A rustle stirs along the hedges. I expect to see Luca emerge from the shadows, but no one is there.
Grabbing my brace, I decide to leave it off as I make my way back to the house. I can imagine Anthony fussing at me even though he’s nowhere around. His points are valid. If I get too lax, I can hinder the progress I’ve made.
When I reach the back door, a sudden jolt slams against me, forcing me through the threshold. A hand clasps over my mouthas I struggle against the ironclad restraint that has me. My blood runs cold as I hear, “Hi there, Ivy Bear.”
My father.Panic surges through me as I squirm until he releases me. He kicks the door closed behind him before reaching back to lock it.
It’s just us. Anthony is at the fundraiser. Zachary is at his friend’s house. The rest of the staff left hours ago. I’m alone.
“Get out,” I state firmly as I creep back.
My phone is on my bed. It’s too far away. I won’t outrun him with my leg. It’d be iffy even without the injury. There’s no way I’ll be fast enough now. My best bet is finding something in the kitchen to defend myself.
“I’ll go. For a price.” He keeps getting closer with every inch I put between us.
“Money. Of course that’s why you’re here.” I know he had a good amount when he left. But it never lasts. “Who do you owe now?”
I’m finally near a counter and pull open a drawer as he holds up a pistol. “Think about that decision for a bit. Do you really want to bring a knife to a gun fight?”
Shit. “I’m not giving you a dime. Go ask Freya Frugé for it.” I see his involuntary balk at the reference to my biological mother.
“I would if the bitch hadn’t croaked,” he sniggers.
There’s not one decent bone in the man’s body. He’s entirely revolting and malevolent. “Why didn’t you ever tell me? How could you let my mother die before I discovered the truth?”
“That’s on you and her. She didn’t want you to know and I couldn’t care less. It actually was great leverage. She would’ve left me years ago had it not been for you. So, I guess I should be grateful for that. I almost had all this too.” He frantically waves the pistol around the kitchen before pointing it back at me. “But you ruined it for me. I guess you took my advice and kept putting out for him.”
“That’s the best you can come up with? You’re pathetic.”
“No,” he hollers. “What’s pathetic is you moving that piece of shit and his bitch mother intomyhouse. Yeah, I heard about your little plan. Uncle Shawn to the rescue. Over my dead body.”
“That can be arranged,” I grit out.
“By whom?” Dad glances around the empty room. “You?”
I reach for the knife and grab it firmly. He might have a gun, but I will die trying to get away and am grateful Zachary isn’t here right now. “Go to hell.”
“Plan on it. But first, I have to enjoy the finer qualities that life has to offer.”
I mention the only thing he cares about. “Sounds like you don’t have the funds for those finer qualities.”
“No, but I will. That boy will pay a pretty penny to get you back. I’m certain of it. And unfortunately for him, once he does, I’m going to put a bullet in his skull.”
Luca. Even if he does precisely as my father requests, he’ll die. No. That can’t happen. Evil can’t prevail. I won’t allow it.
95
LUCA
All my energy is gone, and the night is barely over. Shaking hands and smiling is the easy part. It’s my last night of freedom, and I don’t get to be with her. Again, a penalty that I earned. But it doesn’t make it easier to accept.
I spot Anthony across the room. He’s wide-eyed, franticly searching around with his phone to his ear. Something is wrong.
Hurrying over, he’s already on the way to the exit as he passes me his phone.
“It’s me.”Troy.The detail I assigned to Ivy’s father. “Chad dipped out of the casino. I lost him. I’ve been calling but couldn’t reach you. Pierce isn’t answering either and the cameras are all offline.”
Pierce is supposed to be safeguarding Ivy. And the system being offline is a red flag in and of itself. But the two factors together send me into overdrive.
