Page 88 of Brightness

“Ivy, can you come here?”

She glances at her sister, giving her a supportive nod. Eva is hesitant to let her go, but Ivy detaches from her, then slowly walks my way. I reach out, taking her hand in mine with a slow smile creeping up on my face.

Ivy scowls, throwing a punch into my pec. Hard. “Fuck you, asshole. I thought something was wrong.” But she can’t fight the corner of her lips turning up.

Everyone chuckles as I shake my head. “Always fighting. You’re so fucking strong, Ivy. Your inner strength is what astounds me, time and time again. I made the mistake of thinking because you didn’t have the same life experiences as the rest of us, it meant you were meek and mild. Yeah, I was so goddamn wrong.”

She tilts her head as if she’s mocking me. “True story.”

I gesture to Nycto as he moves in behind me. “You, Ivy Pérez, are tougher than some of the men I’ve met. Your fire, your fight, your will to outdo is intoxicating—”

“Void… what is this?” she asks, looking around.

“You have a dark side, Ivy. It flows inside you. Like a delicious poison. But I’m willing to take every last drop of your crazy, even if it kills me.”

She tilts her head. “It’s strange you say that, because in my mind I’ve been thinking I have poison running through my veins… but, all that aside I’m not following. Void… what’s going on?”

I tilt my head at Nycto, and he steps forward with a club cut.

Ivy raises her brow at me. “You’re claiming me? This is my property patch?”

I give a small laugh. “Yes and no… I am claiming you, Ivy, but this isn’t your property patch.”

She scrunches up her face in clear confusion.

Nycto turns it around and points to the prospect patch on the front. “This is a club cut, Ivy. Tampa has never had a female prospect in our ranks, to be honest, Defiance has never had a female club member. But we put in a call to the National Charter President, Torque, and he said considering the circumstances, that if there was ever a time to initiate the first female Defiance member, you should be it...” Ivy gasps, her hand slamming to her chest in shock before Nycto continues, “So, as a club, Tampa voted. With the strength, determination, and courage you’ve shown, you’d make a fucking incredible Defiance prospect… if you wanna join us?”

Ivy’s eyes widen so fucking huge it’s like she can’t even think, let alone speak. “So, wait, let me get this right… I’m prospecting in, and I’m an Old Lady right now?”

My hands grip tighter on hers. “You’ll be known as Toxin. Generally, we don’t give road names until you officially patch in, but seeing as you’re being claimed as well, we agreed to having your name known early.”

She lets out a loud laugh as she races forward and threads her arms through the club cut.

Damn, it looks good on her.

Everyone cheers as she turns then hurtles herself at me, her lips pressing against mine. I wrap my arms around her, my fingers creasing against the leather of her cut. Fuck! I can’t help it. My damn cock begins to harden.

She’s perfect.

We pull apart, and my eyes lock onto hers.

“Thank you, Void. Thank you for doing this. I’m sure it was you who suggested I join the club and is sponsoring me. I can’t imagine not being part of it. It’s like this is where I belong. Like this is what I’m meant to be doing. Mi familia.”

I bring my hand up to caress the side of her face. “I know. From the second I saw you bricking Andrés up behind that wall, I knew you were born for this club. And now, you’re my Old Lady, so every-fucking-thing is perfect.”

She grins at me. “Toxin, huh?”

I shrug. “Thought you’d like it.”

“I love it.”

I lean in to kiss her again.

Dash walks out of the clubhouse. A few moments later, the telltale roar of a Harley booms outside. It takes off so fucking fast I wonder if he’s had time to change gears.

Dash has feelings for Ivy, and I know that.

But maybe now I’ve claimed Toxin, he can finally let her go.

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