Fighting Back (Harrow #2)

by Scarlett Finn

  ‘Trystan isn’t a fan of hard work,’ Ivy said. ‘Without Dax and other minions around to do his work for him, he shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. Dax is on our side, we’ll be fine.’

  But Ivy knew that Trystan could hold a grudge and that when he did the consequences could be grave. Scaring Rosie wouldn’t get them anywhere, but Ivy would be talking to her husband about Trystan’s reaction to what happened in Vegas.

  Rosie, Dax, and Ivy hadn’t had time to disrespect Trystan in Vegas, Mauri had got there first by having his henchmen burst in to drag Trystan home. Trystan wouldn’t go after his father. For one thing, Mauri would squish him like a bug if he tried. Father provided son with the money to go gallivanting around to suit himself and Trystan wouldn’t risk losing that income.

  ‘Dax is on your side,’ Rosie said. ‘I’m not going to be following you guys around forever.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ she said, taking her sister’s hand. ‘We’ll talk to Dax later and see what he says about it. He knows Trystan better than I do.’

  Dax had been the one to warn Ivy about Trystan’s tendency to hold a grudge. He’d been working for Mauri back then, so at the time his words were more of a threat than advice meant to protect.

  The door that Dax had exited by opened. Ivy sprang to her feet when Trystan came in with Mauri in his wake. Much to her relief, Dax wasn’t too far behind but he looked more pissed than ever.

  ‘Hello, ladies,’ Mauri said, nudging Trystan along to stand in front of the fireplace. The two of them stood together, father smiled while son kept his head bowed. ‘I apologise for what has transpired over the last day or two. Trystan has something to say to you both.’

  It took him a minute and a grumble, but he raised his chin an inch to speak. ‘I apologise for my behaviour.’

  ‘And to Rosie?’ Mauri asked.

  Throwing daggers through his eyes, Trystan glared at his father, but eventually exhaled to concede. ‘I shouldn’t have taken you to Vegas.’

  ‘I went willingly,’ Rosie said. ‘I thought that we were… that there was something between us.’

  Trystan exhaled such a callous scoffing sound that Ivy glanced to Dax, ready to sic him on the disrespectful bastard. ‘You were easy, Rosie, that’s all I wanted. I spouted off a few cheesy lines, and you fell for them, talk about desperate. I don’t know you, and I definitely don’t care about a cheap piece of trash like you. You were a way to piss off your sister and that bastard over there. I used you, and you made it easy for me. The sex was just a bonus, though it was hardly worth the effort from what I can remember of it.

  ‘They treated me like shit, so I gave it right back. Except even when I treated you like shit, you still lapped it up. I don’t give a fuck about you, and I never did, never would. Why would a guy like me want anything to do with a tramp without class?’

  ‘Trystan,’ Mauri warned. ‘That is an unacceptable way to talk to a lady.’

  ‘What? I’m just being honest. She’s no lady. You wanted me to stand here and apologise, fine, I did it. But that doesn’t change the fact that Dax and his bitch were the ones in the wrong.’

  ‘We were in the wrong?’ Ivy said, her urge to lash out overpowered her. ‘You are a twisted bastard who tried to rape me, you attacked me, not the other way around. You’re insensitive and unfeeling; a selfish prick who thinks of nothing but himself. All of you, you were all wrong! Trystan, Mauri, Bruno, all of you! You hurt me, your friend, Bruno, beat me! You locked me up in that beach house for weeks like a zoo animal because I fought you! Because I said no, you thought that you could treat me like—‘

  Dax was at her side, pulling her away from the others. Ivy tried to twist her arm out of his grip, but he kept hold of her and dragged her to the far side of the room. ‘Keep your mouth shut,’ he growled from the back of his throat. ‘This is not the time to—‘

  ‘It will never be the time,’ she hissed, jerking herself free of him. But he snatched her waist and propelled her back to the wall. With an arm resting beside her face, he used the other to hold her in place by pressing it along her diaphragm.

  ‘Listen to me, Minx. You won’t get justice here. At the push of a button, Mauri can have a dozen guys in this room. You don’t want me to be fighting my way through them while you and your sister are up here. There’s no quick way out and while I’m occupied you’re exposed.’

  ‘Fine,’ she said, pushing his arm off her body. ‘I’ll be quiet.’

  ‘Good,’ he said.

  When he began to turn away, she grabbed his face and hauled him close to force his mouth down to hers. Sticking her tongue into his mouth, she used his return caress as a way to get out some of the anger that she wanted to aim at Trystan and Mauri. Arguing with the Starks might be crazy, Dax was right about that, and Ivy didn’t want her husband to be hurt just because she had to state her case. But pushing more of herself into this kiss, she reminded him of the future they had, because she didn’t want his past to try and steal him back.

  Pulling away, Ivy gasped in a breath and smiled at his confusion. ‘I told you that they couldn’t have you. Don’t forget who you belong to.’

  ‘Like I could,’ he murmured.

  He tossed an arm around her shoulders and yanked her into his side, the more relaxed pose set her at ease. His frown was still there, but he was showing them that he was proud to be owned by her and that lessened her need to rebel against the men standing on the hearth rug.

  ‘Trystan apologises for his behaviour throughout all of this,’ Mauri said when she and Dax came to stand beside where Rosie sat. ‘There have been trials faced by all of us over the last year and Ivy, I am sorry that many of the experiences you have had with the family have been negative. You are right. You were treated poorly.’

  That was an understatement, but Ivy had told Dax that she would be quiet and so she would. ‘Why did you need us here now?’ Dax asked Mauri.

  ‘Trystan, leave us now,’ Mauri said.

  The still huffing Trystan stormed out of the room, probably relieved that he wouldn’t have to uphold the contrite façade anymore. Trystan didn’t know how to be apologetic, he felt no contrition because to do that he would have to first feel humility and compassion, neither of which were in his repertoire.

  ‘Rosie, I apologise to you too, for my son’s actions and for his disrespect,’ Mauri said.

  Rosie had been very quiet since Trystan’s outburst. ‘I’m going to get out of here,’ Rosie said, getting to her feet.

  ‘Rosie,’ Ivy said, trying to console her sister by taking her arm. ‘I’m sorry that you’ve been through all of this.’

  ‘No, it’s my fault, Trystan was right, and you were too. I shouldn’t… I should never have come here. These people have been horrible to you and it’s not safe. I’m going to leave but call me and let me know that you’re ok.’

  ‘I will,’ Ivy said, giving her sister a hug. ‘If you want to wait in the car, Dax and I will—‘

  ‘No,’ Rosie said, shaking her head and curling her fingers around her purse. ‘I can find my way home.’

  Rosie didn’t have to be treated like a child, so Ivy let her go. For all the years that they hadn’t seen or heard from each other, Ivy had assumed that her sister was savvy and could take care of herself. The sad thing she had learned today was that Rosie struggled with her self-respect.

  Making herself into whatever her man of the moment wanted her to be took its toll on the once beautiful and vibrant woman. After this was over, Ivy would take the time to reconnect with her sister because Rosie needed to be reminded that she was a worthwhile person who had several wonderful qualities.

  Now with Rosie and Trystan gone from the room, Mauri went to the armchair closest to the fireplace and sat down. She had first met him just a few months ago, and while he didn’t exactly look feeble today, he did have a less imposing stature and that was as much to do with his attitude as his build.

  ‘These events have upset everything,’ Mauri said. ‘I wante
d you to come back to California to embrace your role in the family, Dax. Having you at the helm is the best way to ensure that the family name remains respected. But it hasn’t been smooth sailing reintegrating you into the family.’

  Dax still had his arm around Ivy, and he guided her down to sit on the couch she had previously occupied with Rosie. ‘You said that you had Ivy’s things,’ Dax said.

  She might have expected him to leap straight onto what Mauri had said and disclose what the marital couple had discussed about Dax not taking up a role in the Stark business. Instead, he had asked about her things, which told Ivy that he wanted to be sure they had everything before he pissed off Mauri again.

  ‘Yes,’ Mauri said and pressed a button on an electronic panel, which was resting on the table.

  Almost straight away, the bedroom door opened, and a steward came out carrying a blue backpack, her blue backpack. Showing how eager she was to have it returned to her, she stood, her legs acting of their own volition. The steward paused beside Mauri, but he pointed to Ivy.

  ‘Return it to Ivy,’ Mauri said, and the steward crossed to hand it over.

  The relief at having it back, at seeing what she feared she never would again, was enough to relax her. She sat back down at Dax’s side, tucking herself between her man and her bag, Ivy placed a hand on each.

  ‘Won’t you open it and let us know what it contains that was so important to you?’ Mauri asked. At the party, he had implied that he already knew which item Ivy valued the most and she was not going to put on a show for him.

  ‘No,’ she said, hoping that her simple answer would be enough.

  ‘She’ll open it later,’ Dax said. ‘And if anything is missing—‘

  ‘Nothing is missing,’ Mauri said. ‘Now would you like me to arrange to have Ivy taken somewhere safe while we discuss business?’

  ‘Somewhere safe is at my side,’ Dax said. ‘You’re not taking her anywhere.’

  ‘You know that we mean her no harm. I would think that returning her possessions was enough to win your trust and show you that we are serious about having her in the family as well. We will all have to learn to trust each other if we are to move forward and make progress—‘

  ‘We’re not going to move forward,’ Dax said. ‘Ivy and I have already discussed everything that you said to me.’

  ‘You discuss business with your wife?’ Mauri asked.

  ‘I discuss everything with my wife,’ Dax said. ‘Which is why I don’t need you to usher her out of the room every time you want to say something to me that you don’t think she’ll like.’

  ‘I have a feeling that I am not going to like what you’re going to say to me,’ Mauri said, pushing back in his chair.

  ‘Probably not. I’m not coming back, Mauri. It’s not going to happen.’

  ‘Simple as that?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Dax said.

  ‘We can’t accept that, rejection is not an option. The Stark family needs you—‘

  ‘But I don’t need them,’ Dax said. ‘It sounds like a great opportunity, and you know that this time last year I’d have jumped on it. I’m sorry that you’re sick. But Brad will never accept my—‘

  ‘I can deal with Brad. I will talk to him—‘

  ‘And as soon as you’re gone we’ll start butting heads,’ Dax said. ‘I won’t take orders from him. I never respected him because he never respected me. I’m tired of Trystan, he’ll cause more problems when you’re not around. Brad can’t control him, and I won’t be his babysitter anymore. And Bruno—‘

  ‘Is no longer around.’

  ‘Because of me,’ Dax said, sitting forward. ‘He doesn’t like me, doesn’t respect me, and the feeling is mutual. He has the means to ruin the family, he might not do it when you’re here because he still has respect for you. But I guarantee that as soon as you’re not here, we’re going to be dealing with blackmail and extortion. He knows all of the family secrets and unless we give him a position of power or a load of money, he can blow the whistle to the cops or start in-fighting among the men.’

  ‘You’ve thought about this.’

  ‘I used to take orders, do what I was told because I respected you, and I wanted your approval. I don’t need your approval anymore, and I don’t need any part in what you do. Brad lives to run the business, and Bruno can be his problem. There’s no incentive to come back.’

  ‘You will have financial security for life.’

  ‘I’m an easy fall guy, if that’s not your intention now then it will be Brad’s when he’s tired of hearing my input. We don’t need you, Mauri, any of you.’

  ‘You need us now, we can offer protection for Ivy against these bounty hunters out looking for their money. She is in serious danger, and you have to keep her safe, it’s your job as—‘

  ‘I know what my job is,’ Dax said. ‘I’m not going to stop looking for the person responsible for the bounty, and I know how to keep my wife safe.’

  ‘You don’t have the resources that we can offer you,’ Mauri said. ‘You can stay here at the house, and you know that Ivy will be unharmed. At the beach house, we proved that Ivy’s wellbeing is important to the Starks, our security men—‘

  ‘Let Trystan come in and take her sister away,’ Dax said. ‘Your men are loyal, and they follow orders. But they don’t know the history. You would never let anyone know what you did to Ivy, what Trystan and Bruno did, what I took part in. That would bring shame to you and the family and despite all that he’s done, you still defend Trystan.’

  Mauri’s cool expression switched to her. ‘You have changed him,’ Mauri said.

  ‘He did all the work himself,’ Ivy said. ‘And he’s not changed, he’s just a better version of himself.’

  Dax had learned not to follow orders without question, being with her had taught him that he was more than what Mauri and the other Stark men saw him as. Dax knew now that he was valuable, just for being himself. He didn’t have to work for her, or run any operation well enough to make her proud.

  ‘You are very lucky,’ Mauri said to Dax. ‘I’m surprised that you found something real and sustainable in such oppressive circumstances.’

  ‘He didn’t oppress me,’ Ivy said. ‘Dax embraced who I was just as I embraced him. You wanted him to change me, to make me a different person, to break me. But he didn’t.’

  ‘I never even tried,’ Dax said, bringing his focus to hers. ‘No one changes you, Minx.’

  ‘Can’t mess with perfection,’ she smiled and rested her mouth on his arm. ‘Dax has kindness and modesty under that hard-ass, arrogant-as-hell exterior, and those are things that he didn’t learn from you or what you do. We have a new life together, and it’s one that won’t involve any of this.’

  ‘I’m curious,’ Mauri said. ‘If he had wanted to return, would you have allowed it?’

  ‘You’re asking if she’s the only obstacle to my agreement,’ Dax said. ‘She’s not. I told you that I wanted nothing more to do with you before you ever made this offer.’

  ‘So why did you come back?’

  ‘Brad said you were sick, and it seemed like the right thing to do. I was curious too about… I always thought that meeting you at that fight, where I pickpocketed you when I was thirteen, I thought that was an accident and to find out that you were looking for me, that you meant it… You lied to me through my whole life.’

  ‘Bruno didn’t want to accept you,’ Mauri said. ‘He saw you as a threat though I didn’t know why. I wanted him to embrace fatherhood, I thought it would change him, make him realise that there was a softer way to be; he’s often too heavy handed and impulsive. Having a child makes a man reconsider his life, at least it did for me.’

  ‘Didn’t work for Bruno,’ Dax said. ‘I’ll never accept him as my father, but I would like to know how you found out about me.’

  ‘When Carina was pregnant, she kept it to herself at first. She told Bruno, and when he reacted in a negative way, she fled. At the time, I didn’t know that sh
e was pregnant, I found out later.’

  ‘How did your wife die?’ Ivy asked. The worst he could do was refuse to answer the question and his answer was an evasion.

  ‘Trystan was only five,’ Mauri said. ‘It was a long time ago.’

  ‘You found out about her affair with Bruno,’ Ivy said. Though she could feel Dax’s stare, she kept her attention on Mauri.

  ‘I see that locking you in a house with Carina was not a wise decision,’ Mauri said. ‘Why did she tell you?’

  ‘I wanted answers to Dax’s questions,’ Ivy said without admitting that she and Dax had not discussed what his questions were. ‘Carina kept evading my questions, and I put it to her that she couldn’t expect trust if she didn’t show honesty.’

  ‘So she told you?’

  ‘Yes,’ Ivy said. ‘She didn’t know if you knew.’

  ‘I didn’t at the time.’

  Locking her fingers between Dax’s, she filled him in. ‘Carina caught Bruno sleeping with Mauri’s wife at around the same time she found out she was pregnant. Bruno didn’t want the truth to come out and by that time he was beating her regularly. He didn’t want to have a baby with her, which is why Carina left, to protect you.’

  ‘How long did the affair last?’ Dax asked.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Ivy said, shaking her head and turning to Mauri.

  ‘I don’t know when it started,’ Mauri said. ‘I wasn’t aware that they were together at first. I discovered them together not long before Winnie, my wife, died.’

  ‘Did you kill her?’ Dax asked without any of the tact or hesitation that Ivy had felt. ‘Did you kill her for sleeping with your best friend?’

  ‘No,’ Mauri said. ‘Bruno killed her.’

  That was unprecedented, if questionable, honesty. ‘Why?’ Ivy asked. ‘Why would he do that? Carina believed that he was in love with her.’

  ‘Maybe he was, but it was Winnie who confessed to me that Carina had been pregnant. When Bruno found out that she had broken his confidence he was angry, and it was after that, when they were resolving their differences, that I found them together. Winnie asked me to cast him out, he was violent and unpredictable. When Bruno heard that she had turned on him, he turned on her. He was angry and holding a gun…’