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Ivy's eyes lowered, her teeth biting down on her lip. “I'm not a dog.”

“I didn't say you were. But if you can't follow simple instructions then you'll end up like my employee.”

“Youremployee.”Letting out a sarcastic laugh, she said, “Your employee was a fucking sick, twisted pervert. Maybe you should try a real line of work.”

“You really don't think before you talk, do you?” Watching her chest rise and fall, her nipples were hard, poking out and inviting me in to bite them. “You should learn to think before you speak.”

“I told you I'm not a dog.” Her lips went thin, drawing in air through the corner. “When I get loose—and I will get loose—I'm going to fucking make you wish you let me run outside.”

“Don't be difficult, we both know that's not true.” Gritting my teeth, I coiled my fingers tighter against her roots. Snapping her neck back, her eyes opened on reflex. “This is the only warning I'm giving you. If you don't listen, then it's out of my control. I'll make this easier for you to understand. You're going to listen to me, you're going to follow what I say, and you're going to do as you're told.” Cupping her chin between my thumb and forefinger, I stroked the curve of her jaw. “We can make this all go smooth and painless.”

Laughing, Ivy rolled her eyes. “My God you're as fucked up as youremployee.I understand that whoever is on their way makes you uncomfortable, but that doesn't mean shit to me. I'm a dead woman, aren't I?”

“If you haven't realized by now that I'm not here to kill you, you never will. But the man who's on his way . . .He will kill you,and he won't think twice about it. I told you not to make me regret saving you, so don't.”

Her face went soft, eyes falling to her stomach, then raising back to mine. “I still don't understand. Tell me why I'm here, tell me what you're doing.” She searched my face, trying to read my thoughts.

But there was nothing there for her to see. I was a wall of grit, coated in thick steel. I was a trained killer. She could look all she wanted, but Ivy wouldn't get shit from me.

“I just need you to listen. Can you do that?”

For the first time, she didn't resist, she just nodded. There was an understanding I felt we shared, and a feeling that drove me to keep her safe.

I could see it in her face, in her eyes. She finally realized I was trying to help her survive.

“Alright.”

“Alright,” I said back. Loosening my grip on her hair, I ran my fingers through it softly. The strands were silky, twisting around my fingers and slipping away.

Her face fell to her shoulder, a single tear streaking over her cheek. “I still think you're a fucking asshole.”

“You're right, I won't tell you you're not. But I'm the only asshole who can keep you breathing.” Turning towards the door, I held it in my palm. Staring at the floor, I spoke firmly. “For your sake, I hope your mouth doesn't get the best of you.”

My fingers pricked against the splintered wood, and I knew I couldn't leave this place looking like this. The door was cracked and split, the dresser was face down, the chair was broken into a million tiny shards.

“This place is a fucking mess, and I can't even let you up to clean it.”

“I'm not your house wife. Clean it yourself.” Ivy's head turned away, staring off into blank space.

Curling my lip, I grunted in frustration. The woman had a mouth on her, and I wanted to shove my cock down her throat to shut her up.

Heading downstairs, I went and found the hammer and broom. My father was pissed, I couldn't have him walking in that room and seeing it like that.

He already thought I was a fuck up and that would only cement his belief.

Freeing a door from downstairs, I carried it under my arm back up to the room. Kneeling down at the first hinge, I hammered the pin up to free it. Ivy watched me quietly from the bed, her face swollen and bruised.

I didn't say one word to her. I was afraid if I did and she snapped back I might do something stupid. I wanted to kiss her, I wanted to fuck her, I wanted to break her.

Putting the new door in its place, I swept up the wood bits on the floor and made a pile of the larger pieces.

“Why do you care about that? Does a broken chair and door really fucking matter? Look at what you're doing to me.” Shaking her wrists, Ivy's brows arched high. “Don't you think this is just as bad?”

Taking a long stride forward, I held out my arm. “This shit right here . . .” Shaking the dust pan, the wood jostled around inside. “This is the shit that is going to get you killed. No more bullshit, Ivy, or it will be your last day on earth.”

After removing the mess, I stood in the doorway. “I'm warning you, when he gets here, do not say one fucking word.” Slamming the door, I kept my hand pressed against the wood. She was difficult, and had a whole lot of fucking balls. Balls bigger than some of the guys I'd dealt with in the past.

But a mouth like that would get her killed, and if she didn't play the game the way I was telling her to then she'd be sleeping next to Tony.