Wicked Beginning: An Ivy Morgan Mystery Books 1-3 (37 page)

“How long has he been abusing you, Kelly?” Ivy asked, her gaze never moving from Gil’s face.

“I am not an abuser,” Gil said.

“You’re nothing but an abuser,” Ivy countered. “You put yourself in a position of power, and then you watched … and waited. You were looking for a student to fit your specific needs. You needed someone who didn’t have overzealous parents. You needed someone who you thought the system had overlooked. That’s how you found Kelly.”

“Shut up,” Gil seethed. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I know exactly what I’m talking about,” Ivy snapped. “You’re a monster. You convinced Kelly that you loved her, because you knew that was the one thing she was most desperate for in her life.

“How did it start? Did you ply her with compliments? Did you tell her she was special? Did you isolate her from any friends she might possibly have?” Ivy asked.

“We’re in love,” Gil said. “Once Kelly is of legal age, we’re going to get married.”

“And then you can abuse her to your heart’s content, right? You make me sick.”

“You have no idea the depth of the love Kelly and I share,” Gil countered. “We’re soul mates.”

“Soul mates don’t hurt one another,” Ivy argued. “Soul mates don’t beat someone. They don’t leave bruises on someone. They don’t take them out into a field for a picnic and do … God knows whatever you had planned for her that night.”

“He beat me all the time,” Kelly said, her voice small. “The first time it happened, he apologized. He said it was an accident. I thought he really loved me.”

“No one blames you,” Ivy said. “He manipulated you.”

“I knew what he was doing was wrong,” Kelly said. “It’s my fault. I could’ve gotten away before it got out of hand. I was too scared, though. I was too … needy. I wanted to believe he really loved me.”

“I do love you,” Gil said. “I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you.”

“How long have you been at her school?” Ivy asked.

“What does that matter?” Gil was starting to get angry. “Love is love.”

“He didn’t start until this past year,” Kelly said.

“How long was it before he started having special meetings with you?”

“A couple of months,” Kelly said.

“How long before he started having sex with you?”

“We spent Christmas together,” Kelly said, her shoulders shaking as she started to sob. “He bought me a necklace and told me he loved me. Then he gave me some wine. Before that, I would just go to his house to talk. I swear. I … still don’t know how it happened that first time.”

“I do,” Ivy said, glaring at Gil. “He groomed you with words, and he made it so you were comfortable coming to his house. Then he got your inhibitions down with the wine. I’m betting the first few times he gave you wine he didn’t touch you, did he?”

Kelly shook her head, her tears falling freely now.

“He wanted to make sure you thought everything he was doing was above board,” Ivy said. “He wanted to convince you that he was a good guy. I’m betting, once Jack looks into his background, we’re going to find a lot of vulnerable girls in his wake. That’s just how he operates. You can’t blame yourself.”

“I should’ve told someone,” Kelly said. “I should’ve told you. I’m so sorry.”

“I know you are,” Ivy said. “Don’t worry about it. I knew something horrible happened to you. I had no idea it was this horrible, but that first day – when you screamed because men tried to touch you – I knew. I tried to convince myself I was wrong, though.

“I didn’t want anything this bad to have happened to you,” she continued. “I made the mistake. I let myself believe something else was going on. You didn’t do anything wrong, Kelly. No matter what happens, you have to believe that.”

“Are you done?” Gil asked, rolling his eyes. “Good grief. You like to hear yourself talk, don’t you?”

“I don’t care what you do to me,” Ivy said. “You’re not touching that girl again, though. I won’t stand for it.”

“How do you think you’re going to stop me?”

“Any way I have to,” Ivy said.

Gil chuckled hoarsely. “Let me tell you a little bit about yourself that you probably don’t already know, Ms. Morgan,” he said. “You fancy yourself as a crusader. You’re going to right all the wrongs in the world. You only have one way of looking at the world: your way.

“You don’t care if you have a narrow belief system, and you don’t care if others have viable ways of living their lives,” he continued. “You’ve decided what’s right and wrong in this world, and there’s nothing that’s going to change your mind. You’re the problem here, not the solution.”

Ivy scorched him with a look. “Is that what you really think?”

Gil nodded.

“Well then, let me tell you a little bit about yourself that you probably don’t already know,” Ivy spat. “You look at life like someone owes you something. You walk around with your chest puffed out and think the world has done you wrong.

“You’re not handsome, and yet you think you are,” she continued. “You think people overlook your features because there’s something wrong with them, not you. It’s always someone else who makes the mistake. It’s never you. Do you know what that’s the definition for? Insanity.

“You can’t interact with people your own age because you’re a narcissist,” Ivy said. “I don’t know if you were always sexually attracted to teenagers, but you realized a long time ago they were the only ones who would be willing to let you mold them. Real women – adult women – saw through you. You freaked them out. You disgusted them.

“That’s when you decided to move on to teenagers,” she continued. “I don’t know who your first was, but Kelly clearly wasn’t it. I’m sure you’ve got a spotty record, and instead of calling attention to themselves, various school officials quietly cut you loose instead of reporting you to the cops. That’s on them, and they’re just as guilty as you are.

“I don’t know what your endgame is here, but I can tell you it’s not going to play out how you think it is,” Ivy said. “Jack is going to figure out what you’ve done, and God help you when he comes for you.”

“Jack isn’t smart enough to find his own ass with both of his hands,” Gil said. “He sat in my living room and let me lead him to answers that weren’t even true. So much for your beloved hero.”

Ivy ignored the dig. “He’ll come for you,” she said. “He’ll kill you.”

“Is that because he’s in love with you?” Gil asked. “I couldn’t help but notice that he’s been staying here the past few nights. He’s made it impossible to reclaim my love during the evening, which is why I had to approach you when he was at work. How smart was that? He left you alone and vulnerable.”

“Please, don’t hurt her,” Kelly whimpered. “I’ll go with you. I won’t run away again. I’ll … let you do whatever you want to me. Just … don’t hurt Ivy.”

“You’re not going anywhere with him,” Ivy said. “He’s never touching you again.”

“Oh, you’re awfully sure of yourself,” Gil sneered. “Have you forgotten that I’m the one with the gun? I think you have.” He reached over and grabby Ivy by the back of her hair, gripping her ponytail and yanking her to her feet. He shook her viciously, and then pressed the gun to her chin. “Who is in charge now, you bitch?”

“I’M GOING
to kill him,” Jack snarled. “I’m going to … .”

“Calm down,” Brian whispered, elevating himself slightly so he could look through Ivy’s window without calling attention to himself. “We need to make a plan here. Ivy is pushing him to focus his anger on her. She’s trying to protect Kelly.”

“She’s going to protect Kelly by sacrificing herself,” Jack said, his voice cracking. “I … I’ll kill him.”

“We can’t wait for more backup,” Brian said, forcing his voice to remain even. “What do you want to do?”

Jack rubbed the back of his neck, his back pressed to the side of Ivy’s small cottage as he hunkered down. He scanned the front yard, helplessness washing over him, and then his eyes landed on the metal bistro table on the porch. “I have an idea.”

“I can’t wait to hear this,” Brian said.

“You’re going to go to the back patio,” Jack said, his voice eerily calm. “I’m going to throw that table through the front window and follow it inside. While I’m grappling with Thorpe, you’re going to go in through the back and get them out.”

“What happens if Thorpe shoots you?” Brian asked.

“It won’t be the first time.”

“I know that,” Brian said. “I know all about your history. I’m not just going to stand by and let you get shot. There has to be another way.”

“I won’t risk Ivy,” Jack said. “I can’t.”

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

Jack didn’t answer the question. He didn’t know how to. He couldn’t put a name to his feelings for Ivy because he wasn’t sure what they were. The only thing he knew with absolute clarity was that he wouldn’t fail her. She’d saved him in his dreams, helping him put his past behind him. Now he was going to save her in reality, and hopefully ensure a future he didn’t even know he wanted until recently. “I won’t let her die,” Jack said, his voice grim. “Go to the back. Ivy and Kelly are your priority. Don’t worry about me.”

“You and I are going to have a long talk when this is over with,” Brian warned, but he did as Jack asked.

Jack gave Brian a few minutes to get into position, and then he scampered to the front porch on his hands and knees. He gripped the small table with both hands and heaved with all his might, tossing the table through the window and shattering the glass into a million pieces.

IT WAS
like an explosion inside of the house, and even though she was terrified, Ivy kept her wits about her and jerked away from Gil. Jack was here. She knew it, and more importantly, she felt it. She dropped to her knees, grabbing Kelly by the hand and directing her to the other side of the couch.

“Crawl,” Ivy hissed.

Kelly instinctively followed Ivy’s directions, cringing when the woman sheltered Kelly’s body with her own.

“What the hell?” Gil asked, turning his attention to the front window. “I … what … ?”

Jack launched himself through the front window, his hands empty of a weapon as he landed on Gil. His fists were furious as they rained punches down on the guidance counselor, and Jack used his left hand to wrestle the gun toward the ceiling. He was taller than Gil, and he was definitely stronger. He hit him one more time, toppling him to the floor, and then he confiscated the gun.

“Wow,” Brian said, appearing in the archway between the kitchen and living room. “You didn’t even give me a chance to get into position.”

“I waited as long as I could,” Jack said, gasping for breath. He handed the gun wordlessly to Brian. “Cuff this piece of … filth.” He kicked the prone man in the ribs for good measure, an act Brian conveniently opted to ignore.

Jack pushed his way around the couch, his gaze falling on Kelly as she cowered in the corner. He dropped to his knees, surprised to find tears running down his face. He’d survived. He wasn’t sure when he jumped through the window if that was possible. All he cared about was Ivy and Kelly making it.

Ivy lifted her hand, her fingertips moving through his tears as she cupped his cheek. “How did you know?”

“I heard you call for me,” Jack said.

“I called for you in my mind.”

“No,” Jack said, shaking his head. “You called to me with your heart.”

Jack reached for Ivy and hugged her tightly, only releasing her so she could pull Kelly close. He settled on the ground with both of them, wrapping his arms around a fragile teenage girl – and the woman who was willing to die for her – and letting them cry until they couldn’t wring out another tear.

It was over. Finally.

Ivy opened the door the next night to find Jack standing on her porch, a simple purple rose in his hand as he extended it in her direction.

Ivy took the bloom wordlessly, pressing it to her nose and inhaling deeply.

Jack watched her, using every ounce of energy he had not to focus on the dark bruise that marred her perfect cheek. “How are you today, honey?”

“I haven’t seen you since this morning,” Ivy said, lifting her eyes to his. “I thought you … forgot about me.”

“That’s not possible,” Jack said. He extended his hand. “Let’s take a walk.”

“Another walk?”

“It’s time to talk,” Jack said. “In fact, we have a few things to talk about.”

Ivy took his hand without argument, closing her front door and letting him lead her toward the familiar trees. “Are you going to tell me what happened with Thorpe?”

After taking the guidance counselor into custody the previous afternoon, Brian and Jack transported him down to the station for booking. Max and Michael arrived not long after, and because Max was a guy who knew people in the construction business, they had the window fixed before nightfall.

Kelly was a mess, and she spent hours opening up to Ivy about her ordeal with Gil Thorpe. Ivy had figured out most of the details on her own, but she’d let the girl talk until she couldn’t manage to find more words. Then she’d plied her with soup and tucked her into bed.

Jack returned to Ivy’s house shortly before ten, too tired to chat for a long period of time. Instead, he’d pulled her down on the couch, tucked her in at his side, and fell into a dreamless sleep. Ivy and Jack didn’t visit each other that night, but they also didn’t stray far from one another. Jack’s arms were tight around her small frame for eight hours straight. Neither of them moved, and when morning beckoned, Jack kissed her and said he had a few things to deal with before they could talk.

That was twelve hours ago.

In that time, Brian arrived at her house with a court order relinquishing Kelly to her brother’s care. He’d pulled a few strings – and even though Kelly was happy for Ivy’s support, she was ready to move to a permanent spot with her brother. She wanted a family of her own, and she was finally going to get it. Jordan thanked Ivy profusely and promised once Kelly was settled, they would figure out a regular visitation schedule for Ivy – one that included a summer job at the nursery.

With tears in her eyes, Ivy said goodbye to Kelly and wished her a wonderful life. She was just happy she was going to be around to see it.

After that, Ivy waited for Jack to return. And waited. And waited. She’d almost given up when the knock came.

“Thorpe has admitted everything,” Jack said. “He’s going for an insanity defense, though. He said he has urges he can’t control, and he never coerced Kelly into doing anything.”

“That won’t hold up in court, will it?”

“Nope,” Jack said. “Don’t worry. Gil Thorpe is going away for life.”

“That’s good,” Ivy said. “Did you know Jordan was going to get custody of Kelly?”

“I was hopeful,” Jack said. “We put the paperwork in yesterday. Because of his unblemished record, and the fact that his boss showed up to say he would have help, the judge agreed Kelly should be with her family.

“She’s going to have regular visits from a social worker, and the court is recommending family therapy for both Jordan and Kelly, but Jordan is open to all of it,” Jack said. “I think Kelly is finally going to get what she’s always wanted.”

“You didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, though.”

“There is no goodbye, honey,” Jack said. “I heard she’s going to come and work for you in a few weeks. I’ll see her then.”

“Are you going to be spending a lot of time at the nursery?” Ivy asked, readying herself for the second part of their talk.

“I’m going to be spending a lot of time around you,” Jack said.

“Are you sure?”

Jack led her through the woods, not answering – or stopping – until he was in front of her fairy ring. Ivy’s heart flopped when she saw the blanket, complete with a picnic basket, sitting in the middle of the ring. “Oh, wow.”

“Don’t worry, I made sure there was no Poison Ivy around,” Jack teased.

“I … I don’t want to do this if you’re going to break my heart, Jack,” Ivy said. “I can’t take it.”

“I have no intention of breaking your heart,” Jack said. “I can’t make promises about forever. Not yet, at least. I can promise you that I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want you.”

He glanced down at Ivy, rubbing her unblemished cheek with his thumb. “I’m not going to fight this any longer,” he said. “It hurts too much to be away from you. I want to have a chance with you. I want us to have a chance together. I need to know if that’s what you want, too.”

“I’ve been drawn to you from that first moment I saw you,” Ivy said, her lower lip quivering. “I want you, but I’m scared.”

“I know,” Jack said. “I’m scared, too. Maybe it’s time that we’re scared together instead of apart.”

“You know people are going to always whisper about me in town, right? You know I’m not normal.”

“I’ve always known you’re not normal,” Jack said, tilting her chin up. “I’m not normal either. I think we’re going to be happy if we both agree to be odd together.”

“Do you want to be happy?”

It was a pointed question, and Jack was ready for it. “I didn’t think I could ever be happy again after … what happened. I didn’t think I’d ever want to share that with anyone. I was wrong, on both counts. You make me happy. You make me smile. You make me laugh.

“My heart sings when you’re around,” he continued. “I always want to touch you. I’m tired of fighting those instincts. I want to be with you. I want to make you happy. I can’t do it all on my own, though. You’re going to have to meet me in the middle.”

“I want to be with you, too,” Ivy said, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I want to touch you.”

Jack smiled. “Then let’s start now,” he said, lowering his lips to hers.

The kiss was soft, neediness put aside for another night. Jack tugged Ivy into his arms and held her close, rubbing her back as he lifted her. When they parted, Ivy’s face was practically glowing.

“Does this mean I get to pick where we dream tonight?”

“Yes,” Jack said. “If you make me pick vegetables, though, I’m breaking up with you.”

Ivy laughed, the sound warming Jack’s heart. “I have a fun place for us to visit.”

“Let’s finish enjoying this place first,” Jack prodded. “We’ve got a lot of nights in front of us. We don’t have to pick one destination yet. We have forever, and everywhere.”

Ivy kissed him again. This time it was slow and sensuous, the promise of forever on her lips and in her heart. Jack gave in and accepted everything she had to offer, and Ivy did the same.

There was no turning back now.