“Someone already knew? I still can’t believe it. It’s finally over. I have to tell Ivy.” Jax had to be already in the squad car by now. It was safe to go out back.
Olivia ran out the back and saw the police car was already gone, as were the guys. She didn’t know where they were. Maybe, talking to the police somewhere. Her only focus was Ivy. Olivia ran up to Kathy’s door and knocked. She looked around wondering where everyone was at, when the door opened. She turned back around to stare down the barrel of a gun. Olivia stumbled back in disbelief.
“Not so fast, Olivia.” Olivia’s stomach dropped, hearing that voice. It was one she dreaded more than Jax’s. A voice she had hoped to never hear again. The voice from her greatest nightmares.
Chapter 36
“Royce.” Olivia looked past the gun to see her ex. Royce looked his normal impeccable self in his white business suit with a red ascot tie. His black hair was smoothed back from his face, giving her a perfect view of his blue eyes. He was still handsome, but his features did nothing for her anymore.
“Thought you escaped me, didn’t you?” He sneered at her coming out of the door with Ivy in tow with his arm wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her in front of him, like a shield. Ivy was crying softly, but other than that she appeared unhurt. Olivia caught a glimpse of a heap on the ground that looked like Kathy. She would kill Royce with her bare hands for harming her friend.
Olivia didn’t respond to Royce’s words. The answer was evident. She had hoped to escape him. Olivia thought she could just walk away from her past, and it wouldn’t follow her, but it seemed, until Royce was actually behind bars, she would never be free of him, and now, her friends were paying the price.
“You gave me a good run trying to find you, but you made one major mistake.”
“The only mistake I ever made was allowing a piece of shit like you in my life.” It probably wasn’t the wisest decision to antagonize him, especially with a gun aimed at her head, but she was tired of being scared of him. There was also Jax’s warning that Royce wanted her alive. He wanted her for something and couldn’t do that, if she were dead.
Royce struck out lightning fast cracking her across her already swollen cheek, but she hardly felt it. Anger consumed her, staring at the man who stole so much from her life and Ivy’s. She didn’t look down, when she heard Ivy cry harder. “I see you got that smart mouth of yours back, while you were gone. We’ll take care of that, when we get home.”
“What do you want from me, Royce? It’s over. I’ll never be with you again, and I have no intention of going back to the US Custom Border and Protection for you to use me. Let Ivy go and walk away.”
“It’s over, when I say it’s over.” His voice was low and lethal. Normally, she would back down, when he spoke like this, but no more. She wouldn’t allow Royce to take anything more from her, and her new-found confidence didn’t have anything to do with the fact Heath wasn’t far away. Olivia was no longer a victim. She was strong and wouldn’t roll over for anyone anymore.
“It’s over for you. The police are coming after you. They know you used me to funnel your weapons and drugs in and out of the country. I witnessed you murder someone on the docks the night I left. There’s no way you can escape your fate now.”
His eyes snapped fire at her words, and his hand shook, holding the gun. He was losing control. This was normally when he went off yelling and throwing things. For a moment, she feared he would accidently pull the trigger. “You’re coming back with me to tell the police it’s all a lie, and that it was you who did it all.” The gun waved in her face, as he told her what she was going to do.
“No one would ever believe that. All the evidence points at you.”
“Make them believe it, or I’ll kill Ivy.” He pulled Ivy closer to himself.
“Let her go, Royce.” Olivia had to think quickly to get Ivy out of danger. He wouldn’t kill her, because he needed her for leverage against Olivia, but the bastard was crazy. There was no way she was letting him leave here with her daughter.
“Not a chance.” Royce spat. There was a wild look in his eyes that she had never seen before. He acted like a desperate man. Desperate people did crazy things, when they felt cornered. “Now, come with me or pay the consequence.” Royce walked backwards down the alley Jax had tried dragging her down.
Olivia tried to stay calm, but to many scenarios were going through her head that this could all go wrong. She needed to get close enough to Royce to distract him, so Ivy could run. “How did you find me? You said I made a mistake. What was it?” She all but shouted, hoping Heath or one of the guys was close enough to hear them. If she could just distract him for a moment, she could launch herself at Royce and give Ivy the chance to get away.
“Your ex boyfriend’s last name. I got an alert when it was used in the system.” He boasted proudly, even as he twisted and turned, looking around them, as they made it to the car. She didn’t know if it was to see where he was going, or if he was afraid someone was going to sneak up on him.
Olivia was shocked Royce knew about Chad’s last name. She didn’t remember ever saying it. He probably had people look into her, when they got together. The bastard was paranoid enough that it wouldn’t surprise her.
Royce opened the driver door and stepped to the side to make room for her. “Get in.”
Olivia felt panic rise in her chest. If she got in the car, she knew their fate would be sealed. They’d die, and she wasn’t ready for that. Not when she had so much to live for.
Olivia took a step closer.“Royce, please let Ivy go. If you let her go, I’ll come with you willingly. I’ll tell the police it was all my doing. That you had nothing to do with it.” She had no intention of confessing to shit, but she needed to get close enough to strike.
“You’re going to do that anyway. The brat stays just in case you get any ideas. Now, get in.” He waved her on with the gun. Royce was on edge, and the slightest thing would set him off. There was only one thing left she could think of to do.
“I won’t fight you anymore.” She took a step closer. “I’ll be the woman you always wanted.” And another step. “I’ll be obedient. I’ll do whatever you want without question.” She barely choked the words out. It went against every fiber of her being to say them, but for Ivy’s safety she would do anything.
Olivia held her breath, when Royce started lowering the gun. She was finally getting through to him. A lustful look came in his eyes that turned her stomach, but she held her ground. She was close enough to strike now, and he wouldn’t be expecting it.
“Hold it right there.” A large figure materialized out of nowhere to Olivia’s right and aimed a gun at Royce. Royce instantly went back on alert and swung the gun at the new comer. It only took her a second to see who it was. His size easily gave him away. She was relieved someone had heard her, or maybe, he had been there for a while and was just waiting.
“Put the gun down, or I kill the kid.” Royce threatened. The threat turned Olivia’s blood to ice.
“Mike, do as he says. Put the gun down.” She was closer and could incapacitate Royce, giving Mike a clear shot and not endangering her daughter.
