“What?”
“Go see a witch. Have them undo it.”
“What?”
I get to my feet and he does too.
“Ivy, explain…” He approaches me so I dash around him and pull the door open. Riley and Greyson are right outside still, talking. Their eyes bounce to me.
“Come take him, please? Take him home. I’m done with this guy.” I look over my shoulder at Ty, who’s directly behind me. “Get out.” I don’t look at his face, just sort of point my gaze over his head. “Now.”
“Tyson, let’s talk a minute,” Grey says. “Riley will talk to Ivy, you come sit with me in the truck.”
“No,” Tyson says. “No. You’re coming home.” He turns around and grabs my overnight bag from the floor where I dropped it that morning and grabs my purse from the table by the door. The table falls over, knocking a plant over. “Come on.” He reaches for my hand.
“No!” I snap and back away. “You guys, go find a witch and get her to undo what Aunt Nelle did.”
“Yes!” he shouts, and I stumble backwards with the force of the growly sounds.
There’s pounding over my head. Julio. Julio and Sasha have a baby. We’re being too loud. They’re not the types to call the cops or get involved but they won’t hesitate to give us shit, or call the landlord and complain. Any time we make a bit of noise they stomp on the floor. Tamara always retaliates by pounding the broomstick on the ceiling.
Tyson comes at me.
“No!” I sprint toward the kitchen island, but he crouches as he comes at me and catches me over his shoulder. He’s up and grabbing my car keys from the counter and knocking stuff over as he hefts me up higher.
“Tyson, stop! Put me down!”
He’s heading for the door with me.
Shit.
“Put me down,” I demand. He ignores me.
“Here. You drive Ivy’s car,” Tyson says.
“Go ahead. I’ll lock the door,” I hear Riley say. I’m busy squirming and trying to find my way off his shoulder but he’s not budging. He grips me tighter, taking me back to his truck and putting me inside.
I see through the windshield that Riley is locking my apartment. He gets into my car.
Tyson grabs my hand and jerks me toward him.
“You wanna give me more bruises?” I cry out. “I’ve already got splinter wounds in my hands and knees from when you fucking dragged me across the floor in that bar.”
Tyson lets go of me and his face shows that I got my point across. Because of that, I strike again with the only thing I’ve got – words.
“Let’s not talk about how you made me bleed between my legs because you were so rough.”
He wears an expression like he’s just been slapped in the face.
Riley’s knocking on the window. Tyson rolls it.
“If she’s gonna fight you, better we drive in Grey’s car and send someone for your truck later. You can keep control of her in the back seat.”
My jaw drops. “You’re on board with this? You’re as bad as he is!”
“You’re his, Ivy. He’s not giving up no matter what anyone says or does. We’re his support here and we’ll do what we have to do to help him get you back home.”
I blink in shock.
“It’d be easier on all of us if you cooperate,” he adds.
“Why should I make it easy on all of you? Just go find the witch and she’ll undo it.”
“What do you mean by that?” Riley asks.
“My mom just told me my aunt made some deal with a witch and I think that’s why Tyson thinks I’m his mate. Get it undone and we can all get on with our lives.”
“A witch? What witch?”
“I don’t know. It was twenty-seven years ago. My aunt died so I can’t ask her.”
Riley stares at Grey. Grey’s eyebrows are up high.
“This guy fucked up. Huge. He loves you. You love him. Go home and figure it out. You’re mated for life, Ivy. Don’t cause yourself or him more pain than you have to. Let him fix what he broke.”
I stare in shock.
“He’s not walking away,” Grey tells me. “Witch or no witch, this is unbreakable.”
Riley’s right. Tyson isn’t giving up here. And they’re here to help him.
Tyson straightens up and starts the truck. “We’ll be fine.”
“You want, I’ll drive, you hold her and purr to keep her settled,” Riley offers.
Oh. My. God.
“Unfuckingbelievable,” I mutter.
I feel like a piece of chattel right now.
“I don’t need to be held and purred at,” I say with as much venom as I can muster, folding my arms across my chest and staring straight ahead.
I have no choice but to go because there are three giant men determined to take me and I’d rather he not hold me and make me feel things. Things that hurt just too much.
I’ll figure out how to get away from him later. I’ll find a witch myself if I have to.