Surviving Ice (Burying Water #4)(72)

He showed up, just like he said he would.

He showed up and Dakota must have told him where I went, and he is oh-so-pissed with me right now.

But I can’t ignore the tiny bubble of relief that he’s here.

I push it away, though, because I need to deal with Bobby. “So, let me get this straight. Ned had something worth a lot of money to give to someone. He felt he needed backup with him during the exchange, and then he ends up dead. Now someone’s torn apart our house—which we’re trying to sell because we can’t pay the mortgage and we have no insurance, by the way—because they were likely trying to find whatever he was handing over at this exchange, and you guys, who are supposed to be Ned’s friends, won’t do a thing to help me? Fucking bikers!”

All amusement has left Bobby’s face. “Me telling you what I just did is helping you.” He steps closer and looms over me, and I can’t help but shrink back. “But don’t you f*cking dare come here and—”

It all happens so fast. One moment Bobby is hovering over me, the next he’s flat on his back and Sebastian is standing above him. I see that his gun is tucked into the back of his jeans. As if he placed it there before getting out of the car, expecting something like this to happen.

The other two guys come running, their guts bouncing with each step. They’re not coming to see if Bobby’s okay; their focus is zeroed in on Sebastian, who doesn’t seem at all concerned. I instinctively take a step back, because that’s what you do out of self-preservation when six hundred pounds is charging your way.

Sebastian doesn’t, though. He turns to face them square on, his stance relaxed. And when they finally reach him, fists in the air, it’s like one of those horrifically choreographed fight scenes from older movies, where the bad guy swings and the good guy maneuvers out of the way with ease, making the bad guy lose his balance and tumble. That, coupled with a few lightning-quick swings and kicks, and both guys are lying in heaps next to Bobby; one’s moaning and holding his jaw, while the other one is out cold.

“Jesus Christ!” A gruff voice yells from somewhere inside. A moment later, Moe—who is not much smaller than Bobby—comes around the corner. He must have been watching the entire thing from the office windows. “What the hell is goin’ on out here?”

I step up and place a hand on Sebastian’s hand, staying him, because the last thing I want him doing is beating up a fifty-something-year-old man. Even if he’s betraying Ned by not helping the police.

“Just a disagreement, Moe.”

“Yeah, well, I can see that.” He glares at Sebastian and then takes in the three men, all conscious now. “About what?”

“About him talking to Ivy in a way I didn’t appreciate,” Sebastian says with complete calm.

“She f*cking started it!” Bobby bellows, like a child.

Moe smirks. “You know, when you were five, you used to chase Ivy around Black Rabbit, trying to get her to kiss you?” He turns to look at me. “Didn’t work then, and I assume it’s not gonna work now. What’s the matter, honey?”

“Someone trashed Ned’s house two nights ago. They were looking for something.”

Understanding flickers past Moe’s eyes. “We’re looking around. We’re asking some questions. Be patient.”

Ned always said that these guys don’t work with the police, even when it has no impact on them, out of principle. But at least they haven’t just forgotten about him. Unless Moe’s lying to me right now.

“What about this debt that Ned has with Sullivan? Do I have to worry about some * trying to take Black Rabbit from me?”

Moe turns and spears his son with a stern look. I’m guessing he wasn’t supposed to mention that. “It’s taken care of.”

I frown. “What does that mean?”

“It means that Sully ain’t seein’ another dime out of a gambling bet that didn’t cost him none anyway and he’s just gonna have to live with that. We made sure he gets it. Now leave it be!”

I bite my tongue from any snappy reply. Yelling at Bobby is one thing . . . “Thanks, Moe. Sorry about . . . this.” I wave a hand at the three guys still sitting on their asses in the gravel.

“Yeah, well . . .” Moe glances at them and starts to chuckle.

“I gotta get back to Ned’s house now. There’s a month’s worth of work there.” I grab Sebastian’s biceps and pull him back to his car before Bobby can get to his feet and take a run at him.

“You were supposed to stay at Dakota’s until I came,” Sebastian says evenly, though I hear the irritation hidden.

You were supposed to stay last night! “Ten o’clock didn’t work for me,” I say instead, calmly.

I attempt to move past him to my car but he grabs my arm, pulling me into him. I stand my ground, my heart racing. Daring him to say something confrontational about the fact that I disobeyed him. And struggling not to grin like an * with relief.

Sebastian came back.

His jaw clenches. “What did that guy tell you before I got here?”

“That Ned owed someone a lot of money and he was probably doing something stupid to earn it. I’m going to the house now.” I glare at him, and catch myself staring at his handsome features for too long.