by Dee Bridle
Yeah, right. One could only hope.
I walked back inside and headed straight for the kitchen. I warmed up some milk and hoped it would calm me and help me sleep.
I took a grateful sip as I heard the soft ding of the lift. I smiled at the thought of Will coming here. Maybe he was going to make sure I was eating something. I hadn’t seen him since the night I disappeared, and I wanted to know more about Noah. I stepped out of the kitchen area and then froze.
“Who the fuck are you?”
A beautiful girl, in tight jeans and heels, stood next to a small suitcase. Her blonde hair was long and she had bright red lips to match her red painted toenails. Her eyes looked me up and down in distaste and I cleared my throat, not knowing whether I should even say my name.
She glared at me and asked, “Where’s Will?”
“I’m not sure,” I said.
“So what the fuck are you doing here?” she asked.
“I’m staying here for a while,” I returned.
She huffed and stuck her hand on her hip.
“Well, no shit,” she said, pulling her phone out and pressing a button to call someone.
She swore when the person didn’t answer. Maybe she was calling Will.
“Well, the riding of his dick ends tonight for you, sweets,” she said angrily. “I can’t believe he would let you up here. I’m the only one who knows about this place for fuck’s sake!”
I pulled my shoulders back and said, “I’m not riding his dick…sweets. He’s just letting me stay here for a couple of days.”
Her eyes narrowed at me, taking their time to assess me all over again.
I glared at her, daring her to mess with me. I might be broken right now, but I could still hold my own.
“Where is he then? Why isn’t he taking my calls?”
“How the fuck should I know?” I returned, walking back into the kitchen to pour my now cold milk down the sink.
I didn’t know who this girl was and what she meant to Will, but she could be a threat to my cover. I washed the glass out in the sink and put it in the dishwasher, planning my next move.
I heard her heels click on the marble floor behind me.
“So, how do you know him?” she asked.
“We’re friends from way back,” I said, hoping a few weeks could be considered a ‘way back.’
“Are you going to tell me your name?” she asked.
“What’s yours?” I asked with a steely glare.
She returned my glare and said, “I’m Janey.”
Noah
I watched the television without really knowing what show was on. Will had just gotten here, ordered pizza, and was now paying the delivery guy.
His phone on the coffee table started to ring, and I glanced at the screen. Janey. I hadn’t seen that name in months. With a grin, I leaned over and answered it.
“Hey, stranger.”
“What the fuck, Will? Why haven’t you been answering my calls? And who is this fucking girl here? She won’t even tell me her name, but swears she’s not screwing you! Here of all places, Will!”
“Take a breath, Janey. It’s Noah,” I said with a laugh.
Then I paused as her words sunk in.
“Wait. What girl?”
“Where the fuck is Will?” she asked.
“He’s here,” I said warily, watching him close the front door with two pizza boxes in his hand. “What girl, Janey?”
“She won’t tell me her name. Says she’s an old friend, but I’m his oldest friend, so I don’t know what planet she’s on and…”
“What does she look like?” I demanded, my eyes still locked on Will.
Will realized I had his phone and looked panicked for a moment.
“Who the hell cares what she looks like, Noah!”
“Janey, tell me,” I demanded angrily.
Will dumped the pizzas on the coffee table, but didn’t sit back down.
“Geez, I don’t know, red hair, small, covered in tattoos.”
I hurled the phone at Will and it hit him in the head, before smashing to the floor. I stood up and lunged at him.
“You fucking asshole!” I shouted, grabbing him by the collar.
“I promised to keep her safe!” shouted Will, grabbing my wrists. “That’s fucking all.”
“You lied to me, you son of a bitch!” I shouted into his face.
“She was running away, in the middle of the night! I helped her, so we didn’t lose her completely,” he said putting his hands up.
“You lying piece of shit. You let me search for her, while losing my fucking mind, and you knew where she was the whole fucking time!” I snarled.
“She wanted to end it so you didn’t have to go through all the shit with your father! She did it for you”
“Is she sleeping in your bed?”
“No!” he shouted. “I haven’t been there since the beach. I’ve just spoken to her a few times, making sure she’s okay!”
“If she’s okay?” I shouted in disbelief.
“Yes! But I’ve kept her safe. I’ve tried to give her a home while she hides.”
“That fucking palace is not her home,” I growled possessively.
“Noah, I did what I had to do to keep her safe, surely you can see that?”
I let go of his collar and shoved him back.
“She’s miserable,” he added.
I clenched my fists, fury still burning inside. He had betrayed me, our friendship, and our bond. Without another thought, I swung back and then punched him in the face.
He staggered back, holding his jaw. He was breathing heavy, but eyeing me to see if I was going to come at him again.
“I might have deserved that,” he growled, “but that was your only free shot.”
“Bring it on, asshole,” I said as my phone started to ring. “What?” I answered angrily.
“She obviously heard me talking to you. She ran out of here like a bat out of hell. What’s going on, Noah?” asked Janey.
“Run after her and stop her!” I shouted. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Will grabbed his keys from the table and moved towards the door at the same time as me.
“This isn’t over,” I growled as I got into his car. “I’m going to pummel your face in when we get back.”
Will ignored me as he sped off down the street with squealing tires.
Ivy
I made it into the foyer as the other lift opened and Janey ran out. I ran towards the main doors, past the surprised doorman as Janey grabbed the hood of Noah’s sweater and pulled me back.
I choked for a second in surprise and then swung around to shove her arm off me. What the fuck was she doing chasing me now?
I got her away from me and started running again, pulling open the glass entrance doors before the doorman could reach me. I hit the street and then ran across it, dodging traffic. I had no idea where I was going or what I was even doing. I found an alcove of a shop and stepped in, catching my breath as I leaned against the doorway. I was running from Noah and the life he needed to have without me in it. He knew where I had been staying now. My cover had been blown.
“Do you have a death wish?”
I jumped at the voice, realizing I was cornered in the alcove by Janey, who was standing in the way, breathing heavy.
“Why are you after me?” I asked.
“I was told to stop you from running away,” she said. “You can tell me why on the way back to Will’s.”
“I’m not going back there,” I said.
Her eyes narrowed and she asked, “Why are you the only girl in the world running away from Noah and Will?”
“It’s complicated.”
“These things usually are,” she returned. “So I’ve just run after you like a mad woman, in heels, no less. The least you can do is give me a fucking clue as to why you’re so important.”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Zac’s sister, now tell me who you are.�
�
“Ivy.”
“So, Ivy, spill.”
I clenched my fists.
“And don’t even think about using your fists, because I’ll fight back,” she warned.
Her phone went off and she looked at the screen. She turned it to show me. Noah’s name appeared.
“Tell me.”
“I’m on the run from my father and Will was helping me to hide,” I returned.
“And where does Noah come into this?” she asked, pressing Ignore on her phone and slipping it back in her pocket.
“We…were together.”
“Ahh,” she said with a smirk. “So why are you no longer together?”
“His life is better without me in it,” I returned.
“And how do you come to that conclusion?”
I let out a frustrated sigh and spat, “Does this really matter? Just let me go.”
“It doesn’t sound like he wants you out of his life if he’s shouting for me to stop you. Why are you running from your father?”
“Enough with the questions,” I growled. “This has nothing to do with you.”
Her phone rang again and she rolled her eyes.
“You can’t run. They would have already contacted my brother and he’d have control of all the local CCTV cameras right now. Say cheese.”
“I’m doing this for Noah!” I screamed, finally fed up with the interrogation. “I removed myself from his life so he didn’t have to do everything that he hated for his father. I’m trying to do what’s best for him! He’s in the shit right now because of me and my fucking life. I’m trying to make it easier for him.”
She narrowed her eyes in thought.
I used the opportunity to dive under her, throwing her off balance as I made my escape. I ran and kept going, hoping she wouldn’t follow me. After five minutes of running, I turned back to realize she hadn’t.
I stopped and gasped for breath, feeling dizzy for a moment as my mind whirled. I needed to go somewhere safe, and I had no idea where that would be right now.
My phone rang and I knew it would be Will.
“Hey,” I said breathing heavily.
“What the fuck, Ivy?” said Noah.
“Noah,” I said, emotion making my voice thick.
“Where are you? Stop running.”
I felt the fight leave me as my bones went soft and my body sagged.
“I’m so sorry,” I sobbed. “I was trying to help you.”
“Well stop, because all you did was break me,” he returned softly.
I closed my eyes and gripped onto the phone like it was my savior, the bright light in my darkness.
“Stop running from me,” he said next. “You’re mine, Ivy. I don’t give a fuck about the consequences. It’s you and me against the world, remember?.”
“I’ve missed you so much,” I cried.
“We do this together,” he said. “Just stop where you are, and I’ll come get you.”
“Okay,” I said wiping at my tears.
I heard a squeal of tires and turned, hope springing in my chest at the thought of seeing him again.
I didn’t realize until it was too late as two men in suits jumped out of the car and lunged for me. I screamed as they grabbed me roughly, dragging me to the car. I fought as hard as I could, my legs kicking out at them, but I was no match for their strength. The phone dropped from my hand as I tried to stop them from getting me into the car. I tried to gouge one of the guy’s eyes behind me, before I was hit over the head with something hard.
Then there was blackness.
Noah
“No!” I shouted as I shot out of the car before it came to a complete stop.
Ivy was lifeless as she was shoved into a car up ahead, and I ran towards her. The guy pulled a gun and directed it at me and I stopped.
“Get back, Noah!” shouted Will from behind me.
I stared at the gunman, knowing if I went any further he would pull the trigger. But my Ivy was in that car, and I had to get to her.
The gunman smirked and then pulled the trigger.
A loud shot blasted into the night air, echoing around the street. I clenched my body, waiting for pain, but got nothing. I heard Janey scream and turned to see Will running back to the car to check on her. I noticed the tire that had just been shot, making sure we couldn’t follow them. Then there was a screech of tires and the car was gone.
“Fuuuck!” I screamed. I was so close but now so far. I dropped to my knees on the pavement, feeling the complete hopelessness of the situation now. He had gotten to her. She had been hiding successfully for days, and now it had turned to shit. His men had obviously been waiting for her to leave the building, and now she had fallen straight into their trap.
I heard Janey shouting, obviously scared for her life and what she had come home to. I heard Will trying to calm her at the same time.
Ivy was gone.
Again.
But this time, it was final.
I didn’t even want to think about what he could do to her. The ache of pain floored me, and I tried to focus before I passed out.
“Let’s go!” said Will. “Scanner is picking up reports of a gunshot.”
I stared straight ahead, where the car had disappeared and tried to calm down to clear the red haze over my eyes.
“Move it, Noah!” shouted Will.
I stood up to see Will holding Janey as they started to walk quickly back in the other direction. I took one more look back at the spot where they took her and noticed a phone on the ground. I went over and picked it up. I opened it and saw that it belonged to Will. The phone call was still connected to my phone, and I ended it, feeling angry at Will for giving it to her in the first place.
I heard a siren in the distance and started to run to catch up to Will and Janey. We ran down the street and crossed the road. We kept running until we were back at the penthouse.
“We know where he lives. I need to go there now, break in and get her back,” I said, pacing the room.
“We need to plan this first,” said Will.
“The longer we fucking take, the more time he has to fuck with her,” I snarled.
“I get it, but he’s got fucking guards and guns and shit,” shouted Will.
“He will kill her,” I growled menacingly, still pacing.
Will’s phone beeped and he looked at the screen.
“Zac’s here.”
“I want a gun for when we go in.”
Will glared at me and grunted, “No way.”
“I know you have them here. I want one.”
“You’re going to start killing people now?” shouted Will. “Jesus, Noah, we can do this without guns.”
“Get me a gun, Will,” I growled. “This is all happening right now, because of your bright ideas. The least you can do is get me a gun.”
Will paused and stared at me.
“No! You can’t kill anyone!” said Janey. “You’ll be in jail for the rest of your life! Besides, where the hell is Will going to get a gun?”
Will glared at me and then went over to a wall and pressed a button. A section of wall slid back to reveal a row of guns.
“Oh, my god,” said Janey. “Have I walked into a freakin’ twilight zone?”
Will took a hand gun out and passed it to me.
“It’s loaded, so try not to shoot your dick off,” he said.
“Maybe I should be shooting yours off, instead,” I said taking the gun from him and staring at him.
“I’ll man up and fight you if that’s what you need,” said Will. “But I was doing the right thing. They would have taken her days ago if she hadn’t been hiding up here.”
“Maybe you should have told me where you were hiding my girlfriend,” I returned.
“Okay, I get it. You both have big cocks, and you’re pissed at each other. But can we please calm the fuck down and put the gun away?” said Janey.
The lift door opened and Zac and Ava walked in and took one loo
k at me and stopped.
“Fuck me,” said Zac, looking from me to Will.
“Janey!” said Ava running over and hugging her.
I snapped into action.
“We’re going there now to get her back. I need the layout of his house and I want his security devices to be disarmed,” I demanded.
Zac nodded and said, “He’s having a big party at his place tonight. It’s one of his yearly wine auctions. All the elite will be there. You need a special password to get into the estate,” he said. “Perfect place for me to stir up a shit storm.”
“What about his goons? You know, the ones with guns,” said Will.
“We shoot them in the leg. They won’t die from it,” I said clearly.
The girls gasped, and I put the gun in my pants.
“You’re not fucking thinking straight,” said Will.
I swung around on him and glared.
“I’m thinking straight, asshole. I’m going to save my girl. The girl that means fucking everything to me. I’m going to find her, save her, and fucking keep her. Then, when this is all over, I’m going to beat you for fucking lying to me and failing to keep her safe.”
Will pulled his head back and clenched his jaw.
“Stop it, Noah! You’re being an asshole!” shouted Janey. “It’s not his fault that she ran out!”
I turned my glare onto her.
“No, it’s yours.”
Janey went to lunge at me as Will grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back. Her legs and arms were flailing about, wanting to hit me.
“Enough!” shouted Zac.
Janey went silent and Will slowly put her down out of his hold.
“We all need our heads in the game for this. Noah is going fucking crazy, because his girl is in trouble. If I was in his place, I’d being doing the same thing. Let’s get this done together. You can all beat the shit out of each other when we’re done, and Janey, you can fucking explain to me why you are out of rehab early!”
The room fell silent.
Zac looked at me and I nodded in confirmation. We were ready to do this.
Chapter Seventeen
Ivy
I awoke with a headache that literally felt like someone had been stomping on my head for hours. It hurt to open my eyes wide, so I squinted as I looked around.