Chapter 42

*IRIS*

Ivy laughed hysterically after hanging up the phone. Why was she enjoying torturing Ryker so much? I know he was always good to her. He searched for her till it made him dark, from what I understand. I get what Theo said about whatever these mob men did to her, but why torture Ryker. It wasn't his fault. "What are you staring at?" She said after the laughter stopped. I shook my head, "nothing." She walked closer to me. "Are you worried about Lorcane, I assure you *baby girl*, he will get over it." Her words were sharp edged. She was trying to stab me through with them. "I am sure he will." I smiled at her; I wasn't going to let her upset me. She didn't deserve that. "Oh, Ivy, why are you so dramatic?" Theo said laughing at her and walking around my chair. I slowly tried to pull on my restraints, trying not to gain attention. "Tell me Theo," She walked to him placing herself right in front of his face, "what is it about this little twat that makes you men all weak in the knees?" She ran the back of her hand down his cheek, biting her lip. He sidestepped around her, and laughed again, "Ivy, doll, if you knew that you wouldn't have such a large chip on your tiny little shoulder." His words infuriated her, and she swung at him with an open hand. He caught her hand and pushed it down to her side, pushing her hard into the wall. "If you put your hands on me again, I will cut it off bitch." His demeanor had changed making it feel less like an act and more like he was coming to the end of his rope. He lost his patience with her when she attempted to strike him. "Let me go!" She screamed at him. He let go promptly. She stormed out of the little room they had trapped me in slamming the door behind her. "I am sorry you had to see that. I swear Iris, I am not a violent man, but that woman infuriates me." He ran his fingers through his dark hair. "I am so sorry." He repeated. "It's okay." I said quietly, realizing I was afraid to speak up. He walked over and knelt in front of me. When he reached up to my cheek, I recoiled. I had seen a man act that way before, and it doesn't get better, only worse. His eyes got sad when I jumped and backed away from me. "I wouldn't hurt you, Iris. I gave Lorcane a clue to find you. I compromised my cover for you." He was quiet to ensure the others wouldn't hear him. My eyes darted up when he said that. "Yes, within 15 minutes after our conversation his security will have known I am who I am, and where you are." His words instantly took my fear away. The thought of Ryker showing up with an army, with Deacon, made me feel like I might actually make it out of here. "How?" I wasn't sure I trusted what he said after the actions he took with Ivy. "Nightwind." One word, reminding me of him making up some pirate name. "What?" I said confused as to why that would mean anything. "It's a codename OC's use to tell other law employees they are on the job. I'll have to tell you the story sometime." I nodded. It may have been delirium, or exhaustion, but I chose to believe what he was saying to me.

I sat there alone for a while; Theo had left to go check on Ivy. I noticed as his guilt got to him. He paced around the room, mumbled something about this job changing him, and walked out of the room completely. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to take in deep breaths when a loud crash startled me. I heard screaming. I fought against my restraints, but I couldn't get out. I pulled and pulled, my hands turned red then purple, but wouldn't slide out of the restraints. The gunshots scared me, I started to cry. When the door flew open, I screamed. Ivy ran in and got behind me. The barrel of her gun pressed against my temple. "Come on in Lorcane, take her, I dare you!" She yelled loudly towards the door. I tried to slow my breathing, but I couldn't stop the tears from coming out. Deacon walked in first, gun in hand, pointing it at Ivy. "Put the gun down." He said, his voice fierce and angry. I had never seen him that way. His eyes were dark, like Ryker's got, but darker. "Now!" His voice sounded like a growl. "You gonna shoot me Deac, after all our times together?" She was obviously still trying to sound sweet. I watched as Ryker ran into the room, stopping immediately when he saw Ivy's gun. "Ivy, what are you doing?" He sounded less like Deacon, and even less like himself. He sounded scared. He couldn't be scared, that's what she wanted. "Ryker, shoot her." I said calmly, wishing my tears to stop. He needed to see that I wasn't scared, and he couldn't be either. He looked at me, sad for a moment, but in front of everything his face changed. It went from scared to infuriated. "Sit down!" He screamed at her. She flinched some, the barrel of her gun slid some hurting my temple. "I don't have to listen to you anymore Ryker." She said laughing nervously. This woman was crazy. She would probably shoot me in the head just to spite me. I closed my eyes and started to speak only to him and Deacon. "I am sorry I left; I shouldn't have. It was a petty reason. I missed you as soon as I got in the vehicle." I took a breath trying to move my head away from the gun, she kept adding pressure to it against my head. "The past few months have brought me back to life. I had a very hard time in Ohio, and I ran, that's what I do. My mother married a very abusive man, and she wouldn't listen to me, so I left. I couldn't be there anymore. I saw you on the beach, and I couldn't look away. I am so glad you came into my life Ryker Lorcane. Tell the school that I left. I don't want this falling back on you and your career." I was trying to get it all out when Ryker told me to shut up. "Ivy, shoot me. He stepped right in front of her." I looked up horrified. "I am the one who let them take you and couldn't find you. I am the one who moved on to Iris and forgot about you. I know you think it is her fault, but it isn't. She knew nothing about you. She is innocent Ivy, like you were before, just shoot me. I deserve it." He took a step forward and she pointed the gun at him. I screamed out "No!" And she laughed.

It felt like an hour before anyone moved or spoke but in reality, it was only a few moments. This time Deacon spoke, "Ivy, let's just put the gun down, okay. We can take you with us, and I will hide from you. They won't find you." She started laughing again. "Deac, I don't want to go with you and hide. I want to stay with them. They take care of me." She shook her head, and I watched Ryker take another step towards her. Deacon tried again to talk to her, "Then go, go with them. Theo ran off, I am sure he is hiding outside somewhere. I sent men to look for him, but I know he is probably gone. I heard you talking to him on the phone. You are fond of him. Claud got away as well. We will be hunting them both, but I will let you go. Just wall... " She cocked her gun back and retrained it on Ryker. "Shut up Deac, just shut the fuck up! None of you matter to me, I will shoot you all." I kicked my legs, pushing the chair back into her enough to knock the wind out of her. She hit me hard with the pistol when she gained her footing and Ryker lunged at her. "You stupid little bitch." He was wrestling her for the gun as Deacon tried to cut me loose. I was dizzy and my eyes were blurry. I was seeing shades of red from the blood flowing from my wound into my eyes. Deacon helped me stand but the pain in my arms and legs made me even weaker. I grabbed his arm tightly and turned around. Ryker picked Ivy up and sat her down in the chair, turning to look at me while he restrained her. "Is she okay Deacon? Check her head?" I couldn't get words to come out. I didn't know if it was my head from the blunt trauma or that I was in shock, but I couldn't get my mouth to form words. I looked over to Ivy as Ryker pulled the restraints on her legs, she was struggling against him. "Stop!" he said gently pushing her back against the chair. "Ryker, go ahead and walk her to the car. I have Andrew and James on alert. We now have men surrounding the block. I want her to be watched from all corners. We still don't know where Theo and Claud went." I tried to listen to what Deacon said as I leaned on him, but my eyes wanted to close. "Iris! Don’t fall asleep." Ryker yelled at me, and I jumped, opening my eyes. I saw something shiny come around his body aimed right at me. *BANG*