Novels by Mebi_xx

Ivy woke to the smell of breakfast.For a few seconds, she forgot where she was.Then she opened her eyes.The familiar curtains.The old bookshelf.The photographs on the dresser.Home.She sat up slowly.Her hand rested against her stomach before she even realized what she was doing.She pulled it away.A knock sounded."Come in."Emily pushed the door open."Dad sent me."Ivy smiled."To wake me?""To make sure you actually eat."Ivy laughed softly."He's still doing that?""Apparently, you're still his troublesome daughter.""Apparently."Emily sat on the edge of the bed."You slept well.""Better than I have in days.""Good."Ivy looked at her sister."You really think Dad has changed?"Emily hesitated."I think he's trying."Ivy nodded slowly."Me too."The words surprised even her.Emily smiled."Then maybe that's enough for now."---Downstairs, Richard was waiting.He looked up when Ivy entered."There she is.""Good morning.""Good morning."He pulled out a chair."Sit."Ivy

Sebastian's footsteps disappeared down the hallway.Ivy remained seated on the bed, staring at the door.Her phone lay beside her.The pregnancy result was still open.She locked the screen.A knock came."Ivy?"Emily.She slipped the phone beneath her pillow."Come in."Emily entered slowly."You didn't sleep.""Neither did you."Emily sat beside her.For a while, neither spoke.Then Ivy said, "I'm going home."Emily looked at her."To Dad?"Ivy nodded."Tomorrow.""Are you sure?""No."The answer came so quietly that Emily almost missed it.Ivy looked down at her hands."But I'm going."Emily didn't argue.She simply reached for her sister's hand.Ivy squeezed it.---Sebastian was in the study when Ivy walked in the next morning.He looked up from his laptop."You've decided.""I'm leaving."He closed the laptop."Where?""My father's."His expression didn't change."When?""Now.""Fine."Ivy stared at him."That's all you have to say?""What do you want me to say?""Nothing."She

Emily closed the bedroom door behind her.She leaned against it and shut her eyes.Richard's note was still in her hand.She unfolded it again.Keep her close.Her fingers trembled.She tore the paper in half.Then again.Again.Until the pieces fell into the wastebasket.A knock sounded."Ivy?"Emily quickly wiped her face."Come in."The door opened.Ivy stood there."You okay?"Emily nodded too quickly."Yeah."Ivy studied her."You've been acting strange."Emily looked away."I'm just tired."Ivy walked in and sat beside her."I know what Dad is doing."Emily's eyes lifted."Do you?""He's trying to make me come back."Emily nodded."Don't.""I haven't decided anything.""Then don't let him decide for you."Ivy looked at her sister."What would you do?"Emily swallowed."I'd choose the person who gives me a choice."The words settled between them.Ivy looked toward the door."Sebastian?"Emily nodded."He doesn't exactly give me a lot of choices.""But he lets you fight him."Ivy

Ivy didn't sleep.Richard's message remained open on her phone.Come home. We can keep Emily safe.She read it again.Then locked her phone.A soft knock came at the door.She looked up.Emily stood there."I can't sleep."Ivy moved over."Come."Emily sat beside her.For a moment, neither spoke.Then Emily reached for Ivy's hand."I'm sorry."Ivy looked at her."For what?""For bringing you into this.""You didn't."Emily's fingers tightened around hers."You don't understand.""Then help me understand."Emily looked toward the window."Father isn't doing this because he suddenly wants to be a good father.""I know.""He wants something.""I know that too.""Then why are you considering going back?"Ivy swallowed."Because you're the one he has."Emily looked at her."And if he hurts you?""Then I'll deal with it.""You shouldn't have to.""You're my sister."Emily's eyes filled."Ivy...""Whatever else is happening, that hasn't changed."Emily looked down.Her silence bothered Ivy.

Sebastian stood alone in the darkened room, the message still glowing on his phone.Let's see what you choose, Wolfe.His thumb hovered over the screen.Then he typed one word.Where?The reply came almost immediately.Ask Richard.Sebastian's jaw tightened.Of course.He slipped the phone into his pocket and headed upstairs.He found Ivy standing by the window.She turned when she heard him."What's wrong?""Nothing."She frowned."You're a terrible liar.""I know.""Then don't lie."He stopped a few feet away."Richard has Emily."Her face changed."What?""He wants you."She stared at him."Alive?""Yes.""And if I don't go?"Sebastian didn't answer.Her eyes filled."They'll kill her.""That's what they want you to believe.""You saw the message.""Yes.""Then what are we supposed to do?""Think."She laughed bitterly."Everyone keeps telling me to think while my sister is being held somewhere."Sebastian stepped closer."I'll get her.""How?""I'll find her.""And if you can't?"

"Ivy!"Sebastian caught her before she reached the stairs.She jerked her arm away."Don't."He released her immediately.Her eyes were fixed on the empty space where Emily had been standing only seconds ago."She was right there.""I know.""Then where is she?"Sebastian scanned the darkened room."Everyone spread out."Jaxon moved toward the hallway. Lucien checked the doors while Rafael headed for the back entrance.Ivy stayed where she was.Her heart hammered against her ribs."Emily!"Nothing.She turned toward Sebastian."She was about to tell me something.""I know.""About the accident."His expression tightened."Yes.""And then that voice came through the speakers.""I heard it."She stared at him."Why did it tell me to ask what you were doing behind the wheel?"Sebastian's jaw clenched."I don't know.""You do.""Ivy—""You do."He looked away.That was enough to make her stomach twist."Look at me."He did."Were you there that night?"A long silence."Yes."Her breath ca