‘They treated me like shit, so I gave it right back. Except even when I treated you like shit, you still lapped it up. I don’t give a fuck about you, and I never did, never would. Why would a guy like me want anything to do with a tramp without class?’

‘Trystan,’ Mauri warned. ‘That is an unacceptable way to talk to a lady.’

‘What? I’m just being honest. She’s no lady. You wanted me to stand here and apologise, fine, I did it. But that doesn’t change the fact that Dax and his bitch were the ones in the wrong.’

‘We were in the wrong?’ Ivy said, her urge to lash out overpowered her. ‘You are a twisted bastard who tried to rape me, you attacked me, not the other way around. You’re insensitive and unfeeling; a selfish prick who thinks of nothing but himself. All of you, you were all wrong! Trystan, Mauri, Bruno, all of you! You hurt me, your friend, Bruno, beat me! You locked me up in that beach house for weeks like a zoo animal because I fought you! Because I said no, you thought that you could treat me like—‘

Dax was at her side, pulling her away from the others. Ivy tried to twist her arm out of his grip, but he kept hold of her and dragged her to the far side of the room. ‘Keep your mouth shut,’ he growled from the back of his throat. ‘This is not the time to—‘

‘It will never be the time,’ she hissed, jerking herself free of him. But he snatched her waist and propelled her back to the wall. With an arm resting beside her face, he used the other to hold her in place by pressing it along her diaphragm.

‘Listen to me, Minx. You won’t get justice here. At the push of a button, Mauri can have a dozen guys in this room. You don’t want me to be fighting my way through them while you and your sister are up here. There’s no quick way out and while I’m occupied you’re exposed.’

‘Fine,’ she said, pushing his arm off her body. ‘I’ll be quiet.’

‘Good,’ he said.

When he began to turn away, she grabbed his face and hauled him close to force his mouth down to hers. Sticking her tongue into his mouth, she used his return caress as a way to get out some of the anger that she wanted to aim at Trystan and Mauri. Arguing with the Starks might be crazy, Dax was right about that, and Ivy didn’t want her husband to be hurt just because she had to state her case. But pushing more of herself into this kiss, she reminded him of the future they had, because she didn’t want his past to try and steal him back.

Pulling away, Ivy gasped in a breath and smiled at his confusion. ‘I told you that they couldn’t have you. Don’t forget who you belong to.’

‘Like I could,’ he murmured.

He tossed an arm around her shoulders and yanked her into his side, the more relaxed pose set her at ease. His frown was still there, but he was showing them that he was proud to be owned by her and that lessened her need to rebel against the men standing on the hearth rug.

‘Trystan apologises for his behaviour throughout all of this,’ Mauri said when she and Dax came to stand beside where Rosie sat. ‘There have been trials faced by all of us over the last year and Ivy, I am sorry that many of the experiences you have had with the family have been negative. You are right. You were treated poorly.’

That was an understatement, but Ivy had told Dax that she would be quiet and so she would. ‘Why did you need us here now?’ Dax asked Mauri.

‘Trystan, leave us now,’ Mauri said.

The still huffing Trystan stormed out of the room, probably relieved that he wouldn’t have to uphold the contrite façade anymore. Trystan didn’t know how to be apologetic, he felt no contrition because to do that he would have to first feel humility and compassion, neither of which were in his repertoire.

‘Rosie, I apologise to you too, for my son’s actions and for his disrespect,’ Mauri said.

Rosie had been very quiet since Trystan’s outburst. ‘I’m going to get out of here,’ Rosie said, getting to her feet.

‘Rosie,’ Ivy said, trying to console her sister by taking her arm. ‘I’m sorry that you’ve been through all of this.’

‘No, it’s my fault, Trystan was right, and you were too. I shouldn’t… I should never have come here. These people have been horrible to you and it’s not safe. I’m going to leave but call me and let me know that you’re ok.’

‘I will,’ Ivy said, giving her sister a hug. ‘If you want to wait in the car, Dax and I will—‘

‘No,’ Rosie said, shaking her head and curling her fingers around her purse. ‘I can find my way home.’

Rosie didn’t have to be treated like a child, so Ivy let her go. For all the years that they hadn’t seen or heard from each other, Ivy had assumed that her sister was savvy and could take care of herself. The sad thing she had learned today was that Rosie struggled with her self-respect.

Making herself into whatever her man of the moment wanted her to be took its toll on the once beautiful and vibrant woman. After this was over, Ivy would take the time to reconnect with her sister because Rosie needed to be reminded that she was a worthwhile person who had several wonderful qualities.

Now with Rosie and Trystan gone from the room, Mauri went to the armchair closest to the fireplace and sat down. She had first met him just a few months ago, and while he didn’t exactly look feeble today, he did have a less imposing stature and that was as much to do with his attitude as his build.

‘These events have upset everything,’ Mauri said. ‘I wanted you to come back to California to embrace your role in the family, Dax. Having you at the helm is the best way to ensure that the family name remains respected. But it hasn’t been smooth sailing reintegrating you into the family.’

Dax still had his arm around Ivy, and he guided her down to sit on the couch she had previously occupied with Rosie. ‘You said that you had Ivy’s things,’ Dax said.

She might have expected him to leap straight onto what Mauri had said and disclose what the marital couple had discussed about Dax not taking up a role in the Stark business. Instead, he had asked about her things, which told Ivy that he wanted to be sure they had everything before he pissed off Mauri again.

‘Yes,’ Mauri said and pressed a button on an electronic panel, which was resting on the table.

Almost straight away, the bedroom door opened, and a steward came out carrying a blue backpack, her blue backpack. Showing how eager she was to have it returned to her, she stood, her legs acting of their own volition. The steward paused beside Mauri, but he pointed to Ivy.

‘Return it to Ivy,’ Mauri said, and the steward crossed to hand it over.

The relief at having it back, at seeing what she feared she never would again, was enough to relax her. She sat back down at Dax’s side, tucking herself between her man and her bag, Ivy placed a hand on each.

‘Won’t you open it and let us know what it contains that was so important to you?’ Mauri asked. At the party, he had implied that he already knew which item Ivy valued the most and she was not going to put on a show for him.

‘No,’ she said, hoping that her simple answer would be enough.

‘She’ll open it later,’ Dax said. ‘And if anything is missing—‘

‘Nothing is missing,’ Mauri said. ‘Now would you like me to arrange to have Ivy taken somewhere safe while we discuss business?’

‘Somewhere safe is at my side,’ Dax said. ‘You’re not taking her anywhere.’

‘You know that we mean her no harm. I would think that returning her possessions was enough to win your trust and show you that we are serious about having her in the family as well. We will all have to learn to trust each other if we are to move forward and make progress—‘

‘We’re not going to move forward,’ Dax said. ‘Ivy and I have already discussed everything that you said to me.’

‘You discuss business with your wife?’ Mauri asked.

‘I discuss everything with my wife,’ Dax said. ‘Which is why I don’t need you to usher her out of the room every time you want to say something to me that you don’t think she’ll like.’