Meanwhile, Ivys body clenched tightly in self-defence. She knew exactly what they wanted to listen too. In a situation like this, the tormentor would only hit her with more force to see her break if she acted tough.

When the next hit came straight for her stomach again, she let out a cry of pain. It did hurt but being at the Lukes boxing gym prepared her for situations like this.

​​

"Aghhh."

It wasn't that hard to cry out, especially as it hurt. She felt something sticky trickle down her stomach and knew immediately her skin had broken.

"Record this, I'd like to rewatch this later."

Her head dropped as she struggled to breathe properly and her vision became extremely hazy. The pain in her stomach was burning now.

She squeezed her eyes shut as she felt her blood drip down her stomach. She could smell the iron from her blood.

She stifled a scream, gritted her teeth and glared at Eric as she didn't want to satisfy his bloodlust. She couldn't fake how she felt right now.

"Don't glare at me like that you slut."

He was offended that she had dared to look at him the wrong way. His laughter soon vanished from his face and it turned chillingly violent. He nodded to his guard, giving him the go-ahead.

Receiving the go-ahead the man pulled her hair and hit her right in the face. She winced when he roughly grabbed her chin and painfully squeezed it which caused more pain.

She seized this chance to suddenly surge her feet forward, driving her heels right into his leg.

"Slut."

She doesn't wait for his reaction before unexpectedly standing up.

"Bitch."

Using her training from her granda, she swung back and the heavy chair crashed right into the man in front of her.

Thomas assessed the room, all the men had to be armed and he knew they had years of fighting experience. He didn't see much hope but he had to try. He couldn't stand by and watch any more. Ivy was fighting back and so should he.

Thomas reached into the crate beside him and grabbed a gun he had thrown in there amongst the narcotics in the crate this morning. He fired the first shot at the man that had beaten Ivy ceasing his life quickly. The sound of the bullet had all heads snap in Thomas direction. The men drew their guns but Thomas wasted no time and fired more fatal shots at the men.

Eric rushed behind some of his guards and headed for the warehouse door, he did quickly into the darl night.

Taking this opportunity Thomas went to Ivys side and undid her ropes quickly and as easily as he could not to hurt her. He saw the bruising and blood from the rope burns from when she had obviously struggled.

"Ivy I'm so so sorry, it was all an act I swear. I would never hurt you, you are my family."

She gave him a small reassuring smile, happy she had her friend back. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"No I am sorry, I thought you betrayed me."

They had no more time, they heard the sound of rushing footsteps coming towards them.

"Stay behind me."

Thomas pushed Ivy behind his back as the shots rang out. Thomas dodged one, two, three but the fourth hit his right shoulder making him stagger backwards. He gritted his teeth and aimed his gun shooting.

The gun war raged on. Thomas took out one with a headshot, the second bullet straight to another thugs heart and so it continued. With little to no cover, Thomas thought about how to stall time till Noah arrived. His only thought was to save Ivy.

Another shot rang out and pierced into Thomas's thigh. He fell to the ground. He gripped Ivys hand pulling her close. While his breath was unsteady he whispered to Ivy as he held her arm.

"Run I will cover you."

"No Thomas, no we are leaving together."

Thomas wanted Ivy to run but that wasn't in her nature. She stood up and stood in front of her friend Thomas. If they were going to live they would do it together, the same if they were to die tonight they would go down fighting together.

Eric came back into the room he had a sleazy grin he laughed sinisterly.

"What a disappointment you are Thomas... Well, look at you, very brave Ivy. Standing in front of such an incompetent man. I don't know what Noah sees in either of you."

"Shut the fuck up, you were the first to run when Thomas took out his gun and fired."

Eric's smile wavered at her rebuttal.

"Men... Have your fun with her."

The eight men left walked towards her with a lustful us look in their gazes. It disgusted Ivy, she stood in from shielding Thomas and got in a defensive stance.

"Mr McCann."

Noah's deep cello-like voice filled the room and the men stopped in their footsteps and returned to their bosses side.

"Noah."

Ivy was happy to see her lover. She breathed a sigh of relief, she and Thomas wouldn't have to fight their way out.

Noah pulled Ivy to him, encircled his free arm around her shoulder before twisting him around. He pressed Ivys face to his shoulder, covering her eyes on purpose. Holding up his hand, he directed the gun at Eric's men and fired.

Ivy flinched in Noah's embrace but she didn't dare to turn around. She heard groans and thuds as all eight men fell to the ground one after another. She heard a few short breaths and the men gasping for breath before they ceased altogether.

"Are you all right?"

Ivy nodded her head as she heard the reassuring deep voice of her lover. She lifted up her hands, grasping Noah's arms. Happy to see him and relieved they were all safe.

"Your wrists are bleeding and there is blood on your hands."

Noah held her wrists in concern.

Thinking of the blood on her hands she remembered Thomas. She let go of Noah and she drops to the floor beside Thomas.

She shook his shoulder as his eyes were closed. Thomas opened his eyes, his breath is shaky.

"Noah."

Ivy looked up pleading with him to help Thomas.

Noah bent down on one knee beside Thomas. Looking at his wounds they were not life-threatening but he was losing too much blood.

"Aiden." Noah sighed.

Only then did Ivy notice Aiden was standing next to them.

"Send him to the hospital immediately. The wounds are none fatal but he's losing too much blood."

"Boss."

Thomas croaked up.

Noah bent down and Thomas informed him of Ivys beating. Noah gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Aiden takes Thomas, Matteo takes Ivy to the hospital."

Ivy saw Teo step forward and supported her off the ground. She looked at Noah, he had his gun held right in his hand and had his eyes intensely glared at Eric.

When Aiden came back he saw Eric's slight tremble in his hands.

"Noah, I have many more men and a lot of business contacts in the narcotics sector... I can be useful... You wouldn't hurt me because of a girl would you?"

Noah smirked.

"Sir Ivy and Thomas are on their way to the hospital."

Noah picked up Ivys broken chair that she had been beaten on, ripping one of its legs off in one fluid motion. He put his gun away for now and he sneered at Eric.

"Shall we begin?"