Page 30 of Thorns of Malice

The bartender asks, "What can I get you?"

"Scotch. Neat," I order.

He pours three fingers and hands it to me.

I drink it, trying to enjoy the warm liquid sliding down my throat, and set the glass down. I point. "One more."

The bartender refills it.

I take another large mouthful, turn, then freeze. My heart beats so fast I think I'm going to have a heart attack. I blink, wondering if I'm seeing things or if my drink is laced and I'm already drunk.

"What's wrong, Dax? Didn't expect to ever see me again?" Ivy asks, then licks her whore-red lips. She traces the outline of her matching satin spaghetti-straps on her dress.

My dick goes hard. My balls ache, reminding me of ten years ago.

She's even more beautiful in person than in the pictures. Her long, dark hair is in curls. Her profound curves make my mouth water. And those fucking C-cups... She's showing just enough cleavage to be classy, yet it tortures me, bringing me back to everything I used to have and no longer do.

I step forward, reaching for her. "Ivy?—"

"Hands off my date, Dax," Professor Dyer's voice interjects.

Once again, I'm taken off guard. All my red flags go up. My pulse skyrockets, and my insides churn. Dyer steps up next to Ivy and slides his arm around her waist.

She giggles, puts her palm on his chest, and glances up at him. "I was wondering when you were going to get here."

"Sorry, doll. Didn't mean to keep you waiting. You know how it is with all these people here." He leans down and kisses her on her lips.

"What are you doing?" I seethe.

She slides her tongue into his mouth and tightens her fingers around his neck for another brief moment, then barely moves her face, just enough to catch my eye. "Sorry. Did you have something you wanted to say, Dax?"

Something in her eyes lights up, and my gut sinks lower. I know that look. I perfected that look. I taught my sister how to give that look even better than me.

That look is trouble.

It's a devious wild card, and I realize Ivy's no longer innocent.

She has something up her sleeve.

Why else would she be here with Dyer?

But what is it?

She can't be with Dyer!

My heart tightens, giving me pain.

She knows about the patent.

She knows about the medication.

I tell myself that must be it, but I feel like it's only the tip of the iceberg.

"Ivy—" I start.

"Didn't know if you would remember me, Dax. How have you been?" she questions.

"Yeah, Dax. How have you been?" Dyer asks, giving me an arrogant look I want to smack off his face.

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