Page 63 of Recovering Ivy

“We can change that,” I growled. I wasn’t particularly comfortable discussing feelings and Jaxon wasn’t making it any easier. “Declan,” I prompted.

“He has nightmares. Still working through some shit. South America wasn’t pretty. He was under with a cartel that used human mules; he saw a lot of fucked-up shit and couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it.”

“Is he talking to you?”

“About as much as he’s talking to you.”

“Fuck.”

“That about sums it up. He just needs time to readjust.”

I thought about what Jaxon said and hoped he was right. I had been so wrapped up in my own shit I’d let Declan down and hadn’t noticed the signs. That needed to change.

My phone beeped, and Garrett’s name flashed across the display.

“Zane,” I answered the phone on speaker.

“The only connection I can find between Forester and Barbara is they belong to the same country club. Forester’s not listed on Illusions client roster. Though I have to say, if this list ever came out, there would be plenty of pissed off power players both in Baltimore and D.C.,” Garrett said.

“Goddamn. Anyone we know?”

“Oh, yeah. You’re gonna shit a brick when you see the list.”

“Mother….” I let my curse trail off. I wanted to ask Garrett to tell me now but neither of us were on a secure line and if the list was as bad as he’d made it sound, I wouldn’t risk it. “I’ll be in soon.”

I disconnected the call and looked away from Amy’s house to Jaxon.

“What are you thinking?” I inquired.

“Backpacks, tennis balls, and country clubs. The answer is right in front of us,” he answered, popping the lid off the container, taking out the green balls. “Why the fuck would he need a pallet of tennis balls?”

“Hell if I know. Hopefully, Amy gave Declan something. Here he comes now.”

22

Ivy

“Alright, pleasantries are over. Spill,” Violet demanded.

Olivia laughed and picked up the can of Dr. Pepper she’d been nursing for the last hour. I guess she was taking the one soda rule to heart.

“There’s nothing to tell,” I told them, embarrassed by the turn of topic.

Thankfully, neither had asked anything too personal. They’d both spent the time telling me about themselves and how they’d met their men. Both of their stories were straight out of a thriller movie. Leo had rescued Olivia after she’d been kidnapped and held prisoner by a man who was trying to take over a drug cartel. She was used as a pawn to blackmail her father - a man she never knew existed. I was amazed at what Zane and his team had done to save her. And, Leo, oh my God, the man was too much. He adored Olivia.

Violet had struggled through her story. What happened to her was layers deep and hard to keep track of. She’d worked for the CIA and as did her twin brother, Declan. A top-secret list of names was being used to basically hold her hostage and she was being blackmailed. My heart was shattered for her and everything she’d gone through. From her story I gathered Zane and the rest of the guys, including Jasmin, were not very nice to her. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be on the receiving end of Zane’s ire. There was also her kidnapping and how Eric had died.

What amazed me the most about these two women, above their bravery and resilience, was their trust and openness. I was a complete stranger to them, yet they’d both opened up like we’d been friends all of our lives. Was this the way girlfriends behaved? I’d never really had anyone I told my secrets to. All the people in my life were simply acquaintances. My past was too humiliating to talk about and my issues with abandonment and trust kept me from forming any real bonds. I didn’t know how to do this. Sitting around a table eating lunch with girlfriends gossiping was foreign to me.

“I don’t believe that for one second,” Olivia started. “How long has he been secretly keeping you tucked away in his love dungeon?”

“No, really. I met Zane in a bar, we umm… went home together. The next morning, I left before he woke up. Then he found out I was working for a company he was investigating and lost his mind. Now I’m here and working at Z Corps. But it’s only temporary.” My cheeks heated at my admission.

“Temporary.” Olivia giggled. “Right. You keep telling yourself that.”

“Sure it is. That’s why Jaxon is supposed to go to your old apartment and pack the rest of your stuff tonight,” Violet announced.

“Pack my stuff?”