Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
The moment Ivy told me about what was happening, I called Eli. Either way, I’d get to help her in the process, or it could potentially lead to our guy. I haven’t told Ivy any of this because I don’t want her thinking the only reason I’m helping her is because what happened to her might be connected to my work with Eli. I also don’t want her to know I told them about the incident that happened that night. If she hasn’t spoken about it to her friends, I don’t want to betray her by telling the guys. But keeping secrets is torture for me. It makes me feel icky.
“Braxton is going to take him after we question him.” Which means he’s going to torture him, which I can’t fucking wait for.
“Why?” Eli asks in a clipped tone. “Just cut the head off. No loose ends.”
“Ivy thinks he’s not the main problem, that it goes deeper, so she doesn’t want his employers suspecting our involvement. She’s good at what she does. I trust her.”
Eli’s quiet for a moment. “Why didn’t you go to Will to have him dig deeper into this? He could track him down right now.”
We’re desperate using this as a lead, but in our line of work, we’ve learned to follow every thread, curious as to what den of vipers it’ll lead us to.
I sigh, wishing that people wouldn’t make me admit it out loud. “You know her father hates me and refuses to do any kind of work on my behalf.” It’s fucking true. Anyone can ask Will Walker for help, and he’ll provide it for a high price. From day one, he’s made it clear he will help anyone but me. “Besides, she’s good at what she does, Eli. I think she’s onto something.”
Eli sighs, and I imagine him bringing a glass of whiskey to his lips. “Or it could be a waste of our time if it’s unrelated. Just make sure you’re focused on our objective and not thinking with your dick.”
“You know I always think with my dick,” I say with a smirk, then turn to look through the restaurant windows. I pause when I see Ivy standing directly behind me, furiously glaring at me. “I’ve got to go.” I hang up on my boss. “How long have you been there?”
“Does it matter?” she bites out, and I can see the hurt in her expression. Fuck, this is bad.
“It’s not what it sounds like?” I say, but it comes out as more of a question. Because I don’t know what she overheard, all I know for sure is that she’s pissed.
She scoffs. “So now you’re just telling everyone my shit?”
My heart sinks because I haven’t told them specifically, but the only one I alluded to was Braxton, so he could look after her. Guilt consumes me nonetheless, but I know if I hesitate with Ivy, she’ll eat me alive.
“These are two completely different incidences. I can’t give you the information about what we’re working on, but they might not even have anything to do with each other.”
“So are you helping me because you want to or because you’re being told to?” she growls furiously. Shit, this is really bad. I’ve dealt with my mother’s raging fits, and they often involve weapons, but I’ve never dealt with something that cuts so deeply as Ivy’s scornful expression. It twists in my stomach, and I want to do anything to make it better. To tell her everything she needs to hear and to understand that I would never hurt her.
“You know I’d help you no matter what. I’m a simple guy. You know I want to help you.”
“Especially because you always think with your dick?”
I don’t know how to respond to that. Before I can reply, she throws her hands up in the air.
“You know what? It’s been fun. And your dick is a lot of fun too, but maybe we should have some space for a bit.”
“Space? What the fuck does that mean?” I ask, stepping toward her. She laughs as she steps back.
“Exactly what it sounds like, Hawke. No more you and me. No touchy. I can take it from here; I don’t need your help anymore.” She begins to walk off, but I follow her.
“You don’t get to just call it because you’re in a pissy mood.”
She swings around. “Pissy mood?!”
Fuck. I said the wrong thing. Damnit, I’m not good at this shit.
“This is all just sex, isn’t it? And we’ve had fun, and you can tick it off your list. Job well done, Hawke.”
She turns away again, but I catch her wrist, unsure of what the fuck is happening right now. How is it spiraling so much, and I seem to be saying all the wrong things? I mean, I’ve always done that, but I want to be able to say the right things when it comes to Ivy.