Page 22 of Darkness

I chuckle to myself as I walk off, figuring I’d better check on Void and Ivy, see what the fuck is happening down there while I fill in my VP on what’s going down.

I jog down the stairs and head into the chilly room. The door to the Cell is slightly ajar, piquing my interest. As I walk up, I spot Void sitting in the room with Ivy.

Seems I’m not the only one making friends with our houseguests.

Void is playing cards with Ivy as they sit on the sofa. Ivy giggles, and I stay back, discreetly observing the interaction. Void shows no emotion. His replies are curt, sharp like always. But Ivy is more at ease than the last time I came down here.

I open the brick wall a little more, announcing my presence.

Ivy’s head picks up as Void turns to look over his shoulder. “’Bout damn time you got your ass down here. You wanna fill me in on what the hell is going on?” Void grumbles.

I move into the cell to sit on the sofa next to him. “I went to Miami. Spoke to Hawk.”

“That’s always fun.”

“He’s letting me borrow the cash to reimburse the buyers for the girls.”

Void stares blankly at me, blinking a few times like he can’t believe what I’ve just said. “You’re aware you are effectively purchasing them?”

My eye twitches. “Aren’t they better here than where they were headed?”

Ivy sits taller, her eyes widening. She understands.

Void huffs. “Maybe. Not sure a life being held down here is much of a life, Pres.”

Ivy nods in agreement. So now they’re ganging up on me. They don’t have to. I feel shit enough about this already. I have to tell Eva. When the time comes, there is no doubt she’s going to hate me, and right now, I’m not ready to give up the little progress we’ve made. I slept in her arms.

“Well, it’s the life they have right now. Ivy, the Cell isn’t the best place to be staying, but until I find a way to let Eva know you’re here without her losing her damn shit, you’ll have to make do.”

Her eyes take in the small room, and she shrugs. “I’ve stayed in worse places.”

With bodies in the walls outside your room? I don’t think so.

Void almost cracks a smile, probably thinking the same as me.

“You’re taking this in stride.”

Ivy rolls her shoulders. “Not like there’s a hell of a lot I can do about it from where I sit, but if there’s any way you can find it in yourself to let me see Eva—”

“No. Not yet.” It won’t do her any good to have false hope. Her eyes droop. “You will. Just let me figure this all out first.”

Void inhales sharply like he’s pissed off at me.

“Stay down here, Void. Keep our guest company.”

“Like I wasn’t already doing that, for fuck’s sake,” he mumbles.

With a roll of my eyes, I turn and head for the stairs. Void might be annoyed at me for putting him in charge of Ivy, but there’s no other man in this club I trust with the duty. He’s my VP. He might consider it to be a prospect’s job—something someone of lower rank should be doing—but to me, keeping these two sisters safe—and, more importantly, away from each other—is a crucial task in this club right now.

So, the two highest-ranking members of the club are on duty. President and VP.

Void may not like it, but if he wants to be my right-hand man, he’s going to deal with this until I figure out a way for it to all come together. It will. Somehow. For now, I need to come up with a game plan about how to tackle this shit with Eva.

She’s moving something inside me. I’m not sure what it is, but the feisty firecracker has my attention firmly fixated on her. I don’t know why, but she makes the world an easier place when I’m in her presence.

I sleep better.

See clearer, but I can be blinded by her at the same time.

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