Ivy held onto Harryâs arm as they approached Mary Jale, who was seated at a sleek red velvet booth, counting a thick stack of cash. The faint light shone over her sharp features, and her red lips curled into a smirk as she spotted them.âWell, well,â Mary drawled, tapping a nail against the money. âDidnât think Iâd see you two again so soon. I take it lover boy here made quite the impression?âIvy didnât even flinch. She pulled out a check and slid it across the table. âI want to buy him.âMary raised a brow, then threw her head back with a laugh. âDamn, sweetheart. He mustâve really satisfied you with that big dick .â She looked Harry up and down, eyes glinting with amusement. Harry groaned. âNot this again.âIvy, ever composed, crossed her arms. âI donât have time for your games. That amount should cover whatever you think heâs worth.âMary hummed, picking up the check and inspecting it like it was a mere receipt. âYou know, I could start a bidding war. Rich, desperate woman buyin
Harry didnât know when his eyes grew heavy, but the exhaustion of the past few days finally caught up with him. His body relaxed against the headboard, his breathing evening out.Ivy shifted beside him, murmuring something in her sleep. Her head rested awkwardly against the pillow, her neck at an uncomfortable angle. Without thinking, Harry reached out and gently nudged her closer.She stirred, her brows furrowing for a second before she instinctively nestled against him, her head resting against his chest.Harry stilled. His heartbeat quickened, the warmth of her body pressing against his sent a chilling feeling. He hesitated, but when she let out a soft sigh and curled slightly into him, he gave in.Carefully, he pulled the blanket over both of them, his arm settling lightly around her shoulders. Her breathing was soft, steady and completely at easeâas if this was where she belonged.Harry closed his eyes, his lips twitching slightly. Maybe, just for tonight, he could let himself
Ivy sat in Detective Coleâs office, her fingers locked together so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. The air smelled of stale coffee and old case files. Cole leaned back in his chair, studying her with an expression that was too calmâtoo knowing. âYou saw him, didn't you ?.â It wasnât a question.She exhaled, forcing herself to meet his gaze. âNo.âHis brow lifted slightly, unimpressed. âYouâre lying.ââI didnât find him,â she insisted, keeping a straight voice but her pulse betrayed her. âIf I did, donât you think Iâd be standing here with answers instead of questions?âCole didnât speak right away, he just observed her the way he always didâlike he could read every micro-expression she tried to suppress. âIvy, we sent you because youâre the only one he might not run from. If you really didnât find him, that means heâs either gone or youâre protecting him.âHer jaw tightened. âI did what I could.âHe sighed, rubbing his temples. âYou do realize whatâs at stake here, right?âIvy
Ivy sank into the couch, the cold water bottle sweating against her palm. She took a slow sip, but it did nothing to cool the storm inside her.She knew damn well the FBI wasnât done with her. Theyâd send someoneâmaybe they already had. She wasnât stupid. The moment she walked out of that office, she felt eyes on her. But that wasnât even the biggest problem.Harry was.Was he really in love with her? Or was she just another pawn in whatever twisted game he was playing?She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair.And those pictures in his basementâĶ Who were they? What had they done to end up there?Her chest tightened. There were too many questions, and every answer seemed to lead to something darker.Why did he fake his crippledness?And last but not leastâher heart.Why was she protecting him? Was she already in love?The thought made her chest tighten, and yet, every time she closed her eyes, all she saw was his face. That dangerously handsome face, the scar cutting thro
"Did you call them for me?" Harry whispered taking a step back from ivy , his body was tensed ready to flee or fight . "HarryâĶ" Her throat tightened. "I swear I didnât." She moved closer, desperation in her voice. "I canât do such a thing. Trust me."She cupped his face again, but this time, he didnât lean into her touch."HARRY HENDRIX! YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SURRENDER, OR WE BREAK IN!" The agentâs voice boomed again from the helicopter, making the walls vibrate.Harryâs glanced at the ticking clock on the wall, then to ivy.Ivy gripped his shirt, her fingers trembling. "Harry, please, look at me."She never expected the FBI to be this smart. Never expected them to close in this fast.And now, the man she wasnât sure she could live without was running out of time."Harry Hendrix, four minutes!" The agentâs voice thundered again, making Ivyâs heart pound.Harry gripped her arms, his eyes searching hers. "Iâll surrenderâĶ but not until I make sure youâre safe. I donât want you implic
Adrianâs MansionAdrian lounged on the velvet couch, one arm draped over the side, his fingers lazily tapping against the glass of whiskey in his hand. The glow of the TV flashed across his sharp features as the news played, the voice of the journalist cut through the quiet. "Fugitive billionaire heir Harry Hendrix has finally been captured..."A curled one lip tugged at Adrianâs lips. âAbout time,â he muttered, swirling the drink.Sasha slipped onto the couch beside him, her manicured nails brushing against his arm as she leaned in to watch. A satisfied smile curled on her lips. âThank God I broke up with him when I did,â she sighed dramatically. âCan you imagine? If I stayed, maybe Iâd be the one in trouble. He couldâve killed me, Adrian. Or worseâĶ you.âAdrianâs grip on the glass tightened. His jaw tensed. Without warning, he turned to her, his eyes dark. âYou think youâd be that important to him?â His voice was sharp, cutting through the fake concern in hers.Sasha flinched,
Ivy knelt beside Sasha, her lawyer instincts momentarily giving way to simple human compassion. Sasha's cheek was already turning red from the slap, her eyes wide with shock and unshed tears.Before Ivy could say anything, Adrian grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet. His grasp was tight and his frustration was obvious."Face your own damn problems, Ivy," he hissed, lowly "Leave my wife and I out of whatever mess you and Harry have created."Ivy squared her shoulders, unfazed by Adrianâs towering presence. âIâm not here for you, Adrian. I need a word with Sasha. Can you move?â She said confidently not minding his daring disgusted eyes.Adrian let out a low chuckle, folding his arms across his chest. âWhy wonât you just talk here?â His gaze snapped toward Sasha, whose face was streaked with tears, yet she still forced a weak, practiced smileâone that didnât quite reach her eyes. âOr are you scared of something?âIvy glanced at Sasha, reading the silent plea behind her trembling ma
"Ivy, I think itâs time you leave," Adrianâs voice cut through the tension as he strode toward them. His eyes bore until hers. "You canât just come here and boss my wife and I around."Sasha exhaled in relief, using the moment to slip away from Ivyâs piercing questions. She moved toward Adrian, subtly hiding behind him, as if he were her shield.Ivy twisted her jaw, her eyes jerking between the both of them. She already knew she had other things to handleâthings more important than wasting time with people who refused to face their own demons.Without another word, she turned on her heels, throwing one last icy glance at Sasha before stepping out of the house.Her next target was Damian Francisâone of the names burned into the Kill Row image Harry had hidden in his basement.There were twelve more on the list, twelve more lives tangled in whatever twisted truth she was uncovering. But Ivy knew better than to rush.One step at a time.With all the evidence she had gathered, Damien Fra
Ivy slammed her glass down, making the ice rattle. Her patience was running thin."So tell me, Roberto!" she snapped, her eyes burning with frustration. "Why the hell are you so obsessed with destroying your own family?"Roberto exhaled slowly, the smirk on his face fading. He swirled his drink, staring into it as if the answer lay at the bottom of the glass."You want the truth?" he muttered. He leaned back, stretching an arm over the couch, his fingers lazily brushing against the blonde curled up beside him. She didnât reactâprobably too drunk or high to care."I was supposed to be him," Roberto said bitterly. "Karl Hendrix. The golden boy. The heir. The one my father groomed to take over the empire." He scoffed, shaking his head. "But Karl? He was perfect. Clean. Calculated. And me?" He chuckled darkly. "Too wild too reckless as they had called me . A disappointment."Ivy watched him, arms crossed, waiting."My father gave Karl everythingâeverything that shouldâve been mine. Power
The clanking of boots against the cold prison floor made Ivy tense. She knew what was coming."Time's up," the guard announced, his voice flat and uninterested.Ivy ignored him, her hands still resting on Harryâs, her fingers tracing the roughness of his knuckles. "I donât want to go yet," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.Harry exhaled sharply, his eyes burning into hers. "You have to," he said, his jaw tightening. "Youâve done enough, Ivy. Don't wear yourself out for me."Her throat tightened. âYouâre behind bars because of them. Iâm not stopping till I get you out.âThe guard shifted impatiently. âMiss, I said timeâsââHarryâs head snapped toward him, his voice a dangerous growl. âDonât dare touch her. I donât care if Iâm behind bars.âThe guard hesitated, taking a step back.Ivy turned back to Harry, her chest aching. "Iâll be back," she promised.Harry leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers through the bars. âBe careful, Ivy.â His voice was rough, filled with
Ivy spent the next twelve hours chasing ghosts.Agent after agent, office after officeâeach door she knocked on came with the same answer: No.First, it was a stiff-faced woman at the state security office, who barely looked up from her computer as she muttered, âWe donât issue access passes for criminal detainees without higher authorization.âThen, at the Department of Justice, a man with tired eyes and coffee-stained sleeves shook his head. âSorry, Miss Ivy. Even as his lawyer, you need clearance from someone way above my pay grade.âBy the time she reached her fourth contactâa private consultant who claimed he had âconnectionsââIvy was already drained. But she still pulled out a thick envelope of cash, sliding it across the table.The man, a greasy-haired official with a nervous smile,eyed the money before exhaling. âMiss Ivy, I like money. But I also like breathing. And granting you this? Thatâs a one-way ticket to making powerful enemies.âShe leaned in, lowering her voice. âI j
âAnd I vow to end Harry.â Valeriaâs lips stretched into a slow, wicked smile, her fingers twitching toward the stack of cash. âNow, may I have those?âShe flinged her wrist, sending the crisp dollar bills scattering onto the dusty floor. âKnock yourself out,â she muttered, watching as Valeria lunged for the money like a starved dog.Four down.She turned on her heel, stepping over a stray bill as she walked out. There were still nine more names on her list.Her phone rang, breaking the silence. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen.A news notification flashed. She tapped it, and a live broadcast playedâin a sleek newsroom, a stern-faced reporter held some stack of papers."Breaking news. The long-anticipated Hendrix trial has officially been scheduled for September 26th. After days of speculation, the court has confirmed the date for what is expected to be one of the most controversial cases in recent history..."Ivyâs grip on her phone tightened. September 26th.The countdown
Ivy let her lips part slightly, eyes lowering as if she were just another woman caught in Vincenzo Morettiâs web. But she wasnât.She took a slow step forward, letting her fingers trail down the thin strap of her dress. âI heard you like obedience,â she murmured, voice honeyed and sultry. The glow of the chandelier shone against the expensive scotch in his glass.Moretti smirked, his gaze raking over her. âObedience is good.â He took a sip, eyes darkening. âBut submission is better.âShe nearly gagged. Instead, she lowered herself onto the armrest of his chair, legs crossed deliberately. The scent of alcohol and cigars clung to him. She picked up his glass, swirling the liquid before pressing it to her lipsâjust enough to tease.âTell me something,â she purred, tilting her head. âYouâve been around a long time, havenât you? Longer than the Hendrix name.âMorettiâs smirk faltered for half a second. He leaned back, swirling his drink as if contemplating her words. Bingo.âYou ask dan
Ivy picked up the heavy bottle of whiskey from the table, her fingers wrapping around its cool glass. She poured a generous amount into a glass, then lifted it to Damienâs lips, tilting it just enough for the liquid to slide past his lips.âTell me, babyâĶâ she whispered, her lips grazing his ear as she leaned in. âI need to know.âDamien chuckled, the deep rumble of his voice tinged with the sluggishness of alcohol settling in his system. He swallowed, his head tipping back against the couch, eyes half-lidded but still sharp. âYouâre a dangerous woman,â he murmured. Ivy only smiled, running her nails lightly down his chest, keeping him exactly where she wanted him. âAnd youâre a man with secrets.âDamien exhaled, tapping his fingers against the glass. The whiskey had loosened his tongue, and Ivy saw the moment his restraint cracked.âHarry HendrixâĶâ he muttered, rolling the name over his tongue like a curse. His fingers curled tighter around the glass. âThat bastard is my stepbrother
"Ivy, I think itâs time you leave," Adrianâs voice cut through the tension as he strode toward them. His eyes bore until hers. "You canât just come here and boss my wife and I around."Sasha exhaled in relief, using the moment to slip away from Ivyâs piercing questions. She moved toward Adrian, subtly hiding behind him, as if he were her shield.Ivy twisted her jaw, her eyes jerking between the both of them. She already knew she had other things to handleâthings more important than wasting time with people who refused to face their own demons.Without another word, she turned on her heels, throwing one last icy glance at Sasha before stepping out of the house.Her next target was Damian Francisâone of the names burned into the Kill Row image Harry had hidden in his basement.There were twelve more on the list, twelve more lives tangled in whatever twisted truth she was uncovering. But Ivy knew better than to rush.One step at a time.With all the evidence she had gathered, Damien Fra
Ivy knelt beside Sasha, her lawyer instincts momentarily giving way to simple human compassion. Sasha's cheek was already turning red from the slap, her eyes wide with shock and unshed tears.Before Ivy could say anything, Adrian grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet. His grasp was tight and his frustration was obvious."Face your own damn problems, Ivy," he hissed, lowly "Leave my wife and I out of whatever mess you and Harry have created."Ivy squared her shoulders, unfazed by Adrianâs towering presence. âIâm not here for you, Adrian. I need a word with Sasha. Can you move?â She said confidently not minding his daring disgusted eyes.Adrian let out a low chuckle, folding his arms across his chest. âWhy wonât you just talk here?â His gaze snapped toward Sasha, whose face was streaked with tears, yet she still forced a weak, practiced smileâone that didnât quite reach her eyes. âOr are you scared of something?âIvy glanced at Sasha, reading the silent plea behind her trembling ma
Adrianâs MansionAdrian lounged on the velvet couch, one arm draped over the side, his fingers lazily tapping against the glass of whiskey in his hand. The glow of the TV flashed across his sharp features as the news played, the voice of the journalist cut through the quiet. "Fugitive billionaire heir Harry Hendrix has finally been captured..."A curled one lip tugged at Adrianâs lips. âAbout time,â he muttered, swirling the drink.Sasha slipped onto the couch beside him, her manicured nails brushing against his arm as she leaned in to watch. A satisfied smile curled on her lips. âThank God I broke up with him when I did,â she sighed dramatically. âCan you imagine? If I stayed, maybe Iâd be the one in trouble. He couldâve killed me, Adrian. Or worseâĶ you.âAdrianâs grip on the glass tightened. His jaw tensed. Without warning, he turned to her, his eyes dark. âYou think youâd be that important to him?â His voice was sharp, cutting through the fake concern in hers.Sasha flinched,