“Family business. The Montclair enterprise goes back generations.”
“That’s the key. Find one thing you do well and stick with it.” Chad holds his glass up to toast.
The chatter between our fathers continues while Zachary scarfs down his food. Ivy doesn’t touch hers.
“What about you, Ivy? Any idea what career field you’re going into after high school?”
“No.” She takes a sip of her water; her gaze never leaves her plate.
“Are you not a fan of steak and shrimp?” Dad chuckles.
“Lost my appetite,” Ivy answers.
“Same.” I take the opportunity to bail. But she’s going with me. “Let me give you a tour of the house.” Basically, go anywhere but here.
Zachary asks, “May I be excused? Jayden has early access for?—”
“Zachary,” Chad scolds as my father says, “Let the youngster go on and get away from us old folks. Thanks for joining us, Zach.”
My father doesn’t care if he’s here or not. Ivy is the one he needs for whatever he’s plotting. And he accomplished what he’s set out to do already—to show me he can get to her.
I entwine my fingers with hers, gripping tightly as I lead her upstairs. The only place we’re going is my bedroom. As soon as I close the door behind her, she asks, “What happened between you and Micah?”
“We got in a fight?”
Some of her feistiness returns when she says, “No shit.”
I move in front of her. “Why are you here?”
“I had no choice. Trust me.”
When I go to reach for her, she turns her face away from me. I push her hair off her shoulder, exposing her neck as she pulls away. But not before I see the marks on her skin. My fingers lightly graze the bruises before she turns her head to the side.
Hooking my finger under her chin, I make her look back at me before I search her face. It’s faint. Barely visible since it’s well concealed with makeup. But there’s a mark on her cheekbone.
My fingers slide into her hair, gripping securely to keep from putting my fists through the wall. “Who did this to you?”
Her mouth stays in a tight line.
Releasing her hair, I rub my thumb along her jawline. “I need to know.”
“It’s not your concern.” She tries to get away, but I stay in front of her. Someone hurt her, and I have to know who. “I’ll move when you give me a name.”
She shoves at my chest, her frustration growing. “I don’t need rescuing. And if I did, it wouldn’t be by you. So, stop trying to play the part. We both know you’re an ass.”
I brush my lips over hers. “I’m not the hero. I’m the villain, right? And it takes a monster to destroy a monster. So tell me who the fuck I’m ending right now.”
“I don’t want to.” Her arms cross over her chest, her hands grasping to her biceps as she looks away, her voice sounds weak as she says, “Just let me leave.”
She doesn’t want to be in this house any more than I wanted her here. “Was it your father?” He’s my prime suspect. And she doesn’t have to speak to confirm I’m correct, the faint wince in her shoulders just did. It was him. The son of a bitch has more to lose than he knows.
“Don’t, Luca.”
When I get to the dining room, it’s empty. But I don’t have to look but one other place because my dad is so fucking predictable. And sure enough, I find our fathers in my dad’s lounge with a bourbon in one hand and a cigar in the other. They are cut from the same cloth.
“Finally going to join me for a smoke?” Dad asks when he sees me.
“No.” I go straight to Chad and haul him to his feet by the lapels of his blazer. He stumbles to his feet, his tumbler hitting the floor as he maneuvers to drop his lit cigar on the ashtray nearby. “Did you really think you could put your hands on her and get away with it?”
