by K E Osborn
She scrunches up her face like this saddens her, but she nods. “Okay. Can I at least say goodbye?”
I lean in, planting a kiss on her forehead. “We’re leaving in fifteen. You need to pack and be ready by then. You can say goodbye then. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’m gonna go pack. I’ll meet you upstairs when you’re ready.” I lean in, pressing my lips to hers gently, then pull back.
She bobs her head in agreement as we both stand, then she starts moving around her room. I rush to the stairs to make way to my bedroom to grab a bag and some essential shit I know we’re going to need, including the small zipper pouch of cash I had stashed behind my dresser.
I can’t help but think of what Ivy said. She hasn’t really been apart from Eva before.
I’m going to need to be a rock for Ivy through this. I know I can do that
I will always be a rock for Ivy.
Her cornerstone.
She may struggle with this, but my top priority is keeping her safe.
This threat, whatever it is, is coming for us both, so I need to do whatever I can to keep her protected. Because if anything happened to her, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.
After packing my shit and placing a call to Demon at Savannah, I head out into the main bunker to see Ivy and Eva locked together in a tight embrace, and tears are streaming down both their faces.
Nycto stands by ready to catch his Ol’ Lady if she breaks.
I need to be there for Ivy if she does too.
Hoisting my duffle bag over my shoulder, I walk to them, placing my hand on Ivy’s back to comfort her. “You ready to go?”
She cries, shaking her head. “Just another few minutes?”
Nycto reaches out, grabbing Eva and slowly pulls her away from Ivy.
Eva sobs so hard she can hardly control herself as she clings to Nycto like he’s her lifeline. “You fucking look after her, Void.”
I wrap my arm around Ivy, and she cuddles into my side. “With my life,” I reply.
“You know the drill,” Nycto states.
“I do. I’ll signal when we arrive.”
Nycto holds Eva tighter, which gives me the go-ahead. “Take some cash, you can’t use any plastic in your travels.”
“Already packed. C’mon, sweet thing, time to go.” I turn us walking for the exit.
“One more thing, make sure Ominous looks after my crop. If he kills it, I’ll kill him!” Ivy calls out to Nycto, making him chuckle.
“I’ll make sure he’s fully aware.”
Ivy peers over her shoulder, keeping eye contact with her sister as we walk out of the clubhouse. “I love you, Eva.”
“Love you, Ivy,” Eva calls back.
I lean in, planting a kiss on Ivy’s head as I lead us to a pickup truck. Throwing my duffle in the rear, I grab Ivy’s and throw it in too. Then I exhale. “I’m so fucking sorry you have to leave her, Ivy, but it’s the only way.”
She sniffles, opening the passenger side door and slides in. “I know.” She slams the door shut, making me tense with the sheer brute force she used. But I inhale a deep breath, then slide in the driver’s side. Ivy’s staring out the window blankly as Nycto comes out with Whiskey to see us off. I bob my head, reverse out, then head for the gate. West lets us through with ease, and we’re off, heading for Pearson Island, halfway between Tampa and Savannah—to the Savannah RBMC safehouse.
Ivy’s checked out. I feel it in the coldness of her demeanor. She’s angry, not necessarily at me, but at the situation. I’ll let her calm down, but when we get to the safe house, she’ll have to pep herself up because we’re going to have company.
Whether she likes it or not.
Chapter Seventeen
VOID
Ivy’s quiet, she has been for the three-and-a-half-hour drive to Pearson Island. Leaving the clubhouse and her sister is hard, I get that. It’s all she knows here in America, but honestly, we had no choice. The safehouse is our best bet right now. I haven’t been to Demon’s safe house, but I’ve heard good things. It sits buried in dense brush with a creek running along the back as another layer of escape if you need it.
As we pull to the very back of the small island, a medium-sized house comes into view. A long driveway leads down to the main building. I turn off the road toward the yellow clapboard-clad bungalow.
A small stoop leads up to the front entry with a small porch out the front, and a couple of rocking chairs. To be honest, this looks more like Grandma Mavis’ retirement home than a biker’s hideout.
But I guess that’s the entire point, isn’t it?
Ivy sits higher in her seat taking it all in. The trees gently sway in the breeze of the afternoon Florida sunshine. It’s humid today as I swipe the sweat away from my brow.
“This is not what I expected,” Ivy murmurs under her breath.
I pull the truck up next to two bikes in the drive, relieved she’s finally talking to me. “Gotta keep a low profile, that’s the trick of it.”
She slowly nods her head, turning back to the window. “We have company?”
As if they hear her, Demon and Drake both pop their heads out of the bungalow to check on us. I raise my hand in greeting. “Demon’s the prez of Savannah, Drake’s their VP. This is their place, so they’re here to check us in.”
She turns to me, fighting the corner of her lips turning up. “Our very own biker motel.”
“C’mon, let’s not be rude to our hosts.”
Reaching out, I grab her fingers, lift them to my lips, kissing the back of her hand. Her soft lips finally stretch upward, they don’t quite reach her eyes, which are still dull with sadness. My chest aches for her as I turn to slide out of the car.
Demon and Drake stomp down the stoop toward us, Drake’s shaggy dark hair is a little more disheveled today than usual. “You took your sweet-ass time gettin’ here. We’ve been waitin’ for hours, Void,” Drake calls out, but he’s sporting a smirk.
I roll my eyes. “It takes longer to get here in a cage than on a bike, asswipe. You know that. Cut me some slack.”
“All I’m sayin’ is you need to push the accelerator pedal to the metal a little harder next time. I got places I need to be—”
“Drake, calm the fuck down. We need to show them around the bungalow.” Demon slaps his VP on the back but raises his chin to me. “Void… got yourself into some shit, I see?”
Ivy steps to my side, and I wrap my arm around her protectively. “Apparently… seems more like shit found us. We just don’t know who’s targeting us.”
Demon grumbles under his breath, “That old chestnut, hey? Well, you’re welcome here for as long as you need. Just don’t mess up the place too much, yeah?”
Drake’s eyes linger on Ivy, his eyes twitch a little as he takes a step closer. “You the one with that special blood?” he asks out of nowhere.
I furrow my brows as Ivy stands taller, puffing out her chest.
My woman isn’t scared of any damn thing. Not even an inhospitable biker she’s only just met.
“Yeah, that’s me. Fuck! Word travels fast between these clubs.”
Demon shakes his head. “Drake, keep yourself in check, man.”
Drake steps forward again, another inch closer to Ivy, but she doesn’t back away. “Can I have a sample?”
Ivy jerks her head back. “Of what?”
“Your blood?”
“Fuck’s sake,” Demon mumbles as I flare my nostrils in anger.
“Fuck off! What fucked-up shit is that, Drake? I know we owe Savannah for the use of the safehouse, but Ivy’s blood is not the toll.”
Drake huffs out a laugh, taking a step back, then rolling his shoulders. “Fine! But if you ever change your mind…”
Ivy chuckles.
She actually chuckles.
Girl’s got more compassion in her than a saint. “Yeah, yeah… I’ll call you.”
Demon grabs his VP, yanking him back by his cut. “You’re a weird fucker
. Leave Ivy the hell alone. They have enough to deal with without your blood fetish.”
“Can’t blame a guy for tryin’?” Drake winks.
I CAN blame a guy for trying!
“You’re not the first person to want my blood, Drake, so don’t worry, I don’t take it personally. And, I certainly don’t think you’re a weird fucker,” Ivy reassures the Savannah VP.
I shake my head.
“You’re all right, Ivy,” Drake gushes out while eyeing her up and down.
Demon gestures toward the bungalow. “Come inside, I’ll show you ‘round before these two start braidin’ each other’s hair.”
I try to hold back my laugh, but I’m not all that successful.
Ivy shrugs it off. “Drake does have nice hair, though,” she fires back at Demon.
Demon groans while walking us up the stoop, then inside the bungalow. I keep my arm wrapped around Ivy as we enter. It’s outdated, and the cream carpet is kind of a dull off-brown color in places. The floral sofa has a red velvet throw rug over the top, making it appear like Grandma Mavis’ home. The television is one of those old-style square sets—it’s not even a Smart TV. The walls are lined with wood paneling, and little figurines are sitting on every goddamn surface.
Demon leads us into the kitchen where the countertop is a green Formica, the wallpaper on the wall is patterned in yellow florals, and I grimace.
Drake chortles to himself. “Gotta love this décor, right?”
Ivy shrugs. “I dunno, it has an old-worldly vibe about it. Untouched, you know? There’s something unique in that.”
Demon snorts. “I don’t know what kind of fuckin’ style you’re into, sweetheart, but you need better taste. This place is a disaster zone. We only keep it this way because it’s low profile… and fuckin’ low maintenance, too.”
“Well, I like it. It’s not pompous or overstated. It’s comfortable. Reminds me of home a little. My old home… in Cuba, I mean.”
“You have family back home?” Demon asks.
Ivy shakes her head. “No, just me and Eva. She’s back in Tampa. How about you, you have a family?”
Demon’s eyes glaze over. “Nope, no one.”
Ivy places her hand on Demon’s forearm, a sympathetic smile touches her lips. “I lost my parents too back in Cuba… I’m sorry for your loss.”
He rolls his shoulders, which causes her hand to slip from his arm.
Demon turns, walking toward the fridge.
The art of closing off.
I know it only too well.
“The fridge is stocked. The pantry’s full. You should have everythin’ you need for a prolonged stay. The club’s only a couple hours away. If shit hits the fan, press this button…” he points to a button underneath the kitchen counter, “… and we’ll come.” He changes the subject entirely away from his parents.
“Got it! Thanks again for the digs, brother. Really fucking appreciate it,” I tell Demon as he reaches out for Drake pulling him by his cut toward the door.
“The front door has extra locks… use them! In the back of the library there’s a panic room. I’ll also text you the combination to the gun safe.”
“There’s a library?” Ivy audibly gasps.
“Have a good time, you two. You’re in lockdown as of now. No venturin’ off anywhere,” Demon instructs.
I pull Ivy to me tightly, and we watch the two large men stomp to their rides, then take off kicking up stones and leaving us alone—truly alone—for the first time since we met that night when I stole her from the boat.
Now, it’s just Ivy and me, and no one to interrupt our time together.
Not Nycto.
Not Eva.
Certainly not Dash.
We might be here because we’re in danger, but at least we’re here together.
The roar of the Harleys drift off into the distance, and I walk over to the door dead-bolting it.
Can’t be too safe.
Ivy slowly strolls around the living room, her fingers gently stroking all the little trinkets. “Why is this happening, Void?”
I let out an exhale. “I’m not completely sure. At first, I thought it might have been Tony, trying to get one over on us. But he assures us it’s not him. When we went to chat with him, he was pretty convincing. So, it got me to thinking who else it could be.”
She turns to face me, her eyes hopeful. “And?”
“When I totaled my ride when I was tripping, I was also hallucinating. I thought I was seeing shit.”
Ivy moves over to stand in front of me. “You’re not making any sense. What does this have to do with anything?”
I reach out, grabbing her hand. “When I was tripping, I thought I saw someone from my past.”
Ivy jerks her head back in shock. “But aren’t they all in jail?”
Pulling her with me, I walk with her over to the floral sofa, then sit us down. There’s a laptop on the coffee table, so I open the lid. “Let’s find out.”
We both sit on the excessively soft sofa, sinking into it too far. I adjust my position and start typing into the search engine for my father’s jail records. I scroll until I find what I need. “Fuck,” I groan under my breath.
“What?” Ivy asks, leaning in closer to try and see.
“His records indicate he’s been let out on good behavior.”
Ivy draws her bottom lip in by her teeth while I run my fingers through my hair. My pulse quickens as my mind flashes back to the statue in the trees. “Jesus, maybe when I saw my father in the woods, I wasn’t actually tripping. Fuck! Maybe he was actually there?”
Ivy wraps her arms around mine for comfort. “What would your father want with you now?”
“I’m not sure. I was taken from him. He probably doesn’t realize I want nothing to do with that life anymore.”
“You believe he’s starting the cult back up?”
“Absolutely. He’d be quiet about it, though. But a man like him, he’s smart, he’d play the judicial system so easily. He would do his time, be a good boy, get out early, and start up all over again. I’m sure he’ll want his disciples by his side.”
“And he sees you as one of his disciples?”
Curling up my lip, my stomach swirls with nausea. “Not only a disciple but a legacy. He not only would want me there, but he also needs me.”
“So, he’s targeting me to get to you?”
“I think so.”
“But why wouldn’t he just come straight for you?”
“This is how he works, it’s called mind manipulation. Mess with you, so you think you’re losing yourself, so your only option is to turn to him for help.”
Ivy scoffs. “What, so he expects you to just go off and join another cult with him?”
Anger swirls through me. “Oh no, sweet thing, he expects me to run it with him.”
“Holy shit!”
“I’m not going to. We’re going to stop him, Ivy. The things he does to women, the things he makes them do, it’s not right.”
She reaches out, grabbing both my hands in hers. “At least you understand the difference. You’re a good man, Void.”
Regret swarms through me like a raging tornado. “Not always.”
“Not everyone can be good all the time. But the majority of the time, you do the right thing. You’re always looking out for my best interests, even if they don’t match yours.”
“You’re important to me, Ivy. I might not be great at showing it, but I… I care about you.”
She leans in, kissing me. The second her lips touch mine, calm washes over me, like all the stress I was feeling somehow washes away for a brief instant.
How can she be both my calm and my storm?
Ivy slowly pulls away from me, pressing her forehead against mine. “How ‘bout we go check out that library?”
I let out a small laugh. “Yeah, baby, let’s go check out the library.”
Here she comes, my calm against the raging storm in my mind.
C
hapter Eighteen
VOID
A Few Days Later
We’ve been at the bungalow for a few days.
Even though I like having Ivy to myself, she’s starting to go stir crazy. There’s only so much daytime television you can watch or walks around the back yard before it all starts to get a little monotonous. Sure, we’ve passed the time by fucking on every surface of the house, but again there’s a limit to how often you can do it with a beginner in that particular sport as well.
Going without news from home, my palms are twitchy, and I need an update. Hell, I want to find out whose heart that was. So, I pick up my burner to call Nycto, and he answers on the third ring. “What’s wrong?”
I let out a huff. “I’m going fucking crazy out here, man. Need to know what’s happening.”
Nycto grumbles down the line. “I told you to call only if there was a problem.”
“There is a problem, Ivy’s stressed about Dash. I gotta tell her something.”
Nycto huffs. “Fine. The DNA came back… it wasn’t Dash. In fact, it wasn’t even human… it was pig.”
“You’re fucking kidding me?”
“Nerve confirmed when he dissected it. Said while it’s similar in anatomy, it’s not the same as a human heart.”
“Well, fuck,” I murmur, running my hand through my hair. “Any word from Dash?”
“Yeah, he’s fine. Still working out his punishment. Tell Ivy he’s completely safe.”
Rolling my shoulders, I hate myself because for some warped, selfish reason, I wished it was Dash. I know he’s always going to be a part of Ivy’s life, and I can’t control myself. I’m a jealous cunt. It’s simple, I don’t want any other guy taking space in Ivy’s mind but me.
“Void?”
I shake my head, coming back to the conversation. “Yeah?”
“There’s something you should know,” Nycto states.
“Tell me.”
“Another package was delivered to the clubhouse…” I wait for the blow. “We opened it. This time it was a timer. It has a countdown… three days. Everyone here is on high alert. The clubhouse is on full lockdown while we figure out whether to leave or wait it out.”
