Page 83 of Lust

“What the fuck do you mean?”

“Dad was in control of Ivory’s businesses. Ivory trusted him!” he shouts the last line at us.

Gabe looks at me, and I don’t know what Links is getting at.

“Ivory trusted him! I trusted him!” He shakes his head.

“Brother do you need a beer?” Gabe asks and I can’t help but think, they aren’t his beers to hand out to perfect pretty Henderson’s! I shoot Gabe a look, silently telling him not to hand my beers out but seeing how worked up Links is, I get one out. Handing it to him.

He locks his hand around it. “Ivory is legally locked to him.” He grits the words out. “The garage, even access to her own goddamn money is in Taylor’s hands. Dad wanted them back together.”

My expression drops. “You saying your dad made Taylor trustee?” I shake my head. “How the fuck is that possible, she’s of age!”

“Like I said Ivory trusted him. She had signed the papers, don’t know what he said they were. But she signed them.” He looks down at the ground. “Legally he has her money, her businesses, her shares in our companies.” And he looks at Gabe. “Taylor got what he wanted.”

I shake my head. “Nah he hasn’t.” and they look at me. “He wants Ivory, and he might legally have her stuff, but he doesn’t have her.” I sip my beer. “Does she know about her businesses?”

“Couldn’t break it to her. She slaved over that garage. Now Taylor has the controlling interest.”

“Well someone has to tell her.” And I look at her brothers. “And it isn’t my place.”

The boys shared a look and being the mature adults they are, they rock paper scissors it. Links loses, cursing.

While they dealt with how to tell Ivory. I dealt with the outcome of this. Which was Taylor having a reason to see my woman, and his excuses—were going to wear thin quickly.

58

Kace

Iran out of bourbon and that was a fucking problem. So I called the prospect to pick me up and go get some. Gabe and Links had fucked off by the time my supply ran low. Links ended up driving Gabe home, who left his car here.

I climbed out of the truck, holding my bourbon. Saw Ivory’s car in the driveway. Links decided he was calling her to tell her. And when I opened the front door and heard sobbing I know Links had broken the news.

I hated that someone had control over Ivory’s life that wasn’t me.

“Babe you alright?” I say as I round the corner and then spot her in the kitchen. Sobbing. Like really sobbing. God I knew she would take it hard, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this hard.

I put the bourbon down and wrap my arms around her, and she turns in my arms, her head going to my chest.

I’m trying to calm her down. It’s just a garage, I wouldn’t care if she walked from it but I know she worked hard on it after our breakup.

“Come on darling, it’s just money. Lord knows I’ve got enough of it.” I say kissing the top of her head, and she pulls back, looking up at me with a small frown, tears still streaming down her face.

“What… what are you talking about?” She stutters out.

And it’s my turn to frown. Before I throw myself into the deep end, just in case Links hadn’t called. “What has you so upset darling?” I run my thumb across her cheek, wiping some tears away.

She heaves in quickly. “I cut the potato and I got my finger and…” and I grab her hand, seeing how bad it is, only to grab her other hand.

“Which finger?” I’m panicking thinking she is bleeding out on me. For her to be this worked up.

She shows me her index finger and there is barely a paper cut. “It really hurt.” She says tears brimming in her eyes and inhales sharply, and I’m just staring at her, please god no, I’m thinking. “and there’s no chocolate.” She blubbers out and her head goes to my chest, and I now know I’m in a fucking serious situation. Ivory has her period. Last time I barely survived. If her eyes could kill, I’d be six feet under. I was about to enter the week of hell.

* * *

“They’re quiet.”Chopper mutters, gripping a bourbon a she looks at me.

“They have a lifetime supply of chocolate and chips.” I take a sip of my bourbon. Standing in the kitchen, while the girls are on the couch. “Fuck knows I need a share in a chocolate factory now.”

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