AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
Sam
I held out my hand to Justin, Ivy’s oldest boy. I hadn’t seen him in a few years. Last time we’d talked, he had been starting FBI training. He was a big man, and I liked how he squeezed my hand a little harder. Point for him thinking I was coming after his mother. “How is she doing?”
Justin eyed me for a second. “She’s in a hurry to go somewhere. When I asked why she winced, she only mentioned a slight altercation. I think it’s bigger than she’s letting on and my father is behind whatever has her on edge and I haven’t had time to talk to Benji.”
I nodded. “He’s in deep with the mob, and your mom is stuck paying his debt.” I glanced toward the hallway. “You know where your father is?”
Justin sighed. “No. I’ve actually been on an undercover case. I didn’t know about anything until Benji called me the day I was going dark. He didn’t tell me it was this bad. Des is too ashamed to show his face around Mom. When we were young, we blew up at Mom and told her she needed to respect Dad. Both me and him said some hurtful things to Mom. He thinks Mom’s still mad at him or won't forgive him.”
Ivy marched across the room and stopped a foot away from me. “What are you doing here, Samuel?”
My lips twitched at her using my full name. She used it when we were kids only when she was extremely angry. “I told you I would be here to pick you up. Where are your packed bags?”
She narrowed her eyes. “And I told you I was just fine and didn’t need a babysitter.”
The red box in her hand caught my attention.
“Really?” I plucked the red velvet container out of her hand and pried the lid open. “And what do you plan to do with this?”
“Are you doing this to humiliate me?” she asked, her voice cracking. “I need money.”
I slipped the box into my pocket. “How much?”
Her eyes filled with tears, and I softened my tone. “How much do you need for them to go away?”
“The interest is killing me, and I still have a half million dollars to pay off.” She wiped the tears from her face. “These guys aren’t playing around.”
Justin pulled his mom into his arms, and Ivy winced when his hand touched her side. “We can figure this out, Mom. I have contacts.”
“Your mom had a year to figure this out. The second I caught the man punching your mom today, I’m no longer standing back. She is coming to my house. If you and Benji want to come, fine. But she’s under my protection now. Currently, I have a firm investigating the men from the clinic. As for the money, I’ll take care of the Wednesday drop, and that should be the last.”
Ivy pulled away from her son. “You can’t ignore me for thirty-six years and think you can march back into my life.”
“Actually, it’s three months shy of thirty-six years. I thought you would remember the last time we were together.”
She took two large steps, and I didn’t see it coming before her hand hit my face. “You don’t get to question my memory. I clearly remember the man I loved leaving without a word, then marrying my best friend. So you can’t sit here and act like you are the knight in shining armor when, in reality, you’re not much better than my ex.”
“Wait, you two know each other?” Justin asked.“I never understood why Mom grumbled when I wanted to hang out at the ranch.”
My cheek stung.
“Yes. Your mom and I were friends in elementary school.” That was all I gave Justin before I turned my attention back to Ivy. “Are you done acting like a two-year-old, or do I need to throw you over my shoulder?”
“This has nothing to do with you. If memory serves me right, you walked away. Not one word. You were the one to throw eleven years of friendship away for the town slut. Now you can’t get your dick wet anymore, so you're coming back to me. Nothing you say will change things from years ago. Now give me my ring back so I can drive to Dallas.”
I didn’t want to hash out our past in front of her kids.
“It’s not safe,” Sam said. “Now you can either walk your ass to the truck, or I’ll carry you. But Ivy, you aren’t staying here. Benji can stay with his grandma or come with us.”
Justin eyed me for a second. “I’ll take Benji with me, but if you hurt my mom, I’ll come for you.”
Part of me wanted to point out the fact his own father was the one who had caused this shit storm, but I wasn’t going there. I had little room to talk. I had issues with my own children.
“Fine with me.” I swooped down, grabbed Ivy, and tossed her over my shoulder. She screamed, and her hand came down on my ass. I mimicked the gesture.
“Stop struggling.” I turned to Justin. “Come out to the farm tomorrow night for dinner. There are a few people you might like to meet.”
