Page 117 of Corrupting Ivy

Alek handed the laptop back to Jake, then reached down for his Kel-Tec RFB rifle. It was the same one he’d used when he rescued Liz from his old man, his lucky rifle. He slid the handle back on the barrel, checking to make sure a large .308 caliber bullet sat lodged inside.

“Ready to go?” I asked.

“As always.”

“Jake?”

“We’ve got this Tonk.”

That’s what I like to hear.

“They’ve turned off the road,” Jake said. “Looks like they are heading up into the mountains. By the satellite image, we’re looking at a bumpy ride on a dirt road that leads to nowhere.”

I grinned.

After making the choice, I sped up until we reached the base of the road where she’d turned down and pulled over, throwing my truck into park. My men parked behind me as I got out and pulled down the tailgate.

The team of men filed out of their two large vehicles and convened next to my truck bed, where Jake put his laptop with a satellite image on the screen.

“Listen up.”

My father’s body laybeside me in the tight confines of the trunk, hindering my ability to move and smashing me into the back. I rolled forward into my father as the car climbed a bumpy road. Rocks kicked up from the tires,tinkingagainst the wheel well where my head rested, making it sound like incoming fire.

My arms had gone numb, but my fingers tingled, making them useless, deadweight. The blood whooshed in my ears as my pulse quickened.

The car stopped once again, and I knew.

This was it.

It had to be.

Jeremiah was as corrupt as they come, and dangerous, too. He’d gotten rid of people. I’ve heard the rumors. But no one ever had evidence for it. Not that it mattered. Who was going to arrest him? Before the rumors could spread further, Jeremiah would put them to bed with expertise. He was a smooth talker, and he was good looking. Beautiful people don’t do bad things. That’s what everyone tells themselves.

“Give me the gun,” Billy said, the back seats muffling his words.

“These men work for me. You can’t expect them to clean up your messes.”

Ice coursed through my veins as they discussed who would kill me, as though they were discussing dinner plans.

“Daddy,” I whispered, then nudged him with my knee.

He didn’t move.

“She’s my wife. I want to be the one to do it.”

“Billy, this isn’t up for discussion.”

The car door slammed shut. I jerked—my throat suddenly feeling dry. I bit into my lip to stop the frightened squeal swelling in my chest.

Everything I’d endured in the last eight months had come to a crescendo at this very moment. I’d survived a psychopath only to be thrown into the arms of another, but this time… You don’t get lucky twice.

A commotion in the back seat drew my attention, then another door slammed shut, followed by Jeremiah yelling at Billy, or vice versa. It was difficult to tell now.

“We better make this quick. The crews are going to be hitting the mines soon,” Sheriff Dun said.

“I’ll take my goddamn time if I want to. It’s your job to make sure nothing comes from it.”

Footsteps rounded the back of the car, and the trunk popped open, allowing the faint morning glow from the sun to shine through.

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