Page 88 of Darkness

“Is he gonna be okay?” I whisper.

Void takes the ice packs from me and, with his free hand, grips my bicep. “He’s tough. He’s been through far worse than a beating. With you by his side, he’ll be good as new by morning.”

I glance at Nerve for confirmation.

“He’ll be fine. Just needs rest. The guys out there will be partying it up tonight. Keep him calm in here, and if you need anything, come get me, okay?”

I nod, walk over, and sit on the edge of the bed. “I can’t believe he did this for me.”

Nerve places one of the ice packs over Nycto’s ribs, then another on his swollen face. “You’re his Old Lady. It was the only way. It’s meant to be.”

I reach out and grab Nycto’s hand, looping our fingers. He’s out cold, so he doesn’t tighten his fingers in mine. The blood staining his skin is a reminder of what he’s done for me.

Tonight, it’s my turn to make sure he’s taken care of.

Because I am his Old Lady.

He’s mine, and that means more to me than anything I thought ever could.

***

I hardly slept all night.

I kept checking to make sure Nycto was breathing.

I was worried he was so badly concussed that he was going to leave me, and I couldn’t handle that at this point. The thought alone is enough to disarm me completely. This man, this gorgeous man, is a part of me now, and that’s never going to change.

Lying on my side, I run my hand up and down his chest lightly. I’ve been hesitant to touch him all night, but I need the contact.

Nycto’s eyelids slowly flicker, even in their swollen, bruised state. My heart leaps into my chest as I stare at him. Eventually, his eyes open, then squint like he’s feeling immense pain all over again. He exhales with a slight groan, and his hand comes up to his head like he’s trying to soothe an almighty headache. “Fuck me.”

I smile weakly. “Good morning.”

Nycto’s gaze flicks to mine, and the corner of his lips turns up ever so slightly. “The only thing good about this morning is you, chiquita. Everything else is fucking shit.”

I shrug. “I dunno about that… I’m your Old Lady now. Andrés is gone. Your punishment is over. We can get on with our lives together.”

His hand caresses my cheek. “You’re fucking amazing… and right. I’m focusing more on my embarrassment than the good stuff.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Nycto.”

“I took a beating in front of my club. Don’t think they will respect me after the presidents’ retaliation.”

I look deep into his eyes. “You took punishment for doing something you believed in. For taking a stand for your Old Lady. If they don’t see that you fought for something, stood for something, then they don’t belong in Tampa Defiance.”

This time, his grin is wide, his face glowing with pride. “I knew… I knew from the second you fired sass back at me you were going to be a kickass Old Lady. You’ve proved it to me time and time again, chiquita.”

“I really want to kiss you right now,” I whisper.

He chuckles. “Don’t ever hold back from kissing me, Eva. You want to kiss me, you fucking kiss me.”

I narrow my eyes. “But your lip looks so sore—”

He leans up, his lips pressing hard against mine. The second our mouths collide, that intense fire lights and burns inside me. There’s something about Nycto that turns me into an insatiable wreck.

He ruins me.

Completes me.

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