Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(78)

Steve laughs darkly. “Please, Alex Lewis has nothing on me. He’s nothing but a loser.” Then Steve looks down at me with disdain. “It’s funny how when you were with me, you won the award, and yet now that you’re not, you lost. Might be the company you keep, princess. Losers stick together.”

“I’d rather be with a loser than a limp dicked asshole,” I spit back.

The words tumble out of my mouth before I remember that they shouldn’t have. The high chin, the flaring nostrils, and the furious look in Steve’s eyes remind me of the monster I used to fear.

I’m screwed.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when his hand wraps around my neck, his fingers crushing my airway before he pushes me back hard, forcing my head to hit the stone building with a thud. My mind goes fuzzy as I try to shake off the fog, but it’s like a switch inside my brain flicks, and I’m taken back to those times during our relationship when I would anger him by simply breathing. All the hard work I’ve been doing to try to improve myself, to realize I’m not worthless, has disappeared in an instant, and I’ve returned to the shell of a girl I once was.

“You’re a fucking whore, Ivy. Spreading your legs to my enemy.” His voice hisses with hate just like a snake. “I know why you’re doing it now … it’s to hurt me.” His voice softens a little, but the hate remains. “To get revenge for that girl on New Year’s Eve. You left me, Ivy! You embarrassed me! In front of everyone. You made me do it!” His hand around my neck tightens a little more.

“You know your friend … well, that bitch she came on to me. She caught me at a vulnerable time.”

He reaches out and touches my cheek. I flinch at his touch which angers him even more, and his eyes narrow on mine. “I was devastated, beside myself when you left me. I don’t understand why you don’t get that, Ivy. You’re supposed to be a smart woman. I tried to change, tried to love you, and that was never enough for you, was it?”

“Does this look like you have changed,” I spit the words out, trying to make him see that he hasn’t changed at all. He’s still the same arrogant, selfish asshole he always has been.

“That’s because you drive me crazy. You pushed me again, Ivy. You taunted me with your words. I will not tolerate my girl embarrassing me again,” he hisses.

“I’m. Not. Your. Girl, Steve,” I sneer, accentuating every word in an attempt to make him see I could never go back to him.

“Yes … you … are. I only let you go, so you’d realize that I’m the only one who will love you, Ivy. No one will ever love you like I do.”

“This isn’t love,” I scream out the words as tears fall down my cheeks. “I don’t love you. I hate you. I curse you every … single … day for the things you did to me.” My hands push hard against his chest to try to move him away from me. He stares at me for a couple of beats, perhaps a little surprised over me fighting back.

This is the only chance I have of catching him off-guard, so I make a run for it, but he’s one step ahead of me, like always. He reacts quickly—a large hand reaches out and yanks me back, throwing me off-balance, and I crash into the side wall with an almighty crunch as my face catches the edge of the building. I see stars this time as it clips my nose, and I blink several times, trying to keep myself in the now as I feel a trickle of blood begin to slide down over my lip.

“Alex is only using you to get revenge on my family. You’re nothing more than a wet pussy to fuck while he tries to take me down. I’ve seen him out with other women, looking like he’s having fun. Guess he realized you were a dud lay like me and moved on to other women who could satisfy him. I know how he feels, there’s nothing worse than a woman who doesn’t know how to satisfy her man. I’ve tried to help you, Ivy, but being the ungrateful bitch that you are, you won’t listen. Not sure why I still care about you … you’re worthless in the bedroom and in life. Now I come to think about it, I don’t want you back. Alex is welcome to my sloppy seconds. I need to be with a woman who’s going places not dancing in the damn gutter,” he spits out before turning on his heel and walking away.

All I can do is crumple to the ground and pass out.





29





ALEX





Ivy’s been gone a while. I grab her purse and stand to look around for her. There’s some of the staff rushing toward the front of the building looking a little panicked. A cold shiver slides down my spine, so I follow the commotion. As I step outside, there are people milling around. The flash of blue velvet on the ground catches my attention, and I peer over the shoulder of a staff member.

“No,” I scream as I rush to Ivy’s body sprawled out on the ground.

“Excuse me, sir, you can’t touch her.” A staff member tries to hold me back.

“That’s my fucking girlfriend,” I yell as I look over her. There’s blood pouring from her face.

What the hell happened?

Did someone attack her?

Shit! Did they try to …

Fuck!

“Ivy, baby … it’s me. Can you hear me?” I ask, running my hand across her cheek. She’s deathly still, non-responsive. “Baby, what happened to you?” Tears well in my eyes as I witness the woman I love lifeless and bloodied on the dirty ground.