Page 84 of Brightness

Warmth floods me that I have so many men willing to fight for me. “I’m glad you did. Thank you, Tony, for putting your men on the line for this… for me.”

“If it weren’t for Dash, we wouldn’t even be here,” Tony replies.

I cuddle into Void. “I thought you were dead. I was so scared when I saw those assholes lighting up the bungalow, knowing you were inside, and I couldn’t do anything about it.”

“We owe Dash for that too.” Void turns to Tony. “We owe you a debt.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Tony replies. “For now, get your woman home. Never know if we might need her again.”

Home.

So much, yes.

Chapter Twenty-One

VOID

Seeing Ivy covered in blood scared the shit out of me. Knowing my father had her and was so close to carving that fucking symbol into her skin is eating at me. Having her branded in that way, I’m just not sure if I would be able to look at her the same. Not because she would be any different, but because every time I saw it, I would see my father. I would see myself—my old self—and I know it would haunt me. It would have ruined us, and that’s precisely what my father wanted.

For me not to be able to be near Ivy.

For her to be out of the way of him bringing me back into the fold.

Luckily, his plan backfired.

Thank fuck I got there in time, and now, we’re almost home.

We called ahead to tell Nycto we’re incoming, and I can only imagine what Eva’s going to be like when we arrive.

I’m happy to know now my father is away from the farm, that the place won’t run without him. All his followers will leave and head back to wherever it is they came from. After all, a cult is nothing without its leader.

Or, as Ivy said, “Muerto el perro, se acabó la rabia.”

Dash is behind us on his ride as we pull up to the clubhouse gates. West pulls them open, throwing his hands in the air. He hoots out some kind of hoorah as we enter, making Ivy chuckle, though I don’t miss the way her body is shuddering at the deep cold seeping into her bones.

We should’ve stopped for a blanket.

Eva and Nycto barrel toward us as we pull in. The pickup doesn’t even stop before Eva yanks open Ivy’s door and pulls her out of the cage. “Hermana, I was so scared I was going to lose you.” Eva pulls Ivy into the biggest hug, and Ivy wraps herself into her embrace.

Ivy pulls back with a small laugh. “I’m fine. Wet and cold, but fine.”

A slow smile creeps up my face as I step out of the pickup, then walk around to greet my pres and his Old Lady. Nycto raises his head to me. “You good?”

I dip my chin.

I may not be completely okay, but I will be. Ivy is here. Alive. That’s all that matters.

Nycto steps forward and glances over the back of the pickup, where my father is bound and gagged in the back, his beady eyes wide in fear as he struggles about.

“What do you wanna do, Ivy? It’s your call.”

Ivy glances at me. I shrug. I don’t give a fuck what happens to the cunt.

Darkness spreads over her features. An intoxicating smile appears on her face, and she begins to bounce on her feet. She doesn’t need to say a word. Nycto chuckles. “I’ll go prepare the mortar.”

Taking a deep breath, I pull Ivy aside. “You don’t have to be there if this is too much.”

“Are you kidding? He cut into my skin to brand me. I’m laying the fucking bricks myself.”

---