Page 95 of Thorns of Malice

I turn to look at her.

She anxiously announces, "The police are here. They said they need to talk to you."

Bramwell's face turns fearful. "Just give me a minute."

"Okay," she replies, her eyes darting between us.

Bramwell begs, "Please, Dax, you have to do something."

I rise. "There's nothing I can do about this. I wish I could. Do you think I want a Carrington on there? Avery is a disgrace."

Bramwell's eyes widen. "She's your sister. You can pay for this to go away."

"How am I going to pay for this to go away? It's everywhere. It's in people's email boxes."

"Get it off the site," he demands.

I give him a final look. "I told you, I have nothing to do with this. I'm not a tech person. You have a whole department responsible for the university's website. Have them do their job. Figure out where your leak is, but it's not me." I exit his office and nod at the police officers, offering, "Gentlemen."

"Mr. Carrington," they say in unison.

I leave his office and get into my car. I speed away from campus feeling better than I have in years.

The end is near.

The cards are all on the table.

There's nowhere for them to hide.

But my glee is short-lived.

I still don't have Ivy, and none of this will be worth it if I don't end up with her.

I drive through town and arrive at the estate. I pull up to the cottage, hoping she's still here, but my Porsche is out front, so I assume she's home.

I slide out of my car, step up onto the porch, and knock on the door.

She doesn't answer, but I can see her sitting at the table inside.

I knock again, calling out, "Ivy."

She finally comes to the door and answers it. A red tinge of anger covers her face. Her hand's in a fist. Her phone's in her other one. She seethes, "Have you seen this?"

My gut drops. I glance at the phone and realize she's talking about the video. "Yeah, I've seen it."

"Did you do this?" she asks, her voice shaking.

I stay quiet, not admitting or denying it.

She snarls, "I asked you a question."

"Why are you upset? It was to hurt the people who have hurt you," I admit, confused. I know Ivy doesn't have any good feelings for Avery or Bobby. Or Professor Dyer, for that matter. She chose to go to him for some reason and have him bring her to the charity event last night, but it must have been to get under my skin.

Her voice shakes harder. Her lips quiver, and her breathing turns ragged. She shakes her head, blinking hard. She accuses, "Do you ever not create more destruction?"

I don't know what to say. I open my mouth and then shut it.

She adds, "You're trying to destroy him further, aren't you?"

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