Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(81)

“I should call Jackson and get him on the case.”

“Yeah, send him a text, ask him to look into Steve a little more, see if you can find any evidence of previous abuse. Not sure you can do much if she doesn’t want to press charges, though. Also, don’t force her to do it either,” Nate adds.

“I would never.”

“It’s a delicate situation, and I’m sorry you’re going through this. We can talk more when I see you in a couple of weeks for the grand opening,” he adds.

“I’m sorry you’re going through it as well.”

“I’d do anything for that girl, she’s got under my skin, and I never want her to leave,” Nate says fiercely.

Wow! Okay! He’s gone for her.

“The fact that she has me spending more time in New York says it all really.” He chuckles.

“I’m happy for you,” I tell him.

“There’s something about those Starr sisters, hey?”

“Yeah. There is,” I agree.

“Fight for her, Alex,” he warns.

“I will, I never want to let her go.”

And with those words spoken, we say our goodbyes.

I send off a quick text to Jackson to hunt down that motherfucker. I’m going to have so much delight rubbing it in when he finds out Nate and I bought out his family’s company.

The first alarm on my phone goes off letting me know to check on Ivy. I open the door to her room. It’s dark, but she’s thrashing around on the bed wildly, talking in her sleep.

“Don’t touch me, Steve. Let me go,” she mumbles.

Every bone in my body freezes. She’s having a nightmare about that asshole hurting her.

No.

I will not allow this to happen.

Fuck him.

How fucking dare he come after my girl and try to take her away from me. I sit on the edge of the bed and try to pull Ivy from her nightmare. The minute I touch her, she stiffens, but I keep going because I don’t want her in that nightmare longer than she has been. This time I shake her a little harder.

“I said … don’t touch me,” she screams as her fist connects with my jaw, and I fall to the floor with a thud. She rolls over and falls back to sleep.

Fuck, that hurt! I rub my jaw. At least I know she’s not fallen into a coma. I get up off the floor and head out of her room.

I hope she’s still sound asleep the next time I come in to check on her.





30





IVY





Honestly, I look like I’ve run headfirst into the back end of a truck as I stare at myself in the mirror. I can’t believe I’m back here again, and I can’t believe I let him do this to me again. Tears well in my eyes as I stare at the broken girl in the mirror.

All his words and threats from years ago that I’ve been able to block out have flooded back into my consciousness, and I don’t know if I’m strong enough to get through this a second time.

The dark circles under my eyes entwine with the big purple bruise on my face. There’s a lump on the back of my head that I can feel. I didn’t get much sleep last night as the nightmares engulfed me.

There’s a crash downstairs, and I freeze.

Who the hell is in my home?

My heart practically jumps out of my chest until I hear the curses and Alex’s familiar voice.

What the hell is he cursing about?

And why is he still here?

I rush down my stairs, and I am greeted with flowers strewn everywhere. There’s a glass vase smashed on the floor, and Alex’s hand is bleeding as he stares at the mess. He looks furious, and for the first time, I’m afraid of him. A gasp falls from my mouth which gains Alex’s attention. The agony that’s carved across my face when he sees me with all the bruises crushes me. Then I notice the bruise on his own cheek, and I wonder if he tried to attack Steve?

“I’m sorry, Ivy. I … it just … fuck!” he stammers while raking his hand through his hair. “He sent you flowers apologizing, and when I saw they were from him, I lost it. I’m so sorry after everything you have been through, I go and lose my temper, and now I have scared you. I know I have by the look on your face, and it’s breaking me, Ivy. I would never hurt you. I’m … not … him,” he says, pointing at a card on the floor. “I can’t believe he has the audacity to send you flowers after what he did. He could have killed you. I could have lost you, Ivy …” Tears fall down Alex’s cheeks as he stares up at me looking so lost and alone.

My heart should be breaking, looking at how distraught he is over everything, but all I feel is numb.

“How did you get that bruise on your face?” I ask.

Alex shakes his head, confused by the sudden conversation change. His hand reaches up and touches his cheek. “You were having a nightmare, and I tried to help,” is all he says on the matter.

Does that mean I did that to him?

A frown forms on my face. I didn’t mean to hurt him, he doesn’t deserve that.

“Are you okay? How are you feeling?” Alex asks cautiously.

“Broken, numb, exhausted,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.

“Fuck, babe,” Alex curses as he rushes toward where I’m standing on the stairs, but his sudden movements startle me, and I gasp which stills him, and he retreats a couple of steps. “I’m so sorry, Ivy, I didn’t mean to scare you.”