My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 51

Ivy, present time...

As the days dragged on, my refuge at Dale’s house began to feel more like a prison. I constantly scanned the horizon for any sign of Aidan, knowing that he could easily track me down if he truly wanted to. Although his absence brought a sense of relief, it also filled me with an underlying unease - how long could I continue hiding like this? 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Four endless days had passed since I arrived at Dale’s doorstep, desperate and on edge. The creaking floorboards and musty smell of the old cabin were starting to grate on my nerves. Yet, the idea of remaining hidden indefinitely seemed absurd when I had a life to return to and a company to run.

I longed for normalcy, for the familiar bustle of my office and the comfort of routine. But for now, all I could do was wait and pray that Aidan wouldn’t find me before I was ready.

But at the same time, did I really want to stay away from Aidan forever?

Despite the chaos surrounding me, a small voice nagged at my mind, questioning if there was more to Aidan. Was I an idiot to fall for a monster? Or am I a good person who can see the good in Aiden despite everything he’s done?

I struggled with conflicting feelings - torn between fleeing and yearning for understanding.

"Ivy, dear, as much as I love having you here, I would like you to decide on your...um...living arrangement." Dale’s gruff voice woke me out of my daydreaming.

I knitted my brows as I looked at him. "What’s wrong? Is my being here bothering you? I offered to pay rent," I said defensively.

Dale let out an exaggerated sigh. "Yes, you did. And that was very nice of you, but..."

"But what?"

"You are cramping my style by living in my domain," he said, his lips quirking upward.

I rolled my eyes. "I didn’t know you had any style."

"Ha ha, very funny. But I am serious. I like to go out to the bar on weekends and bring back my...uh... lady friends. With you here, it’s been a bit difficult," Dale said frankly.

"I am your cousin, Dale. Not your wife, so why would it be difficult?" I asked.

Dale chuckled, his voice tinged with a hint of mischief. "Yeah, well, you know how it is. Some ladies, they can’t help but feel a little threatened when they see a beautiful woman like yourself hanging around."

I raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced by his explanation. "So, what are you saying? You want me to leave?"

Dale grinned. "In the most polite way possible."

I groaned, the frustration evident in my voice. "Seriously, Dale. You are the worst cousin ever."

"Hey! This is my house. Besides, why are you crashing here anyway? You are a billionaire, Ivy. You can buy a whole house."

True. I could. I guess I wasn’t thinking clearly.

Also, I wasn’t trying to hide out here permanently, so why would I buy a property? And staying in hotels was too dangerous.

Just as I was about to respond to Dale, my phone rang, interrupting our conversation. I quickly glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Madison, my secretary.

"Hello, Madison," I answered, trying to keep my tone composed despite the chaos of emotions swirling inside me.

"Ivy, thank goodness I reached you! We need you back at the office. When are you coming back? There are some urgent papers that require your signature," Madison said, her voice urgent.

I sighed inwardly. "Alright, Maddie. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Just give me a few minutes to gather my things," I replied, already mentally preparing myself to leave Dale’s cabin.

"Thank you, Ivy. We really need you here," Madison said gratefully before ending the call.

I turned to Dale. "Well, looks like you won. I have to leave anyway."

~-~

Arriving at the office, I wasted no time in diving back into the fray. Urgent matters awaited my attention, and I couldn’t afford to delay anymore.

"Did anyone ask about me?" I asked Madison as I sifted through some files.

Madison’s facial impression turned dark. "Mr. Aidan Blackwood came and demanded to know where you were."

My heart skipped a beat at Madison’s words. Aidan had come looking for me.

"What did you tell him?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside me.

Madison hesitated for a moment before replying. "I told him the truth. I didn’t know where you were."

I nodded. "Did he...say anything else?" I pressed, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Madison shook her head. "No, he just seemed...concerned. But then he left."

Concerned? That was unexpected. I had expected anger or frustration, not concern. Did Aidan genuinely care about my well-being? Or did I hurt his pride by slipping away from his clutch?

"Thank you Maddie. You can go home now. I am about to wrap things up," I said.

Madison nodded and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

But my moment of peace and silence was interrupted again when my cell phone started to ring.

My heart jumped. Was it Adrian?

But when I looked down, I frowned at the name with confusion. I answered it nevertheless.

"Hi Derek," I said into the phone, trying to contain my disappointment. I had been hoping it was Aidan.

Silly me.

"Hey Ivy, sorry to bother you. But I wanted to see if you wanted to go out tonight," Derek replied on the other end of the line.

I hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don’t think that’s a good idea."

Derek paused before speaking again. "Is it because of that guy? Actually, Ivy. I wanted to address what happened in your office the other day."

I blushed as I remembered how Aidan had pushed me against my desk and fucked me relentlessly that day. "What about it?"

"Ivy. The way that guy was talking to you...it wasn’t right. He sounded abusive," Derek said in an alarming tone.

I winced. "Derek, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Aidan is just...intense," I tried to defend him.

"Ivy, please listen to me. As someone who used to be so close to you, I have to say this. No one should talk to you or treat you the way he did," Derek insisted.

I sighed. "Look, Derek. It’s complicated between me and Aidan. And it’s none of your business."

"I will make it my business if you’re being mistreated," Derek retorted.

I shook my head in frustration. "You don’t understand our relationship. We have a...history."

Derek fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "Yeah? So do we."

But it wasn’t the same. Aidan and I...we were entwined in a twisted bond that no one could understand. We shared moments of intense passion and pain, drawing us closer together until our souls were fused as one.

Even as I ran away from him, even as fear consumed me, I couldn’t shake the burning desire to be in his arms again. Every fiber of my being longed for him, an ache that never ceased. I was lost without him. I missed him.

Oh, god, I missed him so much.

"I appreciate your concern, Derek. But you won’t understand. What we had between us was different than what I have with Aidan now. I know he is acting like a psycho boyfriend, but he would never hurt me," I said.

Yes, I really believed that. Aidan could never hurt me, but he would hurt Derek. And that also scared me. Derek was a good man and the last thing I wanted was to get him hurt.

"Please don’t call me again, Derek," I said before hanging up abruptly.

As I hung up the phone, a wave of guilt washed over me. Derek was just trying to look out for me, but I couldn’t let him get involved in the mess that was my relationship with Aidan. It was my burden to bear.

And Aidan, well, he did confess that he loved me.

My cheeks heated up, and my heart started to hammer against my chest.

Oh my god, how did I forget about that!? He did say that, didn’t he? Or was it a dream? Or maybe he was drunk, or he was trying to manipulate me into coming home?

But he sounded so sincere...

I grabbed my purse and my keys. I had to go back to his house and confront him. If I looked him in the eyes when he said it, I’d know whether he was lying to me or not!

And when I finally learn how he truly felt about me, I could learn to deal with his criminal ways, as long as he was not out there murdering civilians for no reason.

As I stepped into the parking garage, my mind still swirling with thoughts of Aidan and Derek, I froze in my tracks as a sense of déjà vu washed over me. Standing before me was a figure obscured by the shadows, holding a bag in their hands.

My heart leaped into my throat as the memories of my previous abduction flooded back. Panic surged through me, but before I could react, the figure moved swiftly, throwing the bag over my head.

Ah dammit. Not this shit again!