Page 43 of Ivy

“Ivy, you miss me, sweetie?” Tim’s voice drips with smugness. I close in behind Luke and wrap my arms around his bicep. Tim’s face turns from smug to rage in a flash. “Well, you moved on quick, you slut.” Tim looks like he hasn’t slept in weeks. He has bags under his eyes, his hair is sticking up all over the place, and his clothes look grubby.

“Don’t speak to her—don’t fucking look at her,” Luke spits out angrily. Tim smirks, his eyes bouncing between Luke and me. I know he’s going to say something to rile the boys up even more, but more so Luke.

“Have you had a taste yet? She tastes like fucking heaven, doesn’t she?” Tim licks his lips, and a shiver runs through my body in disgust. Luke tenses even more, his muscles turning to stone beneath my palms. He steps towards Tim and I grip his biceps to stop him, but I’m no match for his strength, so Dex and Jay step up to help me hold him back.

I look at Tim and try to muster up the reasons why I stayed with him for so long, or even why I didn’t see the type of man he was when we first met. He’s like a stranger now, nothing like he used to be. I never would have thought that he would let himself go like this. Tim was always so prim and proper.

“Leave!” Beasts demands, but Tim just chuckles at him. A crowd has gathered, and I hope no one calls the police.

“Man, I swear to fucking Christ you had better leave before we let him go, because believe me, you do not want us to unleash the beast on you,” Jay pipes in.

Tim shakes his head but keeps his smile firmly in place. “I don’t have to do shit. She belongs to me, so does the brat,” he says to Jay, then looks at me. “Get your shit. We’re going home. No more fucking around. I let you meet your brothers and slag around with this prick, but now you will come home, where you belong.” I gasp and Luke lunges forward, too quick for anyone to stop him. He lands a punch on Tim’s jaw, and his head snaps back before he falls to the floor.

I stand there shaking as Luke lands on top of Tim, laying punch after punch. Dex and Jay struggle to pull Luke off him. I hear shouting and turn to see the two clients come running across the street to help. They pull on Luke and hold him down as one of the men watching the scene play out picks up Tim.

“I suggest you fucking leave.” He crosses his arms across his massive chest and nods in the direction of the street. “I saw and heard everything. You threatened his girlfriend and her son.”

“I didn’t say fuck all like that.”

“I believe you did. Now, who do you think the police will believe: a raggedy piss-ant like you, or an army corporal like me?” I gasp and cover my mouth with my still shaking hand. I feel arms wrap around my shoulders and scream, even though I can see Tim in front of me. The fear of his touch races through my body, until I hear his voice.

“Shh, baby, it’s just me.” I can see the men saying something to Tim, but the blood pounding in my veins is drowning out any sound except for Beast’s soothing voice. “I’ve got you. Shhh, babe.” His arms tighten around me and I melt into his embrace. My heart rate slows, and my hearing comes back as the guys still speak to Tim. I snuggle closer to Luke’s chest, but my eyes are fixed on Tim, turning to walk away. But he stops and looks back at me.

“I’ll see you soon, Ivy. Real fucking soon.” I shiver as his threat sinks in. I have to go. He can’t get a hold of Carter—or me, for that matter. I have to leave. My heart rate spikes again, and I think I’m going to have a heart attack. I pull out of Luke’s arms and step away. My eyes flicker around the street, making sure Tim is gone before I move. He can’t see where we’re going. He can’t find us again.

Luke must see the fear on my face because he steps up to me again and takes my face in his big hands, tilting my head up, forcing me to look him in the eyes.

“No! Don’t even think about it. You aren’t going anywhere.”

“How?” I ask, confused by how the hell he knew what I was thinking.

“I can see it in your eyes—you wanna run and hide. Not. Happening. Do you hear me? You arenotleaving me—us.” He nods towards my brothers. Dex and Jay look angry but concerned for me.

“But, Lu—”

“No fucking buts. You are not leaving me. Do you honestly think I won’t hunt you down? I need my peaches in my life, babe, don’t take that away from me.” He sticks out his bottom lip and pouts. I try to hold the giggle in but fail. This is what Luke Baker does to me. He helps me forget all the bad and reminds me of the good in my life.

“We can’t lose you, sis. We only just got you. We won’t let him hurt you, or Carter. Do you believe me?” Dex asks. My eyes bounce between Dex and Jay. Jay offers me a genuine Carter smile and Dex just grins and nods, imploring me to believe him. He doesn’t need to implore me; I do believe him—them.

“I believe you. I trust you.” I swing my gaze up to Beast. “I trust all of you.” I offer him a watery smile and he leans in and kisses my lips. He kisses me long and soft, taking his time with me. His tongue coaxes mine, playing the seduction game. I shouldn’t be getting turned on after everything that just happened, but I can’t stop my body responding to his.

He has this power over my mind, body and soul.

I feel his hand slide down and squeeze my bum, and I squeak, making him chuckle against my mouth. I pull back and rest my head on his chest, taking deep breaths. Slowly, I glance to the left and then the right, hoping no one is standing around looking at us. I let out a sigh of relief when I see no one is paying any attention to us. Luke walks us back into Castle Ink and the rest of the day is uneventful. The boys all talk about keeping an eye on me, and they thank the two men that helped out with Tim.

All I can do is pray that Tim takes what the boys said seriously and stays away.

*****

The day has worn on me, and Luke and Carter are trying their best to get my mind on the now, but Tim’s words are still rattling around my head. He was never one to let things get away from him, and I can only imagine what he was like when he noticed I’d left and taken Carter with me. He never much cared for us, but he liked the image of having an almost-wife and a son.

I have to make sure he never gets his hands on Carter. Lord knows what he would do. He looked slightly unhinged this afternoon.

“Mum, come and play,” Carter says. My gaze snaps to my boys sitting on the floor, playing Rocket League on the Playstation. I offer my son a smile and stand up, before turning towards the kitchen.

“Let me get a drink and I’ll have a go. Do you boys want anything?”

“Nope.”

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