Page 11 of Moonlight & Matrimony (Oak Ridge #2)

Luca

? Everything has Changed - Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

M y phone rings on my nightstand, jolting me out of a not-so-friendly dream about my neighbor. I look over at the offending device, seeing Ivy’s name lighting up the screen. It’s still dark outside and I’m immediately on edge.

“Ivy? what’s wrong?” She doesn’t answer, but I can hear raised voices across the line.

“Fuck. I’m coming over.” I rush out of bed, pausing just long enough to throw on some sweatpants and a t-shirt.

Seconds later, I’m darting across the lawn barefoot; my only concern is getting to Ivy and Rylin as fast as possible.

Shouting carries out through the crack in the front door and I see red.

“You won’t fucking win this, Ivy. I’m taking your ass to court, and I will get custody of my kid.

” His face is less than an inch away from hers and the light has left her eyes.

Her gaze meets mine before she subtly gestures towards the hallway.

A sudden movement snags my attention as I spot Rylin’s head peeking out from a doorway.

Without a second of hesitation, I rush to her, pulling the little girl into my arms.

The entire scene brings me right back to my childhood and everything Paige had to endure before our parents finally divorced.

I was fortunate that my room was on a different floor and I didn’t have to bear witness to their brutality, but Paige had a front-row seat every time.

Rylin shouldn’t have to grow up the way Paige did, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to watch it happen to another person I care about.

I scan Rylin for any signs of distress as she sleepily rubs her eyes. “Come on, little one. Let’s tuck you back in, okay?” I do my best to settle her into her tiny bed, pulling the comforter up to her chin. Her beautiful blue eyes meet mine as I stroke a hand over her curls. “Sleep tight, Bug.”

I wait until she’s sound asleep, soft snores escaping her slightly parted lips, and take that as my queue to check on Ivy.

By the time I get back to the living area, the house is eerily silent, leaving an ominous feeling in the wake of what I walked in on.

I return to the entryway, bypassing the dark kitchen.

The interior door is wide open, with no sign of Ivy or Austin until I hear a muffled sob coming from somewhere to my left.

A brown and white fluffy cat snakes itself between my legs as I walk into the living room.

I don’t have time to fully register my surroundings in the darkness because right there on the floor near the fireplace is Ivy, curled in on herself.

Her shoulders are shaking from the force of her sobs and I don’t waste any time scooping her up into my arms before settling us back down on the dated floral sofa.

Her hand fists in my shirt as she buries her face in the crook of my neck.

“Shhh. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

“Luca.” Her voice is small, and I want to murder the piece of shit who made her cower.

Ivy is strong as hell. Seeing her like this — a broken shell of herself — stirs something within me I thought had long since died.

I hardened my heart years ago. Love isn’t in the cards for me; lord knows I’ve seen enough of what it can do to people.

I had one serious relationship a few years ago, and it shredded the last hope I had when it comes to love. Sooner or later, everyone leaves.

I’m not sure how long we stay there — my arms around her body and her face in my chest — but eventually the tears stop flowing and her breathing slows.

I stroke a hand over her long brown tresses, resisting the urge to bring my lips to her forehead.

“Ivy,” I murmur, still stroking her hair.

I hate to wake her, but I need to see her face to check if she has any physical bruises, and after that, I’ll get her to bed.

“You came,” she says, her words broken up by a quiet whimper.

“You needed me,” I respond, keeping my voice calm and soothing — the complete opposite of how I feel on the inside.

There’s a storm brewing beneath the surface.

The need to go after Austin and make sure he can never hurt them again is almost overwhelming, but Ivy needs me here.

She tilts her head back to meet my gaze.

The tears have dried, but her beautiful hazel irises are red-rimmed, and there are mascara tracks down her cheeks.

I release her head, my hand coming down to trace one of the lines on her face. “Tell me what happened, sweetheart.”

“I’m not sure. One minute I’m hearing pounding on the door, and the next he’s pushing through it, knocking me flat on my ass while he yells and screams horrible things at me.”

“Fuck, Ivy. Did he hit you? Are you okay?”

“He didn’t get a chance to hit me. The door knocked into me when he swung it open and I immediately grabbed my phone to call you.

I don’t know what he was planning, but whatever it was went out the window when you walked in.

Before he left, he warned me that this wouldn’t be the end of it and stormed out. ”

“You did the right thing. We need to call the police and file a report, then we can get you to bed.”

The police show up within minutes of the call.

With nothing to arrest him on, they take a report and suggest having cameras installed.

Anger surges through me at the lack of progress and an overwhelming sense of helplessness claws at my chest. I wish I could do more to help them.

I want to remind Ivy of the proposal and my offer to keep them safe, but I tamp down the urge for now.

“Come on. Let’s get you to bed.”

“I can get myself to bed. Thank you for coming.”

“I’m staying. I’ll sleep on the couch to make sure you’re okay tonight.

” She opens her mouth to argue, but I shut her up with a finger over her lips.

“It would make me feel better to be here. For you and Rylin. Let me.” Is it a shitty move to bring up her daughter as an excuse to stick close by?

Probably, but I don’t have it in me to care.

“Okay.” Her posture deflates as she leads me down the hallway. “Extra pillows and blankets are in that closet. I’m going to have a shower and head to bed. Are you ok to get yourself set up? Help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”

“I’m good. Go do whatever you need to do. I’ll be here if you need me.” She steps into my space and wraps her arms around my waist, her floral scent surrounding me as I lean into her touch.

“Thank you, Luca. For everything.”

“No more thanking me.” I know she wants to protest, but she simply nods before disappearing into the bathroom.

After setting up the sofa, I lay awake for hours, the worries of the day refusing to subside from my unsettled mind.

I’m finally drifting off to sleep when I hear a faint whimper.

It’s so quiet I think I’ve imagined it until a shrill cry pierces the air.

I rush down the hallway to Ivy’s room, where she’s panting and writhing in the sheets.

Her sweat-dampened skin glistens as moonlight streams in through the French doors.

I make it to the side of the bed in three strides.

Her legs are tangled up in the top sheet as her body thrashes.

Up close, I can see the tears soaking her cheeks as she mutters something in her sleep.

The sight before me cracks open my callous heart.

Ivy

“Ivy. Ivy… wake up.” I’m jolted awake and into the strong arms of my best friend’s brother. My entire body is shaking, wracked with uncontrollable sobs. I shiver under his touch as I replay the details of my nightmare.

“He took her. Austin. He took Rylin and he… he hurt her.”

“Shhhh… it was just a nightmare. You’re safe,” he murmurs, holding me steady against his chest as I tremble uncontrollably. “I’m here. I won’t let anything bad happen to either of you.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I can and I am. Marry me, Ivy. Let’s put an end to this for good.”

All of the fight has left my body, the weight of the last 24 hours bearing down on me. I can no longer deny I need help. I nod, unable to muster the words, my throat raw from the emotions of the day.

“Is Mommy okay?” a little voice calls from the doorway.

An overwhelming wave of guilt consumes me as I think back over everything my daughter has witnessed.

I thought leaving would put an end to his torment, but I was so very wrong.

I’ve done my best to shield her from the worst of it, but my failures are catching up with me if her earlier conversation with Luca is anything to go by.

“Come here, Bug,” Luca says, not letting go of me with his left arm as his right gestures for Rylin to join us on my bed.

Never in my life did I imagine a scenario where I would have my best friend’s brother wrapped around me, but he’s the comfort I need right now and I can’t bring myself to push him away.

Rylin jumps up into the bed, all but throwing herself at us as Luca wraps us up in a group hug, a soft smile playing at my lips.

“I’m okay, love. Do you want to stay here with me?

” My little girl nods and squeezes herself between Luca and me.

We shift to make extra room and he pulls the covers over both of us.

When he moves to get out of bed, I snag him by the wrist and pull him back. “Please don’t go.”