morgue.”

“Yeah,
I heard. I know not all of that was true. But did Tsang really commit suicide?”

He
stared at me a moment. “Do you really want to know, Ivy?”

“I…”

“He
finished what I’d already begun.”

“I
don’t understand, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll wait for you here.”

He
took a deep breath. “Hopefully, I won’t be long.”

“I’ll
be here. I’ll even fix dinner.”

He
smiled sadly then went into our bedroom. I followed him and watched him change
into jeans and gray sweatshirt. He sat on the bed to pull on his boots, then
stood up and grabbed his keys and wallet from the dresser. He kissed me again
as he moved past me toward the door. I blinked and he was gone. I felt sorry
for my poor Maze. His uncle’s betrayal cut deep. Family meant everything to
him.

I
don’t know what compelled me to do it but suddenly I needed to talk to my mom,
so I got my phone and called her. Besides, I had good news to tell her. When
I’d spoken to Dante he told me RBA had chosen our piece as one of the ten
performed at the festival. She was really excited about that. We spoke for
awhile. Catching each other up. I hadn’t spoken to her for about a week. She
didn’t know I’d moved back in with Dante and no need to tell her now. She told
me Bev was doing great and would probably come to the festival, too. I’d love
nothing more. Before we got off the phone she told me give Maze her love. I
smiled when I hung up. My mom. She always knew what to say and when to say it.
That’s what Maze needed most now. Love. And I would show him he had plenty of
it.

By
the time Maze got back I had a couple of candles lit on the table and a bowl of
mac and cheese, salad, and garlic bread laid out on the table. Everything came
out of a box or a bag. Gourmet cook I’m not.

The
front door opened and shut, then I heard Maze’s voice. “Hey, honey. I’m home.
And I see you’ve been slaving over a stove for me all evening.”

“You
know it.” I’d actually called Mark and asked him to text me when the car pulled
up so I could put everything out just before he came upstairs.

He
grabbed me around the waist and stared into my eyes. “I love you.” Then he
kissed me.

“Love
you too, babe. Did everything go all right?” I watched that hint of sadness
creep back over his features.

“Yeah.
It went fine. They’re going to run some tests before they rule out a homicide.
But they also know there’s a gang war going on and suspect Tsang might be
another causality.”

“Oh,
baby.”

“It’s
fine. I’m not a suspect. Everyone knows how close Joe and Tsang were, and how
close I was to both men. They actually want to put me in protective custody. I
told them that’s what my bodyguards are for. It’s all good, babe.”

I
smiled and took his hand. I led him into the kitchen. “Sit, eat. This is
comfort food. I thought we could both use some.”

“This
looks good, babe. Thank you. Tomorrow I’ll cook.”

“I’ll
hold you to it.” I waited until he’d taken a bite. “Well, how is it?”

“It’s
good.” He waited a beat then said. “From a box?” The smile on his face told me
it didn’t matter I didn’t really cook. He loved it.

“I
laughed. A package. By the way, I spoke to my mom earlier. She told me to tell
you she sends her love.”

He
choked and had to reach for the beer I’d placed on the table. I understood why
he reacted that way. After everything he and I had both been through something
as normal as my mother’s love seemed out of place. But it was what he deserved
and so much more.

“You
all right?”

“Ah,
yeah. Fine,” he croaked out.

I
took his hand and he held onto mine while we both continued to eat.

I
believed with everything I was we would be fine.

Chapter Nineteen

Maze

I
stared out the window up at the evening sky. In the last six months Ivy and I
had come so far and still had a ways to go. The coroner’s report listed Tsang’s
death as a suicide because they couldn’t find evidence to the contrary. The
deaths of his men in the warehouse were attributed to a gang war and Tsang took
his own life as a result of losing everything. I might have been his heir but
there was more debt than funds. I knew his real wealth was tied up in the Triad
and I wanted no part of it so whatever his share was they could keep. I’d
already told Liu all of that.

I’d
done everything I could to make sure I stayed out of it and kept Ivy out of all
the shit. We were never apart for any significant length of time. Neither of us
could really stand it. We’d both have anxiety attacks at times if we couldn’t
at least speak to each other. But we were getting better. Ivy could actually go
to class and rehearsal for an entire day without me having to show up, or
getting a text from Dante to get my ass down to the theater because she needed
me. I wasn’t really sure what happens next for us, but I knew whatever it was
we’d be together.

Two
things were happening tonight. Well, three. Ivy only knew about two. It was her
return to dance. Her ankle was stronger than ever and tonight my girl was going
to prove it to the world. Tonight, I was finally ready to take over as Dragon
Master of the Tong. I would be its head in truth. I’d resisted for a long time,
but I’d grown closer to the legitimate businessmen of Chinatown. They’d taught
me a lot. And in my heart, I knew it was something I had to do and Joe would
want. The Triad respected me. Funny what going on a killing spree will do for a
rep. But this was also a way of making sure what Joe started so long ago would
continue to prosper and remain free of corruption. The Triad was finished, at
least as far as the Tong was concerned.

Ivy
knew all about the Tong and that I’d been working with the legitimate
businessmen in Chinatown. I finally fessed up and told her about my financial
net worth. I laughed as I recalled the expression on her face. Her eyes had
opened wide and her mouth formed a perfect O. Then she’d begun to cry. I had to
make love to her to calm her down.

Tonight
after I dropped Ivy off at her early cast call, I’d head to the business
headquarters of the association for a formal meeting. All the business leaders
that made up the Tong would vote tonight to make me Dragon Master. The closest
thing would be the CEO of a multi-faceted corporation. It was members only
tonight, so Ivy couldn’t go with me. She had to be at rehearsal before her
performance anyway. After the vote, I would head over to Ivy’s performance, and
I’d meet her dad and Bev and Ben there. But before we left, there was one last
thing I needed to do.

The
sound of soft footfalls in our apartment coming up behind me made me smile.
Slender arms wrapped around my waist. I took her hands and turned into her
embrace. Bending my head, I captured her mouth and inhaled her. She opened for
me, and I met her tongue with mine. For a while, we danced together, her and
me. Our own private tango. Reluctantly, I withdrew and took a step away from
her. I watched her and saw when she opened her eyes. They’d been closed while
we kissed. She smiled. Then I dropped to both knees, while still holding her
hand. I put one of mine in the pocket of my pants and pulled out the box I’d
been carrying around for a while now. I kept my eyes on her so I saw the smile
falter and her lips tremble. She raised her eyes to mine and I watched them
fill with tears.

“Shhh,
babe. Please, don’t do that.” I raised one hand and wiped the moisture from her
face. Then I took her hand again, and one handedly flipped the top of the box
open with my thumb. I revealed to her the princess cut three-carat diamond ring
on a platinum band nestled inside.

“I’m
no poet. Far from it. But you manage to understand me anyway and still you love
me. I’m not going to question that. Just make sure I keep you. My blood runs
for you, my heart beats for you. I live only because you are in this world. I
will love you like no other even after I die. All I ask is that you marry me,
share a life with me, and let me love you all of our lives.”

She
was full out crying now. She tugged on my hand to pull me up and took the box
from me. I enclosed my arms around her hips and smiled, waiting for her answer.
She went up on her toes and kissed my cheek. “I love you so much, Maze. So
much. But there is something I have to tell you first.” She wiped the remaining
tears off her face.

My
heart slammed against my chest at those words. What could she have to possibly
say before she said yes she’d marry me? “All I need to know is that you love me
and say yes.”

When
she tried to tug out of my embrace that’s when I knew something was wrong. I
wasn’t letting go and hung on tighter. “What the fuck is it, Ivy? Just tell
me.”

“You’re
going to have to stop cussing like that for one thing.”

“Fine,
whatever. Now, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s
wrong. It’s well. I’m pregnant.”

I
froze. Nothing moved, no synapses fired. I just froze. She stepped away from
me.

It
was only when I felt the lack of her warmth from her arms that I came out of my
paralysis. Her mom stood at the door. I’d left it unlocked. I don’t even
remember hearing her knock or even the door opening. I’d forgotten she was
coming with us to the theater. My brain synapses fired up again and I recalled;
she wanted to be there early for the cast call with Ivy for support and to take
some pictures.

“Hey,
Maze,” her mom said. She came over to me and kissed my cheek, giving me a hug
as she did so. “You guys ready? I saw the limo downstairs. I hope I’m not too
early.”

That’s
right. She was catching a ride over with us in the limo. I’d drop her and Ivy
off first then go to the meeting and return in time for the performance.

I
automatically raised my arms and hugged her back. I was getting used to her
hugs.

I
straightened up and my gaze drifted over to Ivy. She picked up her dance bag
she’d left by the chair. Fuck! She hadn’t answered me and I hadn’t responded to
her. Shit. She had to know how much I loved her. How much I wanted our baby.
Holy mother of God, she’s pregnant! How the hell was I going to be a father?

“We
better go, Maze. Maze.”

Ivy
spoke my name twice. I know I heard it, but my response time was way off. I
shook my head trying to function. “Ah, yeah. The limo should already be in the
front.”

Wait
I knew that already. We had a permanent reserved spot out front for the limo
and Will knew to be there now and Allison said it was there. Still, I pulled
out my phone and shot Will a text letting him know we were on our way down.

I
walked over to Ivy. “Come on,” I said, guiding her away by her elbow.

I
couldn’t say anything about what just happened with her mom right there. There
was so much I wanted to say but it would have to wait when we were alone again,
which would not be for several hours. I stifled a groan and circled my arm
around her neck and pulled her to me.

“I
love you,” I whispered and kissed her temple. That’s the best I could do for
now. In truth, I was still a little shell shocked. I grabbed her bags away from
her and we took the stairs so we didn’t have to go through the gym. Will was
right there on the sidewalk holding the door open for us.

Her
mom got in first, then Ivy and me. All I could do was hold her hand and rub my
thumb over the back of it. Soon enough we were at the theater and I got out to
let Ivy and her mom out. I walked them to the side entrance, hoping I’d have a
minute to speak to Ivy but it was not to be. Dante waited for her right at the
door. I only had time to kiss her before she was whisked away from me.

She’d
turned around and followed after Dante, when suddenly she stopped, tugged her
hand out of his and ran back to me. She leaped and I opened my arms to catch
her. She wrapped her legs around my waist and kissed me. I turned us in a
circle and kissed her back. Letting it all out, letting her know how much she
meant to me, and this life we’d created together and the future we would have.
She pulled away and whispered, her breath brushing against my lips, one word,
“Yes.”

I
put her down and placed my hand over her stomach. “Yes,” I whispered back. “I
want you both.” Then Dante pulled her away again. I glanced up at him and
witnessed his frown.

“Dude,
you can do that later,” he growled.

Laughing,
Ivy blew me a kiss and followed after Dante. Her mom just grinned and winked at
me. With a smile on my face, I went outside and got back into the limo. To
implement the other part of my future, to ensure the one I had with Ivy would
be like nothing that had gone down this year. I would become an official Dragon
Master of the Tong. The war was over and I had won.

****

I
got back to the theatre and took my seat minutes before the curtain rose. Was
it less than a year ago I’d bought out this same box and sat by myself, watching
the love of my life dance? Sitting here, ready to watch her performance took me
back to the time I first saw her and how much she’d grown. The main differences
are I love her even more today than I did that initial day and while I’d still
bought out the entire box I didn’t sit there alone. Her family,
our
family, sat with me along with Will
and Mark. Her mom and dad sat on my left, Bev and Ben and the little
five-year-old Cambodian girl they’d recently adopted sat at my right. Will and
Mark sat behind us as guests, not guards, and Vin sat with them. The box was
full this time.

Ivy
and I had been through so much but we were stronger. No more threats on the
horizon. We were in a solid place. Still, I took no chances. Will and Mark were
both armed and I carried a blade strapped to my calf. I protected what’s mine.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked at her mom.

“Did
you ask her yet?” she whispered. But it was loud enough that everyone near us
heard her and all eyes swung to me. Everyone there had known what I had
planned. There were no secrets with this crowd.

I
smirked, looking at all the grinning faces. “Yeah. I did.”

“Well,
don’t keep us waiting,” Bev said.

“She
said yes.”

“Oh
my God!” her mom cried and so did Bev. Both women hugged me and the men shook
my hand.

Whenever
Ivy and I visited her folks in D.C. hugging me was something these two women
had no trouble doing. They tried to mother everyone, even me. Ivy’s family
accepted and acknowledged my love for Ivy, our love for each other. I’d
actually gone to see her parents the day before, when they’d first arrived in
New York while Ivy was at a rehearsal. I asked them both for their blessing.
That I was going to ask Ivy to marry me. I didn’t ask their permission. We
didn’t need it. But I knew it would be important to Ivy to have their blessing.
And they gave it. Her mom had cried and said, “Of course.” Her dad in his gruff
way said, “About time.” But he and I got along fine. As long as I kept his
little girl safe and happy he’d told me once, he was happy.

Was
I going to have that kind of conversation with a boy some day? I had no idea
how to be a father. Ivy would make a wonderful mother.

I
didn’t say anything about the baby.
Baby.
I still needed to wrap my mind around that one. But I’d let Ivy tell her
parents. I knew she’d want to be the one to do that. I’m sure if I wasn’t
already marrying her, though, her father would have my head. I know I sure as
shit would with any fuck who knocked up my daughter. Oh crap! We could have a
girl. I’d have to get a new bodyguard just for her. To keep those little
peckers away. I rubbed my hand over my face. Lord, I was in trouble. But life
was good and would only get better for us.

The
theatre went dark. The music started and I leaned forward in my seat. My eyes
riveted to the stage. As I watched my pregnant fiancée dance, I raised my hand
to my face once or twice during the performance. Of course, only to wipe away
something that had gotten into my eye, but who could blame me.