Chapter 8
FREDDIE
“Was that necessary?” I step over the mess. Callen burst the guard’s skulls like watermelons. Thankfully, he was fast enough not to draw any unwanted attention, and the dense hedgerow provided a perfect cover for their bodies.
I’ve been acting on autopilot, so fixated on finding Ivy that I didn’t complete many of my usual area checks.
Callen grins, his white canines sparkling in the sunlight. His victim’s blood drips from his elbows to his wrists.
“What can I say?” he says, licking his lips. “Watching Ivy with Trout whet my appetite.”
Upon approach, we see a smashed window. Callen clambers inside through the empty pane while I try the front door. Surprisingly, it’s unlocked, and I opt to take that route as opposed to risking spearing my balls.
Muffled voices float from a room at the end of the corridor.
“Down here,” Seb calls out.
“How did he get here?” Callen mutters, echoing my thoughts. “He’s supposed to be partying at the wake.”
I quicken my pace. I hate the Bexley’s mansion as much as I did on my first visit. I don’t know how Ivy used to call this place home. The ancient decor and musty smell remind me of the crypt.
As we walk in, we see Spencer slouched in an armchair, unconscious, but breathing. Bram, Seb, and Ivy are standing in a tense face-off against a blonde guarding Spencer. A woman who looks just like Ivy. Ivy being on my mind had the potential to morph every woman’s face to resemble her, but their similarities are too striking to be the product of my imagination alone.
“You were supposed to stay behind,” I say to Bram through gritted teeth.
Bram’s lip curls, and he purposefully turns away to snub me. A pulse in his forehead ticks, showing his annoyance.
“At least one of the Dukes knows what loyalty means,” Ivy hisses.
Bram must have been the one to pick her up in the silver car. Judging by his frosty reception, he must know about what happened in the crypt. He’s pulling away from us, and it’s my fault. I fucked up. Badly. And now I risked not only losing Ivy but my men too. The only family I have.
Callen looks the stranger up and down. “Who are you?”
“Someone who will try to kill you again if she gets the chance,” she replies coldly. Her voice has a similar candour to Ivy’s but is slightly higher pitched. “We’ve already met, but haven’t been formally introduced.”
“She’s the Lotus.” Seb fills in the blanks. “The hooded figure. Remember?”
A storm cloud rolls over Callen’s face, and his hands curl into tight fists. “You little?—”
“Enough!” Ivy shoves Callen in the chest, her gaze burning with fury. “That’s my sister you’re talking to. Show her some fucking respect.”
“Your sister?” I say under my breath. “But she’s…”
“Not dead,” Daisy cuts in. “Obviously.”
“Is someone going to tell us what the fuck’s going on?” Callen asks.
“We don’t owe you an explanation,” Ivy says. Her red hair seems to have grown in volume, rippling around her face like hissing snakes. Hate radiates off her in droves. “My deal with the Dukes is off. Over. Freddie made sure of that.”
“I made a mistake,” I say. A mistake is an understatement. “I tried to explain before you left. If you’ll listen?—”
“Listen?” she scoffs, popping her hand on her hip. “I owe you nothing. And from where I’m standing, none of your men seem to give a flying fuck about what you have to say, either. You need to leave.”
“What about Spencer?” I ask. “I know I fucked up, but we made a deal. Let me help you kill him. It’s the least I can do.”
“No!” Daisy steps in possessively. “Anyone who hurts him will die.”
“Looks like the killer gene runs in the family.” Callen gleefully rolls his sleeves up. “I love a woman who can challenge me. I won’t lose this time.”
“You’ll need to get through both of us,” Ivy says.
“Even better,” he purrs with a wink.
“Stop, Callen,” Seb says. “You heard Ivy.”
“You all need to go,” Daisy orders. “Now.”
Bram strokes Ivy’s wrist. She looks up at him, and they exchange a glance, communicating in their private language until she wrenches herself away.
“You heard her,” Ivy says. “Go.”
Bram crosses his arms, making it clear he’s going nowhere without her. She sighs and shakes her head, but he’s not budging.
“Fine,” she exclaims. “Everyone, apart from Bram, can leave. I need to speak to my sister.”
“But we need to talk things through,” Seb pleads. “I don’t want to leave you here.”
“If I were you, I’d leave with your friends,” Daisy says. “Stephanie is going to come looking for a report from me, and I had strict orders to kill you, so you’re lucky to still be breathing.”
Ivy raises her eyebrows. “Why didn’t you kill him? Agents don’t break orders.”
Ivy’s expression softens, thinking they’ve made some kind of breakthrough, yet Daisy crushes her hopes quickly.
“It wasn’t for his sake,” Daisy replies. “But it doesn’t mean I won’t. I need time to think.”
“Seb, Callen,” I address them, “you heard her. We should go.”
It’s the last thing I want to do. There’s so much I want to say and apologise for. I should never have made a deal with Stephanie. What happened between us last night—our explosive sex in the crypt—proved what I already knew but was too afraid to admit to myself.
I’m in love with her. Still, after all this time. I fell for her the moment I saw her in a bar five years ago. During our time apart, I often wondered what our life could have been like. I had expectations and false ideas, but none of them compared to what we share now.
Ivy is my drug. Beautiful, deadly, and infuriating, but real. I don’t need her to change or be the old version of herself. I love her sassy one-liners and watching her put Callen in his place. I love how she understands Bram without speaking and can reassure Seb with a single look. She’s the woman we’ve needed all along, the missing piece in the Dukes, and now I’ve lost her.
“You can’t mean that,” Seb says. “We can’t leave without Ivy, boss. She’s one of us.”
“Take her and go,” Daisy says, checking her watch. “You all need to leave. We’re out of time, and I need your word that you won’t kill Spencer.”
Ivy bites her lip so hard that I’m sure it’ll bleed. I want to kiss those soft lips to take away all of her worries and make her feel like everything will be fine, except it won’t.
“Dais…” Ivy says. “You can trust me. Tell me more about what’s going on. If you’re in trouble, I can help.”
“You can help by leaving,” Daisy says. “And never coming back.”
“Are you sure you want to leave him alive, Ivy?” I ask.
If she decides she wants to stay and gut him, then she’d have us right behind her.
“I…” She wrestles with her desires and then hangs her head. “Listen to my sister and go.”
“You need to leave too,” Daisy says. “We have no time to talk.”
“Can’t I come with you?” Ivy pleads.
Daisy flinches, making Ivy’s face crumple in bitter disappointment.
“I love you, Dais. I want to help,” Ivy says. “I got away from the Killers Club. I want to get to know you again. I want to meet my niece properly.”
“There is no space for you in our lives,” Daisy says, disregarding her like they’re strangers. “It’d be better for everyone if you still thought I was dead.”
Ivy sways on her feet, her bottom lip quivering. “Don’t say that. Please. You don’t mean that. We’re sisters. You’re my best friend. I love you!”
“We’ve spent five years apart,” Daisy replies. “I could go the rest of my life without seeing you again. If you want what’s best for me, you’ll leave the country. The Killers Club won’t stop until you’re dead, and I won’t spare you if I see you again. And if anything happens to Spencer, you’ll have me to answer to.”
“Daisy, please!” Ivy’s begging falls on deaf ears.
Daisy takes a knife from her pocket. Seb and Callen lurch forward while Bram pushes Ivy behind him.
“Move,” Ivy orders Bram. She steps around him and steps closer to Daisy until the knife point pokes into her chest. “Are you really going to hurt me?”
Ivy wraps her hand around Daisy’s, holding the hilt of her knife, then moves it to her own throat.
“Do it,” Ivy encourages. “If I don’t have you, then I have nothing.”
Daisy holds firm.
“Leave, Ivy,” Daisy orders.
Ivy stands her ground. “No.”
Their arms shake as the blade nicks Ivy’s neck, drawing a speck of blood that spills down her ghostly white skin. She wouldn’t hurt her—would she?
“You should listen to her, Ivy,” I say, unable to stay silent anymore. “Come with us.”
“Listen to him,” Daisy encourages.
“I want to be with you,” Ivy whispers.
“I don’t want you.”
Hearing Daisy’s words makes Ivy implode. I can see her entire world shatter, and her psyche tear apart. Avenging her sister has been her entire purpose, and now she has to walk away from both the man who destroyed her existence and the person she loves more than anyone.
Daisy slides the knife quickly along Ivy’s neck. It’s a thin scratch, but it’s enough to make Ivy fall to her knees.
“Take her away,” Daisy addresses Bram. “Far away from here.”
He nods curtly.
“No!” Ivy tries to grab Daisy’s ankle. “Don’t leave me!”
My heart breaks watching the woman I love shatter.
Daisy shows no mercy and leans forward, sliding an injection from her sleeve and stabbing it into Ivy’s neck. Ivy’s eyes roll back into her head as the drug runs through her veins, and she goes limp.
“What have you given her?” Seb demands as Callen rushes to Ivy’s aid.
“A mild sedative,” Daisy replies. “Now go. The police are coming.”
Bram shoves Callen out of the way and scoops Ivy into his arms. He cradles her body close and carries her out, not waiting for the rest of us.
“Ivy may listen to what you want,” Callen snarls. He’s still itching for a fight. His ego’s still bruised after learning Daisy was behind his attack in the abandoned office. “But I don’t.”
“Stop playing games, little boy,” Daisy warns.
“Ivy will never forgive you if you hurt her,” Seb says, grabbing Callen to hold him back.
He tugs Callen away from her, practically dragging him from the room after Bram. I can’t leave yet, though. Instead, I linger.
“What are you still doing here?” Daisy asks. “Was I not clear enough?”
“I know you have your reasons for wanting Ivy out of your life,” I say. “But Ivy loves you, and I think you love her too. I’ve made the wrong choices trying to protect the people I love, and I don’t want you to make the same mistake. If you ever need any help, I’m at your disposal. I’ve let Ivy down once, and I’ll spend my life trying to make it up to her.” I reach into my suit jacket, produce a business card, and hold it out for her to take. “You can call me anytime. Day or night. It could be a few days from now, or a few years from now. Whatever you need, I’ll be there.”
“I don’t need your help.”
I sigh and let my card fall to the floor, hoping she might change her mind after I leave.
“Have a nice life, Daisy,” I say, turning to leave.
“Freddie?” she calls, just as I’m about to cross the doorway. “Look after her, okay?”
I nod ferociously. Underneath the Killers Club front, Ivy’s sister is still in there… somewhere.