LOGINIVY’S POV“That night, Damien sent a bodyguard to secretly follow you here and protect you. He’s also been calling to check on you. And he was the one who recommended me to the owner of Darnin’s.”My mouth fell open.“Wait. What?”“Not only that,” Elena added. “Since Michael has started, I might as well tell you everything. Damien also expanded Mrs. Gable’s diner after he noticed we were working there, and he sent us a lot of money.”My eyes widened. “I don’t understand. All of this happened within two days? And you kept it from me?”“He asked us to,” Michael admitted. “At first, we refused because of how hurt you were after everything. But he explained that he was working on the investigation and kept insisting that we accept his help.”“And, in our defense, it’s really hard to say no to Damien Blackwood.” Elena gave a nervous laugh. “That man is scary as fuck. The rumors definitely weren’t lying about him being ruthless.”My heart twisted at their confession. So Damien hadn’t comple
IVY’S POV“One, two, drink!” Elena shouted, tossing her head back and swallowing her shot in one gulp.Michael slammed his empty glass onto the table with a sigh after downing his own drink.I was now the only one left.“Drink it, Ivy. Don’t just stare at it,” he urged.I had barely started shaking my head when they both began hitting their fists against the table.“Drink it! Drink it! Drink it!”Their chanting grew louder, and when I noticed people at the nearby tables starting to look our way, I finally gave in.“Fine. Fine, I will.”I picked up the glass and swallowed the amber liquid in one gulp. The alcohol burned all the way down my throat, making me cough immediately.“Yes, girl! That’s it!” Elena cheered while Michael laughed at my reaction.“Jesus, that’s harsh!” I grimaced, wiping my mouth. “What even is this?”“It’s cheap tequila,” Michael laughed, checking the label. “What were you expecting? Château Margaux?”“It tastes like liquid fire.” I shook my head, already feeling
IVY’S POV“Ivy, wait—” Damien started, trying to unwrap himself from Ava.“Stop, Damien. Your daughter just woke up. Focus on that,” I said firmly before making my way out of the room and pulling the door shut behind me.I leaned my back against the wall of the corridor, closing my eyes as I let out a long breath.My phone vibrated in my coat pocket. I pulled it out and saw a text from Elena.Elena: Did you get there? Is she okay???I typed back quickly: Yes, she’s awake. She’s talking and she recognized me. Thank God.Elena replied instantly: Thank God! Oh, I’m so happy! Tell her Auntie Elena is glad she’s awake!I smiled faintly at the screen, but as I was about to type a reply, I heard my name.“Ivy?” a familiar voice called out from down the hall.I looked up to see Lawrence walking toward me, and I slipped my phone back into my pocket.“Hi, Lawrence,” I said, attempting a small smile. “How have you been?”“I should be asking you that,” Lawrence said, his eyes filled with sympathy
IVY’S POV“Oh, you fuck me so good,” the woman moaned as the man kept ramming into her from behind.“Better than your husband?”“Yes, better than my husband. I even think about you when I’m sucking his cock.”The man’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Really? Maybe I should come home and kill him so I can use his blood as lube while I fuck your ass.”“Jesus,” Elena gasped, turning off the TV and sending shocked eyes my way. “I thought you were lying when you said this "Benson Wants You" mafia movie was a whole different level of gross.”“I told you.” I shrugged. “I watched that scene while you were at the diner and I almost puked.”“Ivy,” Michael called out, entering the living room with my phone in his hand. “You left your phone in the kitchen. You have a call from a guy named Mark.”I shot up so fast I almost knocked Elena’s arm out of the way. I snatched the phone and looked at the screen.My heart did a violent flip.It was really Mark.I hit the green button and shoved the phone
DAMIEN’S POV“Did you really think you could pull something like this under my roof and I wouldn’t notice? Do you really think I’m that stupid, Greta? That you could lie to my face and I wouldn’t see through you?!” My voice grew louder with each question.“Mr. Blackwood, please!” She gasped, clasping her trembling hands in front of her. “Listen to me! I promise, I can explain!”“We planted that mic on you today,” I said, glaring down at her. “And we’ve heard every conversation you’ve had since then, including the one you had at Ivy’s house.”“No! Please!” Greta fell to her knees right in front of me, grabbing the hem of my pants. “It’s not what it looks like! I didn't mean any of it!”“Get your hands off me,” I growled, stepping back from her grip.“I only did it because I love you!” she sobbed, tears instantly streaming down her cheeks. “I’ve been in love with you since the first day I started working here! You never even looked at me! You only had eyes for that trashy Ivy!”“So that
DAMIEN’S POVFinally.I had her exactly where I wanted her.But I didn’t want to make it obvious just yet so I stayed hidden in the shadows behind the staircase, watching Greta.She held her shoes in one hand and kept looking over her shoulder as she tiptoed in from the front entrance.“Where are you coming from?” I demanded, stepping out to stand right in front of her.“Oh my God!” She shrieked when she saw me, pressing a hand to her chest.“Mr. Blackwood!” she breathed, her voice trembling as she tried to compose herself. “You scared me. I didn’t know you were around”.“I believe I asked you a question”.“I… I just went out to get some fresh air, sir," she stammered, looking down to avoid my gaze. “I haven’t been able to sleep because I’ve been so worried about Ava so I went down to the late-night pharmacy on Fifth Street to get some sleeping pills.”“Where are the pills?” I asked as I looked down at her empty hands.Her eyes followed my gaze before she quickly looked back at me.“I







