LUCA
I watch as Chad disconnects the call. The bastard was already on thin ice with me, and he’s just keeps hammering away. “I kept up my end of the bargain. I can’t control that brat any more than you can.”
“Agreed.”
“You can’t punish me if she won’t come home. She won’t listen. I don’t have a clue where she is. I even called her uncle, and I hate that son of a bitch. He said he’s out of town, but his wife hasn’t seen her since yesterday. This isn’t my fault. I shouldn’t be punished for something out of my control.”
Money. That’s all he’s worried about. I figured out his weakness the moment I saw him in the casino, losing every cent he had and still trying to wager more. And that’s when I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. The way he didn’t bat an eye, not question for a second on what my intentions were when I gave him money, bought the house behind mine for him to live in, and required his kids attend Belgrave. The only condition was Ivy had to remain in his home. He would’ve sold her to me if I’d asked. He essentially did.
“You can keep the fucking money,” I state.
He’s relieved and verifies, “Even if she doesn’t come back?”
She won’t.“Yeah.” I don’t want it. The funds didn’t put a dent in the estate my grandfather left me. But I’d give every single cent if I could go back and redo it all.
Starting even before the moment her lifeless body was in the destruction I caused. Realizing the true cost of entering Mercy.
From that moment, my world was altered and it never recovered. Following her around for months did nothing to ease the torment. It made it worse. Waiting and watching as she slowly faded away. I wanted her to get back to her life. And I realize it was for my own selfish need to ease my guilt that I needed to see her experience happiness again. But she never did.
After they removed the sling, she sat at the pool, still scratching her wrist while that asshole who claimed to be her best friend never noticed a damn thing. Everett was too busy trying to flirt and fuck her, so he spared her feelings instead of telling her she needed to live. The second he promised to take it easy on her, I lost it. It was that moment I knew I had to do something because no one else in her life cared enough to push her. Not the way she needed.
That’s all I needed. That’s all I wanted. Her to live. To see the spark in her eye that I witnessed in the videos and pictures I found of her. From her winning state to her cheering at a random football game. Smiling and happy. Determined and driven. Not the broken, numb girl she’d been since I entered her reality.
In this moment, I don’t care what version she is. I just need her back. Broken. Whole. It doesn’t matter.
I don’t realize Chad is still there, ranting and raving about how it’s not his fault and he deserves every penny. When I take a step towards him, his eyes widen, and his mouth finally shuts.
“Get the fuck out of my sight before I change my mind.”
He hauls ass like someone lit a fire under his ignorant ass.
Dialing one of the only people I trust, I wait until he answers. “Let me know if she comes home.”
“Yes sir,” Anthony replies. Another piece of the deceitful sham. Another set of eyes on her. And she didn’t even know the butler was the man my family employed for decades before I requested that he keep an eye on her. And I paid him well. Because I didn’t like her in the house with her scummy father. And I still don’t like her out of my sight. But I don’t think she’ll give me the opportunity to remedy that anytime soon. She’s good at hiding. I watched her do it all summer. And I hid from her. There was only one time that I risked getting caught. I’d lost it, knowing what I was able to do before my fist slammed into the glass of the fucking trophy case. One that she was in, smiling and joyful. The moment I decided to bring her completely into my world was selfish and dangerous. It was my only choice after what I’d done.
Scar.She’ll always be a scar on my soul. May God have mercy on me, because my essence is tied to hers for eternity.
81
IVY
I haven’t left the motel in almost two days. But I need to grab a few things, so I shower then pull on some clothes and walk next door to the convenience store. The cashier greets me before I grab a few bottles of water and energy drinks, then some chips. As I head to the front of the store, a lady walks in the door with a little girl on her hip. She goes to approach the counter then spots me, but I motion for her to go ahead. She puts down a few bills on the counter before she pulls some more change out of her pocket. “I need eight dollars on pump four.”
“And chocolate milk,” the girl gleefully states.
“It’s early for that.” Her mom responds but continues to dig in her pockets.
The little girl squirms and twists as the mom looks back at the money on the counter then checks her pockets again as she pulls out some change.
It’s not that it’s too early for a sugar rush, it’s that she can’t afford it. I recognize the worried-mom face where she wants to give her child the world but doesn’t have the means to.
I move to the counter, placing my things on it and instruct the cashier, “Ring us up together, please. And add whatever she wants to it.”
The mom is surprised as she tells me, “Oh, no. That’s not necessary.”
“Please.” It’s the only word I can get out, not able to say anything else because I’m holding on by a thread.
“Are you sure?” the lady asks as I nod. She sets the little girl down and tells her, “Chocolate milk. That’s it.” Then looks at me. “I greatly appreciate it.” Shame and embarrassment are in her expression. I recognize those too. But her smile returns when her daughter runs up giggling as she places her milk on the counter.
