Page 39 of Darkness

Eva’s chest heaves, the vital movement almost my undoing. So, I take my hand from her wrist and step back. Her eyes drop somberly like she regrets my decision, and I do. We’ve had a good night, and I’m not going to mess it up now by making a move that could fuck up everything.

After clearing my throat, I take my eyes off hers and place the handcuffs on the desk. “You should go to bed. It’s late.”

“You’re not staying?”

Rubbing the tension in the back of my neck, I think I really fucking want to. “I can’t. I have some shit I need to deal with. Club business. Then I’ll come back.”

“I’ll wait up—”

“No, chiquita, you sleep. I might be a while, but I will be back.”

She walks over to the bed and slouches on the mattress. I’m not sure if it’s me she’ll miss or the fact she’s had a taste of freedom, of not having to be in isolation.

Maybe I’m hopeful.

Or maybe I’m fooling myself.

“Okay,” she says, her tone flat.

Damn. She was so full of life out there tonight. So happy and carefree. Bringing her back in here has made her sad again.

I hate watching her like this.

But I’m the one to blame.

“Sleep well.”

She lies on the bed and turns her back to me.

Ouch.

Taking a deep breath, I turn for the door without saying anything else and walk out. I feel like the asshole that I one hundred percent am. I’m toying with her emotional state. What kind of prick does that? I need to figure out my game plan, and I need to do it now.

After closing and relocking the door, my eyes stay firmly on it for a good thirty seconds.

Maybe I should leave it unlocked. See what she does?

But it’s asking for trouble.

She’s not ready.

Not yet.

The fight for her sister is still too strong. Eva would leave in a heartbeat, not giving me a second thought. Rolling my shoulders, I turn, leaving Eva behind, and walk out of the hall back into the scarce clubhouse. Unlike me, most of my brothers sleep at night. Seeing as the party has died down, they’ve headed off to bed, though a few stragglers are still up drinking.

I wonder what Ivy’s thoughts are about Eva being out tonight?

She’s probably asleep, but I’ll take the chance.

Heading downstairs, I make my way through the Chamber toward the Cell. The lights are on. Void sits in the room with her on the sofa, watching television. I stand back, taking in the scene. They’re not talking, not doing anything unusual, merely spending time together.

I walk through the door.

Both heads casually turn to me, and Void raises his chin. “Eva in bed?”

Ivy’s eyes widen, and she looks between us at the mention of her sister’s name.

I sit on the edge of the sofa. “Yeah. She’s had a big night.”

---