Fraud

Gabriel

It had to be done. Nobody can blame me for what happened and I refuse to back down now.

Walking behind Ivy, I keep my eyes trained straight ahead, my fingers curling into my palms as we round the corner into the living to see all the guys sitting in wait.

Ta

Rather than staying near her, I cross the room to stand in my usual place, ice clinking into the glass before I pour another drink. I bring the rim to lips and swallow down the liquid bullshit I need to ingest in order to finish this game and get it over with.

My eyes close for a brief second, and all I can think is that she knew. She fucking knew what I was doing to her, and yet she tossed herself out like some damn sacrifice with the hope of what?

That I wouldn’t destroy her?

That I wouldn’t hide behind the mask when all was said and done?

What the fuck was she thinking?

Rage rolls through me with the rumble of thunder, pain striking down with an electric spark. But in the end, the truth is that I’m what ruined her, and what’s best for Ivy is to run.

It’s time one of us faces the grim reality that the war isn’t good for us, and if I have to be the one to fire the last shot, I’ll do what’s necessary to end the war

Regardless of what it does to me for protecting her.

Ta

The sooner this is over, the better.

Quickly glancing Ivy’s direction, I see silent tears rolling down her face that can’t matter. Luca watches her with concern, that blue stare sliding my way with accusation behind it.

It can’t matter.

I am who I’ve always been.

It was stupid of me to think I could change for anyone.

Thankfully, Ta

“You said you have something that can help us, Ivy. Or more importantly at this point, help you with what’s happened.”

Slapping a tear away, Ivy grits her teeth, a muscle jumping in her jaw before she nods and silently digs in her bag to pull out a stack of paperwork and an unsealed manila envelope.

“I found this,” she says weakly, but rather than explaining what this is, she hands it over to Ta

Confusion tugs his brows together at her behavior, his eyes cutting my way again.

I say nothing, just swallow down more of my drink and wait to see what she gave him.

Stepping back, he leans against a wall opposite where everybody sits and reads the label on the envelope.

“Where the hell did you get this? Did you see what it is?”

Another nod. “It’s exactly why I grabbed it out of my father’s safe in his office. As soon as I saw the name, I realized you’ll need it. And if it’s enough to keep my father from whatever it is he plans to do to me, even better.”

Ta

Intrigued by that, I watch him step across the room and hand the envelope to Luca. Her eyes lift to him, confusion obvious in her expression.

Slowly, she reaches up to take it from him, and when she looks at the label, raw pain widens her eyes as her hand flies up to cover her mouth.

Without saying a word, Luca stands up and walks from the room, tears leaking down her cheeks.

Ta

I immediately glance at Ivy, but her head is down, her blond hair a curtain shielding her face. It drives me fucking mad to see her that way, but I fight the urge to walk to her and rip her up from the couch so I can scream at her for what she’s done.

All I can see in my head are the damn bruises on her cheeks, the damage my role in her life has caused. Why the fuck would she even want me around when all I’ve done is abuse her?

Just like I was abused.

I took the spoiled princess and broke her just as efficiently as my father broke me.

The only difference is she’d chosen to let me do it.

What the fuck is wrong with her?

My nostrils flare on a heavy breath, and I slide my gaze to where Damon and Ezra sit separately. Between them, Sawyer, Mason and Jase are on edge, everybody noticing how the twins continue to glare at each other.

Fucking hell. Maybe the only way to fix all of this is to kick both Ivy and Emily out of our lives so we don’t self-destruct.

The bottom of my glass clicks softly against the wet bar, and I’m getting close to finishing off the bottle when Ta

I feel like Brad Pitt in the movie Se7en, waiting in that damn field for Morgan Freeman to tell me how I’m fucked. But I stay quiet because I’m sure they’ll come out with it eventually and tell us what was in the envelope.

Removing a flash drive from the envelope, Ta

Ivy shakes her head, but all I can see is her hair. My hand tightens around my glass, my jaw clenching at her silence, but I say nothing.

It’s what’s best for her.

All eyes are on Taylor as he pulls his computer from his bag to open on his lap, his eyes sca

After pressing a few buttons, Taylor clicks it into the side of his computer, the screen lighting up to reflect against his glasses.

“It’s encrypted,” he finally explains, his eyes rounding with excitement. “Holy shit, this is impressive.”

Tapping a few more buttons, Taylor’s brows crash down, another click pulling up something that concerns him. “All but one file, at least.”

“What’s the file?”

“A letter,” Taylor answers, his voice careful.

Okay. I can’t take it anymore.

“What’s in the fucking box?” I ask, mimicking the movie, a grin tugging at my lips when Ta

Flinging the envelope to me, he grabs the computer to look at the letter while I glance at the address label, shock rendering me silent for a few seconds.

Ta

The postmark is dated the day Luca’s father died, so how the fuck was it stolen?

“I’m going to go print this out and then bring the computer back so you can get to work decrypting the rest.”

Ta

Dark green eyes lift to mine as soon as I step foot into the room.

“First, you’re going to tell me what’s going on between you and Ivy, and when you get done doing that, I’ll tell you what this letter says.”