Chapter 35
CHAPTER 35
Max
One blink—that’s all it took before the kiss was sealed.
My lips unlatch from his in absolute shock. But just that one blink was enough to tilt my fucking world on its axis.
Heath … kissed me?
It takes a few seconds to register, almost as if my mind is still playing catch-up with my mouth.
His eyes roam my face, bewilderment slowly taking over his as he pulls out of her and backs away, his hard-on still dripping.
“Heath?” I mutter, utterly confused.
“Did you two … just kiss?” Ivy asks as I place her back down on the floor.
But Heath keeps backtracking, and he pulls his dick back into his pants and zips up, almost as if to hide the evidence. But I remember. I vividly remember his lips slamming on mine instead.
Was it a mistake?
But before I can even ask him, he waltzes out the door and slams it shut behind him.
What the hell?
Ivy
Max stares at the door, his eyes widening as if he had just seen a bomb go off, and he doesn’t know what to do.
I place my hand on his face and gently caress him. “Are you okay?”
His tongue dips out, and he briefly bites his lip. Suddenly, he grips my face with both hands and smashes his lips on mine so hard I nearly fall over.
“I love you,” he whispers against my mouth. “Nothing will ever change that.”
I nod against his lips, smiling. His eyes immediately travel to the gun lying on the couch, and he goes to grab it, tucking it into his pocket before he zips back up again.
Suddenly, the door opens, and I pull my panties and dress back in place, hiding the evidence of whatever the hell that was. I don’t know if I could call it a revenge fuck, or a jealousy fuck, or a complicated emotions fuck. But fuck, did it feel so fucking good.
I just took two dicks at once from two masked men.
And now I still feel … insatiable.
“Max. Ivy.” Silas’s voice instantly makes my skin heat again. His eyes find Max first before they home in on me, and he narrows them. “What the fuck were you doing in here? I just saw Heath rushing down the stairs.”
“Heath,” Max mutters, and he briefly glances at me before rushing off, pushing past Silas. “I have to go.”
He’s gone before I can even say another word.
“Tell me what just happened,” Silas continues.
“Nothing,” I say.
I’m not about to give him more ammo.
Silas closes the door behind him and walks to the middle of the room. “You’re lying to me.” He crosses his arms.
I swallow back the nerves while he gazes around until he finds the mini vault.
“You were going to steal from the Phantoms, weren’t you?”
I’m incensed he’d say it out loud. Even if it’s true, it’s none of his business.
“You just couldn’t help yourself,” Silas says.
“Fuck you, I’m out of here,” I say, and I waltz past him, but he grips my arm and forces me to stay.
“You keep saying that word like you haven’t already been fucked plenty.” He eyes me up and down, briefly pausing near my thighs, and I can feel the wet cum creating a trail. “Is your pussy still throbbing from the aftermath of two dicks?”
I furrow my brows at him. “You just love to humiliate me, don’t you?”
He smirks. “Very much … I’m fueled by the way you react.”
“Fuel yourself on this,” I say, sticking up my middle finger before marching out the door and slamming it shut behind me.
My plan got foiled. Completely ruined because Max found me, and then Heath too … and when Silas stepped into the room, I knew it was over.
There’s no way I’m going to get that money out of the vault now. Silas would probably report me to the Phantom Society leadership, and I’d end up in jail. Or worse, somewhere dead in a ditch.
That money is gone, along with my hopes of keeping Cora and me safe.
Tears well up in my eyes, but I push them away.
The last thing I’m going to give those guys are my precious fucking tears.
“Ivy! I was looking for you.” Océane’s voice stops me in my tracks in the middle of the foyer. “Where were you?”
“I had to … take a long bathroom break,” I lie.
I’m not going to divulge what I just did with two Skull and Serpent Society guys. I have enough to worry about as it is. I don’t need reputation damage on top of it.
“Wait. Where’s your mask.” She places a hand on my arm. “Are you okay? Did something happen?”
I shake my head. “Think I’m going to head home. I don’t feel good.”
“Do you need someone to drive you? I can ask Talon.”
“Ah, no thanks,” I say. “I’ll manage.”
“You sure? You have a bike, right? The car would be much quicker.”
How do I say I’d much prefer to be alone right now while I’m on the verge of breaking down?
“It’s fine. It’s not that far,” I reply with a smile. “Thanks for the offer.”
She smiles back. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do when you get home.”
“I will, thanks.” I give her a fake smile and head through the masked crowd as swiftly as possible to get away from here.
I grab my bike, jump on, then race through the gates of Spine Ridge University.
The night that should’ve ended with happiness now ends in a giant blunder.
And with no money in sight.
Shit. Shit. Shit!
What am I going to do now?
Silas
I walk down the stairs and look around, but I don’t see Heath, Max, or Ivy anywhere.
Where the hell did they all run off to so quickly?
This has got to do with that fucking money she tried to steal again, and I want to know why.
On the way down, I spot Aspen dancing on her own near a pillar right next to the door to the dance floor. I waltz over to her and grab her arm so she’ll stop moving and look at me.
“Have you seen Ivy?”
“What the—Silas?” she mutters, confused.
“I need to know where she is.”
She frowns. “No.”
“I know you’re friends with her. I need to find her,” I say, looking her directly in the eye. “Now.”
“I don’t fucking know, okay?” She jerks free of my grip. “Stop it. We’re at a fucking party.”
I grumble and turn around. “Fine.”
I’ll go look for her myself.
I don’t care if I have to race around the entire fucking city. I will find her.
“Let her go, Silas,” she yells across the hallway. “Whatever debt she has, she doesn’t deserve your hate.”
So she’s told Aspen about the debt … but does she even know why?
I throw her a glance over my shoulder. “You think this is hate?” A smug grin spreads on my face. “Do you even know what kind of deal she made with me?”
Her face droops, and her eyes slowly widen.
I guess she didn’t.
“Enjoy the fucking party,” I add, waving before I head out the door.
I check my phone and the tracker I swiftly installed on her bike the moment I saw it parked outside this damn Phantom Society. Got her .
I jog across the street, but instead of taking my car, I grab my motorcycle. After putting my helmet on, I jump on to rev the engine and race off.
Ivy
I bike home as fast as I can, sweat dripping down my back as I make my way through downtown Crescent Vale City. The more energy I expend, the more anger I’m able to let loose. Those boys have been nothing but a problem to me from day one.
Dammit.
I have no time to waste. I need to get to Cora and get her out of there before that anonymous fucker turns on me.
I know he’s waiting, waiting for me to admit I can’t do it anymore.
And I’d rather die than admit that.
Breathing wildly, I shift left and right across the lanes, passing the cars that are waiting at the red lights, risking my own life in the process. But I have no choice. I have to get to her as quickly as I can. Before it’s too late. Before—
A sudden buzz in my pocket has me nearly falling over the front of the bike as I abruptly hit the brakes. I grab it and press the unlock button to check who sent what.
Anonymous: Time’s up. Five grand or you’re done.
I type back as quickly as I can.
Me: I need more time. Please. I will have it for you tomorrow night. I swear.
Anonymous: You can swear that to Stefano when I bring you to him.
My eyes widen as panic rises to the surface.
No.
No. No. No!
Cora!