Her eyes bore into mine and I begin to feel the tentacles of doubt settle in. Is she referring to Charlotte’s death? How did Ivy take the fall if it was her fault?
I nod because I have nothing to say that would work in my favour and besides, I’m not looking to disrespect anyone.
“Thanks for grabbing lunch, Neil.” Vincent smiles.
“I checked in on your dad today,” Ember looks at me, “he’s asking for you.”
“Thank you.” I nod and start for the door.
“Parents aren’t perfect,” her voice hits my back, “we know that better than anyone, but if they are willing to make their lives better and turn themselves around. That’s something to admire.”
I don’t reply any further and step out of the boardroom, releasing the breath I was holding. I don’t want to talk about my dad right now and seeing him would only piss me off more. He found solace in alcohol while the rest of his family struggled without him and he was okay with that.
My phone pings and I pull it out of my pocket.
Mom: How’s my boy?
I want to tell her I know that her teenage daughter was dipping into her prescription, I want to scream at her for not paying more attention, and I want to bash my own head into a wall for all the same reasons.
Me: Everything is good, Ma.
I put my phone away and head to my small office, the rest of my day will be scouring resale websites for lemons worth a small fortune.
DEAN: Serrano hasn’t been in touch for two weeks.
No, no, no.
I haven’t heard from him in three weeks and things were starting to look up. I thought-or I at least hoped-he had moved on, but I was so fucking wrong.
Dean: Looks like maybe the Black Slaughter got to him.
What the fuck is a Black Slaughter? I Googled it and found nothing. I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about. I haven’t engaged him so far but I think it’s time that I do.
Me: I have nothing to do with any of this. I just want you to leave me alone.
He sends another video and I press play before I can even think about it. This is one of me spread wide, bent over his desk, and he’s finger fucking me. My pussy was wet with arousal betraying my internal torture at his actions. I can hear my muffled voice and this was one of the times I was gagged with my own panties.
Dean: Looks like you were enjoying our visit that day.
Me: What do you want from me?
He doesn’t answer me and the anxiety I’m feeling has my heart rattling my ribs apart. If he continues to feel threatened, he will release those videos, and I will have to explain everything to my family. I don’t think I could come back from that. They will never see me the same again.
If I change my number, he will contact me another way, and it worries me he’ll take the path of my parents. My anxiety ramps up at that notion and a strong wave of nausea hits me. I barely make it to the toilet before I’m throwing up my dinner. This is getting worse and I can’t see how the fuck I can do anything to stop it.
I can’t go see him and talking to my Uncle Trent about it will only cause more suspicion. I plant my ass on the floor in front of the toilet and let the tears I’ve been holding in saturate my cheeks. It’s fucking hopeless.
I hear the ping of my phone and begin to sob, I can’t deal with anymore from him. I curl up on the floor beside the toilet and cry myself to sleep.
“Ivy.” Saxon’s voice echoes around me. “Who the fuck sleeps in the bathroom?”
“Huh?” I open my eyes and see the porcelain of the toilet. “Fuck.”
“Are you sick? Like more than just your mental problems?” Asshole.
“I was feeling a bit nauseous earlier.” I admit to him.
“Your phone was ringing, how did you not hear it?”
Then it all rushes back, the reality I tried to bury with blissful sleep, and I groan back into the washroom mat.
“Can you get off the floor of the room you shit in?” Saxon pleads as he pulls on my arm. “You’re making me nauseous.”
I let him pull me up and I stumble into my bedroom, planting face first onto my bed.
“Get some sleep, you have school tomorrow, and brush your fucking teeth.” I hear the shudder in his voice as he leaves my room.
“Yes, Dad.” I mumble.
I grab my phone off the bed and stare at the screen, there are three missed calls from Neil and I quickly sit up. He never calls me. The last missed call was ten minutes ago and it’s after midnight. All of a sudden I’m worried and quickly call him back.
“Hey,” he croaks into the phone and I gasp at the sound of his sadness.
“What happened?” I get up and prepare myself to go to wherever the hell he is.
“I need to know if it was Charlotte that gave you that pill.”
When it rains it really fucking pours.
“I…”
“Ivy, I know I’ve been cruel and I know I don’t really deserve any truth from you, but you were the person that was involved in my sister’s death. I hated you. I still hate that it was you there with her that night, but I need to know if she was on drugs.” He’s pleading with me and I don’t know what to say because my loyalty will always be with Charlotte.
“Neil, I don’t know if she was on drugs that night. As for where I got the pills? Someone at school.” It’s a blatant lie but I’m hoping he
