Page 59 of Revenge & Truth

“With all that we have going on, I’d feel better having you here if they need you. I’m still waiting for Liu to reach out and tell me he’s done his part,” I explained. “Without Liu here, you’re one of the only people I trust to manage things Gunner used to handle, as well as keeping up with your own tasks.”

“Then that is what I shall do,” Braxton agreed, kissing me once more before he stepped to the side. “Ivy, we don’t really know each other, but I agree that you’ll be a good friend to Astin. That being said, if we find out you’re using her or us for some double-cross plan with the founding families, I’ll take great pleasure in killing you.”

“Aren’t you cute,” Ivy responded, not at all bothered by his threat. “Don’t worry your pretty head. I’m not someone to make an offer of friendship lightly. Then again, offering you any reassurance doesn’t do much since you don’t know me from a pile of pearls. So instead, I’ll give you something that could get me in trouble if I prove to be lying.”

She stood, opened her purse, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to Braxton. He frowned at it and peeked inside. Whatever it was had his brows shooting up and a look of respect in his gaze. “Well played, but it seems a little convenient you had this with you.”

“Oh, sweetie, did you think I wouldn’t be prepared for the seven boyfriends of my new best friend to be suspicious of me? Please, I’ve been in this game for so long… don’t insult me.” Ivy scoffed, flicked her hair over her shoulder, and looked at me. “Ready to go, darling?”

I was dying to know what was in that envelope, but I’d ask Braxton later. “Just need to grab my purse, and I’ll be good to go.”

“Oh, no need, I’ve got this outing,” Ivy said, waving off my purse comment. “My dear Clement gave me his black card with no limit and told me to have fun with my girlfriend. Unless you’d rather use your own money instead of the corrupt lying asshole’s?”

“Fuck no, he can absolutely fill the bill for his own demise,” I agreed without a second thought. “Lead the way… we’ve got money to burn.”

Ivy gave Braxton a wave as she headed out of the office with me right on her heels. That was until a hand grabbed my wrist, pulling me back only to get a searing kiss that left me breathless. “Have fun, My Queen, but don’t let your guard down. Remember what the Old Guard told you… the Leoni Family has made you a target.”

“I’ll be safe, I promise, plus I’ll have Boykov with me,” I assured him. “Call me if you hear from Liu or there’s any word on Luca.”

“Of course, but everything is going to be fine, Astin. I’ll be expecting a fashion show when you get back so we can see what you bought,” he warned and shoved me out the door. “I love you.”

I stared at him for a moment, caught off guard, but I smiled and blew him a kiss knowing he’d understand if I wasn’t ready to say it back to him yet. Ivy linked arms with me when I caught up to her and headed out to her car. The woman had a car as classy as she was, with a custom pearl paint job, causing it shimmer in the sun.

“I had no idea Bentley made a convertible,” I commented as I walked around to the passenger side.

“Had to get it imported but so worth it,” Ivy shared. “Oh, how good is your bodyguard at keeping up? I just need to know if I should take it easy on him or not.”

Cocking my head, I looked at Ralph standing near the SUV parked behind Ivy’s car. “What are your thoughts on the matter, Ralph?”

“I’m damn good at my job but also not opposed to making you ride with me if this woman thinks she can put your life in danger just to get rid of me,” Boykov answered, glaring at Ivy.

It was quite clear there was no love between the two, but I understood where he was coming from. I no longer had the freedom to put my life in danger just for the hell of it when I was in charge of the Family.

“Translation, drive like you bought it,” I added. “Or drive like you know you bought a fast-fucking car but want to live long enough to enjoy it.”

This had Ivy laughing as she slid into the driver’s seat. “I can play by those rules.”

Shooting Boykov two thumbs up, I joined Ivy. She was kind enough to wait for Boykov to get in and start the SUV before peeling out of the driveway. The song “Who Run The World” by Beyonce blared as we drove, and I couldn’t help but sing along as the wind whipped through my hair.

Fuck, I really needed this.

“No,” Ivy stated, pointing for me to go right back into the changing room.

“What! Why? I actually like this one,” I argued, looking at myself in the half-moon of mirrors.

This was the second boutique of the afternoon, and I had never seen a woman who was a harsher critic of dresses than Ivy.

“Darling, you keep telling me how men always peg you for a hooker. Well, now I’m starting to understand why,” she quipped.

My jaw dropped as I stared at her through the mirror. “The hell, Ivy,” I yelled, spinning to face her.

She just quirked a brow at me. “I’m sorry, did you want me to lie to you?”

“No, but don’t you think there was another way to say that?” I challenged.

Ivy let out a sigh and walked up to me. “Listen, Astin, I spend my days lying, manipulating, and sucking up to people to get what I need from them. Because of this, I make it a point never to do that to people I choose to have in my life. How would they ever trust what I’m telling them when it’s my job to make people tell me their deepest darkest secrets? So, was there a gentler way to tell you that dress makes you look like a hoe? Yeah. Am I going to blow smoke up your ass to make you feel better about that choice? No.”

Her words had me deflating. When she put it like that, I couldn’t help but see her point of view and understand this was something she needed to do for herself. “Okay, then can you tell me why you think this makes me look whorish?”