Marked To Be Theirs

CHAPTER 2

Ivy’s POV

The police officer looked at me like I was wasting his time and maybe I was.

"Ma'am we can't do anything about threatening text messages from an unknown number," he said while clicking his pen in a rhythm that made me want to scream. "You need actual proof that your ex is violating the restraining order."

I pulled down the bandage on my neck to show him the cut. "Is this not proof enough?"

"Did anyone see him attack you?"

"No but I know it was him."

The officer sighed like I was a child who needed simple concepts explained. "Without witnesses or video evidence there's nothing we can do and even if we could prove it was him a small cut like that would maybe get him a warning at best."

I left the police station feeling more hopeless than when I walked in. Jeremy knew exactly how to terrorize me without leaving enough evidence to get himself in real trouble. He had always been smart like that.

My phone rang and Maya's name flashed on the screen. I let it go to voicemail because I did not have the energy to pretend everything was fine. She called twice more before finally giving up and sending a text instead.

*Girl you better call me back or I'm showing up at your apartment*

I texted back that I was busy with a commission and would call her later. The lie came easily because I had been lying to Maya about Jeremy for months. She knew we had a bad breakup but she did not know about the drugs or the violence or the way he used to hold me down and do whatever he wanted while I begged him to stop.

Some things were too ugly to share even with your best friend.

I drove to my art studio which was really just a converted garage. Jeremy did not know about it which made it the only place I felt safe anymore.

I had three commissions due by the end of the month and I had barely started any of them. My creativity had died somewhere around the time Jeremy got out of prison and I could not seem to find it again no matter how hard I tried.

I stared at a blank canvas for an hour before giving up and scrolling through my phone instead. Xavier's business card was tucked into my phone case and I found myself looking at it more often than I wanted to admit.

*Call me if you ever need someone to talk to*

The rational part of my brain said that reaching out to a stranger was stupid but the desperate part of my brain that was tired of being scared all the time said that maybe talking to a therapist would not be the worst idea.

I called the number before I could talk myself out of it.

"Xavier Hall speaking," his voice was warm even over the phone.

"Hi, this is Ivy Clark from the gallery," I said. "You gave me your card and said I could call if I needed to talk."

There was a pause and I could hear something shuffling on his end. "Of course I remember you and I'm glad you called but I should be clear that if you want therapy we would need to set up a proper appointment through my office."

"Right sorry," I said and felt stupid for calling. "I'll just hang up now."

"Wait," Xavier said quickly. "I didn't mean it like that and if you need someone to talk to right now I'm happy to listen as a friend not as your therapist."

Friend felt like too generous a word for someone I had met once but I was too tired to argue. "I'm just having a hard time lately and I don't really have anyone I can talk to about it."

"Do you want to meet for coffee?" Xavier asked. "I have a break between clients in an hour."

I should have said no but instead I heard myself agreeing and giving him the address of a cafe near my studio. I hung up and immediately regretted it because meeting up with Xavier made my heart beat with anxiety. The cafe was small and mostly empty when I arrived. Xavier was already there sitting in a corner booth with two cups of coffee in front of him.

"I got you a vanilla latte," he said when I sat down. "You mentioned at the gallery that it was your favorite."

I had mentioned that in passing to Maya while Xavier was standing nearby and the fact that he remembered made something in my chest tighten. "Thank you but you really didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to," Xavier said simply. "So what's going on?"

I wrapped my hands around the warm cup and tried to figure out where to start. "My ex got out of prison a few weeks ago and he's been harassing me but the police won't do anything about it because I can't prove it's him."

Xavier's expression darkened. "What was he in prison for?"

"Assault and drug possession," I said. "He got five years but apparently good behavior got him out early."

"And now he's threatening you?"

I nodded and pulled down my scarf to show him the cut on my neck. "He cornered me in the storage room at my gallery last night and held a knife to my throat."

Xavier's eyes flashed gold again and this time there was no mistaking it. He reached across the table and his fingers hovered over the cut without actually touching it.

"Did you report this to the police?" His voice was tight with barely controlled anger.

"They said they can't do anything without proof," I said. "And honestly I'm not sure it would matter if they could because Jeremy always finds a way around the system."

Xavier pulled his hand back and ran it through his hair. "I have some connections with people who might be able to help but I need you to trust me."

"I don't even know you," I said.

"You know that I bought your art because it spoke to something in me," Xavier said. "You know that I gave you my number and told you to call anytime and you know that I'm sitting here right now instead of with my next client because you needed someone."

He was right but trusting people had not worked out well for me in the past. "What kind of connections?"

"The kind that operate outside normal legal channels," Xavier said carefully. "I can't say more than that without knowing if you're willing to accept help."

This felt like a trap but I was desperate enough to consider it anyway. "And what would this help cost me?"

"Nothing," Xavier said. "I'm offering because I can't stand the thought of you being hurt by someone who should have stayed locked up."

Something about the way he said it made me believe him. "Okay but I need you to promise that whatever you do won't make things worse."

"I promise," Xavier said and his golden eyes held mine until I had to look away.

We talked for another hour about everything except Jeremy. Xavier told me about his photography and his therapy practice and how he had always been drawn to people who hid their pain behind art. I told him about my paintings and how sometimes I felt like I was channeling something I did not understand.

"Have you ever felt like there's a part of yourself you can't access?" I asked without really meaning to.

Xavier's expression shifted to something almost knowing. "Every day of my life."

My phone buzzed with another text from an unknown number and my stomach dropped when I read it.

*Coffee with another man already? You move fast princess*

I looked around the cafe but I could not see Jeremy anywhere. Xavier noticed my panic and took my phone to read the message.

"He's watching you," Xavier said and his voice was cold in a way that made me shiver. "That changes things."

"What do you mean?"

Xavier stood up and pulled out his own phone. "I mean I'm calling in those connections right now and you're not going home tonight."

"I can't just leave my apartment," I said.

"You can and you will," Xavier said. "Jeremy knowing where you live and where you go means you're not safe anywhere he expects you to be."

He made a quick call to someone named Red and the conversation was tense but short. When he hung up he looked at me with an expression I could not read.

"My brother has a place you can stay," Xavier said. "It's not much but Jeremy won't know about it."

"I don't want to impose on your family," I said even though the idea of not being alone tonight was appealing.

"You're not imposing," Xavier said. "Red owes me a favor anyway and this will make us even."

I wanted to argue but another text came through with a photo attached. It was a picture of me sitting in the cafe with Xavier and the angle suggested Jeremy was somewhere across the street watching us right now.

*Careful princess. I don't like sharing what's mine*

Xavier saw the photo and his entire body went rigid. "We're leaving now through the back door and you're going to follow me to Red's place without stopping anywhere else."

"You're scaring me," I said.

"Good," Xavier said. "You should be scared because he is escalating faster than I thought and that means we don't have time to waste."

I followed Xavier out the back door and into an alley where his car was parked. He opened the passenger door for me and waited until I was inside before getting in himself.

"What about my car?" I asked.

"Leave it," Xavier said while starting the engine. "He probably knows what you drive and following you would be too easy."