Total pages in book: 8
Estimated words: 7510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 38(@200wpm)___ 30(@250wpm)___ 25(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 7510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 38(@200wpm)___ 30(@250wpm)___ 25(@300wpm)
CHAPTER THREE
Eli
I curse with Marcus’ departure and the idea that Ivy is now infected with black magic. I want to believe it’s not true, but in the in world we live, he feels more right than wrong in this scenario. Which means we have to save her, and that gets complicated when black magic changes all the rules. We can’t even know if she will change with the next full moon, or if it’s just the next moon, period, which means tonight.
“What’s going on, Eli?” Ivy asks, stepping in front of me. “And why are we here?” She motions to the house that is a stunner, worth I don’t even know how many millions. “Where is this?”
All I can do for a minute is stare down at her delicate features and think about how much her life is about to change, even beyond what it has already. And she’s so damn beautiful, but then she was always beautiful—too beautiful for my ugly world. She is my woman, and I will do anything to protect her. I catch her to me and kiss her hard on the lips. “Let’s go inside and talk.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” she says. “Talk now.”
“Inside,” I insist and set her away from me.
“Eli,” she bites out. “I don’t like being in the dark like this.”
“Yes, well we can both thank Marcus and his meddling for you knowing too much.” I rotate away from her and punch in the keycard number that I know because Marcus placed it in my head right here and right now.
Ivy’s anger is a silent scream at my back.
I shove open the door and motion to Ivy. “It’s safer inside. One of many homes Marcus owns in strategic locations.”
“To keep his people safe,” she says. “I know. Because as you said, I know too much.” Her chin lifts as she marches inside.
And I’m clearly out of practice in my husband duties, otherwise, I’d know better than to say what I just said.
***
The Past…
I’m sitting at the kitchen table, when Ivy sits down with a plate in front of her. “Where’s mine?”
“You’re so manly,” she says. “Certainly, you can get your own plate of food.”
“Ah,” I say. “So that’s how it is? I guess I should be happy you made me dinner at all.”
“I made myself dinner. There just happens to be enough for you.”
“All of this because I didn’t tell you I was doing business with your father.”
“Marriage is not about secrets.”
“I didn’t know it mattered.”
She sets her fork down. “You didn’t think the fact that you had something to gain by marrying me mattered? Please. You know. You just didn’t want me to know.”
I push to my feet and I’m around the table pulling her to stand in an instant. “Was I willing to do business with him to get to you? Yes. But it’s not the opposite. He didn’t trade you. I’m just taking care of your father and I got what I wanted. You.”
“Why did you want me?”
“Because life sucked without you.”
Her eyes soften. “Life sucked without you, too.”
“Then how about you don’t starve me to death?”
She laughs. “I’ll get you a plate.”
“Forget it. I’m starving for something else over food.” I scoop her up and carry her toward the bedroom.
I come back to the present and follow Ivy into the house. She isn’t only my happiness, she’s my reason for living. I will do anything for her, and Marcus and his “don’t do anything” statement doesn’t work for me. I hope like hell he doesn’t mean to wait to convert her, because that’s not happening. I will not hold on to anything that protects Ivy.
At this point, Ivy enters the living room with me on her heels.
She’s mine. I will protect her. I will kill for her.
We step into the living room, into a killer place with wood on the walls, and a huge kitchen island overlooking the living room, which is framed by a stone fireplace. The kind of place all the money in my account could buy for her, but to what end? I will always be hunted and hunting. There is no normal, happy life for us. And now it seems that might be truer than ever.
Ivy walks to the island and places herself on the other side of it. “You really don’t want me in your life at all, do you? I guess Marcus really misjudged when he prepared me for this.”
“You know that’s not what this is. You have your memories, Ivy. You know how much I fucking love you.”
“Loved me, Eli. This is years upon years later.”
“And I loved you every single day since I met you. There’s a reason I’m alone. Because it’s the only way I exist without you. But you were right on one point. Marcus did overstep. You aren’t safe in this world.”