Page 4 of A Debt of Darkness

“You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” he says without a trace of emotion. “In a minute, I'm calling your fiancé and asking him what to do about this wedding you suddenly seem so goddamn set on. It would be better for you if he didn't hear you screaming like a fucking lunatic.”

I toss my head again and pour every ounce of venom I can into my glacial expression.

“Sit up, strap in, and fucking behave,” Ryan says, easing back.

I rub my wrists and glare at him, delaying a few seconds to make another point. I slowly, begrudgingly comply and stare out the window, watching as we drive past the other mansions adorning the hills of L.A.

Ryan makes a call and I pretend to not give a shit about it. Despite my attempts to eavesdrop, all I hear are Ryan's yeses and no’s, and I don’t catch a single word of what Henry’s saying.

Ryan hangs up and sighs. I don't react, staring out the window and maintaining my sulk. We drive in silence and I refuse to give in, ignoring my desperation to know the fuck will happen next.

“Aren't you going to ask?”

“Why bother?” I sigh.

He grunts and I finally turn, surprised by the apologetic look on his face.

“Sorry, sweets. This will sting a bit.”

My brows furrow as I struggle to understand what the hell he's said. He darts forward and grabs me, holding me still even though I manage to scream. A short, sharp sting jets up my arm, burning as whatever the fuck he injected spreads towards my chest. I scream and thrash harder as the burnheats and my heart pounds, refusing to give in or give up.

“This will be over quickly,” Ryan snarls and I smirk, noting he's lost his cool for the first time. I bring my knee up but it doesn't land and my legs feel weaker than usual. “Stop fighting, sweets. You're safe with me.”

“Like fuck I am,” I slur as my words drawl and my vision fades. I'm far too warm and far too weak. I'm tired, so damn tired and darkness wraps around me as I sink into the car seat.

2

TAKE ME HOME

IVY

Strong hands grab me and I whine, annoyed I'm being disturbed. I'm content to sleep, happy to remain oblivious to the nightmare I'm waking to. I'm pulled across the leather car seats and I lash out, hitting something soft enough to be human. I keep moving and whoever's pulling me out of the car doesn't react in the slightest.

“You're fine, sweets.”

“Fuck and off.”

Ryan laughs and lifts me into his arms without giving me the chance to walk. “Curb the language. Henry doesn't like it.”

“Do I look like I give a shit?”

“This will be as hard as you make it. The choice is yours. Personally, I don't see the point in fighting him. You're cutting your nose off to spite your face.”

I groan and rest against him, ignoring the nausea risingfrom the pit of my stomach. Ryan stops and I groan again, leaving my head dropped on his shoulder.

“Don't you want to know where you are, Ivy?”

“A fucking prison.”

His chest sinks as he exhales loudly. “A very pretty one. Stop fighting and give Henry what he wants, and you'll have anything you want.” He pauses. “Within reason.”

I wonder if a choice counts as reasonable to a man like Henry. I assume not, given the conspicuous absence of it. My head screams as pain bursts across my temple and I screw my eyelids closed, shutting out the light offending my eyes.

“Did you want to see or not?”

“It's not like this is my only opportunity.”

Ryan shakes his head and mutters something under his breath. He doesn't ask a third time, carrying me up some steps and into a house, if the change in his stride and creaking door is anything to go by.

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