Divided (Unguarded #2) - Ivy Stone Page 0,32
rage had taken hold of me and forced me to lie to my boss, my best friend, and come up with any excuse I could in that moment why the plan was a bad idea. In a last attempt to sway Mason away from the idea of convincing Ali to help us—or using her whether she liked it or not—I’d said things that felt as wrong leaving my mouth as they did even thinking them. And the worst part? She’d heard it all.
I wanted to call her. Sometimes I got as far as dialing her number and hanging up the moment the dial tone reminded me of the danger I was putting her in.
I had no idea if her phone was monitored or what those assholes would do if they saw my number light up her screen. It didn’t matter that a little life drifted from me every time I worried about her. I couldn’t make contact. Sometimes I wonder how much of that thought’s true and how much of it was my own conscience trying to clear all thoughts of wanting Ali in ways society wouldn’t deem acceptable. In ways, I wasn’t sure she could handle. My patience didn’t last long. My need to protect her broke through all common sense and I started checking on her from afar. Every now and again I’d drive by her house. Her work. See her smiling with Adriana while they were out for lunch or shopping. I’d make sure she was okay. Even though a stranger could take one look at her and know that was a lie.
She’s like the moon, a part of her is always hidden. Her smile never reaches her eyes. Her skinny frame is slipping away to nothing but skin and bones. Her round blue hues are losing their fire and the clothes swimming on her make her look every bit a low paid, drugged up, prostitute. It’s a fucking painful truth.
The urge to talk to her, take her away from them, swirls inside me like a tornado every time I see her. Except, I can’t walk toward her, and I can’t walk away. She’s stubborn, hot-headed, and infuriating because in her mind this is her doing the right thing. This is her keeping me safe. Keeping herself as safe as she can be. It’s fucked up but not entirely untrue.
After Mason realized the plan to use Ali had too many weak spots, we moved onto another avenue for our Marino take down. Three years later—we still haven’t succeeded. Which is exactly why Ali was right three years ago when she walked out of my apartment. We would have all ended up dead. Police. Mafia. Strippers. Arms dealers. Innocent citizens. Lives lost because we underestimated our enemy.
It wouldn’t happen again. Next time we’ll be ready. We’ll bring the mafia to their knees. Watch their alliances crumble. And when that day comes, I will save Ali. I will get her out of that godforsaken hellhole. I’ll do whatever it takes.
I’ll save her even if it means I lose her forever.
The vibrating sound of my cell pulls at my subconscious. I toss over, shoving my face deeper into my pillow. The phone stops but before I can sink back into oblivion, it vibrates again. I groan and reach to the side table for it without opening my eyes.
“Tate,” I mumble into the phone, eyes still shut.
Mason’s voice sounds in my ear. “It’s me. We got a murder. I need you here. I’ll text you the address.”
I let out a sigh and scrub my free hand through my hair. “All right. I’m getting up. I’ll be there soon.”
Mason clicks off without saying goodbye and I rest my cell back down on the side table. I roll over to the other side of my bed and rest a hand on Sarah’s exposed hip.
“Sarah, wake up. You gotta go. I need to head out.”
She murmurs in her sleep before sitting up. The sheets fall down her front, baring her naked body. My eyes cast downward, appreciating the beauty of a woman after the same kind of relationship with the opposite sex as myself.
A non-existent one.
No strings attached casual sex with only one goal in mind. Pleasure.
She rubs her eyes before sliding out of bed and slipping her clothes back on. She grabs her phone and keys and comes around giving me a quick kiss on the lips while I’m buttoning up my shirt.
“Be safe at work.”
Her long blonde hair flips over her shoulder