Page 56 of Thorns of Malice

That's it?

Meaning we're done and over and I'll never have another chance with her.

No, this isn't what she wants. She's just trying to hurt me.

"Lilly, hold on a minute," Ivy says and slides off the desk. She walks toward me, grabs my arm, and steers me into the bathroom. She shuts the door.

I push her against it and put my hands on her cheeks. "Baby girl, what are you doing?"

Her lips twitch. "I'm doing what I need to do."

"You don't need to do this," I reiterate.

"Oh, but I do. You have no idea what I need to do... What I need to do every day of my life. And you know why, don't you?" she accuses.

Everything becomes clear.

She knows what Bobby did.

My hands tremble against her cheeks.

Her eyes glisten, and she blinks. "Ah. So it's true. You did do it."

"I didn't do it. Bobby did. I had zero knowledge until after the fact," I insist.

She stares at me and blinks. A tear rolls down her cheek.

I swipe at it. "Ivy, listen to me. I created drugs."

"I know all about your drugs."

"I wouldn't have created them if I had been part of it. Do you think I'm that stupid? I even have proof that I didn't know about it."

She huffs. "Sure you do, Dax. How could you?"

"I swear I didn't know. I never would've let that happen. I have it in text messages from my phone years ago. It's in my safe. I'll show you right now."

Ivy scoffs, shaking her head. "I don't want to see it tonight, Dax. All I want to do is do what I want. Not whatyouwant. WhatIwant. And you're going to participate. If you love me, you'll participate."

I grind my molars.

She adds, "And you better change your attitude right now. Do you understand me?"

"Baby girl."

"Don't call me that."

I freeze, trying to figure out what to say.

She continues, "I'm your dirty little whore. I'm your slut. That's who I am. That's what you made me into—you, Bobby, Avery, even Lilly."

I blurt out, "Avery drugged you too! I didn't know! I swear I didn't know!"

Ivy looks away and blinks hard, then turns back to me. Her lips twitch. "It doesn't matter, does it?"

"Of course it matters. I didn't do that. And I do love you. Let's not do this, please. I'll take you out of here, and we can leave this place!"

She shakes her head. "No, this is my game tonight, and you're in it. But I expect you to play your part with enthusiasm. Because if you don't give me what I want, all the words you said in the car mean nothing. You've proven nothing. Is that what you want? Me to prove myself right that you don't love me?" Ivy threatens.

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