The hospital was bright white; from lights, to walls, to sheets, and very small. They had Ace in surgery before Lily had time to do more than say his name and say that he had no allergies. They took Lily in to look her over. Ivy texted Henry where they were, and said that Devlin’s body was by the side of the road; a body with answers as to who killed him and shot Ace. Ivy filled out pointless paperwork and sent out a 9059, which meant to go on lockdown. They were to protect the children, and set up a command center.

An Iron Knight showed up, two fully charged burner phones in one hand, and a bag with sweatpants and T-shirt in the other. “Freddy,” he said. “I play hockey.”

Ivy snorted. “Thank you,” she said. She barged into Lily’s examination, making the doctor start, an older man with a mustache and ice-blue eyes.

“You can’t just…” said the doctor.

“This is my pregnant sister,” said Ivy. “Her brother was just shot directly in front of her. You better not have given her any medications.”

“I told them not to,” said Lily. “I also told them I was pregnant. They tried to give me a shot anyway.”

Ivy rounded on the doctor. “You what?”

The doctor held up his hands. “She’s in shock!”

“And she’s confused about being pregnant?” Ivy asked. “Get the hell away from her. She wasn’t shot, and you’re an idiot.” The doctor humphed, but quailed under Ivy’s glare. He mumbled about having other patients, and left.

Ivy pulled the curtains all the way around. “Clothes,” she said. Lily grabbed the bag and pulled off her bloody clothes, and pushed the bloody ones into the bag.

Ivy took a phone and sent out the 9059 again. She immediately got a call from Gregory. “Ace is down,” Ivy said. “Shot in the shoulder, so he should be okay in the end. Devlin, Lily’s brother, died instantly.”

“He was shot in the head,” said Lily, clearly. “They may not have been shooting to kill, or have meant to kill Devlin and only wanted to wound Ace.” Tears streamed out of her eyes, unnoticed.

Ivy repeated the information to Gregory. She reached out and dragged Freddy into their little makeshift room when Lily was fully dressed.

“Get with the police. Don’t know if they’ll be local or Highway Patrol. Probably Nye County. Find out who’s got the body. We need to know whatever they learn, yesterday.” She held up her phone with Gregory’s number displayed on it. “This is Gregory. Report to him and to me.”

“On it,” Freddy said, putting Gregory’s number into his phone. He then started making calls.

She rang Gregory as she spoke to Freddy. “Who’s that?” asked Gregory.

“Freddy. Local Iron Knight, hockey lover.”

“Good to know,” said Gregory. “Setting things up here. Keep us in the loop.”

“Will do,” said Ivy, then hung up.

“Where do we wait?” asked Lily, standing up.

“That’s my girl,” said Ivy. She handed her the other phone with one hand and opened the curtain with the other.

“Gun!” said Freddy. He had his Colt .45 out, and got off two shots. One guy fell to the ground; gun falling on the floor, a Glock.

Ivy dropped both the phone and the curtain, shoved Lily back, and took out her own gun from the pocket holster. She got off two shots at the other shooter, one through his shoulder, the other through his neck. The gun in his hand, another Glock .45, fired as he went down. Ivy ducked, and she heard the ping of a ricochet.

Ivy looked down, holstered her gun in her back holster, and turned to see if Lily was all right. There was a crimson hole in her belly. Ivy picked up Lily, and ran through the door marked “Surgery.”

“Open surgical bay?” she screamed at a black man who was dressed in green scrubs and a camo-printed surgical cap.

He pointed to the left and ran to open the door for her. “Lay her down here,” he said. He looked at the wound. “Gut shot. Nancy! IV! Now!”

A nurse came barreling in the room. “Doctor Vanta?” she said. She reached for a needle kit.

“Lily is pregnant,” said Ivy, “and her husband was also shot; he’s in the other surgical bay.”

“We’ll get this done,” said Doctor Vanta. “Now, get out and find out who is shooting up my hospital.”

“On it!” said Ivy. “No one gets into this room without your clearing them,” she said. “I’ll see to it personally.”

“I’ll need Kelley and Quinn,” he said. “They’ll show you ID.”

“Okay,” said Ivy, and went out in front of the door.

Two people in surgical scrubs ran into a glassed-in room next to the surgical bay. They started scrubbing their hands.

Ivy opened the door. “You Kelley and Quinn?” she asked.

“Doctor Athena Quinn and Surgical Nurse Zach Kelley,” said the tall, black woman with green eyes. “I know you’re on a 9059, but I can’t show you my ID without scrubbing in again, and your friend doesn’t have the time.”

“Good enough,” said Ivy.

“What the fuck is a 9059?” asked Zach, still scrubbing.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Athena. “See you on the other side,” she said to Ivy.

“Don’t fuck it up,” said Ivy. Athena nodded, and Ivy closed the door.

Ivy stood halfway between the surgical room door and the scrub room, her eyes tracking the hallway, including the security cameras. She moved her ankle gun to her pocket holster, then leaned against the door. Her eyes roved, scanning the hallway.

A cop came around the corner and pointed a gun at her. “Stop right there!” he said, his voice cracking.

He was in his twenties, but he looked like he was still in high school; thin and reedy, with a prominent Adam’s apple. He wore a brown uniform, and had so much equipment strapped on that it must have weighed nearly more than he did.

“I am standing here,” said Ivy. “Why are you pointing a gun at me?”

“Are you kidding me?” he shouted. “You shot a guy! In front of patients!”

“Guys who shot my friend in there. They shot first. Now, holster your weapon and… Quit. Pointing. It. At. Me.” Ivy gave him a flat stare. He visibly recoiled, the gun wavering.

A new, flat voice called from down the hall. “Put your gun away, Avery. She’ll give me the gun she shot the bad guy with for ballistics testing, without you.” Her voice grew very, very sharp, “Pointing a loaded gun in a hospital, right outside two surgical bays where they’re operating on patients.”

Avery still pointed the gun at Ivy, but didn’t look at the woman coming up behind, although he recognized the voice.

“It’s Xenia,” she said. “Nice to meet again.”

“You’re not the boss of me!” said Avery, in his quivery voice.

Ivy snorted. Xenia laughed, and the sound wasn’t pretty. “No, but I fuck him sometimes, and I promise you this, I am going to show him the tape where you draw on a woman that is just standing in a hallway. Then you wave your gun around like a rookie. It’s idiots like you that shoot dogs and victims at crime scenes.”

Avery holstered his gun. “You’re under arrest,” he said, taking out his cuffs. Ivy snorted again.

Xenia stepped forward. “I’m claiming jurisdiction. The initial murder happened on the highway. The attempted assassination happened as fruit from the first tree. So, go away now, Avery,” she said, waving her hand. “Shoo.”

Xenia had stepped forward enough that Ivy could see Xenia take out a plastic evidence bag used for ballistics. Moving very slowly, Ivy took the gun out of her back holster, took out the clip, and dropped the gun and clip into the bag. Xenia put the bag in a case by her feet and then took out a GSR pad. She carefully wiped Ivy’s right hand. Then, she used another pad for her left hand. She put the pads away in her special box and stood.

“I’m good,” she said. “The shooting’s all on camera. You got the guy after he shot the patient.”

Avery stood there. “You’re not arresting her?” His voice hit the stratosphere.

“She’s helping the ATF and the DEA,” said Xenia. “If you want to piss them off, be my guest. I know for a fact Homeland Security is keeping an eye on this mess, too. The two that got shot today are shooters for hire, Tonio Munoz, and Benvedio Marcelos. Both Texans, way away from where they were supposed to be.”

“Then she needs to be under arrest,” said Avery. “She’s a witness!”

“Are you still here?” asked Ivy, giving him a flat stare. “And I’m pressing charges against you for your pointing a gun at me when you didn’t have one pointed at you. You also never identified yourself as a police officer. I hope you have a great lawyer because all of this is on camera. What’s your badge number?”

“I have it,” said Xenia. “I suggest hiring Eddie Flores. He’s a great attorney, and he’s had Avery here do the same thing to him. Already warnings against this sort of thing in his jacket.”

“Really?” said Ivy. “What’s his number?”

Avery spluttered. “Xena!”

“Xena is a fictional warrior princess. Xenia is the goddess of hospitality, generosity, and courtesy; things you apparently know nothing about. And, it’s Sheriff Xenia Hill, while you are soon-to-be Ex-Officer Marcel Avery. Now, please leave.”

Avery kept spluttering, but he eventually left, looking over his shoulder as if Ivy would draw on him at any minute. Xenia called Security to make sure all the hospital footage was held for the Highway Patrol and, most likely, the DEA and ATF. The alphabet soup of letters made the security guard vow to send all the raw footage immediately; including the hallway footage, to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, and to specifically not release any footage to the Pahrump Police Department.

Xenia called Eddie Flores herself. “Eddie, Sheriff Hill here. Avery pulled a gun on someone in a hospital corridor, and I have footage.”

Ivy and Xenia smiled cat smiles at the man’s glee. “I’ve been trying to get Baby Avery kicked out for nine months now. Shot a beagle last week. A beagle! On private property! I’m representing the homeowner, too. His mama is on the school board, which is why he hasn’t been fired yet.”

“Well, get on it,” said Xenia. “I’ll email you the footage. Happened not less than a minute ago.”

“On it,” said Eddie. He hung up.

Xenia put the phone in her pocket. “We can’t hug here because I’m conducting an impartial investigation, but as a Valkyrie, I swear I’ll kill anyone trying to kill Ace.” She pointed to the correct operating room. “Or Lily, his wife.” She pointed at the other. “Got both Valkyries and Iron Knights lining up to be on protection duty. Sorry about Lily’s brother. We’ll take good care of him.”

Ivy teared up, then got herself under control. “Thank you. You’ll find out one of those Texas numbnuts killed him.”

“I assume you have more weapons,” Xenia said.

“Absolutely,” said Ivy.

“Any of those throwing stars I heard about from the ATF report? Didn’t know you were into that.”

“They don’t have wooden boards for throwing stars at the shooting range,” said Ivy. “No reason you should have known.”

“Well, Herja will be here soon. She calls her boyfriend by her own handle, Devastator. So, you get two for one.”

“Why is your name Greek and not Norse?”

Xenia laughed. “My mama is a university professor of Greek mythology.”

Ivy smiled. “Thank the Valkyries and the Iron Knights for me, please.”

“Thank us yourself.” Herja had big ice-blue eyes, pale skin, white-blonde hair in various braids, and amazing tiny braids that merged together, as well.

“Ivy,” Herja said and nodded. “This is Devastator.”

Devastator had dark skin, with many tribal tattoos wrapping around his arms. Then a mass of curly hair caught in a silver clip at the nape of his neck. They were the same height, and both had muscles rippling under their skin. Xenia nodded at her friends, grabbed her box, and made tracks out of the building.

“Thank you,” said Ivy, stepping forward. “The Nighthawks owe the Valkyries and the Iron Knights.”

Ivy’s phone rang. Herja stood in Ivy’s previous spot and Devastator across from her. They leaned against the walls and were obviously armed. Ivy clearly saw both holsters and knives in boots.

Ivy’s stepped away to take it. “I’ve got the kids at the school. We’re going to make pizzas and watch movies later,” said Callie. “Are you okay?”

“Absolutely not,” said Ivy. “Devlin was shot dead right in front of me, Ace is in surgery, Lily is across the hall losing her baby because she got shot, and I wasn’t fast enough to stop any of it.” She took a deep breath. “And the cops have one of my guns.”

Callie gasped. “What the fuck? More shooting?”

“We’ve got the Valkyries and the Iron Knights on it. A Valkyrie is the sheriff here. We’ll be safe, for now. But these were hired, guys.” Ivy heard a beep. “Got another call, baby.”

“Stay safe,” said Callie.

“On it,” said Ivy. She switched calls. “Talk to me.”

“Leticia don’ know nuffin,” said Ghost. “She say she din’ know that white boy still wif us. I tell her he got punished, sent away to work. She say, well, he now dead. She say she don’ want no Nighthawks pissed at her. So, she say, we need somfin, we call in da favah.”

“Don’t need one yet,” said Ivy.

“You need Killa and I dere? We be fas’ on our bikes.”

“Guard our people,” said Ivy.

“Been doin’ dat. De braiding lessons goin’ well. Killa done taught how to put in de beads.”

Ivy’s brain froze at the idea of two gangbangers on the floor, showing children how to braid hair. “That’s real good,” she said. “You keep the kids safe.”

“We good,” said Ghost, and hung up.

Ivy turned the corner. She found a machine and shuddered at the idea of artificial coffee. She chose a Dr. Pepper instead. She popped the top and drank it down. She found a waiting room around the corner, strangely empty. She sat down and let the adrenaline take her into the shakes. She stood up, walked back to the hallway, and leaned against a wall.

Gregory called. “We heard about the shooters. We think it’s the Talamates. Or, it may be someone trying to make them happy.”

“They are supposed to be gone, And, isn’t that nutcase La Diabla locked up?” La Diabla was a Talamates assassin sent to kill Ivy. Ace and Ivy had taken that bitch down, hard.

“We’ve had issues with lawyers,” said Gregory. “We’re trying to find out who hers is.”

Ivy blew out a breath. “I should have thought of that.”

“Tito’s gonna be here soon. We’re splitting up keeping everyone safe, and finding out who did this.” Gregory’s tone was all business; exceptionally calm. Ivy loved that about him.

Ivy took a shaky breath. “We’re in the loop on the shooting. The shooters are dead. They came after me again and they got Lily. She’s probably going to lose the baby.”

He got absolutely silent. “Fuck,” he said. “So, we’re after who sent them.”

“Ghost already told me Leticia had nothing to do with it. Track down the lawyer. The shooters came from Texas. The connection will be there.”

“We’ve got a chapter of the Iron Knights in Texas,” he said. “And they’re real down on assassins.”

“Reach out to them,” said Ivy, “and the name of the bitch’s lawyer. Someone is doing this, and if we pull enough strings, we’ll get to it. I’ll call Wraith.”

“Hold on,” said Gregory.

A voice came on the line. “Wraith here,” said a female voice. “Hey, I hear the assassins are crawling out of the woodwork.”

“They are,” said Ivy. “I’ve got guards on the surgical rooms, and I’m in the same hallway.”

“We’ll run down some things,” said Wraith. “Hang on. When it’s safe enough to move them, there’s this real quiet hospital recovery center we can move them to. There’s this one corridor we use for people with getting-dead issues.”

“Sounds good,” said Ivy. “For now, we’ve got to move on this.”

“Getting the job done,” said Wraith. “And just so you know, the Valkyries tried to recruit me, and the Iron Knights tried to get both me and Saber.” Saber was Wraith, the DEA agent’s boyfriend, with ATF. Both were bikers.

“Well, join whoever floats your boat,” said Ivy. “We’d love to have you, but you have to do what’s best for you.”

“Shut up,” said Wraith. “We told them no. We’re with you. We may have to not be with you if we’re on a case, but we’re with you right now.”

“You complete me,” said Ivy. Wraith laughed.

“Come home when everyone is in the safe hospital. Meanwhile, I’ve got a Valkyrie that can super-help with the bar. You’ll need an income; you can’t just keep shutting down the bar when people try to assassinate you.”

Ivy nodded. “It keeps happening,” she said. “So, who is she?”

“She loves to rock.”

“Okay, we’ll get into that later. We’ve got to find the assassin-sending cretin out there.”

“On it,” said Wraith.

Ivy hung up. She considered the fact that she needed to eat. She also needed to grab a nap; surgeries were either long or ended in sudden death.

She peeked around the corner and said, “There a Sonic around here?” Both Herja and Devastator pointed to the left.

She realized her bike was still at the crime scene by the side of the road, so she summoned an Uber on her cell. She had to have the Uber driver park at the far end of the rest stop. The bikes were far enough away from the meet that they weren’t on the wrong side of the police tape. The coroner van was there. A man in a Stetson was there; full police uniform, chatting with Xenia. Xenia nodded at Ivy; Ivy knew then who was behind leaving the bikes alone. A man with a face (wizened by wind and weather) came up to her in full biker gear, helmet in hand, do-rag on his head.

“Herder,” he said. “Michael. Iron Knights. Go by my last name. Some of my flock’s like lost sheep. We got keys from the pockets. My wife Charlie and I will ride Ace and Lily’s bikes back to Vegas with our kids following us. Jamie’s sixteen and Ula’s twenty. Good kids. Take ‘em to a show, let them dance at Dirty Vegas.”

“Only if they’ve got fake IDs,” said Ivy. “Don’t need Liquor Control shutting us down.” Herder snorted. “Don’t know when we’re opening; got a Valkyrie to talk to.”

“She’s already there,” said a woman. She was short, with black hair flowing down her back. “Bella’s meeting her. Cougar’s half black and half Crow; I’m half Sioux and half black myself. Sistas gotta stick together.”

Ivy said, “Word.” The women hugged.

“Go back to the hospital now,” said Charlie, releasing her.

Two girls in a quad cab truck, colored cherry red, drove up behind the bikes. “We’ll leave these at the club.”

“May the wind be in your teeth,” said Ivy.

Charlie laughed. “That’s the way I like it,” she said. They mounted up.

Ivy cringed deep inside when she saw Ace’s American flag and Lily’s white, calla lily keychains.

They went to the exit, and Charlie, Herder, and the girls went to the overpass to go back to Vegas. Ivy put on her helmet, started the bike, and went to Sonic. She got herself cheese sticks; the only thing she thought she could hold down, and a cherry limeade.

When she got back to the hospital, she took in her go backpack from her saddlebags. She went to the surgical floor to relieve Herja at the door. Herja wasn’t having it. Both Ace and Ivy were still in surgery.

“Get some fucking sleep,” said Herja. “Long haul.”

Ivy nodded, clasped Herja’s wrist, and went to the waiting room. She took the bedroll from the bottom of the pack, unrolled it, and laid it over two chairs and a low table at the same height. All after removing the fake flowers and putting them on another table. She laid easily down, the pack as her pillow, and took a catnap.

She jerked awake, stood. She rolled up the bag and tied it to the bottom of her bag. She stretched, popping her spine. She checked her messages. Nothing. She called Gregory. Tito answered.

“Everything is in hand,” said Tito. “Wraith and Saber are doing something undercover. The kids are safe. We’re good. We’ve deployed to Henry’s farm, and the res is on alert. Doubt that’s where they’ll hit, though. They seem fucking determined to kill you.”

“I think they hit Ace because he’s the other one that took La Diabla down.”

“They didn’t see you?”

“Nope,” said Ivy. “I was getting sodas.”

“Good,” said Tito. “Glad you’re not dead.”

“So am I,” said Ivy with a semi-laugh. “Keep me posted.” She hung up and went to see what was going on.

Action

Tito sighed as he hung up the phone. The Nighthawks attacked again, check. His brother Ace was shot, check. His sister, Ace’s wife’s good-for-nothing brother, shot and killed, check. The news that the bastards had come back to finish the job, and that the ricochet had gone into Lily’s stomach and caused her to lose the baby made him feel as if he’d been gut-shot himself. He thought of his wife and his own kids.

Callie stuck her head out of the classroom door. “Can someone bring me more juice boxes? Half grape, half apple,” she said.

Tito looked up at her. “Call your wife,” he said. She took one look at his face, turned white, and pulled out her own phone. “Bathroom break!” she called into the classroom.

“Okay,” said Henry. Callie rushed out toward the bathroom.

Nantan saw his face, and said, “What is it, brother?”

“The killers came by again and shot up the emergency room where Ivy and Lily were. Ivy is fine but Lily was gut-shot by a ricochet before she could kill the bastard. Lily lost the baby.”

The entire room silenced. “Fuck me,” said Numa. “I’ll go out there once we get things a bit more settled here.”

“Good idea,” said Tito, “but, let’s get some more intel first. What do we know?”

“It ain’t Leticia,” said Ghost. “We done found that out. We gotta find out ‘bout anyone not caught by the po-lice in Mexico.”

“I got calls out about that,” said Tito. “The Iron Knights have been particularly helpful.” He pulled up a screen. “Two top Los Zetas cartel people were not shut down when we took out Talamantes’ son. Then his little gang Viento Malvado, and his shooter La Diabla, a few months back. This nasty motherfucker is Werner Banatas. His mother was one of Benicio’s whores that got out of the life and married; of all people, a German hit man. He ghosted when the indictments against the cartel went down. Our ace in the hole, Saber, says he may have been seen in Texas, the home of our two, (just hit) people. Stupid shooter number one was Tonio Munoz, twenty-three, a drug runner since age twelve; mule for the cartel, and now a hit man. Asshole number two, Benvedio Marcelos, was a best friend of asshole one, and was arrested for running drugs at, get this, age nine. He graduated to armed robbery. He’s now twenty-five, and just got out of the penitentiary in Beaumont, Texas; favorite place to hang out with Tonio, who got out six months before he did, for beating his girlfriend.”

“I mourn the loss,” said Numa, dryly.

“As do I,” said Tito. “Asshole bastards may have been in contact with Evil Guy One. Werner Banatas is heading here, according to the reported trail of bodies. He seems to be cleaning up the cartel business, making sure all the cut-outs get cut out, so no one can blab about cartel business.”

“Evil Guy number two?” asked Numa.

“I’m glad you asked,” said Tito. “David Rayalos Talamantes is young, smart, and a bastard Talamantes as well. We think he took Daddy’s money and ran, along with his wife and kids. He’s a stone, cold killer. He supposedly strangled his first girlfriend because, according to rumor, she laughed at the size of his cock. He’s only twenty-six. He is married to Celia Villa Cantos, a hit woman herself, with bright red hair, likes to carry an Uzi. She’s two years older, and twice the man he’ll ever be. If she’s in charge, expect carnage.”

“She’s our biggest threat, not Werner. But, he’s probably the one that sent the Texas assassins,” said Wraith, tossing her white-blonde braid over her shoulder. “They’ve been seen in Arizona, so they’ll get here first. We have another baby Talamantes, people, with a wife more bloodthirsty than he is.”

“I’ll warn Ivy,” said Tito.

“No, I’ll call the woman guarding her, Herja. She’s a Valkyrie. She’ll keep Ivy and Lily safe. Her second is Devastator, the meaning of Herja’s name. He’s the Iron Knight guarding Ace. They’ll look out for these guys.”

“Okay,” said Tito. “We have some time, so let’s get to know our bad guys.”

“We’ll dig deep, send you info, then go deep and dark.” Wraith hugged Numa, grabbed Tito by his wrist, and then took off.

Tito called Daisy Chain, a number Lily had given him with a solemn vow to never, ever call and ask random favors, and to only call in case of emergency. He called her, told him who he was.

“I hate to be the one to tell you, this, but Lily’s brother was shot and killed today. Ace was shot in the shoulder, and Lily was shot in the abdomen. She lost the baby.” He held the phone away from his ear until Daisy Chain stopped screaming. “She’s being guarded, but she’s still in danger. We have names.”

Daisy Chain choked out words through tears. “Killer names?”

“The killers are dead, but their masters are still very much alive and on the move. They’re cartel, they’re dangerous, so cover your tracks.”

“On it,” said Daisy Chain. Tito heard typing. “Give me the names.” So, he did.

* * *

Information came in fits and starts, as information came in. Benicio from the Iron Knights, DEA, showed up. “Werner is still in Texas,” said Benicio. “Got a body count in Amarillo. His signature move, throat slit with a serrated blade. Two drug mules. He may hire someone and send them here, but I doubt it. I think he sent those yahoos out as a grinder.”

“Send yahoos out against armed people?” asked Tito.

“Exactly,” said Benicio. “Might get your target, but if you lose your idiot shooters, then who cares? He doesn’t.”

Tito sighed. “We are taking this asshole down, aren’t we?”

“Absolutely, but I don’t know who is taking down whom. When Saber and Wraith go dark, they go midnight-dark.”

“Let’s hope they blow those nasties up before we have to deal with them.”

Wraith met with Saber just out of town, on the 15, at a truck stop. They ate bacon and waffles.

“Do you want Werner or Dirty Davie and Cistern Celia?” asked Saber to his one and only, Wraith.

“Cistern Celia?” she asked, sucking on a cola.

“She likes to shoot her victims and leave their bodies in cisterns.”

“That’s just lovely,” said Wraith. “Sounds like the perfect girlfriend.”

“Good God,” said Saber. He ate some bacon. “Woman, you terrify me.”

“Good,” said Wraith. “I need to be terrifying to make that woman feel safe. She’ll want to go after Ivy, and leave her husband for Ace. And, if hubby gets killed…” she shrugged. “No big loss. I’m sure either she’s holding the money, or she has plenty of her own.”

“Lovely. Husband as wallet and/or cutout.” He ate some waffle.

Wraith smiled beatifically. “Got to keep it real,” she said.

“Gonna need help,” said Saber. “I’m good, but not invincible, and we’ve gotta split up.”

“Let’s get us some Valkyries,” said Wraith. “We need swords and guns.”

“Lots of guns,” said Saber. “And those women come loaded for bear.”

“Well,” said Wraith, pulling out her cell phone. “Looks like I may have to be in two clubs at the same time.”

Saber sighed. “I don’t see you enough as it is.”

“They let me date,” said Wraith. “You’d be my second.”

He touched her wrist. “I am already your second.”

She clasped his wrist, and he clasped hers. “Yes, you are.”

The Las Vegas Valkyries sent two to the truck stop, Skuld (or Future), and Rota, meaning Storm. Skuld had braids running up one side of her head in a faux mohawk. Her hair spilled out into a white-blonde fall up. Over her head and down her back, held in a silver clip between her shoulder blades. Her eyes were a deep, penetrating blue, and her skin almost as pale as her hair.

Rota had black hair in tiny braids on one side, and flowing up into red on the top; then black, then blue at the tips. Her eyes were black granite, her lips wide, her nose flat, with cinnamon skin. They both ordered coffee, strong black.

“Who wants to go with me to the Texas border to take out a German/Mexican cartel assassin?” asked Saber. Skuld’s eyes flashed and she sat down next to Saber.

“I’m going after a murderous woman and her cartel boy-toy husband,” said Wraith.

“Sounds like fun,” said Rota. Wraith and Rota engaged in a complicated wrist-shake involving fingers.

“We need to pick up anything?” asked Saber. Skuld and Rota drank their coffee, and Wraith and Saber their colas.

“Nope,” said Rota. “Herja told us to come with everything.”

“This one’s ATF,” said Wraith. “I’ve got more weaponry than I know what to do with.”

“Way to break our cover,” said Saber.

Skuld snorted. “All the Valkyries know you. You, we get a favor from,” she said, pointing at Wraith. “Wraith, we choose you for six months. You can go back to the Nighthawks. Nice outfit, but we’re better.”

“You won’t go back,” said Rota. “Once a Valkyrie…”

“Spear, blade, shield, victory!” they both said.

“If you roll your eyes, you die,” said Wraith.

“That’s what I thought,” said Saber.

Wraith kissed Saber in the parking lot. He slipped her another throwing knife. She smiled and strapped the sheath just above her left wrist.

“You give me all the best toys,” she said. He kissed her again.

Skuld and Rota clung to each other’s necks, then kissed each other’s foreheads. They finished by touching foreheads and looked into each other’s eyes. They clasped wrists, and said to each other, “With your shield or on it. Spear, blade, shield, victory!”

Rota pulled out with Wraith, and Saber with Skuld. Skuld pulled ahead, and let out the throttle. Saber tried to keep up. Wraith and Rota flowed forward, letting the engines out, and laughed into the wind.

Skuld and Saber had the easier time. The trail of bodies was easy to track. Skuld actually caught Werner trying to hide a body in an alley.

“Need help?” she asked.

“Never,” said Werner. “I am perfect as I am.”

Saber snorted. “You leave bodies like a trail.”

“Like a vampire leaving kills,” said Skuld. She laid her head back, exposing her white neck, luminous in the light. “Easy to find.”

“You are hunting me,” said Werner, drawing his Glock.

Skuld had a knife embedded in the wall next to his temple before he had time to bring up the gun. “Now, now,” she said. “We have been sent to clean up your mess. Assassins are supposed to be like smoke, understand?”

“Who sent you?” he asked, taking the knife out of the wall.

“My devil lady sent me,” she said. “I am her right hand, and she wants you for her left hand. If you improve.” She walked forward, swaying her hips. She held out her hand for her knife.

Werner gave it back and holstered the gun. She made her knife disappear. “Come.” She waved her hand. “Saber, clean this up.”

“Yes, my lady,” said Saber, with a slight bow. She nodded and looked away.

“You must be somewhere else,” she said to Werner. “And I must be seen to be with you, after our wild night together.”

“Our wild night?” asked Werner.

She took his arm. “Let’s get some coffee. I saw a delightful little shop with the name of my favorite flower. You can spill coffee on yourself to cover the blood.”

They turned the corner, and Saber sent a few coded texts while he leaned down over the body. He expected ATF to send a coroner and an agent to the alley. He also sent the location of the Daisy Cafe; he’d seen it while looking for Werner. He streaked some alley dust on his jeans and hands and waited until a short Hispanic man with cop eyes came around the corner.

“You after the German?” he asked.

“Yeah. My current partner has him in the Daisy Coffee Shop. He’s got blood from this guy on his hands and shirt.”

“Biker chick with a braided mohawk?” asked the guy.

“Yeah,” said Saber. “I’m supposed to be hiding the body.”

The guy snorted. “Good job,” he said.

“Thanks,” said Saber. “Well, I’ve had enough time to throw him in a dumpster. We’ll work Werner into someplace without civilians so you can take us all down.”

“Just him,” said the guy. “You two catch a poof. Then, go meet up with your girlfriend. Her boss is having a cow that you two got separated.”

“Me too,” said Saber. “By the way, this one’s body count…”

“We know about Pahrump,” said the guy. “Stupid name for a town.” Saber barked out a laugh. “Besides, including this one, that’s twelve. In Texas. And we’re a death penalty state.”

“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” said Saber.

“Be careful,” said the guy, “the coffee in that shop is terrible.”

Saber snorted, and ducked out of the alley, just ahead of the coroner.

* * *

Skuld ordered a truly, putrid, orange spice tea. He spilled a little on Werner to “help” him. Werner was angry but clenched his teeth because Skuld had him wrapped around her little finger.

“We have a hotel,” she said. “Very pleasant. Not a chain, but enough people so that we will not be noticed. Then, we will discuss payment.”

“Payment?” asked Werner.

“’She Who Shall Not Be Named’ loves your work. She wants to… compensate you.”

His caramel eyes shone with greed. “Let us go then,” said Werner.

“Let’s,” said Skuld. She waved her hand. “Clean this up,” she said to Saber, making a gesture to his left. Saber bowed a little. She rose, with Werner now on her arm.

Saber put the cups on a tray and carried it to the back trash can. He then sent two coded texts that said, “Essentially and “To the left.”

He went out, hands in pockets, and spotted the guy from the alley cross the street. He saw a car three blocks ahead, a beater with a tall black man leaning on it. He hurried a little to catch up with Skuld.

Skuld held Werner’s arm. She slipped him a key and whispered the name of a hotel. “Two blocks up, on the right,” she said. “There is an envelope on the bed, under the pillow. Ten thousand. You kill Ivy, you get ten thousand a month for the rest of your life.” She let go of his arm. “I will bring absinthe. We will celebrate.” She turned toward a liquor store and he rushed on ahead, eager for the promised money.

Saber met her at the liquor store and they went around the side. They looked around the corner as a third man came out of an alley. He already had a .45 pointed at Werner’s head. The guy from the alley put cuffs on him before the hit man had time to draw his numerous weapons.

“Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,” said Saber.

“Exactly,” said Skuld. She laughed evilly, making Saber shudder. “Texas will lethal-inject his ass.” She smiled cattily. “Let’s get some chocolate chip pancakes, then find our lovers.”

“They’re in Arizona,” said Saber, turning towards the yellow Waffle House sign in the distance. “Smaller body count. Apparently, less cisterns.”

Awakening

Ivy jerked awake, stood, and remembered she was in the hospital waiting room, and why. She rolled up the bag and tied it to the bottom of her pack. She stretched, popping her spine. She checked her messages. Nothing. She called Gregory. Tito answered.

“Everything is in hand,” said Tito. He told her all about the hunt for the nasties, Werner, David, and Celia. “Wraith and Saber are doing something undercover. The kids are safe. We’re good. We’ve deployed to Henry’s farm; the res is on alert. Doubt that’s where they’ll hit, though. They seem fucking determined to kill you. I think they hit Ace because he’s the other one that took La Diabla down.”

“No shit, Sherlock,” said Ivy. “Sorry, didn’t mean to be an asshole. I need soda.”

She heard some typing in the background. “You’ll have it. Use the restroom and come back to the waiting room, and it should be there by then.”

Ivy rolled her eyes. “So, whoever you sent should be here soon. Good to know. Hope Wraith calls soon.”

“Or Saber,” said Tito. “Those two do good work.”

“Sadly, said Ivy, “that’s why we’re in this mess. But, I don’t regret bringing a cartel assassin down. Anyone look into her lawyer yet?”

“That’s ATF. Or maybe DEA. They bugged his phone and dropped his numbers. Wraith says some weenie in the office is matching numbers with hit assholes.”

“Okay,” said Ivy. “Keep it real.”

Tito sighed. “This, mi hermana, is as real as it gets.”

“Word,” said Ivy, and hung up.

She went into the hallway. Herja wasn’t there, but Devastator was. “His shoulder’s a fucking wreck. Almost done, doctor says. Bullet removal went well with the other one. A Nighthawk named Katya is with her in recovery. Lily’s sedated.”

Ivy grasped his wrist, and he grasped it back. “Nighthawks owe you.”

He withdrew his hand. “You owe nothing. That was a coward’s move, shooting a non-combatant’s brother dead, before killing a principal. And killing a non-combatant’s unborn child? Beyond disgusting.”

“Gotta agree with you there,” she said.

She left her pack at his feet. She hit up the restroom, washed her face. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. She sighed and headed out.

Gregory was just outside the door, a blessed can of Dr. Pepper goodness in his hand. “Thought you needed this,” he said. She popped the top and downed it. He handed her another one. “And I have a backup.”’

“You rock,” said Ivy. He took the empty can, crushed it in his hand, and then held her. She swayed a little.

He let her go, then looked at her. “You look like shit, sister,” he said. “You need more sleep.”

“Not gonna happen,” she said. “What do we know?”

He reached down and shouldered her pack. “We aren’t much farther along on the investigation. The kids are going to stay over and make tacos. And giggle. A lot. They are arguing about expanding the hydroponics program, and that could go on all night.”

“Abso-fuckin’-lutely,” said Ivy. “The debates in my house, (even with little girls who truly love each other), are vicious. Nantan has his hands full.” Nantan, who lived on Henry’s farm, was their hydroponics expert and horse whisperer.

“Wraith says she’s ‘going deep’ and Saber is tracing the nasties, too. Thought they got all the cartel nasties.”

Ivy snorted. “Obviously not.”

“Could be someone else,” said Gregory. They entered the elevator.

“Doubtful,” said Ivy. “Who else is stupid enough to hire hit people that take out the wrong people? They hit Lily’s brother Devlin, wing Ace, use ammo much too heavy for the shootout —Ace’s shoulder is apparently wrecked, and Devlin was missing most of the back of his head. And then, to top it all off, start a shootout in a hospital emergency room. No, someone hired the Stupid’s in Texas and sent them here, where they didn’t know the people or the territory.”

The elevator door opened. Devastator was guarding the door to the room.

“They moved her out of recovery quick. Easier to guard a private room,” said Gregory.

He nodded at Herja. She nodded back, her face a mask of Valkyrie hardness.

She smiled at Ivy. “Katya’s in there. We would have recruited her, but she’s with Gregory.”

Gregory drew himself up. “That my woman.”

“Ugh,” said Herja.

“Um, she owns me,” said Gregory.

“About right,” said Ivy, smiling at Herja. She went in.

Lily had IV lines going into her hand, and a machine to pump in drugs. She was flat on her back, her head slightly elevated. She had obviously been crying; her eyes were swollen. She clutched at her now-empty belly, even in sleep. Katya stood at her head, stroking Lily’s hair and crooning in Russian, her other hand on her own huge belly.

Ivy took Lily’s hand in hers. “Baby girl,” she said. “I am so sorry I did not kill that motherfucker faster.”

“I am as well,” said Katya. “This is terrible thing.”

“Yes, it is,” said Ivy.

“We will get the drugs, harvest her eggs on her next cycle. Or the one after that.”

“What?” asked Ivy.

“You know of this IVF thing? The doctor will take the eggs, and merge with sperm in dish.”

“I know what IVF is,” said Ivy. “She just lost the baby.”

“Will be okay,” said Katya. “Have many women in the club, she can choose the mother. She will heal and watch us get very fat and know her baby coming soon. After ours.”

Katya puffed out a few breaths and rubbed her back. The twins were huge. Ivy had often touched her stomach, and the babies had kicked her. Katya got used to having little sleep, as the boys kept kicking her in the ribs all night long.

“Do you need to sit down?” asked Ivy.

Katya waved her hand. “No, I must walk.”

She walked around the bed. Ivy walked up to Katya’s previous place and began to stroke Lily’s hair. She decided to pull over a chair in case either she or Katya wanted to sit. The chair was an annoying shade of pink, like bubble gum. It had a back that reclined slightly. She put it at the wall at Lily’s head, on the other side of the IV stand and the pain meds machine. She heard Katya huff and puff around the bed, then around the outside of the room. She sang to herself in Russian, touching the wall with one hand, and holding the babies with the other.

“Can I get you some water?” asked Ivy.

“No, only ice chips,” said Katya.

Ivy put two and two together. “Are you having the babies now?”

“Not now,” said Katya. “I text the midwife. She here very soon. Later.”

“Later,” said Ivy. “How much later?”

Katya came around the bed. She stopped as water hit the floor in between her legs. “Oh, my, big mess,” said Katya.

“Shit,” said Ivy. She ran into the bathroom, grabbed a towel, ran back out, and threw it on the floor.

“Must get bag. In car. Gregory drove.”

Ivy sighed. She stuck her head out the door. “Gregory, hand me my pack,” she said.

He handed it over. “Wha…”

“Now, very slowly, walk to your car, and bring in Katya’s bag from the car.”

Herja snorted. “Car?”

Gregory looked like a deer in the headlights. “This century, Gregory,” Ivy said. Gregory turned, opened the door to the stairs, and ran down them.

“He drove a car because his wife is having a baby,” said Katya. There was a loud groan from inside the room. “Right now.”

Herja whipped out her phone. “I’ll get a doctor.”

“No,” said Ivy. “The midwife is on her way.”

“Good,” said Herja. “Find out her name so we can let her in.”

Ivy ran in, threw her pack on an ugly green chair in the corner of the room, and helped Katya undress. Gregory ran in with the pack and helped them change Katya into a maternity nightgown. Ivy cleaned up the mess, washed herself up, and ran back into the room. She moved the ugly pink chair farther out for Katya to use. Gregory kept her walking around the room, helping her sing to herself in Russian.

“What is the name of your midwife?” Ivy asked a puffing Katya.

“Katrina Tsmova,” said Gregory. “We need ice chips.”

Ivy used the call button to call for ice chips. She stuck her head out of the room. “Herja…”

A red-haired Russian woman was staring daggers at Herja. “I help baby come. Now. You will move.”

“Your name?” asked Ivy.

“Katrina Tmova,” said the woman.

Ivy opened the door and the midwife strode in. Ivy saw the nurse approaching with the ice chips, took them from her, then assured the nurse the patient was fine and shut the door.

Gregory helped Katya sit in a chair. Ivy walked past them to hold Lily’s hand. She looked away as the gloved midwife put her hand under Katya’s dress. TMI, she thought to herself. Ivy continued to hold Lily’s hand as Gregory went behind his wife’s chair to rub her shoulders and feed her ice chips. The midwife stole the tray for Lily’s bed and took a sealed tray, then a towel out of her bag.

The midwife crouched, and put each of Katya’s legs on her own. “Babies come now,” she said, as Katya bore down, crushing Gregory's huge hands with hers. Ivy ran back into the bathroom to wash her hands again, and ran back out, another towel in hand.

“Baby one,” said the midwife, as the baby slipped out into her hands.

The midwife rubbed the baby’s back, and he gasped. She put the baby on Katya’s stomach. Gregory and Katya both put a hand on the baby.

“Ivan,” said Katya, “after my father.”

Ivy handed the midwife the second towel. Katya bore down, and the second one slipped out, then squalled. “Luka,” said Katya. “My husband’s father was Luke.”

“Good names,” said the midwife. “Now, put Luka to your breast. He is hungry baby.” She was right; Luka snuffled into her left breast, and soon caught on and sucked.

“Good boy,” said Gregory, stroking his son’s head.

“Now, get doctor,” said the midwife. “Is about to get very messy.”

Ivy pressed the call button. “Need an OB-GYN in this room,” she said. “A visitor just gave birth to twins.”

Ivy stuck her head out the door. “Katya just had twins. Some doctors and nurses…”

A nurse rushed up. “ID, please,” said Herja. The nurse held up her ID, which read “Simmons.” “Go on in, Simmons," said Herja. She was a wide woman; Ivy stepped back.

“Oh my God,” she said. “I’ll get Doctor Yan.”

Another nurse stuck her head in. “Who are you? You don’t have privileges here.”

Ivy stepped forward, forcing her to step back. “First of all, the midwife arrived two minutes before the baby did. Second of all, you aren’t permitted in this room.”

Doctor Yan came rushing down the hallway in mauve scrubs with little blue storks on them; her black braid bobbing on her back. “Where’s the patient?” she said.

“All three of them are here,” said Ivy, letting the doctor in and shutting the door in the gaping nurse’s face.

“I see that,” said Doctor Yan, taking off her stethoscope, “and who do we have here?” She turned toward the wide nurse. “Get me sheets, now, and a basin.” The nurse ran out to comply.

“This is Ivan, at my right breast,” said Katya. “And Luka is the pig at my left breast.” Gregory had propped pillows under his wife’s arms so she didn’t have to support the weight of the babies.

“Came out hungry, didn’t they?” asked Doctor Yan. He said, “Apgar 5 on Ivan.” She circled around the midwife, who was massaging the little of Katya’s stomach she could reach. “Apgar 5 on little Luka, too.” She checked Katya’s vitals. “Hi, Mom. I’m Doctor Yan. These came fast?”

“I barely walk in door, and babies here,” said Katrina. “I am Katrina Tsmova. I am a licensed midwife in Las Vegas. And proud mama is Katya and proud papa is Gregory.”

“This your first one?” asked Doctor Yan. The nurse rushed in with a rubber mat and basin. The midwife took first the mat, then the basin, and positioned them between Katya’s legs. Nurse Simmons left the room.

“No, I have a daughter, Elena. She is nine. A good girl.”

“An amazing girl,” said Gregory. “She’ll be so sad she’s missing this.”

Ivy was back over next to the still-sleeping Lily. “I’ll call one of ours, or a Valkyrie, to get her here,” said Ivy.

“No,” said Katya. “We go home tonight.” She looked at Ivy. “You carry heavy burden.”

“No,” said Ivy. “For my sister, it is never a heavy burden.” They smiled at one another.

“You just had twins,” said Doctor Yan, as the afterbirth came out and Nurse Simmons wheeled in two bassinets. “So, let’s not be in a hurry to go just yet. Let’s get these babies weighed and cleaned up. Gregory, do you want to cut the cords?”

“Yes,” he said. He cut each cord carefully. “I’ll go with them,” said Gregory.

“We’ve got Katya,” said Ivy.

“You don’t…” said Doctor Yan.

“Some of ours were shot today,” said Ivy. “The babies and the mom will be watched like hawks at all times, by our people,” said Ivy. “No exceptions, not even for a millisecond.”

“Are you Russian mob?” asked the nurse.

“Patricia!” said the doctor, glaring at her.

“No, is valid question,” said Katya, as Gregory took the cord and Ivy snapped pictures. “We are part of motorcycle club, called the Nighthawks. Some bad people try to kill Ivy here and shoot Ace. And shoot poor Lily here, and she lost her baby just today. They help bring down terrible woman from cartel with Polizia. Now bad people very angry, want to kill us.”

“I see,” said the doctor. “Do you want me to call the police?”

“Already spoke to them,” said Ivy. “Sheriff Xenia was already here and left.”

Doctor Yan stood. “That idiot Avery come by?”

“Already being taken care of. I called a lawyer. He drew a gun on me, right in this hospital, on camera.”

The doctor stared at her. “I take it you weren’t pointing one at him?” She carefully lifted a baby and put him in the bassinet. She wrote “Luka” on the side on a blue card.

“Nope,” said Ivy. “I called Eddie Flores.”

Doctor Yan put Ivan in his bassinet as she barked out a laugh. “That idiot pulled a gun on Eddie when he was walking a Hispanic down the street… with his two kids nearby.”

“Ugh,” said Ivy. “Eddie said he’d review the tape and press charges soon.”

“Good,” said Doctor Yan. “Now, let’s do a quick weigh on the babies. If you feel well enough, you can take a shower. Or, Daddy can do a sponge bath. Oops, forgot Daddy was coming with us.”

The nurse, doctor, and Gregory took the babies to be weighed and cleaned while the midwife and Ivy got Katya into the shower. There was a seat in the shower. Katya sent away the midwife and stripped, and Ivy helped Katya to wash. Ivy found more towels, and dried herself and Katya, then got Katya into another maternity nightgown.

By the time Ivy redressed herself and walked out, there was a special maternity bed in the room. The midwife helped Ivy get Katya into the bed and situated, then a hospital vampire took blood. The babies were rolled back in, and Gregory helped Katya feed them again. They were squalling with hunger. Doctor Yan did a quick check on Katya, the midwife said goodbye, and Ivy went over to hold Lily’s hand once more. She found another ugly pink chair, the first one having vanished. She sat down for the long haul. She ordered a cot from a nurse.

“For Daddy?” the nurse asked.

“For me,” said Ivy. “I’m not going anywhere.”

They got a call from Herja. Ace was out of surgery. They had him in a recovery room, still out cold. Devastator was watching him.

It was getting dark when Gregory came in with two, tiny, baby carriers, the kind that clicked into car seat bases, and put the sleeping babies into them. Ivy went over and kissed their little heads.

“So proud of you, brother,” said Ivy to Gregory, and held his middle as he balanced one baby in each carrier in each huge hand.

“What am I, the liver chopped?” asked Katya. Ivy kissed her cheeks and hugged her, too.

Doctor Yan checked Katya out one last time, and a nurse came with a wheelchair to wheel her away. There was a Valkyrie just outside the door, chatting with Herja. Placed to walk them to their car and lead the way. She was tall and blonde, with blue on the tips of her hair. An Iron Knight was there as well. He was stocky and a full head shorter than her, with a mane of blue-black hair. Ivy waved goodbye as they all headed toward the elevator.

“That’s Goll and her husband, Tumult. She’ll ride ahead and he’ll ride behind,” said Herja.

“Awesome,” said Ivy. “Can someone get me some sandwiches or cheese sticks or something? I need to eat.”

“Coke,” said Herja.

“Fuckin’ A,” said Ivy.

“I’ll call Myst. She’s got no second, so she’s the runner tonight,” said Herja.

“Give her my thanks.” She took a twenty out of her pocket and gave it to Herja. “Tell her to get stuff until this money runs out. There’s a tiny refrigerator here and I’m sure there’s a break room somewhere with a microwave.”

“Awesome,” said Herja.

“And break someone over your knee if you must, but get Ace in here. Stupid to have two guards for one married couple.”

“Already happening,” said Herja. “In fact, we…”

Ivy held the door open as they wheeled in Ace. He was dead white. His shoulder had some sort of pack attached. There were a lot of wires, and three machines being pushed by three different nurses. A doctor in burgundy scrubs followed him in and made sure everything was set up properly.

“I’m Doctor Daniel Taim,” he said. “I’m a specialist. I drove up from Las Vegas. The bullet fragmented and, to be blunt, tore up his shoulder. He is stable and will make a full recovery, with eighty to ninety percent use of his new titanium shoulder.”

“RoboAce,” said Ivy.

“What?” asked the doctor.

“His name is Ace, and now he has a robotic shoulder,” said Ivy. “I’m Ivy, the sister, and this is Lily, his wife, also shot, in the abdomen. She lost their baby, today.”

“My God,” said Doctor Taim. “That’s horrible.”

“Way past horrible,” said Ivy. “Her brother was killed in the shootout that got Ace here. We’ve got guards on the door because we think there are more shooters on the way.”

“I spoke to a Sheriff Xenia…”

“Just call her Xenia,” said Ivy. “She prefers it that way.”

“She has the bullet fragments. She says she’s putting two and two together, and so far, comes up with four. She says six and eight aren’t far behind. What did she mean by that?”

“That the shooters that did the shooting are dead, and we’re trying to find out who sent them.”

“Find out fast,” said Doctor Taim. “Both my patient and that lady over there need peace and rest.”

“Normally I wouldn’t say this, but keep them medicated,” said Ivy. “They need sleep rather than worrying over what happened, or about each other. Neither one of them will sleep if the other one is awake.”

“Will do,” said Doctor Taim. He looked at Lily’s chart. “See a similar notation for her. Good. We’ll let them sleep. Tomorrow is early enough to deal with this.”

“Never is early enough to deal with this,” said Ivy. “But, we deal with the cards we’re dealt.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” said Doctor Taim.

Vigil

They wheeled in a second cot when Numa arrived with Sonic chicken bites, mozzarella sticks, and Coke. Ivy didn’t want to eat; both Lily and Ace were so pale, unmoving. She forced her favorite food down; it tasted like sawdust to her. Ivy curled up on the cot next to Ace and held his hand, the one without the tubes running out of it, on the side away from the blasted shoulder. She stroked his hand, talked to him, told him it would be alright. She told him that Lily was fine, and so was she. Numa did the same with Lily, her voice low.

Ivy slipped into sleep at Numa’s lullaby, a Paiute song she’d heard Numa sing before. She dreamed of desert lands and cairns of water hiding in folds of red rock. She woke up around three in the morning, and Numa was still singing. She asked to switch, and so Numa did, singing a different song over Ace while Ivy held Lily’s hand. Ivy had no idea how she managed to sleep, but this time she dreamt of hawks circling in the sun.

Lily woke first, and Ivy held her as she cried for her brother. “He was a fuckup, you know?”

“I know,” said Ivy.

“Damn near pulled my hair out over him. He cost me my scholarship, did you know that? I busted my ass for my grades, and he got in a bike accident fucking around while he was drunk and high. Busted his arm in two places, his ankle. Couldn’t walk. He kept his scholarship after that one,” she said, as Ivy handed her tissues. “But I lost mine, that stupid son-of-a-bitch. He cost me two extra years in school. Stupid bastard was trying to make amends to me,” said Lily. “I would have been happy with his staying sober.”

“I know,” said Ivy, stroking Lily’s hair.

“He got killed,” she choked out, “because he wanted to make things right with me.”

Ivy put her hand on the back of Lily’s neck, touched foreheads with her, and looked her in the eyes. “No, he’s dead because some coward tried to take a shot at Ace and me, and got him instead. Shot him on the back of the head. Both of the shooters are dead, now.”

“They?” Ivy let her go and handed her tissues. “They killed my baby!” She shook with grief then. Ivy scooted over and held her as she wept for both her brother and her child.

Unfortunately, Ace woke up when she was crying. “Lily?” he said.

“Hush,” said Numa. “She’s alive. She got shot by the same bastards.”

“Where?” asked Ace.

“Gut shot,” said Numa. He stared at her, uncomprehending. “She got shot? I’ve got to go to her.”

“Lay down, idiot,” she said. “Your shoulder must heal. You have pins and things in you. Don’t move anything. I will be your bridge.” Numa held Lily’s hand in one of hers and Ace’s in the other, as the conduit between them.

“That’s really, horrifically bad,” said Ace, just catching on. “Our baby?”

“Is gone,” said Numa. “I sang the songs.”

Ace shook, tears falling from his eyes. Ivy handed Numa a wad of tissues, and Numa wiped the tears from his eyes.

“Hush, little one,” she said. “There will be children. Your wife also lost her brother, and her grief will be terrible for some time. Cry now, and wash your grief away so you may love your wife through hers.”

He cried for a while, as Lily’s sobs subsided. “The guys who did this?”

“Both dead,” said Numa. “Our people hunt the rest.” She sighed. “So much pointless death.” She waved her hand. “For what? Revenge? Drugs? Money? Those things mean nothing. Fools. This is what is real. A man. A woman. Family. Friends. We will clean up the mess others have made, allowing evil people to prosper when it is obvious the last thing we need in this world is, in fact, more evil. Those that do this will suffer, perhaps die. And all for nothing.”

“Someone has to clean it up,” said Ivy. “It shouldn’t be us, but it is. And we won’t falter until the job is done.” She stroked Lily’s head. “What pisses me off is that you had nothing to do with this, Lily. Not a damn thing. I am so sorry you paid the price.”

“The innocent always suffer,” said Numa, “but we will fight back. It may seem foolish because more scorpions replace those under our boots. But, we have the boots to crush them, so we must.”

Lily held her stomach. “I’m so sorry, baby,” she said to Ace. “Ivy and I were just talking, and I didn’t see the gun guys until Ivy shoved me back. She shot the guy. I remember that. Then a ping, and pain.”

“Ricochet,” said Ivy. “I shot fast, but his bullet hit something, a tray table, a bed. Probably the bed.”

“Can’t outrun a bullet,” said Ace. “You did nothing wrong, baby. That asshole did the bad thing.”

“Our people are tracing the last two numbnuts; the agents north and south of the border didn’t get,” said Ivy. “Wraith and Saber are on it, too, along with the Valkyries and the Iron Knights.”

“They’ll get them,” said Numa. “You two just relax and heal. Sleep some more. We can get you more medication to help.”

“Sleep, baby,” said Ace. “Our people will find the bad people.”

“You too,” said Lily. “I can’t think of it now, but we’ll want to try again. And you’ve gotta be all healed to do that.”

“We’ll both sleep,” said Ace.

Ivy got out from under Numa’s arm, and got them both water; she wiped down their faces with the wet wipes Numa brought. She kissed both of them on the head, stroked their hair, and hummed a little bit. The nurse came in, checked vitals, a bloodsucker came by and took blood, the doctor came by and pronounced both of them still alive but needing sleep, and the nurse delivered sleep meds.

Ivy stuck her head out the door and saw Devastator. “I need something,’ she said. “Don’t care what, but I need food.”

“On it,” he said. Soon, a Valkyrie came by, her hair in blue-black braids on one side of her head, puffed up on the other.

“I’m Sigrun,” she said, “means victory rune.” She had breakfast sandwiches for Numa and Ivy. Ivy ate hers in the hall and downed some soda. “How are you holding up?” asked Sigrun.

“Not well, not too bad though,” said Ivy. Sigrun gave her a second drink. “Don’t get stupid and get dehydrated,” she said.

“Okay,” said Ivy, meekly downing the water. Then, Numa came out to wolf hers down. They both washed up in the bathroom and wiped themselves down with wet wipes. They went back to sleep on the cots, Ivy now the conduit between Ace and Lily.

They woke up in the afternoon when Ghost and Killa replaced them. Numa and Ivy rented a hotel room close by and took turns taking a shower. Ivy was shattered to find out she still had blood in her hair and spent some time crying in the shower.

Xenia showed up with a six-pack of lemon-lime soda. “Don’t want to interfere with your sleeping. How you two holding up?” she asked.

“Like shit,” said Ivy.

“I have good news,” Xenia said. “One of your teams headed by an ATF guy called Wraith, and one of ours from Vegas, took down the originator of the hit, a nasty piece of work named Werner Banatas. He’s a cartel assassin. The Texans have him and are tying him to several murders. Texas is a death penalty state. Your guy Saber will get a promotion out of this for sure.”

Ivy snorted. “He won’t care, except if it lets him stick with Wraith.”

“She’s one of us now,” said Xenia. “Sorry about that, but the Vegas pack wouldn’t budge on that one. She’s a major prize.”

“She’s worth twenty of a lot of us,” said Ivy. “I get your point, and I think she’s one of you, too. She just felt she owed us loyalty after we took down La Diabla.”

“Again, sorry about that. We’ll do some joint rides to make up for that.” They all sipped the sodas. “On the cop end, we did match the bullets to the assassins’ guns, and have verified every aspect of what happened, including finding their rental truck they shot from.”

“Okay,” said Ivy.

“And, the lawyer is all for going after Marcel.”

“Who’s Marcel?” asked Numa.

“Baby idiot cop who drew on me in a hospital corridor when I was guarding Lily,” said Ivy.

Numa drew herself up. “You tell that lawyer to do whatever the hell he wants. The club will pay him.”

“Good to know,” said Xenia, “But, it’s kind of a slam dunk. It was caught by two separate cameras. He never identified himself as a police officer, and he kept the gun on her after I arrived and told him to put it away. He’s already been fired, and your lawsuit will keep him from working law enforcement again. Mama has money, too, so you should be able to get some damages and pay court costs.”

“Good,” said Ivy. “Now, I’m going to be rude and tell you to get the fuck out of here. I am tired and angry, and sick with worry. Sleeping is probably off the table, but pacing won’t help either.”

“I’ll hit you over the head with a rock so that you may sleep,” said Numa. “Thank you for bringing the info.”

“Wish I could do more,” said Xenia. “We can swing by the hospital, but keeping someone on you full-time will cost us, people, we just don’t have. The Valkyries and Iron Knights will pick up the slack until we can get Ace moved. From what the doctor told me, another twenty-four hours minimum. Don’t want to jostle the pins and things in him. We caught one, but there’s a very dangerous couple out there heading in this direction.”

“Fuckity fuck,” said Ivy. “We can go back?”

Numa grabbed her arm. “We need to stay put. Can’t defend anyone without recuperating ourselves. And you got the brunt of it. Go lay down.”

“Thank you for helping us,” said Ivy.

“I wish I could turn back the clock and have this not have happened,” said Xenia. She grabbed the back of Ivy’s head, and Ivy grabbed her head. They touched foreheads. “Get some sleep, sister,” said Xenia. She hugged Numa as well. “Rest, sister.”

“Will do,” said Ivy. Xenia let her go and left the hotel room.

“It’ll be easy to sleep,” said Ivy. “This is the most boring, sand-colored hotel room I’ve ever seen.” Numa laughed. Ivy fell onto the bed on the right and was out nearly before her head hit the pillow.

They went back to the hospital at three am after hitting up an all-night waffle house for pecan waffles. A nurse tried to bitch at them about it not being visiting hours.

“They are family, and we’re part of the protection,” said Ivy. “Don’t ever try to interfere with us again.” The woman huffed and went to call a doctor.

There was an Iron Knight at the door who introduced himself as Demon. He had wild, black hair and was huge, dwarfing both Numa and Ivy.

“Thank you,” said Ivy.

“Got my eye on a Valkyrie. Hoping she notices I was here. She likes to tease me. She said that if the bad guys come, I can just fall on them.”

“Good luck with that,” said Ivy, and Numa and Ivy went into Ace and Lily’s room. Ghost and Killa were sitting on the ugly pink chairs, the extra beds in the corner, laptops on their laps. That was such a strange thing to see that Ivy nearly tripped over her own feet.

“What you doing?” asked Ivy.

“Picking out parents,” said Ghost. “We got the idea from Katya.”

Ivy pulled up an ugly green chair and plopped down, while Numa went to sing over Ace. “What idea?”

Ghost said, “Katya says, she drop babies so fast the midwife almost wasn’t there to catch them babies. She gonna wait six weeks, and get healed up. Then get Ace and Lily to drop their sperm and egg and put it in herself. Surrogate, she said. For free.”

“But I heard,” said Killa, in her soft voice, “that you can get paid for it. Would suck in the summa, cain’t get no beer, but it only nine months. Can get paid for carryin’ someone else’s kid.”

“And, get this,” said Ghost. “Lotta black folk be needin’ our services. Lesbian, too.”

Ivy touched her own stomach. Both she and Callie were pregnant, but only a few months. Neither one of them were showing yet; Callie because of her frame and Ivy because of her jeans. She had considered, just for a moment, giving one of the babies to the heartbroken Lily. Ace had donated the sperm. But, they were using their own eggs. Ivy just couldn’t do it, give up one of her own. Not even in this horrible situation.

“That’s good,” said Ivy. “You pick anyone yet?”

“We lookin’ at a lesbian couple,” said Ghost. “Get this, one mama be a judge.” She laughed. “All dis time spent keepin’ my head down, an’ I may be workin’ for a judge. Don’ wanna be like my mama. She die in prison. Da cancer got her. She was a runner, sometimes a stripper.”

“I’m sorry about your mama,” said Ivy.

“Long time ago,” said Ghost. “Bonnie our mama now.”

“What does Bonnie say about this idea?” asked Ivy.

Killa said, “We can work on the bikes, but we gotta wear masks to protect da baby. And special aprons if we workin’ on soldering.”

“Sounds good,” said Numa, walking over to sing over Lily. “These people need a baby, and you can help them have one.”

“We gonna start the process,” said Ghost. “We at a hospital, we can get da medical paper heah.”

“Good idea,” said Ivy.

“We gonna buy us a condo,” said Killa. “Near the club. Got our eye on one, some meth heads done trashed it. We gonna fix it up. By the time the babies come, we have it ready.”

“Babies?” asked Ivy.

“We do what you did,” said Ghost. “Two at once. Twice the cash. We have the condo money in no time.”

Ivy considered loaning them the money, but they had a good plan. “You see me if you need the down payment money. You can pay me back when the babies show up.”

“T’anks,” said Ghost. “We be thinkin’ about it.”

Ghost and Killa left, after touching Lily’s face and Ace’s good shoulder. “Ya’ll get betta,” said Ghost, “real fas.’ We got no club without you two.” They left.

Ivy pulled up the beds and set them up. “I’m stunned,” she said to Numa.

“They’re smart,” said Numa, “and they’re doing a service for infertile couples.”

“Katya did drop those babies very easily,” said Ivy, straightening the sheet and inadequate pillows. “It was surreal; the babies coming out with Ace in surgery and Lily unconscious. I was stunned. The doctor made it in after the babies were born.”

“She would be a good surrogate if birth goes that well for her,” said Numa. “I’m just sorry there’s a need for it. I hope that gunshot heals and that she can get pregnant later.”

“I hope so too.” Ivy laid down on the bed. “I don’t think I can sleep, but I know I’m still tired.”

“I brought my tablet,” said Numa. “Read. Watch something dumb on TV. Relax. You’re climbing out of your skin.”

“I want to go back to Vegas and be in on the search for the killers, but I know that’s stupid. I’m pregnant, and I’m not law enforcement like Wraith, Saber and Xenia.”

“How do you know her?” asked Numa, handing over the tablet and pointing to the screen. “You can download library books on that program there. Just search for what’s available. Putting something on hold won’t help you now.”

“Who? Xenia?” asked Ivy, laying back on the cot. “Met her two years ago on a ride to raise money for prostheses for wounded veterans.”

“The ride successful?” asked Numa, settling herself in on a pink chair with her knitting.

“I think we ended up paying for thirty 3D printed ones, and ten standard ones.”

“I was probably visiting my friend in Lake Havasu then. We should do another rally to raise money for that.” She laughed. “We can make it to Lake Havasu, and I can see Jute all over again!” she laughed.

“Good idea,” Ivy said, sending a text to Tito and Gregory to see if they could join one, or set one up after the current crisis ended.

She found a book on motorcycles and another fiction book about a woman tending bar in a small town. She downloaded both and began to read.

Lily woke up, thirsty, in physical pain, and crying. Ivy gave her water and called the nurse. The nurse gave her a shot while Ivy wiped her face with a wet wipe. She continued to cry. Ivy held her. The nurse went to get a sedative so Lily could rest. Ivy rocked her back and forth until the pain meds began to work, and then stroked her hair. Numa sang over her. The doctor came in and checked her incision, then ordered a sedative. She slept again.

Ace slept on. He roused himself for a drink from time to time. Neither patient wanted food; Lily was too heartbroken, and Ace said he was in too much pain and had some nausea. He fell back asleep after another dose of pain and anti-nausea meds.

Ivy left Numa singing over her charges and took a ride to a casino. She got bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches, small bowls of clam chowder, and three large sodas. She brought them back to the hospital. She gave some of the food to the giant on the door, and she went in to chow down with Numa. They both ate and took turns taking naps to keep an eye on both of them.

There were new rounds of doctors and bloodsuckers. Numa patiently explained to the hospital staff to quit bringing food that no one was eating.

“The doctor ordered it,” the nurse said.

“Don’t care,” said Numa, “quit bringing it until one of them asks for it. They’re in incredible pain, and they’re grieving terrible losses. I would actually be stunned if they wanted to eat. We don’t, but we know we must do it to be of service to these two. We’ll hold onto the jello until one of them desires something to eat.” The nurse huffed off.

“Not too bright, are they?” asked Numa.

Ivy laughed. “If it isn’t hospital policy, they’d have no idea what to do.”

“We need to get out of here,” said Numa. “They need to heal soon.”

“They’re sleeping and on meds,” said Ivy. “I think that’s the best they can do.”

Killa and Ghost brought a sack of games, magazines, books, and puzzles. “We got Uno,” said Killa. “I gonna whoop this here woman’s ass.”

Ivy laughed. “Go for it.”

Ivy and Numa went back to the hotel room. Ivy felt filthy and showered. She called and caught up with Tito, who was still making sure the children were guarded. They had been brought back to Henry’s farm and were having fun with the horses and rabbits. Grace was being spoiled at the farmhouse.

Callie was sad and furious. “You gotta come home to me,” she said.

“It won’t be long now,” she said.

“How could this happen? Again? We haven’t done anything wrong! Lily must be a mess.”

“She is. Ace sleeps a lot, and so does she. Neither one of them will eat.”

“I wouldn’t be able too, either,” said Callie. “I am so worried. I’m as jumpy as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”

Ivy laughed. “I get that. Just relax. Wraith is on the warpath, and she’s with a pissed-off Valkyrie. If anyone can handle this, they can.”

“Whoever did this is super-stupid,” said Callie. “Who gets motorcycle gangs pissed at them? And now they’ve gone and pissed off the Valkyries. They are in for a world full of hurt.”

“Can’t happen soon enough,” said Ivy. “I need your skin on my skin.”

“Are you eating well? Getting enough to drink?”

“Of course, baby,” said Ivy. “I’m angry and exhausted and heart sick, but not stupid.”

“Try to sleep,” said Callie. “Love you.”

“Love you more,” said Ivy.

Ivy made a last call to Gregory. He answered it in two rings, a baby squalling in the background. “Everything okay?” asked Gregory. “Ace and Lily healing?”

“Slowly,” said Ivy. “How are the babies I helped deliver?”

“Loud,” said Gregory. “We all sleep when they do. We’ve got protection on the house in case someone tries us here, but I’ll just hold a screaming baby with a poopy diaper at the bad guys, and they’ll run like rabbits.”

Ivy laughed. “Kiss them for me,” she said, “and sent pictures to my cell.”

“Will do,” said Gregory. He hung up mid-squall.

Ivy watched a TV program so stupid that she was able to fall asleep to the click-click of Numa’s needles. Numa put a blanket over her and changed the channel. Soon, she slept as well, from sheer boredom.

When Ivy woke, Numa forced her to put on shorts and a tank, and exercise to a YouTube video.

“This is so fucking hard,” said Ivy.

“Duh,” said Numa. “This is interval training. Move those feet.”

They showered and went to a waffle house for pecan waffles, orange juice, and bacon. When they got to the hospital, Killa and Ghost had cut up and taped together a cardboard box and were putting together a huge puzzle of a Harley. They sucked on waters and completed the puzzle together. Ivy was stunned when Killa produced a frame and glue. They framed it, and Killa poured on the glue. They cackled over it, and set it in a corner to dry.

“Lily cried some more. She ate a little and she went to sleep. Gave her some puddin,’” said Ghost. “Dumb-ass nurse wanted to get her to walk, but I run her off. I say she walk later, let her sleep. Sure ‘nuff, she woke up and we got her into da showa. She clean now. Cried up a storm, but she woke up ‘nuff to watch some show. We got her some roll an’ butter, an’ applesauce, an’ she ate it right up. Tired her up real-good.”

“We give this puzzle to her. She say, put it up in the shop. It a trike like what we make,” said Killa.

“Great job,” said Ivy. “Now, get outta here.” They hugged, and Killa and Ghost were gone. They took the puzzle with them, afraid a passing nurse would throw it away.

“Bonnie is raising them up good,” said Numa.

“Looks like,” said Ivy.

“We got a fantasy castle, dogs playing poker, and a waterfall,” she said, pawing through the boxes of puzzles.

“Waterfall,” said Ivy. They put it together and put on a silly program. They stopped for Numa to sing over the patients, then they resumed their vigil. Numa found a podcast about rock legends to listen to, and Ivy got a text about a rally for The Wounded Warriors project later in the year. Tito reported in; all was well. Both patients woke up, ate applesauce, drank water, and slept again. Ivy laid between them on the cot not taken up by a puzzle, listened to the podcast, and held Lily’s hand and Ace’s. She was a conduit between them. Numa sang, and Ivy slept as well, holding on to two of the people she loved most in the world, willing them to heal with all her might.

“Sometimes people assassinate the mind. Others gun for the soul.”