Page 69

Ivy Monroe has been on my mind more than I’d like to admit. Every fucking day since she told me about the baby. I sent her those checks so she’d have everything she needed. So she wouldn’t have to struggle. Not on my watch. The million-dollar lump sum was to clear her path—whatever she needed, she’d have it. The other was the start of monthly support.
Neither check got cashed. She could’ve at least held onto them for when she needed the money—but nope. She rejected the damn things. She’s stubborn. And God help me, I still think about her. Her voice, her laugh, the way she kissed me like I was the only thing keeping her breathing.
I hate how much I miss her.
But I can’t get over the betrayal.
She released a story that nearly tanked everything I’ve built. Everything my grandfather built. I feel like she gutted me.
Still… I can’t stop wondering what we could’ve been.
“Just to be clear,” Liam says as we get in the car, “we’re showing up to your pregnant ex’s place uninvited because she didn’t cash your million-dollar check?”
“Yes, I want to make sure my kid has everything he or she needs,” I reply flatly, pulling out of the garage.
He snorts. “Sure, sure. Not about Ivy. All about the kid.”
I don’t answer. I don’t have to. I don’t believe it either.
***
The door opens after several hard knocks and a man answers. He’s average height, broad shoulders, tense as hell.
“Who the fuck are you?” I ask without thinking.
He blinks, stunned. “Excuse me?”
Liam elbows me hard in the ribs and jumps in smoothly. “Hi! My brother’s Carter. We’re here to see Ms. Ivy Monroe.”
Ivy appears behind him and freezes when she sees me. Her eyes widen, and without a word, she turns and walks away.
“Ivy,” I call out, but she doesn’t respond.
The guy steps in front of me, hand on the doorframe like a bouncer. “You need to leave.”
“Get the fuck out of my way,” I growl, ready to push past.
“You touch me, I’ll fucking kill you,” he says, stone cold.
Before I can react, a woman joins him at the door. “Mr. Volcor? What are you doing here?”
The man looks between us, eyes narrowing.
“Oh. I knew you looked familiar. Mr. Billionaire himself. And who’s this? Your hitman?”
Liam grins and salutes. “Guilty.”
The man’s lip curls. “I don’t know what you want with my sister, but she’s not changing that damn story. Lucky her firm ran it after she asked them not to, or your little secret would’ve stayed buried.”
My chest tightens. “She tried to pull the story?”
He scoffs. “Yeah, I’m sure you probably found out who she was and threatened her or got in her head. Said the facts weren’t all right. But it was the truth, man. The truth you tried to bury.”
Liam and I exchange a look. Ivy didn’t want to release the story?
“You think you can show up and scare us into silence? Fuck off. She’s not changing anything, and I’m not dropping that lawsuit. You ruined lives, Carter. My sister may be blind, but I’m not.”
I frown. “Wait. You filed the lawsuit?”