Can’t say I blame her for saying it, but I’d rather her not when there’s a literal gun to her head.
“Ten million and I’m gone.”
Chad presses the barrel to her temple as she calmly tells me, “Don’t pay him anything.”
“Keep your mouth shut,” he shouts.
Her resolute eyes meet mine as she reiterates, “Don’t give it to him. He will shoot you even if you provide exactly what he’s demanding.”
Even with the threat beside her, she’s not scared for herself.
“How much for you to go away permanently?” I ask with no intention to ever deliver it.
I just need him distracted and thinking he has control over the situation. But it sends Ivy into a screaming fit, “I said no. Don’t give him shit.”
“Ivy, if it saves your life I have to.” I’ve stalled for as long as I can. Chad’s getting antsier by the second. “I left my phone at the fundraiser, but I can use Ivy’s to transfer the money.”
“No,” she cries.
Chad screams at her. His anger surging as he waves the gun around. She struggles, finally getting out of his grip. And as soon as the pistol isn’t aimed at her, I take the opening. Charging at him, I yell for her to run. It’s enough to get him fully focused on me. But she isn’t running.
Thankfully, he’s too busy worried about me as his hand raises, the weapon pointed at me as I rush him. Grabbing his arm, I force the gun into the air as he fires. My other arm comes around, striking him in his head. As he stumbles backwards, his grip on the pistol releases and it slides across the floor. I slam my fist into his mouth repeatedly until I hear Troy yell, “He’s down, Montclair.”
He should be dead.As I stand, I grab the gun and place myself between Ivy and her father.
“Luca, you’ve been shot.” She inspects the area with her fingers trembling as she presses her palm to the wound.
Thank God she’s alive. “It was just a graze. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. He could’ve killed you,” she whispers.
I lean forward, pressing my lips to her forehead.
Troy holsters his weapon as he informs me, “Pierce is in the garage. He’s been shot, but he’s still breathing. Anthony called 911. Police and medics will be here shortly. You should head out before they arrive. I’ll take care of everything.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I state.
Before Troy can respond to my statement, he reaches for his weapon as he shouts, “Gun.”
Shifting, I raise the pistol and pull the trigger as Troy also discharges his firearm. Chad goes limp, crumpling back to the floor.
We stand in silence, a high-pitched ringing in my ears from the shots. I’m scared to look at her but finally do before I say, “I’m so sorry.”
Her hand moves back to my wound. “You had to.”
Anthony hurries in, heading straight for her. “Ivy, oh my goodness. Are you all right?” He wraps her in a tight embrace before he says, “Paramedics are on their way.”
That’s the least of my worries. I just executed her remaining parent.
96
IVY
The medic is patching up Luca’s arm here since he refused to go to the hospital. He was right; it was just a graze, but it could’ve been so much worse.
“I thought you were at the event.”
“I was. But when the guy I had on Chad called, I came here. I knew he’d be back eventually when his money ran out.”
