Page 13 of Darkness

“As long as it takes.”

“Right. Well, then, I guess I’d better get comfortable.” She has sass like her older sister.

I stand, moving to walk out, but turn back at the last minute. “You’re gonna be okay, Ivy.”

She gnaws on her bottom lip and nods.

I walk out, grab the Cell door, and slowly close it. As soon as it shuts, Void is by my side. “I don’t have fucking time for this shit.”

“Make sure she’s well fed and entertained. Spoil her… anything she wants, she gets. It’s just like having a puppy. She’s our guest, even if she has to stay where we put her. Got it?”

Void lets out an aggravated groan as I make my way up the stairs. I know I should be telling Eva her sister is here, but if I do, any chance of me spending time with her would go out the damn window—if this bunker had windows, of course.

I am probably doing this shit all wrong, but I’m fucked-up. My whole life has been one giant fuckup. I don’t know how to do shit any different.

I’m making Ivy comfortable, giving her everything she needs. Hell, she’s even got company in Void. Sure, he’s not much of a talker, but that can’t be helped. I’m trying, dammit. I put my entire club at risk for Eva. There’s no greater show of devotion I can think of.

The club comes first, always.

So this fascination, this curiosity I have with Eva, whatever it is, I need to figure it the hell out now because something is coming.

I don’t know if my story to Andrés will stick, but I have to make it work. I need to play it out and play it right. Or Tampa Defiance will be in for a world of hurt, and it will be my fault.

Chapter Six

NYCTO

The sun starts to rise in hues of pink and orange, sending prickles over my skin as I stub out my cigarette and climb onto my ride. Glistening rays streak through the plush, white clouds like some fucking beacon of hope, making my lip curl in annoyance. The encroaching daylight ensures I am more anxious than I want to be. A tightness forms in my chest as heat inflames my skin. Yanking my dark-tinted aviators out of my cut’s inside pocket, I pull them over my eyes to stop the assault of light that will inevitably come this morning. My accelerated breathing slows a little with the tinted lenses now shading the light from my eyes, but it doesn’t help my nerves much.

I’ve been up all night dealing with this drama. First, rescuing Eva and Ivy. Now, I have to deal with Andrés and the repercussions of our change of plans. I haven’t heard from him yet—not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. Maybe deadly.

Whatever the fallout, I need to see Andrés and stop him from coming to the clubhouse to possibly find the sisters.

I start my ride, but Spark rushes out before I have a chance to take off. He steps up beside me, narrowing his eyes. “Pres, you can’t head over there on your own. Let me come as backup.”

Spark is part of the disaster response team for the military. No one is sure about what exactly it is he does while on deployment, but when shit goes down, he’s the one you want there. He knows what it’s like to be in intense situations. Still, I’m not certain he understands what it’s like to be face-to-face with a powerful asshole who’s probably going to shoot me for losing two of his damn packages.

“You sure, brother?” I say. “Shit could get problematic.”

“Exactly why you need me there. With Void occupied, you need someone at your back—”

“Watching it or making sure I don’t do something stupid?”

He chuckles. “Well, I wasn’t going to put it that way, but if you’re gonna put words in my mouth…” He shrugs.

I glare at him but tilt my head to his bike. “Keep up.”

Spark turns, throws a leg over his ride, then pulls on his dome. The roar of our Harleys echo along the concrete barriers as we take off toward the gate. Ominous pulls it open for us, and we drive through, then hammer down, riding off toward Andrés’ hideout.

I don’t wear a dome. They restrict me too much. I like to feel the wind whipping at my face, the danger of the open road. You’re not a 1%er if you’re not willing to die on your bike like a real man. It might be stupid, but who the fuck cares? I break the rules every single day. It’s why Torque, the National Club President, and I butt heads all the time. He makes the rules. I damn well break them. But in all honesty, I like the guy. He’s tough but fair, even when shit doesn’t go my way.

I pull back on the throttle, and my back tire slides out a little with the speed as I push my engine to the max. I hardly know Eva, yet she ignites something inside me—some sort of protective instinct I’ve never had before. It’s as unsettling as it is exhilarating. She could be dangerous to me and my club. I need to keep my wits about me. Get my head in the fucking game.

Right now, I have a task to accomplish. I need to fool Andrés into believing Eva and Ivy got away, and I didn’t have a hand in it. This shit’s going to be tough. A tall story with an ending I’m not sure how it will play out.

The vibration of the engine sends a soothing calm through me. The adrenaline coursing through my veins fuels me to make sure I get this right, not just for Eva but for my brothers.

Everything is on the line.

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