Page 54 of A Debt of Darkness

He doesn’t notice me until the last second and his eyes widen as my weight collides with him. I slam him into the wall and Ivy screams, pleading with me to stop.

“It wasn’t…”

“DON’T FUCKING MOVE.” I’m snarling, gripping Matt’s throat and baring my fangs at him. “What the fuck are you doing?”

Matt tries to swallow, but my grip’s too tight and he starts trying to pry my fingers from his neck. Somehow, Ryan’s standing next to me, silently pleading with me to let Matt go, for his sake if no one else’s.

I can’t and I won’t.

He hurt Ivy. Threatened to take her from me. Dared totouch her. Played with her. Made her laugh. He stole her fucking laughter that belongs to me and turned on her. And me.

I won’t forgive this. Not now. Not ever.

“Henry…”

Ivy’s voice is a myriad of confusion, panic and uncertainty, except it’s clear she wants one thing: my attention.

“I’m safe. I’m okay.”

I growl and her hand trembles as it rests on my back.

“I asked him to.”

My head snaps around and the color drains from her face. She’s seen. She’s fucking seen me and there’s no going back now. I should have told her, but she’s found out like this.

Shit.

“Henry, let him go. Please.”

I shake my head and my eyes narrow as I stare at her.

“I don’t care if he’s your friend, Ivy. He was going to…”

“He was teaching me, Henry.”

She smiles weakly and her shaking hands pat my forearm. Her heart’s racing and she’s afraid, but she’s here and she isn’t going anywhere. My terrifyingly brave girl is standing up to me when no one else could and she’s rendered me helpless in seconds.

“I wanted to…” She bites her lip and looks down. “I thought you’d let me out if I wasn’t so…” her shoulders drop and my heart shatters, “pathetic.”

Fuck. She’s something.

Fuck. I’m an idiot.

Maybe she didn’t see. Maybe she doesn’t care. Maybe she’signoring it as she reaches for me and it’s the acceptance I’ve dreamt of.

My hand releases Matt and I grab Ivy, pulling her close to me. She needs to connect with me. She’ll need comfort and reassurance. I need the comfort and reassurance, and it’s pointless pretending otherwise.

Ryan grabs Matt as he stumbles away and the pair of us hold our partners, wondering how all hell broke loose over such a simple thing. We could have destroyed each other and undone everything we’ve built—and all because I lost my mind over the perfect, precious innocent girl wrapped in my arms and sobbing against my chest.

“I thought he was… I’ve never been so fucking terrified, Ivy.” My hand slips through my hair and onto her back. “I’m so sorry, so fucking sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She nods and clings tighter.

Fuck me, she’s holding me like I’m the only thing keeping her afloat in a storm carrying her away. Like I’m all that matters, all she needs.

Ryan’s eyes are wild and he’s staring at me as lost as I am. As we all are. This has to end. For her. For me. I need to know she’s mine and I can’t carry on like this. It’s too damn dangerous.

I’m irrevocably in love with her.

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