Page 52 of Paparazzi Perfect
Karlos’s threats flooded my mind…
“You wouldn’t want anything to happen to the nobody, or her father, would you?”
I drove my fist into the sand.
“It’d be such a tragedy to see anything happen to him. I’m sure she’d would do anything to keep him safe.”
I drew a deep breath and met her questioning gaze. “He threatened to hurt you, Ivy.”
Even in the dim moonlight, I saw the blood drain from her face. My mouth turned to ash. “I’m sorry. This is alot.”
“Is theremore?” she asked hesitantly.
“He told me if I saw you again… he’d hurt you. And your dad too,” I said quietly, a hot rush of shame burning through me.
“What do you mean?” She sprang to her feet. “How does he knowanythingabout my dad?” Her voice shook as she crossed her hands over her chest.
“He has people for everything.” I stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. “They investigated your family. He knows all about your life. That’s how he controls people. I’m so sorry for dragging you into this mess. I didn’t know he’d be so poisonous to you.” I finished miserably.
She paced up and down across the sand, her eyes glistening as she wrung her hands, then buried her face in them.
I wanted to tell her it would be all right, that, somehow, I’d figure it out.
But first, she needed to know everything.
13
TRUTH
KARSON
We stood there on the beach, looking into each other’s eyes, it took all my strength not to take her into my arms…
I wanted to hold her. Feel her heart beating, her skin against mine. Never let go.
“Ivy.” I ran my tongue over my lips. “Karlos’s goonforcedme to call you that day.” I tried to steady my voice. “And my father made it simple. End it with you, or he’d make good on his threats. It wasn’t a choice. I knew I was going to hurt you, but it was the only way I knew to keep you safe.”
Fury spiked through me like venom as my hands curled into fists.
“This is beyond belief.” Her expression crumbled. “I just thought he was a bit of a control freak,” she said, looking shaken.
“I wish that’s all it was. But I am trying to find a way out of this mess. Please don’t hate me. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“Karson, I’m sorry he put you—and us—in that position.” She moved a little closer. “And you’re right. He is crazy.”
A wave broke on the shore with a thunderous clap, when I looked at her again, she was standing even closer.
“But I saw the photos of youkissingthat woman.” Her lashes lowered. “They were everywhere. How do you explain that?”
“My father manipulated me into going to that stupid gala, using his usual currency—a barrage of threats. He set it up with Bella’s father for her to be my date.”
“Right. Well, I wish you could have told me all this before. It’s been hell on earth. At first, I didn’t think your message could be true. I waited for you to call me, to explain. But you didn’t. And then I saw those photos,” she said softly, biting down on her lip.
“Those photos are total bullshit. I can barely tolerate being around Bella. She’s not a bad person and has her own demons to deal with. But her and me? Yeah, no.”
Her gaze lifted to mine as I shook my head.
“I’ve been trying to figure out how to deal with this whole train wreck. I wanted to keep you out of it, to keep you safe. But, like you said, those photos were everywhere and I knew I had to explain. If I hadn’t gone to the gala, he would’ve fired Gus. I couldn’t let that happen—he has a daughter to support, he’s been like a father to me.”
