Fraud

Ivy

I can’t even look at Gabriel when he walks back into the room next to Ta

I told him everything. How I feel. What I’ve done. How long I’ve cared for him. And he ripped out my heart with a smile on his face.

Guess it was stupid of me to believe I could see past the mask. While I was protecting myself against one disguise, I fell for another I never expected.

Resisting the urge to rub my palm over my chest because my heart fucking hurts to be anywhere near him, I remain still, my long hair hanging down to cover my face, a curtain that separates me from the sight of Gabe when he walks to stand near the bar again.

Now that Gabriel is out of view, I dare to peek up to see Ta

That same gaze flicks to Gabriel for only a second before returning to me, his arms crossing over his chest as he leans back against a wall.

“Will your dad know you took all that stuff?”

I cringe at how soft his voice is. Ta

Whatever. It is what it is, and I won’t break down and cry as entertainment for the rest of them.

“Most likely. I left the safe door wide open as a message to him.”

The corner of Ta

Okay. Can somebody please tell me when I stepped into the Twilight Zone?

Ta

Glancing around, I’m looking for Rod Serling to pop up before the creepy music starts playing.

This is bad.

Seriously fucking bad.

His eyes finally move away from me and look around the room.

“This is what we have. Governor Callahan has a recording of Ivy torching the pavilion back in high school and has threatened to leak the tape and arrest her to protect his interests.”

Sawyer chuckles. “Well, damn. And we thought our fathers were bad. Sucks to be you, Ivy.”

Ta

“We have the phone records from JJB Tech that show the Governor had been in touch with the company during the period of time prior to Jerry sinking the company.”

My eyes fly up at that, and Ta

At least that question is finally answered. I’d wondered how they figured it out.

“So this is what we do. Taylor, you should already know your one job is to figure out how to decrypt the files on that flash drive. Mason, I want you to go into the office tomorrow and prepare documents that will counter any charges Governor Callahan can demand against Ivy for the fire. Jase and Sawyer, I want you to go speak with the state prosecutor that owes us a favor to ensure he’s on board to refuse filing charges against Ivy if the Governor demands it. And Ezra and Damon-“

He pauses, eyes both of them, and rethinks his game plan. “You two are out of commission on this one since your faces look like fucking shit.”

The twins both grin, then go back to glaring at each other.

“And Shane, you stay on finding Brinley and getting close to her.”

Ta

His eyes turn back to me. “Until we get everything in place, you need to stay somewhere safe. Daddy can’t arrest you if he can’t find you, so I suggest you stay at Gabe’s-“

“No,” I say interrupting him. “That’s not happening. I’ll stay at Emily’s house.”

“He’ll look for you there.” Ta

“I’m not going with him,” I snap. “I’ll stay on the fucking streets before going anywhere near him.”

“Stop being stupid,” Gabriel says from where he stands near the bar. “I think you’ve done enough idiotic things to land us where we are.”

Teeth grinding, I refuse to look at him.

My eyes lock on Ta

“She can stay with me.”

All our heads turn Ezra’s direction. He laughs and shrugs.

“What? She can’t go to Emily’s, and Gabe’s an asshole, so I can’t blame her for wanting to stay away from him. She might as well come to our house since nobody will get past us to get to her.”

He has a point. If it’s muscle that’s needed to protect me, I’d put money on the twins being the best choice.

Ta

Also a good point.

“Absolutely fucking not.”

Everybody turns to look at Gabe, even me this time because I have to admit I’m enjoying the rage simmering behind his eyes as he stares down Ezra.

His jaw tics once as his fingers blanch over the glass he’s holding like his life fucking depends on it.

Fuck him.

“I’ll stay with Ezra,” I a

Ta

Works for me, I think. I’m tired and pissed off, too.

Pushing up to my feet, I start walking in Ezra’s direction only to have a hand lock over my arm.

“Let me go.” I try to yank my arm from Gabriel’s fist, but he only scowls at me before dragging me back to the kitchen.

Once inside, he kicks the door shut and pins me against a wall with his palms planted on either side of my head. His furious green eyes stab daggers into mine.

My chin tilts in defiance because the last thing I’m going to do is let this asshole intimidate me.

“You’re not going with Ezra.”

Laughing at that, I cross my arms over my chest.

“I’m not sure how you plan to stop me, Gabriel, or why you even care. You made it perfectly fucking clear this is all one big game to you and that you’ve won. Well, congratu-fucking-lations. Should I have the trophy engraved in your name or have it made out to Fraud? Also, would you like strippers at the celebration, or are clowns and balloon animals sufficient?””

His lips pull into a smile, and I’m about five seconds from slapping it off.

“You’ll do what I tell you-“

“Oh, we’re here again? Do you expect me to behave? I hate to break this to you, but you don’t get to tell me you’ve been using me and then turn around and make demands of me. So give me one good reason why I shouldn’t go with Ezra? Ta

I can’t help it at this point. My voice comes out on a scream. “So what the fuck is the problem?”

He doesn’t flinch in response to me yelling in his face. Gabriel just stands there glaring down at me, the smile slipping only because it curves down into a sneer.

Thank God for Ezra. He walks in and prevents this from going further.