Relentless (Titans of Founder's Ridge Book 2)

by Nichole Greene

  “Two minutes, Isaac.” She rolls a suitcase across the closet to him before turning to zip up the other one. “Starting as soon as you leave with these.”

  He takes them silently but gives her a look saying to hurry up.

  “Ives, we can figure something out,” I start to say, but she stops me with her palm over my mouth.

  “I’m sorry, Levi. I love you, but we were stupid to think this could work, that we’d get away with it.”

  I drop to my knees and wrap my hands around her waist, resting my head on her chest. “Please,” I don’t recognize the sound of my hoarse voice. “Don’t walk out that door without fighting for us.”

  She cups my cheeks with her palms and pushes my head back, so she’s looking in my eyes. “I love you so much, Levi. I really do, but I think this is a sign.” Tears slip out of her eyes at the same time that they start to fall from mine. “Maybe you and I need to work on fighting for ourselves, first. Get a clean break from each other, from this place. Figure out how to tell our dads that their visions for our lives aren’t what we want.”

  Isaac calls her name from the hall.

  “I have to go.” She bends down to give me one last kiss, wiping my tears as she leaves her own. “I love you.” She steps out of my hold, and as she leaves her bedroom, she gives me one last, sad look over shoulder before Isaac wraps an arm around her shoulders and steals her away from me.

  I collapse into a pile on the floor of her closet, drowning in her scent. I wonder if she knows she reached in my chest and yanked my bleeding heart out to take back to Connecticut with her. I stay so still on the floor that the motion sensor thinks the closet is empty, and the light goes out.

  I don’t know how long I laid on the floor of the closet, but I have to toss my arm over my eyes when the light comes back on. Light footsteps pad across the carpet, and the smell of lavender and vanilla wafts over to me. Hoodrat slides her back down the island near where my head is and pats her lap. I shift and rest my head on her legs.

  “How did you find me?”

  “Ivy texted me,” she says as she works her fingers through my hair. “This fucking blows.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll sit here as long as you need,” she says softly, offering silent comfort. “Con and Griff said they’re going to get supplies. Whatever the hell that means.”

  Probably booze and weed. Since football is over, I can occasionally smoke a joint again. We stay there on the floor for a while. I stare absently at the ceiling, and she keeps playing with my hair.

  Two sets of footsteps enter the closet.

  “Get off my girlfriend, asshole.” Connor says with no heat in his voice. “Let’s go to your room and get our drink and smoke on.” He holds out a hand for me and pulls me to my feet while Griff helps Hoodrat.

  “Did you get the good stuff?”

  “Of-fucking-course,” he says haughty as shit. “Gorilla Glue 4.” He pulls out a bag with four perfectly rolled joints.

  We cross the hall and spread out in my room. I light up my joint and toss the lighter to Griff who lights his as well. Con has his hanging out of his mouth, but he’s watching Hoodrat look around my room. She’s never been in here, at least not that I know of. She stops in front of a picture of me and my mom, looking extra close before pulling it off the wall.

  “Levi,” she locks eyes with me, “why do you have a picture of my mom on your wall?”

  I cough on the drag I just took of my joint. “What?” I manage to croak when I catch my breath.

  Con’s looking from the picture to Hoodrat to me. “Uh, I’ve seen pictures of her mom. They’re either doppelgängers, or you two are siblings.”

  “We can’t be siblings, our birthdays aren’t even three months apart,” I say. Then it hits me: my mom had an estranged twin sister that she hadn’t spoken to for years when she died. They weren’t even talking when she met my dad. This is a lot of shit to handle in a day. I yell for my dad.

  A few minutes later, he’s standing in the door, looking concerned. “Son, you okay?”

  “Not even a little bit,” I take another drag of my joint. “I don’t want to talk about Ives right now though.” I point to Hoodrat, who he has yet to meet. “She just saw the picture I have hanging up of Mom and me when I was a baby. Says it looks like her mom.”

  He pales when his gaze hits her and then bounces to me and swallows nervously. He walks toward her, looking like a ghost is standing in front of him. “Is your mom’s name Dana Black?”

  “Dana Nelson. I don’t know what her maiden name was.”

  “Was?” Dad’s eyebrows furrow. “Did she pass away, too?”

  “She left us when I was a kid, might as well be dead as far as I’m concerned.”

  “My wife’s name was Lana Black, and they were identical twins.” He runs a hand over his face, a habit he’s passed on to me. “They’d been estranged for years before I met Levi’s mom, so I never met Dana. I didn’t even know she had kids. You look just like them.”

  My eyes meet Hoodrat’s, and I watch as emotions slam into her. Con and Griff watch all this play out with concern, but they stand quietly, letting it play out.

  “I,” tears fill Lilith’s eyes cascading down her cheeks, “you,” she makes eye contact with me, “I need a minute.” She turns and walks into my bathroom.

  The four of us watch her go, and no one says anything, we just look at each other in stunned silence. My mind sorts through all the feelings I’ve had since I first met her, how I never had any physical attraction to her but always felt protective, brotherly in a way. That connection I couldn’t explain and my need to protect her from the worst of Connor and FPA. It all makes sense now.

  When I look at Dad, he’s still white as a ghost. “You boys shouldn’t be smoking,” he grabs the bag with the last joint, “I’m going to be down in my office if you need anything else. It’s been a long fucking day.”

  “He’s going to smoke that,” I say when the door closes behind him.

  “No doubt,” Con says walking toward my bathroom.

  I stop him with a hand to the chest. “Let me.”

  After a short battle of wills, he actually backs down and lets me.

  I open the door and find her standing in my bathtub looking out the window. Looking at her now, I’m not sure how I never noticed her resemblance to my mom before. She has the same nose, the same platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She’s tall, almost five-foot-eleven like my mom was.

  “Penny for your thoughts, cuz?” I aim for levity. Somehow in the past half hour our roles have reversed. I’m the one offering comfort, and in all honesty, it’s nice to have something else to think about.

  “I thought I didn’t have any family after Dad died. I mean, I knew I had you three and Ivy but actual family? I don’t even know how to process this.” She sobs and covers her face with her hands. “I miss my dad so much, and I’ve been living this life where I never thought the hole of family would be filled again.”

  I cross the room in two strides and wrap her up in my arms. “We have each other now.” I whisper into her ear. I’ve never had any cousins, so this is new to me, too. “I always felt this weird connection with you, more than platonic but not sexual.”

  “Same,” she says into my shoulder.

  “Now I can hug you without Con growling at me and going all caveman,” I say for levity.

  She pulls back and looks at me like I’m crazy, “Yeah, right. I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  “True, I guess.” I tuck her under my arm and walk toward the door. “Let’s get fucked up and forget everything about today. Except the fact that you’re my cousin.”

  “Should we take a DNA test or something?” she asks as we rejoin Con and Griff.

  “I don’t need a DNA test to tell me what I know in my gut is true, but we can.”

  “I already ordered one for you,” Griff says from his spot at my desk.

  I pick up my joint and take another drag. “Fo
r now, let’s just enjoy each other.”

  I’ll deal with my broken heart tomorrow.

  Part 2

  17

  IVY

  THREE YEARS LATER

  “Thank you so much for letting me stay with you this summer,” I tell Lilith and Connor as we each roll or carry two bags each up to their penthouse apartment at Volkov International’s headquarters in NYC. They are letting me stay in one of their guest rooms while I intern with Frank this summer. Even though he and my mom’s divorce was finalized almost three years ago, he and I have stayed in close contact. He’s followed my swimming career at Yale closely, coming to support me at meets and events as often as he can.

  I haven’t spoken to my mother since that night nearly four years ago when she said all those vile things to me. As soon as I moved back in with my dad and brother in Hartford, I told them everything: my history with Levi and the truth about our relationship, how terrible Mom was to me, and the awful abuse she threw my way at every opportunity. Dad immediately got me in therapy, even though I insisted I was okay. I wasn’t okay. Three years later, I’m still working on myself, but everyone has therapist now, so I guess I’m in good company.

  Leaving my life in Founder’s Ridge was hard. I missed Lilith; I missed Mason; I missed my teammates; and I really, really missed Levi. I still miss him. I decided when I drove down that driveway for the last time that he and I should take time apart. We both had things to work through on our own. Luckily, Lilith connects us. I still have trouble wrapping my mind around that, to have mothers that were identical twins and to end up in the same small city.

  “You know it’s no problem. I’m hella excited to have some estrogen around for once,” Lilith squeezes me into a hug. “Living with Con, Griff, and Levi is a master class in patience.”

  Connor snorts, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Speaking of Levi,” I take a deep breath, “does he know I’m staying here?”

  “Yes,” Connor answers. “It’s been three and a half years. We’re not pussyfooting around anymore. You guys need to sit down and figure shit out.” He grabs a couple of my bags and takes them down the hall to my room. When he comes back, he gives Lilith a kiss and tells us he’s going to go across the hall and check on Claire, his younger sister who just turned eighteen and got her own apartment in the building.

  “What do you want to do tonight?” I ask when he closes the door behind him.

  “Take out and girl talk?” Lilith suggests.

  “Perfect! We can talk while I unpack.” I grab my last two bags and roll them down the hall. The last time I was in this room was Lilith’s eighteenth birthday weekend. Flashes of Levi’s naked body tangled with mine flash through my memories as soon as I cross the threshold.

  “You okay?” Lilith rests her hand on my arm.

  “Yeah, just memories from your birthday weekend.” I put my hand over hers and squeeze. “Levi and I,” I direct my gaze to the bed instead of finishing the thought out loud.

  “Oh,” her eyes widen, “Ohhh. Do you want the other guest room? It doesn’t have a window or a big closet which is why I gave you this one to begin with.”

  “No, this is fine. I just wasn’t expecting the onslaught of memories.”

  “You know you’re going to see him regularly this summer, right?” She leans against the wall, watching as I start unzipping all my bags on the bed. “If not at work, here with us.”

  “Yeah.” I nod. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s been years, and we’re both different people now.” He’s been moved on for a long time, I know because I haven’t. I give myself one night a month to stalk all his social media and the gossip sites for news on him. The rest of the time, I wipe him from my thoughts.

  Ha! Keep lying to yourself.

  “Right,” the look on her face says she doesn’t believe one word out of my mouth right now. “How were finals?”

  “Easy. One year left. I can’t believe this is our last summer of living a somewhat carefree life. Me, more so than the rest of you. I won’t be stepping into an executive level job the day after I graduate.”

  “Yeah, I’m so lucky to have Judith, Lake, and Victor guiding me through taking over Dad’s business.” She pulls a few pairs of shoes and starts organizing the way she knows I like.

  “Remind me who Lake is again?” She’s mentioned him in passing, but I can’t remember details.

  “He’s a few years older than us. He went to FPA and was essentially a Titan of his cohort.” I can practically feel her eye roll when she says the word Titan. She always thought that name was stupid. “He went into the Marines after he graduated and got injured in an ambush. After he was medically retired, he started a private military company with a security offshoot.” She grabs another few pairs of shoes. “Do you remember Grant? The guy who owns Indigo? They’re best friends and co-investors on several projects along with their other two best friends, Nolan and Sawyer.”

  “I do remember Grant.”

  “I’m sure you’ll meet them all this summer. It’s pretty common for us all to end up in the same bars and restaurants.” She finishes putting my shoes away while I finish hanging my work clothes and dresses. “Are you excited to start working tomorrow? I know Frank is looking forward to having around again.”

  “It’s still crazy to hear you talk about Frank in such a familiar way,” I smile. “In a good way, I mean. I don’t know when it’ll stop being a mind fuck that you and Levi are long lost cousins and Frank’s your uncle.”

  “I know.” She leans back against the headboard of the bed, “it was hard for him at first, I think. Since I look so much like they did and even though Lana had a drug problem, she was his soulmate.”

  I can’t stop the derisive snort that escapes me.

  “Stop. I think you and Levi are soulmates. I thought that even when I didn’t know for sure that you two were together behind closed doors.”

  “No, we’re two people with a complicated history and intense attraction to each other.” I look over at my shoulder. “Please don’t push us this summer.”

  She pouts. “No promises. What if the chemistry is still there?”

  “Then it’s there and maybe something happens or maybe it doesn’t. I just don’t want anyone getting in the middle of anything.” I attempt to look stern, “deal?”

  “It feels like a kitten is glaring at me,” she laughs. “You do know who my boyfriend is, right? The king of the glare. You have to work to do if you’re trying to intimidate me, but yes, I’ll stay out of it.”

  “Thank you,” I say primly. “Now, what are we ordering for dinner?”

  “Good morning,” Con says when I come into the kitchen to get my coffee. “While Lil is in the gym working out, I need to ask you a favor.”

  I rub the sleep out of my eyes. “Okay,” I’m barely functional before coffee anymore. I have to work hard to divide my attention.

  “I need your opinion,” he says watching my face closely, “on a ring.”

  “An engagement ring?” I shriek and launch myself at him. “You’re gonna propose?!”

  “Yeah,” he hugs me back with a big smile on his face.

  “Oh my God! This is the best news!” I have to hold myself back from hugging him again. I’m honestly surprised he hugged me back the first time. Love has made him all snuggly. “When do you need me?”

  “I have an appointment with the jeweler at six tonight. I’ll send a car for you.” He rinses his coffee cup out in the sink, and his casual scowl is back on his face when he turns around. “Give me your phone,” he holds his hand out.

  “Crabby Con is back, I see, glad your abrupt mood swings are still the same.” Since I’m feeling feisty, I add, “What’s the magic word?”

  “Now.” He replies deadpan.

  “Why?”

  “So I can put a tracking program in it,” he says.

  “Uh, no thanks.” I give him the side eye. “Points for honesty, though. Care to explain wh
y I need a tracking program in my phone?”

  “My family still has threats against us, and with you living here, you’ll become a target, too.” As if he can sense my doubt he continues, “I can’t keep you safe if I don’t know where you are. I know it seems extreme, but none of us could live with ourselves if something happened to you because of your proximity to the family.”

  Lilith has mentioned the threats off and on when we’ve been out over the past three years. I know that there’s been varying levels of corporate espionage occurring between VI and Owens Energy. It doesn’t really give me any pause though, this summer in the city I’ll spend a majority of time in either the Marsh Financial building or living here at VI. I’ll probably be one of the most protected people in Manhattan.

  “Fine,” I hesitantly hand over my phone, “who has access to the data?”

  “Lilith, Victor, and myself are the only three. Then we can pass information along if necessary to our security teams.” He takes my phone and holds it back to back with his. “There is a black icon with a green backslash through it. If anything ever happens and you have the ability to hit the icon, it’ll alert all three of us but it also continually tracks your movement.”

  “Creepy,” I drawl.

  “Lifesaving,” Con replies.

  “What’s creepy and lifesaving?” Lilith asks as she walks through the door, drenched in sweat and flushed from her workout.

  “The tracking program in our phones,” Con says pulling her by the waistband of her shorts into his side.

  Their embrace starts innocently enough, but then I catch the intensity of the way they’re looking at each other. I’m not in the mood to be a voyeuristic this morning, so I back away toward the hall to finish getting ready for work.

  I set my clothes out for today last night, so I wouldn’t have to devote extra time to styling myself this morning. I shower, dry and straighten my hair, do my makeup, and slip into my favorite black Elie Tahari skirt suit with a deep purple blouse paired my classic black pumps. I’m not sure where I’ll be starting my internship, so I’d rather be overdressed than show up too casual.