39. Ivy

39

IVY

Ramsey checks his phone and frowns. "Job."

"What?" I say, putting my tea down on the island. "Already?"

He gives me a look and then glances at his phone again. "Go upstairs. They're waiting for you."

"Huh?"

"Go."

Ramsey's tone leaves no room for fucking about. I haul my arse off the stool and head for the stairs, taking them two at a time, my nerves pinging at what I will find.

Shoving my bedroom door open, thankfully, it is empty.

"Miss Hammond."

Slowly, I turn to the voice to see Professor Swann's face on the laptop screen. I'm going to have to remember to close that thing when I'm done. "Professor," I say, sitting on the dresser stool. "To what do I owe the video call?"

"An assignment. You have been specifically requested."

"Who is the target?"

"Torin Ashford."

My blood runs a bit cooler. "Oh? What did he do?"

Swann smiles, but there is no humour in it, only evil. "Many things, Miss Hammond."

I'm a little bit surprised by the lack of forthcoming. Usually, I get details if I ask. I didn't really get a chance to ask with Walcott, but everyone knows he was an evil arsehole. I didn't need specifics. "Do I at least get a name for who ordered the hit?"

"Tate Blackwell."

My heart stops beating for a fraction of a second, making me go slightly lightheaded. "Oh?" I croak.

There is an almost glee in his features as he stares at me. "Indeed. We know of your association with Blackwell, Miss Hammond. You would do well to keep him at arm's length."

"Why?" I whisper, wondering what the fuck is going on here.

"No distractions."

So now they are trying to dictate my life for me?

I clench my jaw, anger flaring at Swann's presumptuous tone. "With all due respect, Professor, my personal life is none of The Syndicate's business. I've never let it interfere with a job before."

Swann's eyes narrow. "See that it doesn't start now. This assignment is time-sensitive and high-priority. You have forty-six hours to eliminate the target."

My mind races. Forty-six hours? That's an unusual time frame. Have they been hanging onto this for two hours, or more, even? And if so, why? "Understood," I say, keeping my voice steady. "Any specific requirements for the hit?"

"Clean and untraceable, as always. Beyond that, the method is up to you."

I nod. "Is there anything else I should know?"

Swann pauses, studying me through the screen. "Only this - failure is not an option, Miss Hammond. The consequences would be severe."

A chill runs down my spine at his words. I've never failed an assignment before, but I've heard whispers of what happens to those who do. Nothing good.

"I won't fail," I say firmly, meeting his gaze.

"See that you don't." With that, the screen goes black, and I slam it closed immediately.

I sit there for a long moment, my mind whirling. What the fuck is going on? Why would Tate put out a hit on Torin? And why through official Syndicate channels? None of this makes sense.

A soft knock on my door jolts me out of my thoughts. Ramsey pokes his head in, concern etched on his face. "Everything okay?"

I shake my head. "Not even close. I just got assigned to take out Torin. "

Ramsey's eyes widen. "Shit. Who ordered it?"

"Tate, apparently."

"What? Why would he?—"

"I don't know," I cut him off, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "None of this adds up. But I've got less than two days to figure it out and complete the hit."

Ramsey steps fully into the room, closing the door behind him. "Okay, let's think this through. What are your options?"

I start pacing, my mind racing. "I could try to talk to Tate, find out what's really going on. But if he did put out the hit, confronting him might put me in danger. Or I could go through with the hit, but..." I trail off, not wanting to admit how much the thought of that sickens me. Torin is a cruel arsehole who likes to play games, but I am so drawn to him, it's not even funny. I want him as Poison wants him. When his hands are on me, I feel alive, like I've come out from under the shelter I've hidden under since my parents died. It's the same with Tate, only stronger, more powerful. And Bram… I can't even go there yet. "Is this a power play?" I ask suddenly.

"It's something," Ramsey says. "I'm not entirely convinced of what though."

"Yeah, me neither."

"Talk to Tate. It's the only way you will get answers."

"You don't think it's a trap?"

He gives me a sour look. "Girl. I've seen the way that boy looks at you. He couldn't hurt you even if he were possessed by the worst evil. No, whatever this is, it isn't a trap."

"I hope you're right," I mutter, sitting on the bed. I can't decide anything until I've spoken to Tate. "I'm going over there," I say, putting my shoes on.

"You're in your pjs."

"Doesn't matter. I need to find out tonight what all of this is about."

"Be safe," he says.

"Always am." I give him a tight smile and brush past him, racing downstairs and out into the night.

I jog through the dark campus, my mind racing as fast as my feet. The cool night air bites at my exposed skin, reminding me that I'm still in my pjs. But I don't care. I need answers, and I need them now.

As I approach the townhouse where Torin, Tate, and Bram live, I slow down, suddenly unsure. What if this is a trap? What if Tate really did put out the hit, and I'm walking right into danger?

But Ramsey's words echo in my mind. Whatever this is, it can't be what it seems on the surface.

Taking a deep breath, I march up to the front door and knock firmly. After a moment, I hear footsteps approaching. The door swings open, revealing a surprised-looking Tate.

"Ivy? What are you doing here?" His eyes rake over my pyjama-clad form, concern creasing his brow .

"We need to talk," I say, pushing past him into the house. "Now."

Tate closes the door behind me, glancing nervously towards the living room. "Ivy, this isn't a good time?—"

"I don't care," I snap, whirling to face him. "Did you put out a hit on Torin?"

His eyes widen, and then he smirks. "Sort of. But it was Torin's idea. He wanted to bring Poison to him after the hit on his dad went south."

I blink and take that in.

"Hello, little killer," Torin's smooth voice says from the doorway that I assume leads to the living room. "Wanted to pick up where we left off?"

"I want to know why you have put me in this impossible situation!" I shriek, suddenly losing it and drawing Bram into the hallway. "Hey, Bram," I say with a half-wave. "You up to speed?"

He nods, his purple eyes boring into mine, searching my face, raking over my body as if he is seeing me for the first time.

"Good," I say, storming past Torin into the living room. The three guys follow me, and I round on them, my hands shaking with emotions that are bubbling up and flowing freely. "You know I have to go through with this or risk my fucking soul to The Syndicate! Do you want to die? Hmm? Because you will. I have no choice, you bastards!" Tears prick my eyes to my utter mortification. Tate comes to me instantly, wrapping his arms around me .

"Ivy, we're sorry. We didn't even think about the consequences for you."

"No, you didn't, because you are all selfish pricks! The mighty Kings of Thornfield who take what they want and fuck everyone else."

Silence rains down, and I think I've gone too far, but when I look over at Torin and Bram, I see regret in their eyes. It doesn't help.

"You need to call it off."

"We tried," Tate says desperately.

"They denied the request," Torin adds quietly.

I stare at them in disbelief, my stomach dropping. "They denied it? How is that even possible?"

Torin shakes his head, frustration evident on his face. "I don't know, but it was pretty plain in their message."

"Fuck, this is bad," I mutter, pulling away from Tate to pace the room. "This is really, really bad."

Bram speaks up, his voice unnervingly calm. "We found it odd, but now it's starting to look like a bigger picture. We need to figure out why they won't cancel it. There has to be a reason."

I stop pacing and turn to face them. "You're right. And we need to do it fast. You morons gave me less than two days to complete it."

Tate runs a hand through his hair, looking sheepish. "Fuck. Okay, let's think this through. Who would actually benefit from Torin's death?"

"Besides half the supernatural world?" I quip darkly .

Torin shoots me a glare but doesn't argue the point.

"It has to be someone with influence within The Syndicate," Bram muses. "Someone who could override a cancellation request."

A chill runs down my spine as a thought occurs to me. "Or someone who wants to test me. Swann said he knew of my association with you, Tate. Maybe he knows about…" I go queasy when a horrible thought enters my head.

"What?" Torin asks. "Knows about what?"

"My laptop. I was researching earlier and left it open. What if he hacked into it and saw us?"

Torin's face turns thunderous. "That peeping bastard! I'll fucking kill him!"

"So what are you saying?" Bram asks, still giving me that look like I'm a bug under a microscope.

"They want to see if I'll go through with it, even knowing who Torin is."

The room falls silent as the implications of that sink in.

"If that's the case, then this is a test for you," Tate says. "Fuck, Ivy. We're sorry. We had no idea it would get this far out of hand."

"I have to run," I mutter.

"No," Tate says, gripping my hands. "You said it earlier, you can't. They will never let you run."

"But I can't kill Torin!"

"I would. He's a total arsehole," Bram murmurs.

"Bram," Torin growls. "Not helping. Look, Ivy…" He tests out my name and apparently likes it rolling off his tongue. "Ivy. There has to be another option. Let us help you fix this, seeing as we created it."

"It's the least we can do. Maybe we fake his death?" Tate states, throwing that out there.

"How? They are watching everything, all the time!" I know this is true now. All the little things they know but couldn't possibly unless they were spying on me makes this statement true. It's chilling, and I wrap my arms around myself.

"They're watching everything?" Bram asks, his brow furrowing. "How do you know?"

I shake my head, trying to gather my scattered thoughts. "Little things. Comments Swann has made, information they shouldn't have. It's like they're always one step ahead." I don't know why I'm trusting these guys with this, especially Bram, but the floodgates have opened, and I'm being swept away in the current.

Torin's eyes narrow dangerously. "So they've been spying on you?"

"Seems like it," I mutter, sinking onto the couch. The weight of the situation is crushing down on me. "Which means faking Torin's death won't work. They'll know."

Tate sits beside me, taking my hand. "We'll figure this out, Ivy. I promise."

I look up at him, seeing the determination in his eyes. Despite everything, I want to believe him, but it all comes down to the fact that I'm in this mess because of them, because of their obsession with Poison.

I sink my head into my hands and let out the sobs that I can't contain any longer. Tate wraps his arm around me and rocks me slowly, trying to soothe me. Torin comes to kneel in front of me and strokes my knee. It makes me laugh through my tears, but they don't stop.

"Ivy," Bram says, sitting on my other side. "Poison Ivy, look at me."

I lift my gaze to meet his intense violet eyes. There's something in his expression I've never seen before - concern and passion that catches me off guard.

"We're not going to let anything happen to you," he says. "Whether you are Poison or Ivy, you are the same person we can't live without. No one hurts you."

"Except you," I sniff.

He smiles slowly. "Oh, don't think I've forgotten about that stunt you pulled in the forest. You will get your arse tanned for that, but no other fucker will ever lay his hands on you."

I smile sadly. "You can't protect me from The Syndicate. No one can."

He grasps my chin lightly. "You have no idea what we are capable of, princess." He leans forward, almost cautiously and brushes his lips over mine, before plunging his tongue into my mouth. I gasp as the kiss is deep and possessive. For a moment, I'm too stunned to react. Then my body takes over, responding to him with a hunger that surprises me.

Tate's arm tightens around me, and I feel Torin's hand slide up my thigh. The air in the room suddenly feels charged, electric.

Bram pulls back, his eyes dark with desire. "We protect what's ours," he growls.

"Yours?" I whisper, my head spinning.

"Ours," Torin confirms, his voice low and dangerous.

I look between the three of them, seeing the same possessive heat in each of their eyes. "Why?"

Tate presses a kiss to my temple. "Because you're our fate, Ivy. All of ours. That's why we've been so drawn to you, both as Ivy and as Poison."

I shake my head, trying to clear it. "This is insane. We can't... I can't..."

"Can't what?" Torin challenges, his hand sliding higher up my thigh, forcing my legs apart so he can cup my pussy. "Can't want all of us? Can't need us? You know how well we work with Poison. Let's see how well we fit with Ivy."