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"They take donations for his recovery He will be wheelchair bound for the rest of his life" I sucked in a breath feeling as though lass, the empty remains ofand desperate

"Ivy, we’re not still here are we?" Nix suddenly de abruptly fro Hell, Sa yourself for his poor decisions And when I think about what could have happened to you, how he could have hurt you…" His expression broke for just the briefest second and I saw actual emotion behind his perfect façade of control My breath stuttered in ht he would actually care what happened to et over it Grow up, Ivy Be an adult for once and put the blas No rowl and then stalked into the kitchen where he threw his still half-full glass into the sink The glass shattered against the stainless steel, the sound of splintered shrapnel breaking up the shock he left behind

My mother simply stared at me, unsure what to do with Nix’s show of emotion or ravel and rocks when he returned and leaned against the wall "The boy that was here tonight, he would be a good choice for you next He will give you a bit of a challenge You need that How long have you been with the other one, the one you’re with now?"

"Not even teeks," I mumbled

"Give it two more," Nix coirlfriend," I pleaded desperately "They are in love I couldn’t… I’m friends with her too"

His eyes darkened with anger then until they were black orbs of fury, sucking the light of the room into their depths "Don’t be ridiculous," he hissed "This isn’t a discussion You know that I have business in Greece for the next teeks When I return, roup of legacies graduates You have teeks to find a way to deal with all of this I don’t want to see any traces of this when I return Am I understood?"

I could only look up at hi, with every molecule and atom I washis stare at the saelse in this world was etched "I’ll be better, Nix"

"Ava, don’t disappoint asped at his words "I’ain Do your job as her mother for once in your life"

She nodded pathetically, barely able to rowled and then pushed off the wall

Myafter the door slamet up toin both of our lives We both bent to his will, followed his commands

The difference between us couldn’t betio There was no other existence for her

And for me? This was the only existence I refused to live I would play my part But Nix would not rule over me forever

I decided to call Smith in that s could always get worse than they were now- but not by much And that was a risk I had to take, because if I waited er I wouldn’t be able to leave I wouldn’t be able to piece back together all of the broken pieces that ceased to host of host, just like my mother was

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Ivy," Ryder called before I could even step foot inside the building

Damn it I hoped my whole plan to arrive late and leave early, avoid even eye contact with hinore all people completely would work out in , verbal guns blazing and all

"What?" I grunted I knew this was co Obviously he would have questions But it didn’t make me any more excited to deal with the against one of front doors apparently waiting to attackhis faded blue long sleeved t-shirt tight across his biceps, his jeans hung loose and torn at the knees and thighs His black combat boots were untied and still daood lord, his untamable hair His wild, bed-head hair stood up haphazardly in every direction The dark brown locks going straight up only to fall over at the tips and tell the story of a hand being dragged through they rushed through me at the sound of my name on his lips I paused in the doorithout consciously deciding to stop He had that kind of control overso much more to me than I should have ever let him And yet my eyes were locked to his even while I screas to ed one shoulder and waited I was hoping if I could pull of indifference uy?" his deep voice deue wet his bottom lip and his jaw clench with some kind of raw euy?" I whispered, forcing my eyes back to his

"Stop it, Red Just stop" I winced against his harsh tone and his gray eyes immediately softened

"I can’t," I shook lanced down the hallway nervously

"You told ht You You’re the one who told me ere friends Let me be your friend," he pleaded in the softest voice I had heard him use

I tilted my head so that I could inspect my Tory Burch flats and the hot pink skinny jeans that were basically painted onRyder at a distance did nota relationship with him even if it was of the platonic variety And it certainly didn’thim in all the twisted intricacies of my life

"Ivy," he breathed He took a step forward and very gently slipped his fingers into the hand hanging li that will get you into trouble But I need to know that you’re alright"

The warhevery inch of me I felt every sers, his joints that bent to curve around my hand, the heel of his hand as it pressed intowas so profound, so all consuled and my toes curled I closed my eyes and prayed this was all that Ryder was, just a rush of feeling, of sensation, that the only pull I felt to hiood at lying to myself

"Are you in trouble?" he whispered

"No," I felt myself answer "He’s just a friend of my family He… he’s overprotective of me That’s all"

I aze I ed him to drop this

"I just want-" he started, but didn’t get to finish

"Oh good you found her!" Phoenix called fro toward us from the sauilty I pulled away fro easier with the small distance "So have you asked her yet?"

Ryder shook his head, his expression pulled into e wooden hall pass swinging in his hand, but his eyes stayed hard granite, pinched in the corners and he raked his hand through his already tousled hair as if he were trying to pull it fro the way my voice cracked and treht, Ives," Phoenix announced somberly and I felt all the breath leave my chest in a whoosh of panic

"What do you mean?"

"About the you know," Phoenix’s brow turned down to concern before he led animatedly in the air "Exie said you could seriously play"

"Oh, the piano? U returned to norerous