Page 185 of Thorns of Malice

Her eyes widen. "How can you ask everyone else to do it but not me?"

I put my hands on her cheeks. "I don't want the press coming after you."

She softly smiles. "I understand that, but I'm a victim as much as they are, and I need to do this as much as they do."

"Are you sure?"

She nods. "Yes. I'm sure. If TimeMarker can pinpoint when they drugged me, then I'm going after them too."

I study her momentarily and then admit, "You're one of the bravest people I know."

She laughs. "I don't know about that."

"You are," I insist.

The intercom buzzes and Michelle says, "Mr. Carrington, you need to look at the link I just sent you."

I release Ivy and go to my computer. I pull up my email and click the link.

Ivy steps next to me, muttering, "Holy crap."

Word of Cooper's restraining order is all over the news, and his sponsors are speaking out. All of them have issued statements about how they're dropping him. Several women have also come forward and accused him of drugging them with Trance.

"Oh my God," Ivy says, covering her mouth, the color draining from her face.

My stomach churns. I knew his relationship with Bobby and Avery couldn't be good, but I hoped he wouldn't have stooped to their level.

I turn to Ivy. "It's only a matter of time until everyone goes down."

She bites her lip and stares back at the computer screen.

I pick up my cell and call Dick Lyman.

"Dax. I assume you've seen the news on Cooper?"

"I have. How quickly do you assume before he's arrested?"

"Within a few hours," Dick states.

"Good. Set up trust funds for Cooper's victims. Tell them they'll have the full legal support to go after him as hard as possible. Same stipulations as the others," I instruct.

Dick whistles. "You are making a bold statement."

"Yeah, well, that's what I do. Let me know when he's arrested." I hang up the phone and turn to Ivy.

She shakes her head. "I never saw it coming with Cooper. I thought he was a good egg."

"I hoped he was smarter than to follow in their footsteps."

Silence builds between us.

My intercom beeps. Michelle states, "Mr. Carrington, your one o'clock is in conference room D."

"Thanks," I reply, then tell Ivy, "I have another meeting I need to attend. It won't take long. Why don't you make yourself comfortable?"

"Okay."

I kiss her quickly, exit my office, and go down the hall. I step into the conference room.

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