Page 171 of Vexatious Queen

“Ivy, Christov is the enemy here,” Chantry added. “No matter what, if he called the police because Zigzag and Sabastian were fighting over you…that is just…just…stupid. Who does that?”

“Chantry is right, you can’t blame yourself for this,” I said, squeezing her hand.

“What am I going to do? I want to help him, but if I do, it’s only going to cause a larger fight.”

She crossed her arms on the table and dropped her forehead down. Ivy’s body shook as a fresh wave of tears started to fall.

“I hate this so much. It’s true to be careful what you wish for. I wanted two guys to like me and look what’s happened…worst wish ever,” she mumbled.

Chantry and I looked at one another, and neither of us seemed to know what to say, so we just sat quietly and let Ivy go through her emotions. If Christov did this because he found out that Zigzag was helping us…I hoped not, I really did.

Even knowing all the things Zigzag had done to the guys and me for Christov, I would still feel like shit. His whole life, people had used and manipulated him.

No matter what, that didn’t sit right with me.

FEBRUARY 28 – SATURDAY 9:50 PM

Nash

Profits were through the roof.

The live with Dennison had worked wonders. We hadn’t been able to keep up with our new popularity. Nora had been interviewing for every position, from extra servers and bartenders to an additional manager. The issue…Volatile doubled as my prison and drug distribution hub. We only had a handful of prospects vetted by Liam, and most either didn’t want or need a job like this.

I glanced at the time. Ellis would be here soon. I wasn’t sure bringing him into my lair was a good idea, but meeting in the middle of nowhere again seemed just as risky. Nora was run off her feet, but damn, she was good. She twirled a bottle of vodka on her arm while she lit six Fireball whisky shots on fire. The guys waiting were as mesmerized by the drinks as the woman serving them.

Ellis walked in just as I finished the inventory. Nora had asked me to help her get it done, and I was nothing if not accommodating. Morrison stopped Ellis to be searched for weapons and listening devices. I could see Ellis chirping him, but Morrison didn’t even blink. He was an excellent head of security, and despite the environment, had stayed sober. It probably helped that he got paid four times what his sheriff salary had been, was twice as appreciated, and had a quarter of the daily pressure.

I smirked as Ellis walked toward me, and ironically, my coach bus filled with the latest shipment of drugs drove past as it headed out of town for Seattle. It always did the same route and started at the port that Louis let me use in Florida. The bus then stopped in California and Portland before heading to Seattle. Seamless, beautiful and efficient.

My eyes traveled up and down his navy suit and long coat.

“Could you look any more like a Fed,” I asked as he reached me.

“I could wave my badge and gun around if you want.”

“Hard pass. Follow me,” I yelled over the song.

We walked to the office, and I closed the door after Ellis stepped inside. This room had been soundproofed, but you could still feel the vibrations in the floor.

“I’m not surprised you reached out, Nash,” Ellis said as I placed my tablet on the desk and sat down.

I flipped the hidden switch that locked the door and blocked the room from any recording devices. Even if Morrison had missed something, all Ellis would record was static.

The black leather chair creaked as I moved. I’d designed the office to match the ultra-modern look of the club. White walls, black furniture, and red accents. There was a small version of the neon Volatile sign glowing on the wall, and Nora had found blood-red filing cabinets.

“Oh yeah, and why is that?”

Ellis sat across from me, the smug look on his face firmly in place.

“I assume this has to do with the hacker we picked up. He was doing shady shit for you, and you want him freed, but that won’t happen.”

I smirked. “Yes, I contacted you about Zigzag, but not because he was doing shady shit for me. He is a friend who got the raw end of a deal, and I’m just trying to help him out,” I said.

“Please spare me. You expect me to believe that?”

With a sigh, I leaned forward and placed my hands on the desk.

“Ellis, I really don’t care what you believe. I thought we’d established this during our last chat. I also thought that you’d learned that no matter what, I hold up my end of a bargain and can be trusted.”