by K E Osborn
Nycto lets out a laugh. “Holy shit! Who are you, and what have you done with Void?”
I scowl. “The fuck you talking about?”
“I believe you just admitted you care about Ivy.”
“Yeah, I do. I know… I’m Void, and I don’t care about anyone, but I do care about her. Can we drop it?”
Nycto fights his smile. “You owe me nothing, VP. Just seeing she’s affecting that cold, dead heart of yours is payment enough for me. I made this financial mess, I’ll clean it up. Anyway, were you after something?”
I walk over, sliding the two envelopes across the table. “I received these in the clubhouse mail. The photos a week ago, the key just now.”
Nycto hesitates, his eyes lingering on me like he’s aware this isn’t going to be good. He exhales, picking up both envelopes. He opens the first one, the key drops on to the table. Then flicks open the other, pulling the pictures out. He studies one. “This is from when you wrecked a couple of weeks back?” I drop my chin. “Hmm…” He picks up the key, assessing what’s written on the tag. His eyes shoot to me. “This true?”
“Yeah, yesterday.”
Nycto lets out a surprised chuckle. “Well, shit! Congrats? Is that even what you say in this situation?”
“Prez, concentrate.” I groan.
Nycto looks back down at the photographs in front of him. “You see anyone while you were out of your head?”
“Hard to say… I saw a lot of shit while I was tripping.”
“You have any clue who it could be?”
“I have a couple of ideas. My main one right now, though, is the DeLucas seeing as on the key it’s brought Ivy into it, and they already had someone tail us taking pictures. Maybe they’re seeking out some kind of sick form of revenge for us taking Ivy, even though they got what they needed in the end. You know the saying…”
“Never trust a DeLuca,” Nycto finishes. “Okay, we need to check it out before this gets out of hand. We’ll ride out there to see what Tony has to say.”
“Thanks, Prez, appreciate it.”
***
Riding Reva is different. I can’t explain why. Maybe because I bought this ride with Ivy, I have more of a connection to her. There’s just something about it which makes everything disappear, and all my troubles seem so far away. Though in the back of my mind, I know when we arrive at Tony’s house in Jacksonville, trouble’s going to be the first thing I find.
We ride up to the large, white driveway, then pull into the drive. Guards walk down the path, a six-man gun salute waiting for us as we park. I side-eye Nycto, who doesn’t even bat an eyelid. Nycto, Whiskey, Ominous, and I jump off and start the walk toward the front door, but the guards halt us.
“What the fuck do you want… bastards?”
The other guards cackle as if that was some sort of insult.
I roll my eyes at the cunt. If we found the word bastard derogatory, we wouldn’t have named our club that way. Dickhead!
“Need to speak to Tony, it’s important,” Nycto grunts out, obviously as unimpressed as I am.
“He’s had his fill of you. He has no need to speak to you bastards again.” They all snicker once more as I let out a groan.
“Okay, that’s gonna get old real fucking fast. Tell Tony we’re here, or I start shooting,” I demand, pulling out my gun and aiming it at the stupid idiot.
They all point their guns at me as the front door opens, and Tony steps out. “Abbastanza!
They lower their weapons while I do the same.
Tony assesses the four of us. “Dash isn’t with you?”
Nycto hesitates. “Ahh, no. He’s… indisposed.”
“Hmm… pity. Mia would love to see him again.”
“Children do love playing with other children,” I mumble.
Nycto glares at me as Tony waves his hand through the air. “Come. Obviously, we have things to discuss.”
We follow Tony, but Nycto pulls me aside. “Behave your-fucking-self. No exceptions!”
Nodding, we walk through to an open living room—the place is enormous. Tony gestures for everyone to take a seat, so I move to the giant chesterfield armchair at the end of the leather sofas. Everyone widens their eyes, shaking their heads as I go to sit.
Tony sneers. “It appears your VP doesn’t know protocol, Nycto.”
Everyone’s staring at me. “What?”
Tony purses his lips. “Generally, I sit first. I also sit in the same chair every time.”
I scoff. “Well, Tony, you’re dealing with the Royal Bastards. And from what I’ve been told, we’re at a truce. So you’re no better than us, we’re no better than you. That custom doesn’t stand with us if we’re supposed to be equals.”
Tony glances at Nycto, but he shrugs. “He’s got a point, Tony.”
Tony shudders but walks to the leather sofa sitting next to his chesterfield armchair. I am sure it’s taking everything in him not to pull his gun and shoot me. “You’re strong-willed, Void. It’s either going to get you far or… get you killed. I haven’t decided which one yet.”
I shrug. “Hopefully, both. Just one a little later than the other.”
Tony chuckles. “Now, what is it I can do you for?”
I sit forward in his chair, my hands on my knees as I exhale. “We had a threat come through to the club toward me and Ivy. I need to make sure it wasn’t you.”
Tony stands abruptly, running his fingers through his hair, sheer panic crossing his features. “You need to keep Ivy protected. If you can’t, then bring her here. I need her, Void. I need her blood for Mia, it’s too valuable. I’ll probably need her again in the future. You have to protect her!”
I scoff at the righteous asshole. “You’re only concerned about the blood Ivy contains, not her as a person. Great!”
Tony shakes his head. “That came out wrong, but my main concern is always to Mia. If you’ve ever loved someone, Void, you’d understand the lengths you will go to, to protect them.”
“So, this threat wasn’t you or your men, Tony?” Nycto asks just for clarification.
“No. Ivy’s too important. But my offer stands. You need somewhere for her, my home is her safe haven.”
“Not happening, but we will keep you updated on what’s going on,” I tell him.
“Please do. And Void?”
I stand, turning to face him. “Yeah?”
“Look after her. She deserves a strong man.”
I dip my chin at him as I turn with my brothers in tow, and we head for the door to make the long journey back to Tampa. Now, I just need to figure out if we tell Eva and Ivy about what’s going down, or whether we continue to keep it quiet.
One thing I know for sure, blocking Ivy out, building a wall hasn’t done me any good so far, but telling her someone’s watching us is going to scare her unnecessarily.
I don’t want that, not now she’s finally starting to blossom.
I have to play this cool.
Try to see what I can figure out before I go to her with the information.
First things first, I need Voltage to sweep the Brick Cell and my room for bugs.
Chapter Sixteen
IVY
Void’s off on some job with Nycto. He thinks I haven’t clicked that something’s up, but the man’s been tense for days. Sure, he loosened up a little after we fucked, but it didn’t take him long to go back to being apprehensive as hell.
Me, though, since we had sex, I feel different. Not because I lost my virginity, that’s a cliché, but because it’s finally like a part of me has been unlocked. I let myself go with Void during sex. I let myself be free. I let poison Ivy out. I tried to hide her back in Cuba, wanted to fight her off by being this extroverted young woman who had so many friends. I was always the life of the party. Because I was hiding the fact that deep down, I wanted to tear the bitchy girl’s hair out by the roots until her bleached blonde hai
r was drowning in blood, or slice the popular guy’s balls off for slapping my ass one too many times, then post them to his unsuspecting girlfriend.
There was something in me I knew wasn’t right, but I kept fighting it.
However, here, at the club, that part of me I can completely embrace.
I don’t have to hide.
I don’t have to feel ashamed for thinking that way.
Plus, if I want to slice a guy’s balls off for being an asshole to me, I know Void and the club would happily let me. Hell, they’ll be by my side cheering me on.
Taking a breath, I stand in the Bricking Room, right in front of the section of brick where I enclosed Andrés in the wall, sealing him to his death. My life has changed so much since I was taken from Cuba. That night I was terrified, and Eva was the one keeping me together, but honestly being drugged and taken from Cuba to Tampa, then Nycto stealing us was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.
Meeting Void has filled an emptiness inside me. Now I’m able to be who I want to be here because of him, which is a slightly messed-up introvert who loves the darkness.
I stare at the wall blankly.
Is Andrés decaying under there?
What is his disgusting body like?
Am I completely fucked up for wondering about these kinds of morbid things?
Footsteps trample down the stairs, but I don’t look to see who’s coming. I already know from the sound of the thump of the boots that it’s Void. He makes his way over to me, standing by my side. I casually glance at him, his face softening. “You reflecting on what happened to Andrés?”
I shrug. “I’m glad he’s in there. I just have this urge in me, this darkness that I question if I should be scared of or not.”
Void reaches out, pulling me to him in a tight embrace, a move not often shown. I wrap my arms around him, cuddling into him completely.
“That little bit of darkness in you, Ivy, is what scares me, not in the fact that it’s bad, but because it’s so fucking good. Your darkness matches mine. I’m fucked in the head, but I don’t want to drag you down with me.”
I pull back, peeking up at him. “If you’re going down, Void, then I want to come along for the ride. Bricking Andrés behind this wall made me more alive than anything I can ever think of… beside you being inside of me, of course.”
Void’s eyes meet mine, there’s nothing but adoration shining back in them. “And that right there is how I know you belong at this club… that you belong with me.”
I lean up on my toes, kissing him. My lips pop and tingle as they always do when I kiss Void. Wrapping my arms around him, his fingers move straight to my ass as I push him up against the bricks holding Andrés’ dead corpse. My clit begins to throb as I press my body against Void’s, needing a little friction. His cock grows hard as we kiss frantically, our hands going everywhere.
Is it wrong that I’m turned on by the fact we’re making out right next to the body of the man I killed?
Yeah, we’re both fucked in the head.
But I love every messed-up second of my life right now.
A Week Later
In the last week, Void’s been a little better with his moods. He’s still tense, but with us basically fucking like rabbits, I’m sure it relieves some of the tension he’s feeling. I wish he would open up to me about whatever it is that’s eating him up.
Dash is still not back, and it makes me a little more anxious about his whereabouts. I’ve tried calling him, but it continues to go to voicemail, and my texts are going unread. I want to talk to Nycto about it, but I’m worried if Void found out, it could be misconstrued into something that’s just not there.
Sitting in the main bunker eating my lunch at the table, Stacey walks in as happy as ever. She’s carrying a parcel as she slides it across the table toward me. “Delivery for you, Ivy.”
“For me?”
“You not expecting anything?”
“Don’t think so. But I was online shopping the other night, maybe I ended up buying something in my sleepy haze.”
“Ah, the old sleep-shopping trick. Done it many a time. I gotta get back to the bar, but I hope it’s something good, at least.”
I snort out a laugh. “It’s probably completely useless,” I tell her as she walks off.
Pulling the tape off, I crack open the lid. A red rose sits on top of some sexy black lingerie. My eyes widen as I try to stop my lips from turning upward in approval. Taking out the rose, I bring it to my nose, smelling it.
I had no idea Void had a romantic side.
Honestly, I never saw this coming.
I grab the string of the lacy top, pulling it out of the box. I furrow my brows when something wet coats my fingers. Looking at my skin, there’s a pattern of red liquid. “What in the?” I spin back to the box, lifting the piece of lingerie out, then let out a loud shriek shoving the box away from me. It falls off the end of the table, the contents dropping on the floor, the bloodied heart landing with a sickening thump on the floor, rolling a few times before coming to a stop.
I stand, wiping my bloodied hands on my leggings in an attempt to get the blood off me as Void, Voltage, Ominous, and Nycto rush over to the commotion.
Void hurries to my side, but I throw the rose at him, then shove him in the chest. “Why! Why would you send me this? Whose heart is that? Is that Dash?” I scream at him, gaining everyone’s attention.
Frown lines crease Void’s forehead, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he simply looks from me to the heart on the floor.
“Fuck you, Void! I get we’re both twisted, but killing Dash is not okay.” I storm off, tears welling in my eyes.
I need to get away from him right now.
I can’t believe he did this.
I make my way to my room, the tears won’t stop falling down my face. I know Void and I are in this discovery phase of our relationship, but that? That shit’s taking it too damn far.
Dash was my friend, and Void killed him.
I’m just not sure if I can ever forgive Void for this.
VOID
Adrenaline spikes, not only because Ivy has taken off believing this is from me, but because it’s obviously another package from the same assholes who are targeting me, and now they’re coming for Ivy.
“Voltage, grab the heart and do some testing. You and Nerve do whatever you need to do to figure out who it belongs to,” Nycto calls out, then turns to me. “Void, you need to get your head in the game right now.”
“This is from the same people who are targeting me, I’m sure of it.”
“It’s a threat… a warning. You need to take Ivy and go to a safe house. Talk to Demon from Savannah, use theirs, it’s far enough away to get you out of town for a while. It’s between Savannah and Tampa, so if you meet any shit, either of the clubs can come to you. Both of you are obviously not safe here.”
I roll my shoulders. “Yeah, just gotta convince Ivy.”
“First step is telling her you didn’t send it. After that, it should be easy, brother.”
I grip his shoulder, then spin, taking off for the stairs.
“Someone get Dash on the line, make sure he’s okay,” I hear Nycto call out as I run down the stairs.
Ivy’s sobs echo through the Bricking Room as I enter, and it rips my heart apart because she assumes I could betray her like that, but also because she’s that bent up over Dash.
It stings.
But I have to accept, in some way, she cares about him.
As I walk to her room, her eyes lift to meet mine, and she curls up her lip. Instantly, she hurtles one of her calming candles at me. I swerve out of the way when she unleashes it at me.
“How could you, you sonofabitch? Dash was my friend! I get you’re jealous that he has feelings for me, but killing him and sending me his heart? What in the actual fuck were you thinking? You egotistical, maniacal, fucked-up coward! Urgh!” She throws another candle my way, this one barely missing, then she flop
s on the bed in a huff.
Walking over to her as she softly cries into her pillow, I sit beside her to pull her into my arms. She tries to pull away, but I won’t let her. “It wasn’t me, Ivy,” I whisper.
She sniffles, stopping her aggressive movements as she glimpses up at me. Wiping under her eyes, recognition clicks over her features. “The box wasn’t from you?”
I shake my head. “It was a threat.”
She pulls back, her eyes widen as she gasps. “Shit! What does it mean?”
“It means we need to leave. Go somewhere safe.”
“But won’t whoever sent it just find us?”
I tense, but try not to give myself away. “Hopefully not.”
Her eyes begin to water again, her bottom lip trembling. “Was the heart…”
I reach out for her hand. “We aren’t sure whose it is. Voltage and Nerve are checking it out now. It might not be Dash.”
She closes her eyes, letting out a long exhale. “Fucking hell!” She sniffles again, opening her eyes, looking right at me. “I’m sorry I blamed you. The lingerie… the rose… I thought—”
“It’s okay. I’m not mad, but I do need you to pack some shit. We’ll get on the road as soon as we can.”
“How long will we be gone?”
My muscles seize. “Honestly, sweet thing, I have no idea. I’m kinda winging this.”
A pained expression crosses her face. “I’ve only ever been apart from Eva when I went to Tony’s, and I don’t want to be away from her again.”
“Ivy… the threat is to you and me. I don’t know who it is, but the targets are clear. We need to get out of here. For your safety, and for Eva’s, we need to leave.”
She wipes under her eyes. “What do you mean? How do you know it’s for us both?”
“I received some packages as well, targeted at me. This last one was obviously aimed at you…´ rolling my shoulders, I exhale, “… seeing as whoever this is came for us both, we need to make the move and leave for everyone’s safety.”
