Page 49 of Thorns of Malice

"Things will soon come to light, Ivy."

"Come to light? What the fuck is that code for, Dax?"

"You have to trust me," he declares.

Enraged, I snatch my hand away from his. "Trust you? You want me to trust you after everything that's happened?"

He scrubs his palm on his forehead. "I shouldn't ask you to, but I am."

I huff. "And why should I trust you?"

He sighs. "Because I'm the only one who cares about you around here."

I sarcastically laugh. "You care about me? Is that what you'd call it?"

"I loved you, Ivy. I still love you," he voices.

Shock fills me once again. My butterflies explode the same way they always did when he would make that claim. I gape at him, yet I'm not naive anymore. I know it's not true.

He puts his hand on my cheek, softening his tone. "I do. Not a day's gone by that I don't regret what I've done. I love you. Please, you have to believe me. I'd do anything to get you back. Anything."

A war erupts within me. My heart flutters harder, mixing with an uneasy feeling in my chest. I want to believe him, but I scold myself. I can't be that same girl anymore—the one who's naive and gullible.

This is Dax Carrington. He stole my father's patent. He created products that will make him a billionaire over and over again. And ultimately, he and his sister are responsible for killing my father.

I won't ever forgive him.

"I love you. I always have," he insists.

"You don't love me."

"I do."

The more he insists he does, the more I want to believe him, but my anger continues to build, my pulse throbbing out of control.

Stay calm.

Play the game.

He's my pawn. I'm no longer his.

"Ivy—"

"If you love me, then prove it," I demand.

He freezes and then asks, "Okay. How?"

"What will you do for me, Dax?"

Hope fills his expression. "Anything, Ivy. I'll do anything for you."

"Really? I don't think you will," I challenge, my insides full of adrenaline, my pussy aching, and my heart beating faster with lust and rage.

I'm at an uncontrollable point with my addiction. I need what I need, and I'm going to get it and hurt Dax and everyone else in the process.

He slides his thumb over my lips, asserting, "Ivy, whatever I need to do to prove to you I love you and I'm sorry, I will."

It sounds so genuine, I want to believe him, but I remind myself there's nothing genuine about Dax Carrington. He used me, abused me, and threw me away like I was a piece of garbage not even worthy of his trash can.

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