Page 195 of Seeds of Malice

My phone dings. I grab it, and bile creeps up my throat. I swallow it down, rereading the text.

Avery: The sisters decided they're accepting Ivy into Gamma Sigma Phi.

Another text pops up.

Bobby: Has she come to life yet?

I have to breathe through the rage since Ivy's sleeping on my chest.

I fire off replies, first to Avery.

Me: She's not joining.

Avery: What are you talking about? Of course she's joining. The sisters have decided, even though you left. What the fuck were you thinking?

Me: I said she's not joining.

Avery: We'll see about that.

Me: The game's over.

Avery: Is that what you think? That you have the power to just stop it at any time?

Me: I mean it.

Avery: So do I. Checkmate.

My gut sinks.

Checkmate.

She's got me. She knows she's got me, and I don't know what my next move is to gain control again.

Another text pops up.

Bobby: Don't tell me you're sleeping. I didn't drug you too.

The hairs on my neck rise.

Me: Tell me you're fucking joking.

Bobby: Nope! It was way more fun.

I fist my hands, wanting to kill him.

Me: I told you I don't fuck women who you slip that shit to.

Bobby: She needed to loosen up.

Me: You fucking bastard.

Bobby: Stop being a pussy.

Me: You're the fucking pussy, needing to stoop to that level!

Bobby: Don't act like the moral police now.

Me: You know I don't approve of drugging our pawns!

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