Writing On The Wall (The King Brothers Duology #2)

Chapter 39

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

ETHAN

There’s a buzzing sound that keeps pulling me in. No…not pulling me in—pulling me out. Out of this blissful, deep sleep. My hand shoots out, swatting at my bedside table in search of the source of the noise.

Something crashes to the ground, yanking me awake.

It’s my phone. One hand rubs at my eyes while the other reaches down to pat the floor until I grab the offending device, which has started buzzing again.

“Hello?” I croak, not awake enough to bother checking to see who’s calling.

“Babe. Put some pants on. We’re going on a mission.”

“Wh—how do you…Ivy—” I pull the phone away, squinting at the offensively bright screen to read the time. “It’s one AM.”

“Correct. I’m on my way to you. I’ll explain when I get there. Dress in dark clothing. Oh, can you pick a lock?”

I sit up, rubbing a hand down my face. There’s never a dull moment with this woman. “Uh…Colton and I practiced a few times as kids. But I haven’t done it in a while. It’s kinda frowned upon. ”

“Well, it’s a green flag for me. Splash some water on your face. I’m almost at your place.”

Three minutes later, I’ve done as instructed in addition to swishing some toothpaste around in my mouth. I’m guessing middle-of-the-night breath is the same as morning breath. Ivy pulls into my driveway, looking way too alert for this time of the morning. But she’s also ridiculously stunning. She’s like a fairy or an elf…something magical and too beautiful to be human. There isn’t much light besides the ones on my front porch, but it all seems to glint off her hair, making her glow.

I slide into the passenger seat, flashing her a sleepy smile and pulling off my baseball cap. “If we’re going to be sneaking around, you’ll need to cover up your golden locks.” I tighten the strap and slip the hat onto her head. “Now, tell me whose body we’re burying.”

“That’s tomorrow. Tonight, we’re thieves.” She wags her eyebrows as she drives.

“Explain.”

She sighs. “Something isn’t sitting well. Like, how does Ross know about the music box? There’s no way he figured it out on his own. Plus, he was in my house a few weeks ago when I came home?—”

I choke. “Wait—hold up. He was in your house! How’d he get in?”

“He also practiced some of these skills as a kid.” She quirks the side of her mouth. “Anyway, he was acting weird—fidgety. Almost guilty. I know that look. But it didn’t click until the other day, when a kid in my class had the same look. He’d done something he shouldn’t have. And I realized Ross did something that day, or maybe he took something. And if he found something, then it has to be with him.”

“That’s quite a leap, though.”

“I know Ross.” She glances at me before setting her eyes back on the road. The way she gestures with her hands as she drives, so passionate and fired up… Gah, I just want to pull her in and kiss the heck out of her.

“He’s always kept a small box taped under the seat of his car,” she continues, and I do my best to focus on what she’s saying. “When we were kids, he’d tape it under his bed, so you couldn’t see it unless you got really low. But he hasn’t lived in one place long enough to do it. I’m telling you, whatever he’s found, it’s in his car.”

“So, we’re breaking into his car? How do you know where it is?”

“ You’re breaking into his car. I’m just an accomplice. And I don’t know where he is. We need to drive around a bit. There are a few spots he usually crashes at.”

“Okay…next question. Why the middle of the night? You’re going to be a zombie tomorrow.”

“I know,” she groans. “But I couldn’t sleep. And then the idea just came to me, so I went with it. In hindsight, I probably could have waited. Sorry.” She flashes her teeth in a cheesy smile, eliciting a chuckle from me.

“Never apologize for involving me in your life, Ivy June. Especially when it involves a clandestine adventure.”

Her smile morphs into something more genuine.

Twenty minutes and three locations later, we finally spot Ross’s car. Ivy parks, reaching behind her seat and lifting up a wire coat hanger while she smiles triumphantly.

“What the heck is that for?”

Her eyes sweep the space between us. “To get into his car. Isn’t this what you need?”

“The last time I broke into a car, I used something a little different. You know, the tools for us auto-thieves have really come a long way over the years.”

“Really?” she tilts her head and her shoulders drop .

“No.”

She snorts, swatting my arm with the back of her hand. “Stop! Should we watch a Youtube video?” She starts pulling her phone out, and I snatch the coat hanger from her hand.

“Woman. Give me that.” I untwist the hanger, straightening one side of it as much as I can.

“Yes, sir,” she mutters, and I can’t help the smug smile that forms on my face when I notice her watching my movements appreciatively.

We climb out, each of us scoping out the area. It’s not the best neighborhood, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone watching us. We meander over to Ross’s car, and I throw an arm around Ivy to appear as casual as possible.

“Here, I’ll lean against the car, and you lean over me like we’re gonna make out,” she says.

I growl. “I’d much rather just do that.”

“Focus, King. This is your chance to impress your girlfriend. We’ll make out later.” She bats her eyelashes while pulling me closer. It’s quite scary how far I’d go for her. This isn’t considered a crime, is it? Just taking back what’s hers?

I pull the coat hanger out of my jacket, squinting at the windows of the apartments surrounding us. “I’m pretty sure I just saw someone peep through their blinds,” I whisper.

“Then hurry up so we can get this over with.”

“What if the car has an alarm?” I grunt, fighting to get the wire into the window. It’s not an easy maneuver with Ivy in front of me and one of my arms slung around her.

“It’s an old car. There’s no alarm,” she swats at the air, as if that’s the most ridiculous thought in the world. Finally, the wire slides into place, and I manage to get it down to the button inside the door. I hear a click as the locks unlatch, surprised it actually worked. Ivy lets out a squeal, which I quickly shush, but she hops around excitedly on her toes .

“You did it!”

She opens the passenger door, and the most obnoxiously loud car alarm begins blaring, announcing our illicit activity for the whole block.

I turn to her, my lips pursed. “No alarm, hmm?”

“Gloating isn’t a good look on you,” she says, shaking her head before ducking down. But hiding is pointless, because this thing is loud enough to be heard within a two-mile radius. I pull her away, crouch-walking behind the next car as two men approach from the shadows. I’m grateful I wore a clean shirt for my inevitable mugshot. I try to position my body in front of Ivy, but we’re sitting ducks. If we run, we leave ourselves exposed. This is my worst nightmare—wanting to keep the woman beside me safe but feeling utterly powerless to do so.

“Ivy?”

She stands suddenly, too quickly for me to pull her back down. My only option is to stand with her, shielding her as we wait for this to play out. The blaring car alarm finally stops when one of the men presses a button on his keys.

“Hi, Ross.”

“Ivy? Whatcha doin over there, sis?”

“Oh, well, we heard this was a great spot for stargazing,” she says, gesturing with a circular motion to the dimly lit parking lot where we’re loitering. “You wouldn’t think so with all the light pollution, but word is, this is the place to be. Yup.” She swings her arms awkwardly while her eyes survey the area.

Ross’s friend gives him a head tilt to the car, seemingly in a hurry to get somewhere. “We gotta go.”

Ivy’s brother climbs into the passenger seat and tosses me the bent piece of wire. He tries to appear casual, but his body is rigid with tension. Forcing a chuckle, he shakes his head. “Whatever you think I have, it’s not here. I don’t stash things in my car anymore, Vee. ”

She jumps forward, her hand reaching out as the car starts, urgency in her voice. “But you found something that day you were in my house. What was it?”

He rolls the window down, his voice stretching over the breeze as the car pulls away. “Pop had hiding places, too.”

“Well, that was unhelpful,” she whines as she watches the retreating vehicle.

“Come on, Nancy Drew,” I begin, sliding my arm around her waist again and leaning down to kiss the top of her head. “It’s time to go home.”

As I drive us to Ivy’s place, I can’t shake the awareness of how differently things could have turned out. My heart slowly settles into a steadier rhythm, but Ivy’s mind is still racing as she rattles off every possible meaning behind Ross’s cryptic words.

I park her car and she runs into her house, opening drawers and searching desperately. “It has to be here somewhere!”

“Hey, look at me for a second, will you?” I smile, turning her shoulders toward me. “It’s almost three in the morning. You need sleep. And whatever Ross found, it’s hidden well enough that your Gran and her tenants probably haven’t found it, even after all these years. Go to bed. We’ll look for it tomorrow.”

Her eyes finally rest on mine as she rubs her forehead. “You’re right. Okay. Sleep. I need sleep.”

I kiss her goodnight and collapse onto her uncomfortable sofa. I could ask to use the spare inflatable mattress, but even walking into her room feels like too much temptation right now. My control and logic are already hanging by a thread. I must have been out of my mind to let her rope me into this with so little questioning.

But I’m realizing there is very little I wouldn’t do for her.