Novels by Divine Ivy

It had been a long time since Victor Hale had driven. Too long, if he counted the months properly.With his new car now in hand, he took it for a spin around Fairhaven, letting the engine hum beneath him as the city lights blurred past. The leather seat felt foreign, the steering wheel almost unfamiliar in his grip, but the motion itself brought back a sense of control he'd forgotten existed.Eventually, he found himself slowing down near a residential complex. He pulled over and cut the engine, staring at the entrance.Dexter Marsh lived here. His old classmate from college, his business partner from the startup days. Dexter still wasn't married, still lived with his parents in one of these modest apartments.Victor tightened his grip on the wheel. After the company went under, everything had fallen apart. His wife and children gone, his spirit shattered, he'd collapsed into himself and disappeared from the world. And while Victor had drowned himself in bottles and self-pity, Dexter

Vanessa Mercer froze when she heard that, then threw her head back and burst into laughter."Victor Hale! Did the alcohol rot your brain or something?"The saleswoman's eyes were fixed solely on Victor now, greeting him with the respect due a VIP customer, but Vanessa interrupted her.Vanessa tugged at the saleswoman's sleeve again."Honey, listen to me! I'm not lying to you! This man, he's an absolute animal. If it weren't for the fact that you treated me so well just now, I wouldn't even bother warning you about him. Seriously, this man, he..."Truth be told, if it weren't for the fact that Vanessa had just purchased a car from her, the saleswoman would have lost her temper long ago.After dealing with Vanessa perfunctorily, the young woman turned to Victor."Sir, why don't we step inside to talk? Would you prefer coffee or tea?""That won't be necessary."Victor pulled his bank card directly from his wallet and handed it over."I'll take this model. Do you have it in stock right no

After the taxi driver had helped him carry things upstairs earlier, Victor Hale gave him an extra fifty dollars when settling the fare.For ordinary working folks, a simple thank you was usually reward enough for lending a hand. But the cold, hard cash of fifty actual dollars pressed into his palm made the driver break into a grin that showed two rows of yellowed teeth. He turned and handed over a business card with obvious pleasure."If you ever need me again, just give me a call.""Will do."Watching the driver's cheerful back as he walked away, Victor felt a rush of emotion. Today had been nothing short of surreal. He'd nearly died at Bruno Kade's hands, and now he found himself moved almost to tears by the simple kindness of strangers.Stepping into the extended-stay apartment, Victor took in the clean, modern space with its two bedrooms and living area. His first thought went to his two children. He'd once bought his wife and kids a place even bigger than this, and the urge to ca

Victor Hale stood before them in his ill-fitting clothes, looking barely better than he had the day before. His hair was still a tangled mess.Roxy Delane studied him with little confidence. Yet right now, she had no choice but to trust him."What about the other matter?" she asked.The money problem was solved, but the secret between her and Bruno Kade remained unresolved.Last night, she had thought that sending Victor to the dark, god-forsaken escort house would ensure her secret with Bruno stayed buried.Now, Victor had emerged after just one night in that pitch-dark room. This issue still had to be dealt with.Victor smiled faintly, an inscrutable expression playing across his features."That's my ace in the hole. Why would I play it so easily?"Of course, if he were an idiot, he would have told Tubbs and the others last night at the escort house.Roxy nodded with satisfaction, grabbed her bag, and stood to leave.But Bruno had an entirely different idea.Bruno twisted his thick

"The hell are you looking at?"Faced with Victor Hale's naked humiliation, Bruno Kade felt rage surge through his chest. He clenched his fists and charged forward, fury propelling every step.Victor didn't spare the murderous Bruno a single glance. His gaze remained fixed on Roxy Delane, cold and unyielding, as though she were the only person in the room worth his attention.Roxy had been working the underworld since she was fourteen or fifteen. Victor's demand infuriated her just as much as it did Bruno, but she could not afford to cross him, not now, not with what was at stake."Bruno!"Bruno's fist was already raised, poised to strike. He wished he'd been born deaf so he could've ignored her and let the punch fly. But he hadn't, and he couldn't.Roxy didn't blush at Victor's nakedness. Instead, she stepped forward, closing the distance between them. With each step, her eyes sharpened, taking on a dangerous glint that could cut through steel."What exactly do you want?"Victor stood

Roxy sized Victor Hale up with contempt, her laughter cold as ice."You're trying to teach me about stocks? You lost everything yourself, Ha, and now you want to advise me? Look at yourself in the mirror."At this moment, Victor was barely distinguishable from a street beggar. His hair was matted and filthy, his appearance utterly wretched, and his clothes had clearly been worn for days on end. Anyone who got close enough could smell the revolting stench emanating from him.She was right. Looking like this, he had zero credibility."It doesn't matter if you don't believe me. By tomorrow afternoon at the latest, you'll come begging for my help." Victor's voice carried absolute confidence.In an instant, Bruno Kade's temper flared."You little punk! I think you're tired of living! How dare you talk to Roxy like that!"With those words, the hot-tempered Bruno's fist, large as a sandbag, flew forward.A heavy thud rang out as Victor, still bound to the chair, crashed to the floor. His hea