Chapter 18
IVY
My heart hammered against my ribs as I watched figures emerge from the SUVs. Eric's hand remained on his weapon, his body tense beside me.
Then I recognized Grayson's silhouette, followed by Leo's unmistakable frame.
"It's the Donatis," I breathed, relief flooding through me.
Thank Christ.
Eric lowered his weapon but didn't relax completely. "Good timing."
We climbed out of the car as Sofia rushed toward us, followed by Elena and Meredith. Behind them, a team of security personnel fanned out across the parking lot, a handful heading down to where Eric had left his guard with the bodies.
"Are you okay?" Sofia reached me first, her hands gripping my shoulders as she searched my face.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just another normal night in Ironstone, you know? Getting kidnapped, having people die. Really living my best life here."
I glanced at Eric, who nodded over Sofia's shoulder before heading for the men to help deal with the clean-up. I focused on the group of women who had become family to me.
Elena pulled me into a tight hug, and I felt her trembling slightly. "When we realized what was happening..."
"I know," I said, squeezing her back. "But I'm okay. Eric was here."
Meredith joined our little huddle, concern etched across her features. "This shatters the last of the alliance. Whatever fragile peace existed with the Malatestas just died with those two."
I watched as Leo, Grayson, and Eric stood in a tight circle, their voices too low to hear but their body language radiating controlled fury. Other men were carrying body bags up the path now, Ivan with them.
They'd wrapped them up quite quickly; then again, it needed to be handled fast. Couldn't have some bodies stirring up the public.
"I'm assuming they went after me to stop Eric and this alliance, right?" I asked, the pieces clicking together. "To prevent them from helping push the Malatestas out."
"Probably," Sofia agreed. "But they misjudged your connection to all of us. They thought you were just Eric's girl, not someone tied to the Donati and Savoca families through Elena and us."
"How mad are Leo and Gray?" I asked, glancing toward where the men stood.
Meredith's lips pressed into a thin line. "The Malatestas are already trying to flee the city. Their operations here are collapsing faster than anyone expected."
"Because of me," I said, realizing I was the cause for all of this.
"No," Elena cut in sharply. "Don't you dare blame yourself for this, Ivy. You didn't choose to get kidnapped. You didn't start a war."
"But if I hadn't been involved with Eric—"
"It would have been someone else. Probably even just Eric," Sofia interrupted. "The Malatestas chose to act like this. They chose their fate when they decided to go after someone under our protection."
"This is their third strike," Meredith added quietly. "More than most families would ever get. The Donatis won't be holding back anymore. None of us will be."
I rubbed my arm and chewed my cheek, suddenly cold despite the mild evening air. "What does that mean exactly?"
"It means the Hales will work with the Donatis and Savocas to eradicate the Malatesta presence in Ironstone completely," Meredith said. She spoke matter-of-factly, but I caught the tremor of concern underneath. "Leo's done playing nice."
I watched as one of the vans departed with the bodies, then more of the vehicles left, leaving only three behind. The cleanup crew had worked with unsettling efficiency. How many bodies had they cleaned away before?
It was not something I wanted to think too hard about. Within the timespan of us talking, there was no visible evidence of what had happened here, I imagined. Just us standing in a parking lot under flickering street lamps, like the violence by the river had been nothing more than a bad dream.
Leo broke away from the group and approached us. "Elena, Ivy, you're both going back to Elena and Jackson's place. We will have a security detail set up on you both."
"I can stay at my apartment," I started, but Leo's expression stopped me cold.
"That wasn't a suggestion," he said, though his tone remained gentle. "Until we know how many Malatestas are still operating in the city, you're both potential targets."
"What about Eric?" I asked as I let my gaze slip past him to the man in question.
Leo's gaze softened slightly. "He'll be busy tonight coordinating with his people. But he asked me to make sure you're safe."
Of course he did. Even now, when he should be focused on business, he was thinking about me.
"Come on," Elena said, linking her arm through mine. "At least we'll be together."
An hour later, I sat on Elena's couch in their apartment, which apparently qualified as a safe house given Jackson's security measures in place. My phone buzzed with a text from Eric.
Eric: Sorry I can't be there tonight. Tomorrow evening, I promise. Delegating what I can, but I need to be present for some operations.
My stomach twisted. Operations. Such a clinical word for what was probably going to be bloody and dangerous. A mass murder more likely. But sure, operations sounded better.
Be careful.
Three dots appeared, disappeared, then reappeared.
Always. Sleep well.
I didn't respond. What was there to say? "Please don't die while hunting down the people who tried to kidnap me"?
Besides, he didn't seem like the man who'd get killed easily.
As if that was a thing.
"I think hot chocolates are in order," Elena said, emerging from her bedroom in pajamas. "Something cozy."
"Sounds great." I watched as she got to work, noting the furrow in her brow.
Here I was worried about Eric out there, when Jackson was out there too.
I rose and joined her in the kitchen, helping her prepare the hot drinks and grabbing some chocolate from the fridge.
Comfort food at its finest.
"Eric texted," I said. "He'll be tied up with everything tonight but promised to see me tomorrow evening."
"Jackson said the same. He has to be there for some of it, even though Leo tried to keep him out of the worst parts." Elena's fingers tightened around one of the mugs. "I know what he's doing out there. What they're all doing. And I can't even ask him to stop because I know why it's necessary."
I thought about the men by the river, how they'd grabbed me without hesitation. How they would've taken me somewhere, hurt me, probably killed me if it served their purpose.
"They would've done worse to us," I said quietly. "And you know what's really twisted? I was in danger without even being with Eric. Like, actively avoiding him didn't protect me at all."
"I know." Elena leaned her head against my shoulder. "Doesn't make it easier though."
We moved to the couch, putting on some movie that was only going to act as background noise ultimately.
She settled beside me, pulling a blanket over both our laps. "I hate this, though. The waiting. Not knowing what's happening out there."
"I know." I was dreading the call that would declare someone hurt or dead. "But I keep thinking, what was the point of keeping my distance? His feelings for me were apparently enough to paint a target on my back anyway."
Elena turned to study my face. "So what does that mean for you two?"
I stared at the TV. "I don't know. I mean, the danger excuse is kind of shot to hell now, isn't it? I'm already in it whether I want to be or not."
"And he did save you," Elena pointed out gently.
"Yeah." I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "My very own knight in shining armor. Well, more like knight in expensive suit covered in other people's blood, but close enough."
But Elena just pursed her lips. There was a truth to my joke.
Eric had killed people today. For me. Actually taken lives because someone threatened mine.
"How do you wrap your head around it?" I asked quietly. "Jackson's done things too. Violent things. For you, for his family. How do you make peace with that?"
Elena was quiet for a long moment. "I don't know if you ever fully make peace with it. But I know that Jackson would never hurt someone who didn't deserve it. And I know that the alternative, letting bad people do bad things, is worse."
I pulled my knees up to my chest. "Eric shot those men today. Killed them. And I should probably be horrified, right? But mostly I'm just... grateful. Which probably says something terrible about me."
"It says you're human," Elena said firmly. "It says you understand that sometimes violence is the only thing that stops worse violence."
"A human who is glad that two men are dead," I murmured. "He killed for me, to save me. God, what does that make me?"
"Safe," Elena said simply. "It makes you safe."
This was the truth of being with Eric. The darkness of it, the bloodiness of it. But it also showed what he was willing to do for me. To protect me. I wanted to focus on that instead.
We sat in silence for a while, the television playing some mindless show neither of us watched. My phone buzzed again, but it wasn't Eric this time. It was Meredith.
Are you two okay? I'm stuck at the estate with Leo sorting through everything. Want to come over tomorrow?
We're fine. Tomorrow sounds good.
Sofia will join us too. We can all stay together, keep each other sane. She can bring Marcello too, give you guys some baby cuddles to distract you.
Perfect. See you then.
"Meredith's inviting us over tomorrow," I told Elena. "With Sofia and the baby."
"Good," Elena said. "I could use the distraction."
We ended up watching terrible reality TV until our eyes grew heavy, then moved to Elena's bedroom. She climbed into one side of the bed while I took the other, both of us seeking comfort in not being alone.
"Remember when our biggest worry was whether Anna would find out we ate her hidden chocolate?" I said into the darkness.
Elena laughed softly. "Or when we thought we were so clever sneaking out to meet those boys at the pier, only to have Mom waiting on the porch when we got back."