Page 61 of Brightness

But I do need to figure out what the hell I’m going to do about those photographs that are making me more anxious than I care to admit, especially since I still have no damn leads. I have no clue what they mean. I’ve got nothing. No idea if it’s a threat or not, but I’m sure I need to take it as one.

Ivy’s with the crop, doing her thing. Unfortunately, now that Dash isn’t around, she has to work twice as hard. I feel bad about that, but at the same time, I’m relieved he’s not here. It’s made life with Ivy so much fucking easier.

Sitting at the bar as my brothers fuck about around me, I feel like maybe I can relax a little.

Until Stacey walks in with the mail and hands me an envelope.

“Another one for you, VP.”

So much for kicking back and taking a load off. My muscles tense as I grab the orange envelope from her hand, which is stamped the same as the last one. Taking a deep breath, I slide it open. No pictures—it’s practically empty—so I turn the envelope upside down, and a key slides out with a tag attached. Rolling my shoulders, I turn the tag over.

You’ve unlocked her chastity belt.

Now she’s ready.

My eyes shoot open as I grip the key tightly in my hand.

A cold shudder runs down my spine.

I haven’t told anyone about what happened with Ivy and me yesterday. Not a single soul knows, and unless she’s told someone, we have a big problem.

I can’t keep this to myself.

Now’s the time to tell Nycto.

After returning to my room to grab the envelope with the photographs, I walk to the Chapel to find my president. I knock on the door, hear a grumble, then turn the handle. He’s buried deep in paperwork as I walk in. “What’s happening?” I ask.

“Just getting shit dealt with paying back Hawk for Eva and Ivy.”

“I should offer you some cash. You put everything up to keep them here, and I’m profiting out of the arrangement. Let me offer some greenbacks to help.”

Nycto lets out a laugh. “Holy shit! Who are you, and what have you done with Void?”

I scowl. “The fuck you talking about?”

“I believe you just admitted you care about Ivy.”

“Yeah, I do. I know… I’m Void, I don’t care about anyone… but I do care about her. Can we drop it?”

Nycto fights his smile. “You owe me nothing, VP. Just seeing she’s affecting that cold, dead heart of yours is payment enough for me. I made this financial mess, I’ll clean it up. Anyway, you after something?”

I walk over and slide the two envelopes across the table. “I received these in the clubhouse mail. The photos a week ago, the key just now.”

Nycto hesitates, his eyes lingering on me like he’s aware this isn’t going to be good. He exhales, his lips a thin line as he picks up both envelopes. He opens the first one, and the key drops onto the table. Then he flicks open the other and pulls the pictures out. He studies one. “This is from when you wrecked a couple of weeks back?” I nod. “Hmm…” He picks up the key, assessing what’s written on the tag. His eyes shoot to me. “This true?”

“Yeah. Yesterday.”

Nycto lets out a surprised chuckle. “Well, shit! Congrats? Is that even what you say in this situation?”

I groan. “Pres, concentrate. Nobody knows but Ivy and me, and now you.” I gesture to the envelopes. “I don’t know how the fuck they, whoever they are, found out.”

Nycto looks back down at the photographs in front of him. “You see anyone while you were out of your head?”

“Hard to say… I saw a lot of shit while I was tripping.”

“You have any clue who it could be?”

“I have a couple of ideas. My main one right now, though, is the DeLucas, seeing as on the key it’s brought Ivy into it, and they already had someone tail us taking pictures. Maybe they’re seeking out some kind of sick form of revenge for us taking Ivy, even though they got what they needed in the end. You know the saying…”

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