Page 5 of Brightness

Dash grimaces, his eyes dropping to the now lanced boil on his inner thigh. “Well, I appreciate you helping me. It does feel better since you released the pressure.”

My eyes shift to the stairs. “I should—”

“Go… I can patch myself up.”

“Don’t forget the antiseptic,” I add, pulling my gloves off with a snap and throwing them in the trash, then heading for the stairs.

It’s not like Void and I are in any sort of relationship, and I wasn’t actually doing something with Dash. I was merely helping him. So I shouldn’t feel the need to explain myself, but the hurt in Void’s eyes was clear. He thought I was sucking the life out of Dash, and that’s not okay.

I don’t want him upstairs wallowing over something which simply isn’t true. Void and I might not be in a good place, but I don’t need to make matters worse by letting him believe something that simply isn’t there, so I rush to find him. To stop him from spiraling out of control, which he seems to have a university degree in.

As I enter the clubhouse, it’s calm and quiet. At least Void hasn’t come up here in a rage, making a damn scene and embarrassing the shit out of me. My eyes quickly scan the area. Over to my left, I find him sitting at the long, concrete bar.

His strong, tattooed arms rest on the black marble-effect slab as he sips on something amber—probably whiskey. His dusty blond hair is swept back over his head haphazardly like he’s been brutally running his fingers through it.

As I stride toward him, he turns. It’s obvious Void is overtired, and he looks frazzled. His strongly defined jaw is clenching from side to side like he’s grinding his teeth, and his nostrils are flaring the way they do when he’s angry. The left one is turned up slightly more due to his crooked nose from one too many fights, but for me, that only makes him more endearing. His muscles flex under his shirt—it’s clear he’s having trouble holding himself together.

I hate that I’ve put him in this rage-fueled state.

Void might be revved up, but damn, it’s a good look on him.

Stacey wipes the countertop while Pepper stocks liquor bottles on the shelves behind the bar. I take in a deep breath before I step up to him. He’s drinking his problems away, as per fucking usual.

It’s time Void faced them head-on like a man instead of running away like a fucking child. His eyes shift to mine as I approach, then focus back on his glass. “Didn’t even let the poor bastard bust a nut? That’s shitty of you.”

I scoff. “You pendejo asshole!”

Void turns up his lip, then takes another drink.

Stacey turns and walks down the other end of the bar, obviously to give us space to argue in private.

Void swivels on his chair, turning his back to me. All the action does is cause my anger to flare inside me even hotter. Never upset a Cuban woman if you want to live.

“You know what? You’re not even w-worth it anymore.” My voice comes out a little louder than I wanted it to, breaking a little with the pain searing through me at Void’s detachment.

He shrugs with his back still to me. “Good. Go back and finish Dash off. You don’t want him pissed off at you for not doing a good job.”

“Deja de comer mierda!” I throw my hands in the air, spinning to walk away, but slam straight into Dash’s hard chest.

“No disrespect, VP, but you shouldn’t talk to Ivy that way.”

Void lets out a small laugh as he turns on his stool. His hard eyes pierce through Dash with such vicious intent, even I feel the burn. “This conversation isn’t for you, prospect. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave.”

With a sharp inhale, Dash nods and turns to leave, but then looks back over his shoulder and continues anyway. “Just so you’re aware, because Ivy’s too worked up to tell you, what you thought you saw? You didn’t. Ivy was lancing a boil on my thigh. You know, putting her medical training to good use. So, while you’re basically calling her out and slut-shaming her for no good reason…” He pauses and looks to the ceiling. “Maybe you should respect her for the amazing professional she’s turning into.”

I give Dash a weak smile, and he hightails it out of here before Void has a second to punish him for speaking out of turn.

My eyes shift back to Void. His electric blue orbs are vacant, with a shadow of what looks like regret. Small droplets of sweat top his brow, and a deep frown etches into his features.

He exhales, placing his drink on the bar, then stands, walking over to me.

My eyes drop to the floor as he grumbles under his breath. “Don’t… don’t do that. You’re so full of fight and fire. Don’t lose your confidence because I’m a fucking jerk.”

My stomach clenches at his admission as I slowly look up at him. There’s a pained expression on his face, and he pinches the bridge of his nose. “I am an asshole, Ivy. I fucked up. I only saw half a picture. I reacted… I just…” He exhales, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know who I am when I’m around you.”

I stand taller. “You hurt me. No one has ever talked to me the way you just did.”

Void grimaces and reaches for my hand, taking it in his comforting hold. I let him, despite the hurt simmering. The second our fingers connect, my heart slams into my chest wall, making it hard to catch my breath. My skin comes alive, tingling with pins and needles, but in a damn good way. I’ve never felt more energized or electro-charged than when Void touches me.

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