‘She’ll agree with you there,’ Dax said. He would agree too, but as he’d said to Ivy, he couldn’t regret how the Starks had acted, because it brought Ivy into his life, it brought them together.
‘I would love to see her,’ Maurice said. ‘To see you together.’
Which was something Mauri had never witnessed. The request piqued Dax’s interest. Mauri had met Ivy, but she had played the old man, telling him exactly what he wanted to hear and making him believe that their brainwashing had worked on her.
‘Why?’
‘The woman got into your head, that’s something not even I can boast.’
‘You were in my head alright,’ Dax said, slugging the last of the whisky and sliding the glass onto the table. ‘You’ve been in my head since I was thirteen.’
‘Obviously not, or my words would have worked when I asked you to bring Ivy to us.’
‘Protecting her is my number one priority.’
‘As it should be, you’re her husband, and a formidable force. She’s lucky that she has you in her corner.’
‘I’m not bringing her here,’ Dax said. ‘Not until I see Trystan for myself. If I can’t trust that bastard to keep his hands off—‘
‘You can trust him,’ Mauri said. ‘He’s been in his suite for weeks. We’ve kept him entertained.’
Which meant Mauri had allowed the booze and the hookers to come here. Trystan would only put up with being incarcerated at the mansion if the party came to him on a regular basis.
‘And Bruno?’ Dax asked though the name stung him.
‘What about him? He’s around.’
‘He doesn’t want to take over the operation?’
‘He and I have… we’ve struggled to see eye-to-eye about this whole affair. Things between us are strained at the moment.’
‘What affair?’ Dax asked. ‘Ivy and me or what you’re suggesting happens to the company?’
‘Both. Mostly he blames me for confessing the truth to you about your lineage.’
‘Lineage,’ he scoffed. ‘I don’t give a fuck what you say, that man is not my father.’
‘Not in any traditional sense, no, I’d concur with that. But biologically, there is no refuting—‘
‘I can refute it,’ Dax said.
He hadn’t told Ivy about what Maurice had blurted out during their midnight meeting because he didn’t want to face the idea that it could be true. One of the country’s most notorious gangsters couldn’t be his father. Bruno’s legend was filled with dark spots of torture and murder.
Bruno had a sadistic urge that Ivy had met during her last experience with him. Bruno had beaten her, caged her, fondled her at will, and turned her into his personal slave. All the while Dax had steered clear, turning a blind eye to the torment she went through only to enjoy her in the nights when she came to him for sanctuary.
Maybe that was how she’d gotten into his heart. He’d never given it much thought, how she wormed her way into his affections, but he did now. Seeing her being put through humiliating experiences, and showing up each day with fresh bruises, he was amazed that she didn’t complain; she never simpered or withdrew.
How she held on to her strength was a mystery to him, but it was the respect he had for that strength that wouldn’t allow him to lose her. She was a woman to be admired and revered, he was still in awe of her even today.
‘We can do blood tests if—‘
‘Why would I want proof of it?’ Dax asked, springing out of his seat and storming toward the fireplace. ‘I don’t want to think that my biological father has…’ He couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
‘Felt up your wife?’ Mauri asked. Dax whipped around, bearing his teeth at the idea of any man touching Ivy. ‘I know what happened at the beach house. No one knew at that stage what was happening between you and Ivy. Tell me, when did you know that you loved her?’
‘You think I’m going to tell you?’
That particular realisation hadn’t smacked him in the face until he lost her. He had known that something was going on, that something inside of him was changing. But love was a foreign concept, and Dax hadn’t recognised it until she was removed from him. Ivy had known – that woman was too smart for her own good sometimes.
‘I’m interested,’ Mauri said. ‘I always considered you to be my son and now that you’re happily settled—‘
‘You want to come in and fuck it all up for me?’
‘No. I want to offer you more. As I understand it you’ve been working security at a strip club,’ Mauri smirked and actually laughed. ‘That’s a bit beneath you, don’t you think? You’re practically a weapon in your own right. Your skills are lethal in the ring and outside it when you are enforcing. If there’s one thing you know how to do it’s how to take a man out. How do you subdue yourself when you throw out a grabby customer?’
‘I know how to restrain myself,’ he growled, scowling at Mauri’s amusement.
‘Did Ivy work there? I can’t imagine how you would have reacted if a patron tried to take liberties with—‘
‘I would never let her work in a place like that,’ he said.
‘You shouldn’t have been working there either. Neither of you will have to worry about descending into those kind of positions if you consider my offer. All I am suggesting at the moment is that you consider it.’
‘Does Brad know you’re making this offer? Does Bruno?’
‘Brad is happy for you to come back and join us.’
‘I’m not coming back just because you can’t control your operation.’
‘You can control it, and we can offer you more. I am offering you a position here, a position of authority. You and Ivy can live right here at the mansion and you can keep your place in the family.’
‘Until you’re gone and then—‘
‘I think you can hold your own,’ Mauri said. ‘Once you’re back, and they know there’s nothing that they can do about it, you will all accept each other. Then when I am gone, you’ll already have a foothold.’
‘So I’m supposed to be grateful? No.’ Dax shook his head. ‘I’m not considering anything until I know you’ve laid it out to everyone. I’m not coming back to start a war with anyone. Truth is, I don’t care enough to fight for the sanctity of your enterprise.’
‘I think you do,’ Mauri smiled. ‘Why else would you be here?’
‘I came because Brad said you had something to say.’
Mauri rose to his feet and came to stand in front of Dax. ‘Here’s what I have to say: I want you here, I want you running things, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.’
‘Whatever it takes?’
‘What’s your biggest problem? What’s the biggest barrier to you coming home and taking your place at my side where you belong? Is it Ivy’s objections? Or are you worried about Brad, Trystan, and Bruno?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘When you do, tell me, and I’ll take care of that problem for you.’
Mauri began to shrink back, but Dax grabbed his shoulder, which was something he’d never done in the past. Both of them looked at the point of contact, stunned that it had even happened, but Dax didn’t release his hold. Reminding himself that he was no longer a lackey, and that he was stronger and faster than Mauri, he had nothing to fear here.
‘Don’t touch a hair on my wife’s head.’
‘There are other ways to take care of problems,’ Mauri said. ‘I want to show you my commitment to this proposal. If talking about it with the others will alleviate your concerns then I’ll take care of it. I have already set in motion a plan to persuade you.’
‘What plan?’
‘When it comes together, I will clue you in. For now, I’d like it to remain a surprise.’
Mauri backed away and went to drink the rest of his Scotch. ‘It’s not going to happen,’ Dax said though he lacked the conviction he’d held when he first came in.
‘I want you to take my proposal back to Ivy, she will hav
e to approve, I understand that. You must remind her of what luxury we can provide,’ Mauri said, holding his hands up to the mansion they were in. ‘She can have anything that she wants; money will never be a barrier for her again. That kind of lure can be powerful for a woman of her background.’
‘What do you know about her background?’
Mauri didn’t respond to the question. ‘Next Saturday I am holding a party downstairs. I want you and Ivy to be my guests here. You will be safe at a party, you’ve attended them here before. Until then, consider what I’ve said, talk it over, and we’ll find a minute during the party to talk alone.’ Mauri went to the door he’d emerged from and turned back to smile at Dax. ‘Thank you for coming, son. You look strong and healthy. Ivy is good for you, I can tell. Send her my regards.’
He went back into the side bedroom and the double doors Dax had entered through opened behind him to reveal Serg. Lost in thoughts of what Mauri had said, Dax went to Serg and passed him to find the exit as quickly as he could. He’d already been away from Ivy for too long, he could tell because the pull of Maurice Stark was strong, and that was a riptide he wasn’t immune to.
Chapter Four
‘A party?’ Ivy asked.
Dax had just finished recounting the story of his meeting with Mauri at the mansion. The night was locked outside, and they lay naked together in the pure white sheets of his bed. When he’d returned to the apartment, Ivy was already in bed. As soon as he joined her, she’d sensed his frustration, and so she let him vent some of that energy on her body.
After some physical exertion he was calmer, so she put him on his side of the bed and lay on her own side, putting some space between them to allow words to take the place of actions. Facing him, she had stayed quiet while he relayed the story of his encounter with Mauri.
‘It’s next Saturday,’ he said. Today was Friday, so at least they had a week to think about the invitation. ‘He wants us both there.’
‘You told him what he could do with his party, right? You told him that we weren’t interested in anything he had to offer… didn’t you?’ His silence was conspicuous, and her suspicions were only heightened when Dax rolled to his back and scrubbed his hands over his face.
‘I’m going next door,’ he said and kicked the sheet away from his body.
Snatching his arm, Ivy shunted closer. Using all of her strength, she subdued him and prevented his departure from the bed. If he went next door into the second bedroom, then she probably wouldn’t see him for a couple of hours. That was where his punching bag and weight bench were. He liked to use the equipment to alleviate his internal conflicts.
‘Are you considering his offer?’ His lack of a response was all the response she needed. ‘Oh my God, Dax.’ Sitting up in the centre of the bed, she crossed her legs and rotated her body to face his. ‘You want to do it? You want to move back here, to California? You want to work with Brad? Sorry, I meant under him?’
‘I don’t know,’ he said, leaping from the mattress. ‘I know I’m not going to say no without considering it. We owe Mauri—‘
‘What?’ she asked, unable to prevent a frown from seizing her expression. ‘What do we owe him? Please, tell me, what is it you think you owe the man who asked you to give up the only woman you’ve ever loved for the sake of his playboy son? What do you think you owe him?’
‘Don’t you get it?’ he asked, coming back to stand by the bed. ‘This could be an amazing chance for us.’ Crouching down, he rested his chest on the mattress and leaned over to snatch both of her hands. ‘We could run things, I could do things my way and—‘
‘Drugs,’ she said. ‘You want to deal drugs? You want to be responsible on an industrial scale for the lives and deaths of users across the continent?’
‘People are going to use drugs whether we provide them or someone else does, recreational drugs aren’t going anywhere. Why should we beg off and let someone else take this opportunity? We could be rich and—‘
‘Money?’ she asked, tugging her hands out of his. ‘If I wanted a mansion and a fancy car I’d send you into the ring every night. I don’t do that because I love you too much to see you hurt.’
‘I wouldn’t have to be hurt doing this. I can stay in the background, send the other guys out to do the dangerous jobs.’
‘There will still be plenty of guys who want to poach your territory, your employees, and your customers. There’s a reason that most drug kingpins don’t see forty! I don’t want to see you getting yourself in deep and then being the fall guy when Brad can’t handle what he’s taken on. You said yourself that Brad takes orders well, but he’s not street smart, he doesn’t really know what he’s doing.’
‘Which is why Mauri wants me in on the deal.’
‘Which might work out great while Mauri is alive and looking out for you. How long will it last when Brad decides that he doesn’t need you anymore? I don’t trust any of them.’
‘I know,’ he said. Moving away from the bed, he went into the bathroom, leaving her alone in their sheets.
‘If you want to talk to Mauri again, we can go to the party,’ she called toward the bathroom. ‘But there’s no way I want to move into that mansion! I would never be able to relax!’
A minute or so later, he came back out and propped himself on the doorframe. ‘I want to see Trystan.’
‘At the party? Or before that?’
‘Either,’ he said. ‘But it can wait for now.’
‘He’s at the mansion?’
‘Sounds like Mauri’s had him locked up there for a while. I suppose that when he found out Mauri was sick he had an excuse to go even more off the rails.’
‘Do you think he’s a threat?’ she asked.
‘To you?’ He shook his head. ‘I’d like to see him try and get near you now. Mauri knows that I’d walk if you were threatened.’
‘That doesn’t make me feel better,’ she said, tangling her fingers in the bedsheet.
‘You’ve fought him off once, you could do it again if you had to.’
‘I guess,’ she said, collapsing to her back. ‘I know that he’s responsible for us getting together, for us meeting, but…’
‘But?’ he said. Swooping onto the bed with barely a sound, he ambushed her, covering her body with his and holding her in this submissive position.
‘I’d really like to stick a fork in that guy’s eye,’ she said, drawing her fingertip over the ivy tattooed on his arm.
‘I’ll remember that when I get him alone,’ he said and kissed her. Just when she was pliable enough to part her legs and arch up, he took his lips away. ‘I’m going next door for a while.’
‘He got you thinking, didn’t he?’ she said, sliding a hand to his hair. ‘Or is it being back here, in your old life, that’s got you thinking? Do you miss it?’
‘I miss kicking the shit out of scumbags,’ he said.
‘Plenty of them around I guess,’ she said. ‘If you want to go back to enforcing, I can’t stop you. But being here, around the Starks again, it feels wrong, Dax. They don’t want us to be together.’
‘They don’t care about us anymore,’ Dax said. ‘At least Mauri doesn’t.’
‘Is that why you want to see Trystan? You want to be sure that we can be safe here? To check that he doesn’t have some other agenda that could damage us.’
‘Trystan isn’t a planner, he comes up with ideas and expects everyone else to figure out how to implement them,’ Dax said. ‘He doesn’t think through his actions either, he just does whatever the hell he wants. I know ‘cause I used to be the one picking up the pieces after he blew them all to shit.’
Dax got a far off look in his eye that made her think that there was something else on his mind, which was nothing to do with them or Trystan and their past. Something else was in his thoughts, and it was something that he wasn’t sharing with her. She’d give him some time, but if he didn’t spit it out in the next day or two, she would wheedle it out of him.
‘Go next door and hit your bag,’ she said, dropping her arms from his and giving him a shove. ‘I’ll be right here if you need another way to process.’
Being physical, between the sheets, in the gym, or in the ring, was Dax’s way of figuring the world out. He liked to have a goal and when he reached it, he felt that he had achieved something.
Tonight she wasn’t enough of a challenge for him, so she’d let him go and work up a sweat next door. When he came back, he would maybe have figured out how he felt about what he was going to do next, thus giving him another goal to achieve.
She had her own ideas of what she wanted to spend the next few days doing, but those would keep for tonight. Her mess wasn’t connected to Dax, she just had a few doors to close before she could embrace whatever they were going to face with the Starks.
Having had the night to think about it, Ivy was stuck on one thing: taking over the empire. That’s what it came down to. Maurice wanted Dax to take over when he passed away. Brad would be the sophisticated front while Dax headed up the dirty work division.
Last night, her first instinct had been to tell Dax no and demand that they go home, but they’d argued enough in the last few days. When he did eventually come back to bed after beating up his punching bag, he hadn’t woken her, and by the time she was out of her morning shower he’d already left to go for a run. He’d come back for a shower, and she’d made breakfast, but conversation had been stunted. Despite all of his working out, she could tell that he was still torn about their future.
Now Dax was out again, this time to pick up lunch. Takeout was his way of contributing to meals, he could cook steak and mix a mouth-watering salsa, but that was as far as his talents went when it came to cookery.
Standing in the bedroom closet she scrutinised the space, which was filled with Dax’s clothes and possessions. The whole apartment was full of his things while all she had were the items she’d thrown together back east.
Dax had made something of himself, he had money, and a way to support himself. He could be cast out, penniless, and he would still be able to earn a living through his fighting, and now he’d been offered a chance at owning part of a multi-million dollar criminal empire.
Fighting Back (Harrow Book 2) Page 4
