Page 14 of Volatile

“Understandable.”

“You’ll continue to work with her then?” Ivy turned towards him, jerking when their legs collided briefly. “I mean, if you think you can get her to stop protecting that lowlife, of course.”

“As I’ve said all along, I understand your concern, but I’ll be able to do my job much better if you step aside and allow me to.”

What he needed to do was make a recording of those exact words for as often as he repeated himself. Then he could just play it back for her whenever she needed a refresher. Which appeared to be nearly every time they spoke.

She sucked in her bottom lip. “I can’t stop being protective over her. I’m all she has, and she’s been my responsibility since our mom passed a few years ago. I don’t expect to flip a switch and suddenly change how I feel.”

“Of course not.”

“But... but I’ll do my best not to interfere if it’ll help speed up the outcome. I want this man stopped.”

“I appreciate that, but I don’t think you fully understand what—”

“Mr. Blazek, um... Jon. May I call you Jonathan? I like that better.”

He finished off his drink, drawing a chunk of ice into his mouth. “No.”

“No? Why? That’s what’s listed on your business card.”

“No one calls me by that name.” Not anymore. “Jon is what I prefer. Either that or Mr. Blazek. So take your pick between the two options.”

She frowned. He really didn’t care if she thought him ridiculous. Julia was the only one who called him by his given name, and he had liked it. Unless he was instructing Lizbeth to call him that while he was fucking her, he didn’t want to hear it.

“Ooo-kay.” Her eyebrows squished together, and he waited for the questions to come, but they didn’t. Instead, she stuck out her hand. “How about we officially declare a truce? For the sake of Lily. I’ll try my hardest to fight with you instead of against you.”

The corner of his mouth twitched up. He was pleasantly surprised by her change of heart, and he appreciated the effort. It couldn’t have been easy on her part.

He accepted her hand, noting how soft it was. Her claws had retracted, and he much preferred this side of her. “I accept your peace offering, Ivy.” He detached from her and leaned back. “Now, would you like another glass?”

“No, thank you. I haven’t even finished this one.” She straightened forward and nibbled on her lips.

“Anything else I should know regarding Lily’s case? Anything that could be of benefit?”

“I don’t think so.... You know everything I do at this point. Perhaps, even more.”

She flicked her eyes back to him as if willing him to divulge. Her pleading expression dangled in front of him, but he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he said, “Tell me about Wesley.”

Her lids widened. “Wes? Why are you asking about him?”

“I get the impression Lily’s not his biggest fan.” Surely, Jon wasn’t saying anything she didn’t already know. He saw how Lily openly treated the guy. “Knowing more about him can give insight into what kind of man she does like.”

Ivy snorted. “She’s a teenager. She doesn’t know what she likes in a man yet.”

“She’s an adult. And it’d help for you to think of her more that way than as a teen.”

“But she is a teen! Nineteen. So what if she’s technically an adult. Maturity level matters more than age anyway.”

“Exactly.” He rubbed his palms briskly over the tops of his thighs. “You don’t think she’s mature enough to make her own decisions, to choose the type of man she prefers?”

Her jaw dropped. “You know how that turned out. I can’t believe you’re saying this to me. A real man doesn’t rough up a woman and then bully her to keep silent.”

“Agreed.” He watched her fists clench, then relax. He had no desire to rile her up just for the sake of it, but he felt this was important. “Is Wes what you’d consider a real man?”

She polished off the rest of her wine and cradled the glass between her hands. Her legs crossed and swung wildly. “I don’t understand these questions. How does this help Lily?”

He had the urge to still her; it was making him dizzy, and he didn’t want to get kicked. “You’re the one anxious to figure out a name, an identity. I can guarantee that if this man Lily’s been with is no longer a part of her life, there will be others just like him in her future. So don’t you agree that it’d be helpful to understand the kind of man she likes?” He thought of Lily’s name for Wes. Lackey. “Maybe she’s looking for the opposite of Wes, seeking out more excitement. Interested in someone less dull and—”

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