by K E Osborn
Void’s fingers come out tenderly stroking my hair. “Like what?”
I sigh. “My place in this club.”
His fingers stop in my hair, his body tensing under me. “What do you mean?”
“I dunno… maybe I’m coasting.”
He doesn’t reply, but he inhales sharply. I turn to peek up at him, his complexion turning pale.
I bolt upright, frowning at him. “Void?”
“Y-You wanna leave the club?”
I gasp. “No! Shit, no! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”
He lets out the breath he was holding. “Shit, Ivy! Then what the hell do you mean?”
I weakly smile. Void wraps his arm around me, his cheek resting on my head. “I mean, I feel like I should be doing more. I wanna… I dunno… be more a part of the club. Do more for it. Riding Reva today made me so freaking happy, so damn excited, that I felt like a part of myself was forming. Oh, hell, I can’t tell if I’m making any kind of sense right now.”
Void pulls me closer. “I understand completely. I know the feeling all too well. The first time I rode a bike, something clicked inside me, too. Let me talk to Nycto. You’re already running the crops and maintaining the Bricking Room, I’m not sure what else we can have you do when you’re not a patched member, but I will try.”
Gnawing on my bottom lip, warmth floods through me. I’ve never been more excited at the prospect of finding my place here. I thought I’d found it, but I want more. I don’t exactly know what more is, but after taking that next step and riding today, I have a buzz, a thrill for this life. I want to live like these Bastards do, I want to feel the rush of everything they conquer. I just have no idea about how that can even happen.
As I snuggle into Void, loving the fact he’s going to check into it for me, I hear footsteps pound outside the Brick Cell. I peek up just as Dash walks in. His eyes are bright when he spots me, but then they dim when he sees me wrapped up in Void. He clears his throat, glancing up to the television as if to appear uninterested. “It’s time to cultivate if you’re up for it?”
Void groans as I detach from him. I plant a small kiss on Void’s cheek, then stand. I walk out of the cell toward Dash, and we head for the crops. Contentment swarms through me when Void stays put in my room, he’s obviously going to wait for me to come back later.
“So, is this a new thing? You and Void?” Dash asks, his voice sounding somewhat forlorn as we enter the crop area.
“Kinda… the kissing is new.”
Dash scrunches up his face, and he’s definitely coming across a little jealous. Still, I have no idea what to say to alleviate his concerns.
We get to work, starting the process of harvesting the mature plants. I keep to myself while pondering Dash’s actions. I can’t understand why he’s envious of Void? I’ve never had a guy jealous over me before. There’s definite tension in the air as Dash keeps to himself on the other side of the room.
Actually, I’m a little deflated that my good friend is keeping me at arm’s length when we’ve been nothing but good pals up to this point.
The tension in the air is thick, but we’ve gathered what we need to take to Whiskey who will ship it to Trixie’s café.
I box the items up and turn to Dash. “Are we okay? I don’t like this…” I wave my hands around, “… us not talking.”
Dash exhales, putting down his clipboard, and he turns to me. “You know what, Ivy… no, we’re not okay.”
My eyes widen as I stand taller. “Okay… talk to me.”
Dash moves in, stepping right into my space, taking my hand in his. The move shocks me as I scrunch my brows together. “Why him, Ivy? Why Void?”
I jerk my head back. “I… I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
“Okay, let me rephrase… why not me? We have such good chemistry together.”
I gasp, jerk my hand away from his, and take a step back. “Dash… no… we’re friends—”
Dash is quick to step into my space again cutting me off, and now the desperation is clear in his eyes. “But we don’t have to be. Ivy, please, don’t you feel this?” He grabs my hand placing it over his chest.
Tears well in my eyes, while my bottom lip trembles.
I shake my head. “It’s him, Dash… it’s always been him.”
His face pales as his breathing shallows. He drops my hand from his chest, and I back away again. “I… I’m sorry. I’m still your friend. I’ll always be your friend.”
Dash turns and walks away, leaving me in the lab to deal with his revelation.
Now, I have to try to figure out whether I tell Void, or just let this—whatever the hell that was—fizzle out on its own.
The Next Day
Eva’s gone all out! The decorations are entirely over the top. From what I’ve read up on Labor Day, it isn’t even a big holiday here, people mainly just enjoy the long weekend, so why we’re celebrating it, I have no idea. But honestly, any chance for a party is a good one.
The Miami brothers are here, causing a ruckus. I wanted to stay downstairs, but Void told me not to be so rude and stay upstairs until we have at least eaten. Then I can go back to my cell and be the recluse I enjoy. Plus, I’m trying to avoid Dash, but no one else knows that.
Hatch, Hype, and Nycto are playing pool. Don’t even ask me how three men can play pool, I have no fricking clue how that works. Sage, Eva, and our club girls are hanging out around the kitchen as the music blasts loudly through the main bunker.
I stand back people watching, sipping on a Cuba Libre. Stacey makes them so freaking good, and I can’t stop at one.
Honestly, I really want to go for a ride. Let my hair down, open the throttle, be one with the open road. I have an itch. I need Void to teach me, I’m dying for it. He notices me from across the room, his posture changing when he does. His muscles relax, his face softens as he turns to walk over to me. “What are you doing standing over here by yourself? You should be out there enjoying the party?”
“Labor Day! It isn’t even something you celebrate massively, is it?”
“What’s got you all tied in knots?” He chuckles.
My eyes meet his. Dash told me he has feelings for me. “I wanna learn to ride.”
His lips turn up, and his eyes sparkle. “You’ve caught it.”
“Huh?”
“The bug. The need to ride. To feel the adrenaline coursing through your veins.” He grabs my drink, placing it on a nearby table. “C’mon.” He takes my hand, leading me outside.
“Where are we—”
“You wanna learn to ride? You’re gonna learn to ride, sweet thing.”
My veins pump full of excitement as I bound quickly behind him. “Now? But everyone’s here?”
“No one will even notice we are gone. They’re too busy drinking.”
He’s not wrong.
“Okay, let’s do this.”
He walks me over to a smaller motorbike than Reva, pulling out the keys from his pocket and dangling them in front of my face. “Do as I say. You ride slow. Don’t do anything fucking stupid. Got it?”
I nod in complete understanding, then jump on.
Void grabs a helmet from the fence, pops it over my head, and straps it on. He opens the ignition switch, spinning the key clockwise, then flicks the cover back over, turning it to ignition. The green light shines in neutral, then he moves back. “First thing you gotta learn is how to reverse. Kick up the stand, pull the bike up, and walk back with your feet.”
I do as he says. It’s heavy, but not so heavy I can’t do it. I sit properly on the bike, duck walking it backward. The surge of power roaring through me is second to none. I’ve never felt more alive than I do right now.
“Okay, now you’re in position, move to the right handlebar. The right button reads ‘run,’ click it to on.”
I gnaw on my bottom lip, pushing it down.
“Now, the fun part. Right next to it is the start button, check you’re still in neutral,
then when you’re good to go, press down on start.”
I bounce on the seat a little, then calm my excitement. Looking down, the N is still green, so I move my finger to the start button and press down on it.
The bike roars to life, and I let out a happy squeal.
Void shakes his head. “Keep your cool, Ivy.”
I nod, pulling my shit together. I take in a deep breath as I let the bike warm. I turn to Void. “I can’t believe you’re letting me ride her without you.”
“I trust you.” He doesn’t hesitate, or flinch, or waver. He says it so openly and honestly that it fills me with nothing but confidence. “You ready to ride, sweet thing?”
I bob my head. “Yep!”
“Then, pull back on the throttle, easing into it, take the corners slowly. Don’t go too fast, okay?” he calls out, but I have already ridden off and am halfway across the concrete raised section. I’m not going anywhere near fast enough for the wind to whip at my hair, but it’s enough for me to get a feel of the bike and to get even more of a taste of what riding’s like. It’s smooth, almost effortless. I have no clue how I’m adapting to this so damn easy, but it’s like this is the only thing I’m meant to do with my life. I want West to open the gates and let me out. Let me ride openly and free with the wind, but Void absolutely won’t let me do that, so I turn back toward him. The smile on his face is so fucking wide.
This is helping so much with the tension I’m holding onto inside about Dash’s confession. So, I’m just going to let it go and ride. I can’t help but notice Nycto, Eva, and Hatch from Miami, standing out with Void now watching me. I thought having an audience would terrify me, but all it does is spur me on. I want to show them I can do this. I might be little, I might be a virgin, but those things don’t define my character. I’m stronger than they all give me credit for. Right now, it’s like I can do anything.
I ride past them, Eva’s laughing as I go. “Wooo hooo… go, Ivy! You show these guys how it’s done.”
As I turn heading back the way I came, I grin like the Cheshire cat. I wish I could ride forever, but I know I can’t. I have to go back inside at some point, plus I shouldn’t waste the gas. Eventually, and hesitantly, I pull to a stop right next to them.
Eva claps loudly as Void comes to my side.
He winks at me but continues his lesson. “Okay, to shut her down, hit the run switch to off.”
I move to the right-hand switch and regrettably flick it off. The bike shuts down, the vibration coming to a halt as I inhale sharply.
Void’s eyes connect with mine. “You did great. Well done! Changed gears at the exact right time. You’re a natural.”
“That’s my sister, constantly surprising us. You’re amazing, Ivy,” Eva boasts as Nycto stands back with his arms crossed.
“Pretty badass for a small thing like you to ride a bike like that, Ivy. I’m impressed. A little turned on even—”
“Go get another drink, Hatch.” Void glares, interrupting him as I giggle to myself.
“Yep,” Hatch agrees, spinning around and walking back down the ramp to head inside the bunker, stumbling as he goes. He’s already had quite a few drinks by the looks of it.
“You ride well, Ivy. Void’s doing the right thing teaching you,” Nycto states.
“You think?”
“Just don’t get too complacent. Otherwise, you’ll end up like Void. How are your ribs, VP?” Nycto jabs, raising his brow.
Eva elbows Nycto in the side, so he turns to walk back down the ramp.
Eva lets out an exasperated huff. “Sorry, he’s worried you’ll hurt yourself. He’s only snapping out of concern. That’s all.”
I exhale. “I get it. But honestly, Eva, I felt good. I know I can handle this.”
“Yeah, you can. Nycto’s angry at me, not you, Ivy,” Void insists.
“Okay. I’m gonna park, then we’ll get back to the party.”
“Good fucking idea. I need a damn drink,” Void urges.
I wince as I watch Eva run off after Nycto. “It’ll be okay. Everything will work out, you’ll see.”
“You always have such enthusiasm about everything, but not everything always works out perfectly, Ivy.”
I contemplate how right he just might be while parking the bike.
***
This party sucks!
Everyone is wasted while I sit back wishing I were downstairs in my own little safe space inside my bubble. Instead, I’m up here trying to keep an eye on Void because it seems like whatever happened between him and Nycto outside has gotten to him. Now, he’s at the bar drinking. I don’t want him to hurt himself because he’s still recovering from the crash and taking painkillers. So, mixing them with alcohol can’t be good for him.
I just wish I knew how to help Void when he gets lost in his head like this. I have gone from such a high to now I’m sitting on my own on the sofa behind the pool table like a loser. I guess I’m glad everyone else is having a great time. As I sip on my second Cuba Libre for the night, Dash strides over with a slight wobble in his step. Oh shit! He flashes his pearly whites at me as he flops on the sofa beside me, his arm instantly wrapping around my shoulders. “Hey, good lookin’, heard you went for a solo ride tonight.”
“Are you drunk?” I tease.
Dash pouts out his bottom lip, his eyes shifting to the ceiling. “Hmm… maybe a smidge.” His free hand comes up, indicating a small gap between his thumb and pointer finger.
My hand taps his knee as I chuckle. “You need to remember how you’re gonna feel in the morning when you’re up bright and early doing all your prospect duties.”
A blank expression crosses his face. “Shiiit! You’re right. So, so right. How can you be so fucking perfect all the time?”
I furrow my brows. “Is that meant to be a compliment or an insult?”
His eyes widen so much, I’m scared if he tries any harder, his eyeballs might pop right out of his head. “No. Shit no. It’s a compliment, Ivy. You amaze me… all the time, like fucking constantly.”
“Dash… no, I’m nothing. Just a girl who hides in a Brick Cell.”
Dash’s irises darken as he focuses on me. “You’re a woman, Ivy. A woman who has me completely torn up inside.” His eyes glisten as his hand behind me moves into the back of my hair.
I gasp as he leans in, his lips puckered.
My hands move to shove him off me, but I don’t make it in time.
Chapter Thirteen
VOID
Yanking Dash up by his cut before Ivy can push him off her, Dash wobbles on his feet.
He’s wasted, but it doesn’t give him the right to kiss her if she doesn’t want it.
“Oh, hey, Voi—”
Pulling my fist back, I slam it straight into Dash’s eye socket making him spin, flying face-first into the pool table. My knuckles hurt like a bitch, but it’s nothing compared to the pain searing through my side. I need to be careful, but right now, when I look at Dash, all I see is fucking red.
I reach out, grabbing his cut, but as I do, he turns with all his energy pushing forward, ramming me back. I let out a groan as the agony in my ribs sends an intense pain through me. So much so, I can’t fucking breathe as he slams me down to the floor. I can’t function for even a second through the pain before his fist comes back, slamming straight into my jaw. The drunken assholes all cheer, enjoying the brawl rather than moving in to end it.
“Stop it,” Ivy screams, but Dash doesn’t let up, slamming me with another fist into my eye socket this time.
Suddenly, Dash is knocked away from me, and when I look up, Ivy’s standing there shaking out her hand while Dash is gawking at her, rubbing his face.
Did she just hit him?
“That’s enough! You two are fucking ridiculous. And Dash, hitting Void in the ribs, what were you thinking?” Ivy berates.
Nycto walks over, rubbing his chin in disapproval. “Prospect, you don’t attack the VP and not have consequences. Go to the chapel now. Void,
go to your room to sleep this off. Party’s over for both of you.”
I try to stand, still finding it hard to breathe as I cough a couple of times.
Ivy moves into my side, helping me up. “You’re a damn idiot… but… thank you,” she whispers in my ear as she leads me through the drunken bikers to the hall.
“I know Dash wanted you to choose him, Ivy. I overheard him in the lab last night. Then seeing him try to kiss you just now… fuck.”
Ivy grimaces as we enter my room, and she takes me over to my bed and lays me down.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It’s not because I felt bad for him or anything, it’s because you’re hurt, and I just… I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t want you worked up and get hurt even more, trying to knock him out.”
I exhale, shaking my head. “I don’t care how fucking hurt I get, Ivy. I will always fight for what’s mine!”
She huffs, leaning in and grabbing the hem of my shirt. “Take off your shirt, I need to check your ribs.”
I help her take off my shirt, and she winces. “Shit, Void! Dammit! The bruising’s worse. Maybe I should get Nerve in here?”
I wave my hand through the air dismissively. “He’s drunk, he’ll be no help.”
Ivy slowly sits on the bed beside me. “Can you take a deep inhale of air for me?”
I somehow find the strength to smirk. “You going all ‘medical Ivy’ on me now?”
She rolls her eyes. “Just appease me, will you?”
I inhale as deep as I can. It hurts, but I’m able to do it. I have to admit, it does relieve me as I was concerned when I was winded out there that my fractured rib might have punctured my lung. It hurt that fucking much, and I couldn’t get a breath.
“Good! Now stay here, I need to get some ice for your… fucking everything.”
She stands, and I reach out, grabbing her arm. She turns back to me, and I stare into her eyes. “Thank you...”
“It’s not him I want, Void.” She leans down, placing an extremely gentle kiss on my lips.
