Ivy’s POV
By the ti Jude’s armored black Escalade pulled into the safehouse driveway, Katelyn’s herbal sedative had worked its magic and I was drifting in and out of consciousness. I woke hours later to find Ruby perched on the edge of my bed, watching with the sharp eyes of soone who had grown up in the shadows of organized cri.
"Hey there, sleeping beauty," Ruby said, her voice gentle but carrying the underlying steel that all mafia wives eventually developed.
"Hi, Ruby," I mumbled, pushing myself up against the pillows. "How are you holding up after everything?"
"Like I’ve been through a territorial war," I admitted, running my hands through my tangled hair. "Caleb’s planning to form a strategic alliance with one famiglia while keeping another woman as his personal asset. And the worst part? I think she might be the ghost from his past that he’s been hunting through every underground network for years."
Ruby shifted uncomfortably on the bed, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her designer blouse—a nervous habit she’d developed since getting involved with the Thorne organization. "Ivy, I cornered Xavier and made him spill everything. What I’m about to tell you might be difficult to process, but you need to know the truth. For your safety and my boss’s sanity."
My pulse quickened. "What do you an?"
"Caleb isn’t forming any marriage alliance," Ruby said firmly. "I don’t have all the intelligence, but he discovered that woman fabricated her pregnancy claims."
I stared at her, trying to process the information through the fog of painkillers and emotional exhaustion. "What are you talking about?"
"Sothing about forged dical docuntation. The pregnancy was completely fabricated, and he terminated any discussion of alliance imdiately. As for the woman you witnessed him with today, that situation has more history behind it. She’s definitely a forr associate, but Caleb swore to Xavier that he has zero romantic interest in rekindling anything."
Ruby’s revelation hit like sniper fire. "So he’s not committed to either of them?"
"No. Caleb promised Xavier he loves you and only you." Ruby’s expression grew more intense. "Listen, Ivy, you’re in love with the most powerful Don on the East Coast. I can see it written across your face every ti soone ntions his na. You’re trying to be honorable toward Parker, but honestly, you’re never going to purge Caleb from your system. You need to face reality and end things with Parker before you completely destroy a good man."
Guilt crashed over in waves. "Ruby, I’m so sorry. I never intended for any of this to spiral out of control. I genuinely believed I could develop feelings for soone outside this world. Parker’s incredible in every way—powerful, protective, completely removed from Thorne territory."
"I know he is," Ruby said with a lancholy smile, pulling into a warm embrace. "I was hoping you might find peace with him too. But after witnessing your reaction today, I realize that’s never going to happen."
"Are you furious with ?" I asked, searching her face for any trace of resentnt.
"Of course not, sweetheart," Ruby assured . "Like I told you before, Parker understood the risks when he decided to pursue soone with your... complicated connections. But now you need to have a honest conversation with him and stop running from what the fates have obviously decided."
After Ruby left, I took a scalding shower and joined my safehouse companions in the main room. They had ordered enough takeout to feed a small army, and we spent hours dissecting every aspect of my tangled romantic situation while consuming ridiculous amounts of comfort food.
Following a night filled with strategic advice and emotional support, I felt strangely renewed and determined. I knew challenging conversations lay ahead, but the most difficult would be facing Parker. The thought of causing pain to soone who had provided sanctuary and protection made my stomach clench with dread. I planned to use the security day Xavier had granted to navigate through this ss.
I was lost in thought, staring through the bulletproof windows, when my encrypted phone buzzed. Parker’s na appeared on the screen. Unusual timing, since he never contacted anyone this early in the morning due to his nocturnal casino operations. I answered, hearing his familiar smooth voice on the other end.
"Beautiful Ivy, how are you feeling today?" Parker’s tone seed lighter than usual, almost deliberately casual. "Ruby ntioned you weren’t well yesterday."
"Hi, Parker. I’m much better, thank you. How are your operations running?"
"I’ve been thinking about you. About our arrangent." His voice carried a weight I hadn’t detected before. "Since my security team reports everything’s quiet today, I thought this might be the perfect opportunity for us to have a real conversation."
My pulse accelerated. "When did you want to et?"
"Actually, I’m already en route to your location. I’ll be there shortly. Hope that’s acceptable."
"Of course. I’ll see you soon."
Parker terminated the call, leaving with ti to prepare for what felt like an inevitable confrontation. When he arrived, he carried a box of freshly baked pastries from his casino’s private kitchen and two steaming espressos. He greeted with a gentle kiss on my forehead, notably different from the passionate encounters that had beco our routine since we began this arrangent.
"Thought we could enjoy so caffeine while we discuss business," he said, his smile not quite reaching those calculating eyes.
"You always anticipate everything," I replied, though my voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.
We settled onto the sofa, the silence stretching between us like a chasm. I searched desperately for appropriate words, but they seed to evaporate before reaching my lips.
"Why is it so challenging, Ivy?" Parker asked, taking a deliberate sip of his espresso and studying carefully.
"I don’t understand what you an."
"Why is it so difficult for you to admit you’ve already made your decision?" His voice remained steady, but I could see the pain flickering behind those green eyes.
Panic fluttered in my chest. "Did Ruby reveal sothing to you?"
"She did, because I practically interrogated her until she explained why you had that breakdown yesterday. She had no choice but to tell the truth. And then she suggested I should be a gentleman and withdraw gracefully. So that’s exactly what I’m here to do."
"Parker, I don’t understand what you’re saying."
"Yes, you do, Ivy. I ca here to say goodbye. You love Caleb Thorne with everything you possess, and it’s the kind of obsession that consus everything in its path. I don’t stand a fighting chance against that level of devotion. Especially since he loves you just as intensely. So I’m going to be a gentleman and remove myself from this territorial dispute. I’m relocating my operations to the Frost Coast next week to expand my family’s interests. My father requires assistance with our Nevada enterprises, so the timing couldn’t be more perfect."
"Parker, I don’t know what to say. I tried so desperately to make this arrangent work between us, I swear I did, but..."
"I know you did, beautiful. I just arrived too late in your story, didn’t I?" He gave one of his devastating smiles, the kind that had made my heart skip when we first negotiated this deal. "Will you give one final goodbye?"
I nodded, unable to speak past the tightness in my throat. Parker moved closer, closing the distance between us. His lips t mine in a kiss that was achingly tender and reverent, filled with all the gentleness that had defined our entire association. His tongue touched mine with sothing resembling worship, as if he was morizing this mont. When he pulled away, he flashed that beautiful smile one final ti and walked out of my life.
The mont the door closed behind him, I collapsed onto the sofa and called Ruby through my tears, telling her everything that had just transpired. She tried to comfort , insisting that everything would work out, that Parker would find the right person eventually, and that I needed to fight for the man I truly loved. Afterward, I sent a ssage to our encrypted group chat so all the won would know about this latest developnt.
I spent the remainder of the morning trying to stabilize my emotions. When Carn arrived with Max from his protected daycare facility, he launched himself directly into my arms with his usual enthusiasm.
"Mommy!"
"My sweet boy, how are you doing today?" I asked, holding him tightly against .
"Good, Mommy."
"And how was your lessons today?"
"Good too, Mommy." He pulled back to look at with those innocent eyes that mirrored my own. "Mommy, where is Caleb? I really miss him."
"Oh, sweetheart, Caleb is very busy with family business right now. But he always asks about you and sends you lots of love."
"Tell him to co play with soon, Mommy."
"I will, baby. When his work allows, he’ll definitely co visit. Now, should we get you cleaned up before lunch?"
I gave Max his bath, and after we finished lunch together, he went down for his afternoon nap. Carn chatted with briefly, encouraging to rest and take care of myself, saying the downti would benefit my recovery. I took her advice, making the most of my unexpected security day by allowing myself to truly relax. I went to bed early that evening and slept more soundly than I had in weeks.
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