Chapter 50: Chapter Fifty

*Ryker* 

I couldn’t hardly handle looking at her. Her face reminded me of what she has done to Iris. How she sent me on a never-ending spiral thinking I had let something horrible happen to her. It was her plan all along, a master manipulator. I despise this woman. When they removed the ball gag, her first words sent chills down my spine. “Hello Boss!” She seemed almost gleeful. I mumbled curse words before asking her what their plan was. She looked over to Brett and nodded, then back to me. “What am I to do with that gag when you aren’t here?” She tried to sound pouty and cute but she only made my skin crawl. “Ivy, I warned you!” Brett yelled; He walked back towards her ball gag in hand. “Wait!” I yelled. I needed to know their plans. I needed to find Claud, before Theo, so I could end him. I wanted to be sure I never had to worry about what could happen again. I had to deal with these fucks so Iris could go back to school comfortably. So, I could let her go knowing she would be safe. I want to go back to the life I had created before Ivy came back in and destroyed it again. “If you gag her, she can't tell me what her freak friends have planned.” I said in a voice Ivy would recognize. Deep and dark, like a growl, I asked her again. “Tell me the plan, Ivy!” Her eyes widened and her smirk disappeared. “Daddy?” Her word made me itchy; I didn't like hearing it from her. I never wanted to hear it from anyone but Iris again. “Tell me.” I said again, same tone.  

She sat there for a few moments before muttering an address. Brett watched for my signal, and I ran my fingers through my hair. He turned and walked towards the door. He knew I was sure I wanted the address checked out. I was hoping she told me where I could find Claud. I want to find him before Theo throws him in jail, but I also want to find him so I can tell Iris he can't hurt her again. None of them will. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I had received a text telling me that they were sending a security team to the address within minutes of my hand leaving my hair. I had a good team. Iris was captured because she took off. Recklessly putting herself at risk. That cannot happen anymore either. Ivy was saying something but I was so distracted by my thoughts I didn't hear her the first time. “Daddy!” She said it again but this time I looked at her and shook my head, “You don't have the right or the consent to refer to me that way anymore.” My voice was dark, and I knew Lorcane was leading this conversation. “What do you want?” She said after a few moments of silence. “I want to know what the plan is? What does the Punisher Clan want?” I watched as she almost looked afraid to answer. “If I tell you, I will never leave this room. I Know you, Lorcane, I know you will kill me after what I did to your *Babygirl*.” I could hear the disgust in her voice when she spoke of my Iris. “Jealousy really doesn't look good on you Ivy, but then again, not much does anymore.” I smiled, knowing her vanity couldn't stand hearing something negative of her appearance. “If you tell me everything I want to know, I will give you a new identity Ivy. You will be dropped off with enough money to survive in a remote location far away from here. If you tell me everything, Punishers or myself will never be able to find you again.” She looked directly into the camera. She was looking to see if I was being honest. She still thinks she can read me.  

I was telling the truth. I couldn’t kill this woman. I don't murder women. Nevertheless, she still had to disappear. I couldn't have her coming back around endangering Iris. “They want her dead, Ryker. They want you dead. They want Deacon dead too.” She let out a large breath like she had been carrying a ton of weight and finally dropped it. My blood started to boil. “Why? Why Iris? Why Deacon?” I didn't care if they wanted to kill me. They aren’t the first and they wont be the last. “Because dummy, they know they are the two people you care about the most.” Her words echoed in my mind. I remember the first time I talked to Deacon about Iris. He told me how young she was. That she seemed innocent and she wouldn't fit into my world. I got angry with him, though I knew he was right. If I had listened to him, if I would have left her alone to date one of those idiots like Adam at the school, she wouldn't be in a hospital right now. In a criminal hospital at that, in danger, from things that have nothing to do with her and her life. “Iris shouldn't have anything to do with this, fuck!” I knew they would come after Deacon. I know he knows that as well. He signed up for this job. He is here to be my head of security, my main body guard, but has become more like my brother. I should have listened to him. “I told you what you wanted to know Ryker; I want to leave now.” Ivy yelled at the camera. I turned off the screen, walked out of the room and headed back to check on Iris. She was still sleeping. Deacon walked up beside me. “Maybe we should send her home to Ohio.”  

I couldn't stand that idea, and I knew Iris wouldn't want to go back there. I didn't know why for sure, but I think she had a reason for coming so far away from home. “I cant do that Deac. I can’t make her leave, she did nothing wrong. We have to keep her safe. I have to keep you safe.” He looked insulted by my words. “I am here to keep you safe, boss, not the other way around.” I smiled at him and patted his shoulder before walking back to Iris’s bedside. “Tell the men to get her to write all the names she knows of the Punisher clan, and then follow the plan to make her disappear.” Deacon nodded at my order and left the room immediately dialing his phone. I felt Iris stir and turned to look at her. She was smiling at me.  

“I knew you wouldn't leave.” She said softly, in a whisper. I grabbed her water and gave her a few small drinks. “Of course not. I will never leave you again, not until I am completely sure you are safe.” She smiled for a moment but then frowned. “What about after?” I know she was asking about after this stuff with Ivy and the punishers was over. I plan to send her back to school. I am going to send her back and leave her to live a normal life. The one she was meant to live before I came in a destroyed it. Should I lie to her? To comfort her for now? She doesn't want to hear this stuff. I know that. I know she will be hurt and angry. She wants to be my baby girl and I want her more than I have ever wanted anyone, but Ivy was right. She is the one I care about the most and anyone who knows that will come after her to get to me. I have a lot of enemies, and I cant do this to her anymore. I have to sacrifice my need for her for her need to be safe. To live a happy and normal life. I have to let her go. “Ryker?” She said noticing my hesitation. “Anything you want Babygirl; we can do whatever you want after.”