Page 46 of Ivy’s Poison

“Are you going after them?”

I peered down at the mother of my child. “No.”

“Then how—”

“I’m waiting for them to come here.”

“How will they know where to find us?”

“I sent them a map of New Orleans and told them to find the playground. It will take a few days for them to figure it out, but they will eventually see Jade’s personal park.”

“Are you sure they’re coming?”

“Babe, I’ve been taunting him for some time now, and I just blew up his whole life. Most likely, most of his money, too. It’s a pride thing. They’ll come.” Hoping I was offering some peace, with my one free hand, I lifted Ivy’s chin. “I won’t kill your dad ‘til to you give me permission. I swear it. I may hurt him so he can’t hurt you, but I won’t end his life. Not ‘til you say.”

She refused to blink and send her building tears down her beautiful cheeks. I admired her grit and fight. The floating water wavered as she kept trying to see her way through her living nightmare. “Thank you for that. It means more than you know.”

“Can I kiss you?”

Those greys slid shut as she tilted her mouth up for me. Falling tears slipped from those eyes, slipping onto my lips as they touched hers.

* * *

There would be no allies coming with the three bikers. No one was willing to join their crusade, especially after learning Stain wasn’t a legend, only a liar. Not one ally appreciated the betrayal and trickery with Sting pretending to be Stain. Stain and his men had burned many people, and this was the last straw.

Even though confronting me on my own property was possibly a suicide mission, I knew they were coming. Slander had made it impossible for them to join any other club or rebuild what they once had. Their criminal careers were done. I knew, after the life they had lived, that meant they were done, too.

It was two nights later when my sensors alerted me to an intruder on the outer southwest corner of my property. Jade was in bed with Ivy and me, and Beth was on a cot in our room. I had insisted she stay in our bedroom in case my trackers failed. If she got hurt, I wouldn’t have forgiven myself.

With intent purpose, I got out of bed and slipped into my jeans. Ivy and Beth, both sitting up and appearing lost in thought, watched me. The three of us were remarkably calm, considering murderers were coming for revenge. Even though they had seen me in action and knew of my capabilities, they also knew things could go terribly wrong. We understood the risk this evening confronted us with, but also what not facing it head-on could do.

As we had rehearsed, each woman grabbed a hidden gun from under their mattresses while I strapped myself down with knives, including a machete, and slipped my sneakers on. Checking my cell, I could tell the intruders were moving very slowly due to the terrain, as I suspected they would. There was a full moon but many trees and clouds to occasionally block the moonlight.

At the bedroom door, I said nothing but took in the beautiful sight, just in case I was wrong and was about to be ambushed outside. No plan was ever bulletproof. And it was me against three killers who were in a desperate state of mind. I could have asked fellow assassins for help, but this was my fight. My family. And I chose to keep it private. Ivy needed closure without witnesses.

I motioned for her to come to me. Without our eyes ever leaving one another’s, Ivy crawled across the bed tucked in the corner for safety. In my t-shirt that was too big for her, she looked breathtaking. I grabbed the nape of her neck and roughly pulled her to me. “You shoot. You protect your own.”

Her puckered lips were parted as she nodded, much concern in her eyes.

I felt physical pain preparing to leave her side. “I love you, Ivy.”

After a sharp inhale, she began to pant, eyes wide.

I didn’t kiss her. I felt if I didn’t succeed in saving her life, I didn’t deserve the touch of her perfect lips. In fact, my jaw locked and I looked past her to Beth. Beth nodded, a gun firmly in her hand. When my eyes fell to Jade, that’s when I had to go. That’s when I felt the assassin in me come to life. My nostrils flared and so did my temper as I turned away from the women I had come to treasure beyond all reasoning.

I love the three of you so fucking much.

Hearing the bedroom door lock behind me, I raced out the front door knowing my intruders were coming from the rear of my property. Being sure not to trip any light sensors, I stayed off to the side of the property, headed straight for the sorry shits that dared threaten my girls. I let my anger take over as I thought about the contracts on the precious beings inside my home—their home. Even though no one was accepting the offer, it was the audacity of Stain that had me offended.

My imagination helped fuel my growing rage. Meth was the first kill on my list. Ivy wouldn’t admit to any details but claimed they had worked out a deal in order for him to cover for her lie. I’m not an idiot. He fucked Ivy. There is no forgiving using a woman like that for protection. None.

Ivy gave permission for two kills and asked that her dad be brought back to her. She said she needed answers before I was to snuff out his existence forever. My hands were anxious to feel the wetness of their blood. My ears hungered for their last breaths. My heart demanded revenge for all the years I wasn’t there to watch over my own, something that would be rectified, tonight.

Halfway through the dense trees behind my home, I climbed one and held still to listen. Knowing how I wanted my first kill performed, I held my best knife to sink into a skull. It had the holes needed to avoid the suction such an injury incurred. Unexperienced wielders were usually shocked to learn a human head won’t release a blade if not retracted immediately.

Approximately ten minutes passed before I heard twigs and leaves cracking under the pressure of bikers’ boots. The noises were telling me the men were being very cautious with each step. I could’ve told them they were wasting their last moments on this earth, but that would have robbed me of the fun of watching them squirm.

Perched on a branch, enough clouds momentarily cleared so I could watch as the men, some distance from each other, passed underneath me. I wasn’t surprised to see Stain leading them. He was, hands down, the bravest of the three. His twin was in the middle, a gun already pointed into the dark. Meth was in the rear. From above him, I smiled and double-fisted the thick handle of my knife. I held it out in front of me, silently waiting for the perfect moment.