by Dee Bridle
“Welcome, Ms. Ivy,” he said in a formal voice while holding his hand out for me to take.
I didn’t take it, grabbing my bag instead and climbing out by myself.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
He went up the steps and opened the large entrance door for me. I went through and looked around at the large foyer, covered in marble.
“Lifts are to your right, madam,” he said behind me. “Your key card will operate the lift.”
“Thank you,” I said again, heading over to them quickly.
I had no idea where I was right now, but this place didn’t suit the Will I knew.
I pressed the card on a panel to the side of the lift and the doors opened instantly. Stepping in, I pressed the card again to another panel inside. The word ‘penthouse’ appeared as the doors shut and it began to ascend. My stomach dropped as the lift went higher and higher, the floor numbers flashing by silently.
I was escaping to the top of the city, where no one would find me. My Noah was far away, still at the beach, maybe even still sleeping. The thought of him sent my stomach flipping again, hating the idea of him waking up with me gone. I didn’t know how long it would take, but he would realize soon enough he was better off without me.
The lift came to a stop and there was a soft ding, before the lift doors opened. I stepped out to find myself already inside the penthouse, my eyes darting around, expecting anything.
I found nothing, but pure opulence.
I walked in further, the silence deafening me. Lights were on everywhere as I went through into the main room that was fully enclosed with glass, overlooking the city.
Will came from money. A lot of it.
He had this penthouse to live in, but he slept on Noah’s couch most nights. He also worked a construction job through the week, which he clearly didn’t need to do. Nothing made sense. I walked over to the sliding doors and opened one, stepping out onto the large balcony. The sun was rising and the city was just waking up. I leaned on the railing and looked out, seeing nothing as tears blurred my vision.
Noah
“How do we know if she just ran away?” I fumed. “She could have been fucking kidnapped for all we know!”
“Dude, she took all her ID documents,” said Will. “She’s gone.”
I picked up a vase of flowers and threw them across the room. They just missed Ava as she walked into the room.
“Calm the fuck down!” shouted Zac. “You just nearly hit my girl!”
“You calm the fuck down!” I shouted, shoving open the doors and storming out onto the sand.
My head was racing as anger swirled around inside me, making my fists ready to hit something hard. We had come so far and she had just taken off, leaving me alone as if we meant nothing to each other.
Where the hell would she have gone this time?
We needed to head back today, so I could search for her. I wouldn’t stop until I found her. I would make her understand that I was in too far to just let her go.
“Maybe she’s trying to make it easier for you,” said Will as he stood behind me. “Leaving before you leave her. Stopping you from doing any of that crazy shit your father wants you to do.”
“I hadn’t told her any of that,” I snapped, still looking out at the ocean, at nothing in particular.
“She could have heard us last night. Who knows?”
“For fuck’s sake!” I shouted, at no one in particular.
“You need to chill, man. I know this is fucking crazy, but you’re no good to anyone like this. She’s a survivor. She’ll be okay.”
“You don’t know that,” I spat in fury.
I heard Will sigh behind me.
“You need to leave me the fuck alone,” I growled at him.
I didn’t want anyone around me. I was going to seriously hurt the next one who came close. I needed to sort the turmoil in my head, before I imploded.
Will was smart enough to leave me alone, so he handed me her phone and then went back to the house. Without her phone on her, I had no idea of where to even start to search for her. She knew that, of course, and the action was loud and clear. She didn’t want to be found.
I sat down on the sand and tried to breathe.
I swiped her screen to open it and saw the note she had left me.
There was something very final about her words, and they ripped my heart in two. But I would not give up on her.
* * *
I was back in the city within hours.
I went to her mother’s apartment first. The broken door and police tape across it let me know that she was no longer there.
Sean was next.
He was at the counter finishing up with a customer as I walked in. He eyed me warily as he finished with the customer, talking about care instructions for his new tattoo. I waited, looking at the other two tattooists, now watching me with interest.
“I haven’t seen her if that’s why you’re here,” he said as the customer left the shop.
“But you know she’s gone?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“No, but I know that’s the only reason you’d be standing in here right now.”
“You’ll let me know if you see her?”
“Sure,” he returned. “But if you’re the big safety net, why is she running from you?”
“Who the fuck knows,” I said with a sigh. “Just call me if you see her.”
“You checked her mum’s place?”
I nodded and said, “The place is empty. She’s gone. Any other ideas? Any friends I don’t know about?”
“She never really kept friends,” said Sean with a shrug. “Other than the beach, I had no idea where she used to go. We were together, but only for fun, if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I don’t need the visual. I already want to beat you senseless because of it.”
Sean only chuckled.
“I was a distraction she obviously needed at the time. You can’t blame me for enjoying the ride.”
“Sure. But your ride stopped a long time ago. Mention it again, and it will get you hurt.”
“She’s all yours,” smirked Sean.
“That’s the smartest thing you’ve said so far. Call me if you see her,” I said heading to the door.
“So word on the street is that you’ve got a fight coming up,” said Sean.
I pushed the door open and then turned back to him.
“I have. You should come down. See what happens when someone tries to mess with me,” I said, leaving the shop.
Next was Lou and Glory.
They hadn’t seen her and were worried. They had no other information on where she could be either.
I was at a loss.
* * *
I went to college the next day.
I stopped at each of her classes, but of course, she wasn’t there. If she was hiding from me, it was the last place she would be.
I longed to see her with her distinctive bright red hair, walking with her headphones on and looking pissed with the world.
I wanted to know what the hell she was thinking right now. How anything could be better than me keeping her safe. The risk of her father finding her right now was high, and it filled me with a fear that I hadn’t experienced before.
Chapter Sixteen
Ivy
It had been three days.
I hadn’t seen or heard from Will.
Food was delivered up to me three times a day. Lots of it. It was a chance for me to eat well for once, but I was too heartbroken to even contemplate it.
A woman came in each morning to clean an already spotless penthouse. It was opulence at its finest, and it had everything anyone would need.
Everyone, but me.
I was a rat trapped in a place where I didn’t belong.
I paced around the large penthouse, finding different doorways each time. The place was huge and put me on edge. I didn’t sleep, but if I did nod off, it was always on the floor. The beds
in each room were covered in expensive linen that I did not want to disturb.
My favorite place was the large balcony where I could breathe the air outside and listen to the wind. No one could touch me out here, and it was the only place that calmed me.
I thought of Noah every minute of the long days and empty nights. I imagined him truly hating me for disappearing on him. He had handed me his heart, and I had given it back to him. I only hoped he had gone back home and told his father to shove his requirements.
I longed to hear from Will, just to hear a familiar voice and to find out what was going on. As I walked around his place, I still had to wonder why he projected an image of himself that didn’t correlate with these lush surroundings.
The next day, a phone was delivered to me. Turning it on, I got a text from an unknown number instantly.
Sleep in one of the beds for fuck sake – there are six to choose from, it’s not hard
Ivy: Is he okay?
Will: No
Ivy: I can’t stay here
Will: You have to. He’s on the warpath and going batshit crazy. Until your father is settled – stay put.
Ivy: I can’t sit here hiding forever
Will: Suck it up princess
I sighed in frustration and read his words again. He was angry. I was angry. I just wanted to escape and start all over again.
Ivy: Tell me about him…
Will: Never seen him like it. Crazy, hurt and really fucking angry
I closed my eyes and swallowed down the lump of emotion lodged in my throat. It was all my fault. If I hadn’t come along and disturbed his world, he’d be okay right now. I had never been anything but destructive, with everything I touched. I drove people crazy and made them do bad things.
Ivy: I can’t do this anymore. I can’t just sit here. I need to go
Will: STAY THERE
I wiped at the tears that were suddenly falling down my cheeks.
Will: I mean it Ivy – take one step outside and you’ll see me go batshit crazy. It’s not safe out there yet. Your father is searching for you. His guys are everywhere.
Ivy: Fuck – are they following you guys?
Will: Yep
I gritted my teeth.
Ivy: He won’t stop until he finds me Will, there is no point to me hiding anymore. I’ll go to him and make this all stop
Will: Stay there! We will get this sorted. Now chill the fuck out and sleep in one of the beds
Ivy: Thank you for helping me
Will: I fucking hate this. I’m lying to my best friend and I don’t do that shit. But I promised to keep you safe. So do what you’re told. Stay put until I say so.
Later that night, I chose a room, the smallest one compared to all the others. I stared at the bed for a while until I slowly pulled back the silk sheets and climbed in. As my head rested on a cloud of silk, I let out a large breath that came all the way from my toes. I closed my eyes and thought of him. Thought of fireworks and happiness. And how it was all gone.
The silk sheets and warm bed didn’t help.
An hour later, I was awake, screaming.
Noah
I punched the bag, feeling the jolt in my shoulder and then punched it harder. My phone vibrated in my shorts, and I quickly stopped to check it. Like I did every time it went off, because I was desperate to hear from her.
Rachel.
I cringed. Bitch.
“What?” I answered.
“Thought we could go out tonight,” she said in a girly sweet voice, which only made me want to throw the phone across the gym.
“You thought wrong,” I said ending the call.
I went to punch the bag again and then stopped, resting my head against it instead. Fuck. I was in bad place. My father was under the impression that I had accepted his terms. He took my brooding silence as compliance and now Rachel wouldn’t leave me the fuck alone.
I had nothing but hatred for both of them that seemed to burn greater as each day passed. I had lost the only thing that was truly important to me. Nobody else mattered.
“Your head in the game or what?” asked Harry beside me.
I stood up straight and let out a sigh.
“Get it sorted, Noah. There is a lot of money riding on this fight. Whatever is causing this shit, get rid of it or fuck it senseless. Just get ready,” he snarled.
I nodded, but only to get him off my back. I couldn’t get it sorted. Not without Ivy. She had curled her way inside me, and I was empty without her. I had no conviction to get anything sorted. Will and Zac were worried about my state of mind, and they had every right to be. Cobra would end up killing me like this.
But right at that moment, I didn’t care. I didn’t care if I lived or died. I felt…broken.
* * *
Later that night, Rachel appeared on my doorstep. I went to shut the door in her face, but she stopped me and stepped inside.
“You shouldn’t hate me,” she said softly, trying to touch me.
“Too late,” I said shrugging her off as I gulped my fifth beer for the night. “Leave.”
She followed me across the room, not knowing when to give up.
“I can make this all okay, Noah,” she offered, pulling at the zipper of my jeans. “Just give me a chance.”
I looked down at the determination in her face and felt pure hatred. I watched her hand try to get inside my jeans, feeling like I was watching from someone else’s body.
“We’re perfect for each other,” she purred as her other hand pulled my T-shirt up. Her lips touched my stomach and then her tongue darted out as she kneeled down in front of me. Her eyes looked up at me as her fingers reached inside my pants.
I felt nothing as I took another large gulp of the beer, finishing the bottle. I tried to imagine Ivy’s tongue on my skin with her soft sweet mouth. But it wasn’t Ivy. It never would be again.
My hand gripped her hair and then pulled her back.
“Listen to me. You and I will never happen. You fucking disgust me,” I growled, letting her hair go and then moving away and zipping myself back up.
“This can work, Noah, I just know it,” she said standing up.
I felt disgusted with myself and at her. Her and my father had ruined everything.
“Leave!” I yelled, my hands leaning on the kitchen counter, my head dropping down as I closed my eyes.
Bleakness of my overall situation sat heavily on my shoulders. I waited for her to get a fucking clue and walk out the door and leave me alone.
It only opened again as Zac and Ava walked in this time. I just wished everyone could leave me alone, so I could drink myself to oblivion and pass out.
“Oh, my god, you are so delusional. He doesn’t want you!” said Ava. “Get out and don’t come back.”
“How about you mind your own business?” returned Rachel.
“Noah is my business and not yours!” shouted Ava.
“Just fucking go,” I snarled, still leaning on the counter.
I looked at Ivy’s phone on the bench. I picked it up and went through it again, checking her messages, calls, and anything that could lead me to someone I didn’t know; maybe someone who was with her right now.
The only messages and calls were to me and Ava.
I read her note again, and the ache in my chest just got worse.
Where the hell had she gone?
Zac’s voice broke into my thoughts. When I turned around, I saw Ava and Rachel in a headlock and pulling at each other’s hair. At any other time, it might have been fun to watch.
“Enough!” said Zac as he pulled Ava away from Rachel.
“You wait until Ivy’s back,” said Ava, catching her breath. “She will kick your ass, you stupid bitch, and I will help her!”
Her name and the idea of her coming back hit me in the stomach.
“Get out, Rachel,” I said. “Now!”
She straightened her hair and swallowed hard.
“I’m going to tell your father about thi
s.”
“Good!” I returned. “Tell him to go fuck himself while you’re at it!”
Zac waited until Rachel left and the door was closed before turning to me with a smirk.
“I’ve got dirt and loads of it. Sit down and sober the fuck up. We’ve got shit to plan.”
Ivy
My phone rang and I quickly grabbed it, knowing it would be Will. He had been checking in on me over the last two days, and I was happy to hear from him. He felt familiar in a way that was like a light to my darkness and I missed them all so much. He was a piece of Noah’s life that I could be in contact with.
“You realize you have to eat to live, right?” he stated immediately.
“Do you have spies or cameras in here?” I asked walking out to the balcony.
“Both,” he replied. “But don’t worry, I only watch when you’re having showers.”
I paused, not knowing whether he was joking for a moment.
“Jokes,” he said. “Noah would have me in the hospital drinking out of a straw. By the way, you’re going to have to be with me and hold the cup when he finds out about me hiding you.”
“How is he?”
“He’s doing well.”
“Oh…good,” I said instantly.
His words hurt more than I thought they would. He was getting over me. That was what I wanted, right?
“Because we have dirt and lots of it on your father. We’re going to fix this, Ivy.”
“Oh.”
“So, sit tight.”
“But my father plays dirty, Will.”
“Not as dirty as us. I’ve gotta go,” he said ending the call.
I slipped my phone into my jeans and let out a deep sigh. I wanted to feel hope. I wanted to imagine that my father was no longer a threat to my life and that I had Noah back.
I could imagine the dirt that they had found on my father, but I knew nothing stopped him from doing what he wanted to do. He was a force to be reckoned with and the small feeling of hope dispersed.
I wanted to ring Will back and tell them to just stop. Bringing dirt out would only make him angrier and hurt them as well as me. I looked out at the city and suddenly felt exhausted. I probably did need to eat some of the food that was brought to me and untouched each day. Then I needed my warm bed and hopefully sleep, without the nightmares.