Chapter 10

With each step I take, I get more aggravated that this person whose only job it is to cook doesn't seem to be doing that. If the food was nearly done when Tia was inside talking to Ivy a few minutes ago, where the hell is it? I swear to God if I walk in there to find the French toast burning on the stove, I'm going to raise holy hell.

I push open the glass doors and walk into the kitchen. I'm greeted by the smell of burning food. Why the hell did Ryker think this person was a talented chef? The first damn thing she cooks for us she ruins. What the fuck?

When I get finished reaming her out, I'm calling him and demanding he call her back to whatever her usual job is for him. Maybe Tia's right about Ryker liking Ivy for more than her culinary talents. Nah, that's impossible. He's madly in love with Kaia, and they have little Maxim now. I've never seen him happier.

But whatever he thinks about this Ivy person is completely off the mark.

I hurry over to the stove and turn off the burner, but our meal is ruined. Fucking great. Ivy isn't anywhere in the kitchen and dining room area, of course. Why would a cook actually stay where the damn food is cooking? Seriously, this woman had one goddamned job.

Smoke fills the room, so I make sure the overhead hood is on to clear the place out. While that does its job, I begin looking for Ivy, who doesn't seem to be able to do hers.

I can't find her anywhere, which seems odd. In fact, all of this feels wrong. My gut tells me something is off, but I don't know what.

As I march around the first floor searching for her, a terrible thought crops up in my mind. Does Ryker know everything there is to know about this woman? Is it possible she's not who she says she is?

Then an idea comes to me that makes my blood run cold. Is she not a cook at all but someone sent by Victor to do the job he can't with Tia?

I run back outside to find her walking toward the glass doors. She looks at me with confusion since I'm sure she expected to see the food with me.

"What's going on? You look like you've just seen a ghost, Jaxon."

Taking her by the arm, I hurry her back inside. "Come with me."

"Why? What's wrong?"

The first step into the kitchen lets Tia know what's going on. "She burned the French toast? How hard is it to cook pieces of bread? Where is she? Maybe if she didn't bail on the meal it wouldn't be ruined."

I don't answer any of her questions because I need to find Ivy. Now.

When Tia tries to walk over to the stove, I refuse to let go of her. "No. You stay with me."

Fear fills her eyes, and she tightens her hold on my hand. "What's going on, Jaxon? Did something happen?"

"I don't know. Something is definitely wrong here. We need to find Ivy. I've checked all the rooms on this floor, so we'll go upstairs."

As we walk toward the stairs, she asks, "Did you check the powder room off the kitchen?"

I look at her and shake my head. "No. I don't think I've ever been in a powder room before."

"It's a bathroom. Just a tiny one. She might be in there sick or something. That would explain everything."

Looking around, I don't see a door that looks like it goes to a bathroom. "Where is it?"

Tia points toward what I thought was a closet at the end of the hallway. "Right there. Knock first, though. She might be dealing with something."

I have no idea what she's referring to, and I don't want to know at this moment. All I want is to find Ivy and send her back to Ryker.

After two raps on the door and no answer, I throw it open and hope I don't find her sitting on the toilet. The little bathroom is pitch black, so I feel around on the wall next to the doorframe and flick on the light.

There, on the floor, Ivy lies in a crumpled heap surrounded by blood. A slit across her throat tells me that's her blood she's soaking in.

Tia looks around me and screams. "Oh my God! Who did this?"

We don't have time to ponder that question. Someone got in here and killed Ivy, and they're going to be coming after us. I clamp my hand over Tia's mouth and shake my head.

"No more screaming," I whisper. "I need you to stay right next to me. Keep your eyes open."

I rush the two of us back to the bedroom to get my gun, and a few seconds later, at least I'm armed. The problem is I don't know who I'm looking for or even how many of them got in. I'm guessing a single assassin, but I can't be sure.

Before we leave to go search the second floor, Tia tugs on my hand and quietly asks, "Are we going to be okay?"

She stares up at me with tear-filled eyes, so I kiss her and whisper, "I told you I won't let anyone hurt you, Tia. Remember, I'm a bad man, so you're safe."

I get a tiny smile before she nods her head and takes a deep breath in. "Okay. What do we do?"

"We're going to search upstairs. My guess is they aren't still here, but we need to check."

I don't tell her what I'm also thinking. That the killer mistook Ivy for Tia. There's no reason why Victor would know there would be two women in this house. I brought Tia here under the cover of night, so no one would have seen her arrive. Anyone watching would think the woman they saw going to the store and doing the cooking was Tia.

The two of us slowly creep upstairs to where the other bedrooms are and check each one. There's no sign that anyone but Ivy has been up here. Clothes are strewn about her room, but all the other bedrooms are in pristine condition.

"Did someone rifle through her stuff?" Tia whispers as he head back downstairs.

I smile and try to make light of things to ease her worries. "Either that or she's a very messy person."

"She's dead, Jaxon. Maybe we should try to be nice."

"Sorry. Just trying to ease the tension."

We stop just before we get to the first floor so I can look around. I don't think they're still here. Good. But we need to get the hell out of this house now before they realize the mistake they made.

I guide Tia back to our bedroom and lock the door behind us. Pulling out my phone, I call Ryker to let him know what's happened.

"Enjoying your little vacation, Jaxon?" he jokes when he answers the call.

"Not really. Your fabulous cook is dead. She was making us French toast while we were outside enjoying the beautiful weather and someone came in and slit her throat before stuffing her in one of the little bathrooms. We're getting out of here, but you and the boys need to clean up and decide what you're doing with Ivy."

"Holy fuck! That bastard came after you two there? He doesn't even know that house exists. How did he know to find you there? Are you thinking he killed Ivy thinking she was Tia?" he asks.

I turn away from her so she can't hear what he's saying. "Yeah. That's why we need to leave because they're going to realize it sooner or later."

"Okay. I have another place I know he doesn't have a clue about. You two can go there."

Shaking my head, I smile at Tia as I say to Ryker, "No way. Trust me. Victor knows far more than we thought. Today is proof of that. I'm not taking Tia to any place attached to you or the family."

"Where are you going to go then?"

That I don't know. All I know is if it's associated with anyone in our family, Victor likely knows about it.

We've clearly underestimated that son of a bitch.

"Not sure. I'll figure it out and let you know."

"Okay. Stay safe and we'll handle things on our end."

I want to suggest now is the time for us to move on Victor, but I don't say that because in the end, that's Ryker's choice. Killing your own brother isn't a move anyone makes lightly. Even bad men.

Stuffing my phone back in my pocket, I look over at Tia standing a few feet away near the dresser. She looks terrified. It reminds me of how she looked that week we met.

I walk over and cradle her face, wishing she didn't look so frightened. "It's going to be okay. We're going to take a little trip somewhere."

"Where?"

Of course, she would ask that. Always the curious one.

"I don't know. It's going to be okay. Do you trust me?"

Tia nods and gives me a tiny smile. "I trust you, Jaxon. I'm just scared."

Leaning in, I kiss her and whisper, "It'll be okay. I promise."

Now to figure out where the hell we can go to be safe.

As we walk out into the hallway toward the garage, she asks, "Do you think Ryker is right? That they thought Ivy was me?"

Damnit, I had hoped she didn't hear that, but since Ryker was practically yelling into the fucking phone, it's no wonder it came through loud and clear. I nod, hating that I have to tell her I think he's right.

"Yeah. One thing you should know about the guys who work for my other uncle. They don't tend to be the brightest bulbs in the box."

Tia sighs and tightens her hold on my hand. "Thank God."

I listen carefully for any signs that someone else is in the house with us as we hurry toward the garage, but the place is silent. We reach the car without any problems, so now I just have to figure out where we're going once we get on the road.

Just before we back out of the garage, Tia looks over at me and asks, "Are we safe for now?"

With a glance at the rearview mirror, I nod and press my foot to the gas. I'm guessing whoever Victor sent is miles away from here by now thinking he got the job done easy-peasy and now it's time for a nice cold one.

She breathes a sigh of relief as I turn the car around and start driving toward the road, but out of the corner of my eye I see something racing across the front lawn. Before I can turn my head to see what it is, a gunshot shatters the driver side window, sending shards of glass everywhere.

As much as I want to take a shot at the fucker still running after the car, I need to get us the hell out of here. He wasn't much of a killer. The bastard completely missed me.

"Motherfucker! I swear to God when I get my hands on my uncle I'm going to be the one who kills him."

I speed down the road, my body full of adrenaline, and from next to me I hear Tia say, "Jaxon, it hurts."

Turning to ask what she means, I see the blood. That fuck didn't hit me but he got her in the arm. Her shirt is covered in red, and I can see by how pale she is that she's going into shock.

"I'm here, baby. Don't worry. I'll get you to a hospital, and we'll have you taken care of. Just stay calm, okay?"

My heart's in my throat at the thought that Tia might die, so I floor it, sending dirt and rocks flying up behind the car as I race toward the main road. I have no idea where the fuck the nearest hospital is, but I need to find one and fast.

Tia begins to cry and she sobs, "I'm scared, Jaxon. This hurts so much. I don't want to die."

I turn the car onto the road and jam my foot onto the gas again. Reaching over, I gently touch her cheek. "I won't let you die, honey. It's going to be okay."

She doesn't answer, and when I look over, her eyes are closed. "No. Stay awake! Stay awake for me. It's not far. I promise."

I see a car coming up fast behind me but don't pay it much attention since the woman I love is sitting next to me with a gunshot wound to her arm scared to death. Just as I'm about to bark out the question of where the nearest hospital is to the goddamned GPS, the car rams us from behind. I grip the steering wheel tightly to keep the car on the road, but when he hits us a second time, I can't stop it from careening into a field.

Tia cries out, and my head slams off the headrest, sending me hurtling forward toward the steering wheel. The car flips, and I can't stop it.

When we finally come to rest, Tia isn't making a noise and my head feels like someone has it in a vice. I need to get us the hell out of here, but when I try to start the car again, it won't turn over.

A woman's voice comes over the car's navigation system asking if we need assistance. "Yes! We just had an accident, and my girlfriend is hurt. We need an ambulance now!"

I gently touch Tia's cheek, but she doesn't respond. God, no. She can't be dead. I'm too afraid to check her pulse, though. I can't. She has to be okay.

Someone comes up to my side of the car, and I know before I even look it's no one who's going to help. I don't recognize the guy, but he looks like one of Victor's. Big, dumb, and pointing a gun in my face.

"Time to go, Jaxon. Your uncle's waiting."

"No! Not without Tia. She needs help."

The guy gives her a single disinterested glance and shrugs. "She's dead, man. Brush it off because I'm not going to listen to you whine about some dead bitch the whole ride back."

"Fuck you! I'm not leaving here without her."

He rolls his eyes and lifts his arm. "Yes, you are."

A second later, he slams the gun into the side of my head. Everything fades to black, but the last thing I see is Tia slumped over in the passenger seat.

I'll find you, baby. No matter where you are, I'll find you.

JAXON AND TIA'S STORY CONCLUDES IN BEFORE THE FALL!