Axe remained silent for another few moments before saying, “You’re in love with Ivy, aren’t you?”
Brant’s eyes darted between Axe and me. He seemed desperate not to have this conversation, but he nodded slowly. “Yes.”
“And she loves you?” Axe asked.
“No, I don’t think so.” Brant stumbled over his words and glanced at the wall as he answered that question.
I stopped pacing and narrowed my eyes on him. Watching. Waiting for the truth.
“You’re lying, Brant,” Axe said. “You do think she loves you.”
Brant stared at the wall, silent. When he answered Axe’s question, he fixed his gaze on me. “I want her to love me, but she loves you.”
Fuck.
Axe stood and turned to me. Jerking his chin at the door, he said, “We need a minute.” When we were out of the room, he said, “He’s not lying.”
“I agree.”
“My bet is Tony knows about this thing between him and Ivy. Probably figures that Brant knows where she is, and possibly thinks that if he believes Romano’s in hiding, it’s the perfect opportunity to go to Ivy. I’d say Romano has eyes on him and this clubhouse, and is waiting for him to leave here.”
“So we put him back out there and wait for Romano to come to him.”
Axe nodded. “Yeah, but we wait for Zane to arrive and get him to bug Brant’s phone and put a tracker in it. You get Brant to call Romano so we can track him too.”
“And I’ll get him to mention our rat to Romano so he knows that I fucking know. And whichever club member suddenly disappears is our guy.” I glanced down at my ringing phone. Holding it up, I said, “Can you finish with him while I take this?”
He agreed, and I answered the call. “Tatum. Any news?”
“Nothing. He’s still on remand, and I’m still waiting to hear from you as to whether you’ve found a way to deal with Marx.”
She was pissed off, and I wasn’t a fan of her throwing that shit at me. “Because you’re Nitro’s old lady and because you’re helping me with this, I’ll let that shit slide this time, Tatum. But you come at me with that kind of attitude again and we won’t remain friends very long.”
“King, I don’t give a fuck if we’re friends or not. The only thing I care about right now is that Nitro gets out. You take care of that or I will.”
“I’m in the middle of taking care of it for fuck’s sake.” Why the hell had I involved her in this? I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“Good. Let me know when it’s done.”
She ended the call, leaving me staring at my phone wondering how the fuck an old lady had managed to get under my skin like she had. I was annoyed as fuck at her, but I had to admit she had my respect for taking Nitro’s back like she had.
Hyde came my way, a look of determination in his eyes. “Just heard from Ghost. He thinks he has a guy who can take care of Marx for us. Said he’ll confirm ASAP. And Winter said to tell you that Ivy’s not feeling any better.”
“Call the doctor. Get him to give her the once over.” I shoved my phone in my pocket. “Brant confirmed the truth in her story. I’m just about to see her again and let her know she doesn’t have to stay in that room anymore.”
“You think it’s wise to let her go? With what’s going on?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m not letting her out of here, but she’s not a fucking prisoner.”
“I’ll let the boys know that’s she’s not to get past the front gate. And I’ll get onto the doc now.”
Five minutes later, I entered Ivy’s room again. She lay on the bed, back to the door, and didn’t acknowledge my presence. I walked around to the side she faced and found her staring at the wall. Sitting on the bed, I expelled a long-held breath and rested my elbows on my knees.
Neither of us spoke.
Not for a good five minutes.
There was so much to say, and yet, I couldn’t find the words to express any of it. And she didn’t appear interested in talking either.