Page 54 of Thorns of Malice

My heart pumps harder. Adrenaline hits me to the point I feel dizzy. I drag my eyes down her body and rest them on her C cups that have tortured me since the moment I first laid eyes on her.

She giggles and pushes me. "I said step back."

I do.

She hops onto the desk, crosses her legs, and puts her hands behind her.

"Jesus, that's quite the scene," Dyer's voice interjects, pulling me out of our private moment.

I step in front of Ivy to cover her. "Get out of here."

"Oh, don't be such a party pooper, Dax. Come on in," Ivy welcomes in a confident tone.

I thrust my head toward her, glaring. "What are you doing?"

"Time for you to prove some things to me, Dax."

My gut churns.

She's trapped me.

"This isn't the way?—"

She puts her finger over my lips. "I'm not the one trying to prove something to somebody. You are. Remember?"

My chest tightens. A war continues to rage within me. I suddenly feel like that kid again, the one who got caught intoo many lies and manipulative situations. Scenarios I shouldn't have let happen but did, now demand I pay the price.

Ivy's in control, and I'm owed every bit of pain she wants to unleash upon me.

Dyer steps next to us and places his hand on Ivy's spine. She trembles, and a momentary flash of disgust fills her expression, then disappears. I wonder if I imagined it—if I'm only seeing what I want to see.

She turns toward him and smiles. "Hey there, handsome. I thought you'd never get here."

"Looks like we have a party," Lilly says, beaming as she walks in.

Avery, who's hanging on Lilly's arm, giggles and then slurs, "Don't start without us."

"Yeah. Don't leave us out," Lilly adds, then asks, "Where's Bobby?"

My gut dives.

No, no, no.

This is not happening.

Ivy turns my chin and leans forward. I think she's going to kiss me, but at the last minute, she moves her face and plays tongue tag with Dyer.

My world collapses. I snap out of it and push him away. "Get off of her."

"Dax," Ivy scolds, jumping off the desk.

I turn toward her. "This isn't you."

She laughs. "You don't know who I am anymore." Then she turns her head toward my sister. "Hey, Avery."

"What?" Avery asks.

"Come here." Ivy curls her finger.

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