Defining Darkness - K E Osborn Page 0,29
she grunts.
I rub the back of my neck. Hole in one.
“I’ll ah… come back later.”
“Fine! You let me spill my heart out to you, then you take off like it doesn’t matter,” she sasses.
I glare at her. “It matters! Of course, it matters. You’re stronger than I ever could have thought you would be. I’m the weak one here, Eva. It’s why I need to go.”
“Wait, what?”
“I’ll find somewhere else to sleep. Have a good night, Eva.” I turn, walking for the door.
“You’re leaving me alone in here? When will you be back? Nycto!” Her desperation’s only making this harder.
I get to the door when something slams hard into my back. I spin around as a book falls to the floor with Eva standing, arms folded, glaring at me. “You’re going to walk out on this because you’re fucking scared?”
Flaring my nostrils, I grunt, “I’m putting distance between us because it’s needed.”
“El coño! ”
Gritting my teeth, I glare at her. “Call me a pussy all you like, Eva, it doesn’t change the fact we need some space.”
Her top lip curls. “Says you.”
“Yes, says me. I’m the motherfucking president of the Tampa Royal Bastards MC, so what I say goes. You got that, Chiquita?”
“Get out!”
I throw my hands up in frustration. “I’m fucking trying to. Jesus, woman.” I yank open the door and go to walk through when another book flies toward me. I slam the door shut just in time for the paperback to pelt against the door. The bang resonates through the other side of the woodgrain. I shudder, thrusting the key in the lock.
“Fucking stubborn, beautiful, obnoxious angel.”
Her audible groan echoes from inside, and I imagine Eva throwing herself onto the mattress in a huff. A slow smirk crosses my face as I turn to walk down to Ivy’s cell. More to catch up with my VP, but also to check in on the mental state of Eva’s sister.
I bet she’s doing better than Eva, and I know I’m the cause of all Eva’s problems.
Good going, asshole.
Chapter Twelve
NYCTO
Walking down the stairs, the echoes of laughter confuse me. I don’t see how there’s anything about this situation I’ve put us all in that warrants humor, so I storm over to the Brick Cell where Void sits at the breakfast table with Ivy, and he’s drawing some art for her. He’s skilled in that department. Most of the guys here have had him sketch their tattoo designs, but I have no idea what he’s sketching that could be making Ivy laugh. I walk inside, and both their heads pop up as he slides the paper over to Ivy. It’s like he’s trying to hide it from me.
Yeah, that shit’s not going to fly. This isn’t high school.
“What’s the drawing, VP?”
“It’s nothing. Just something to cheer Ivy up.”
“Ivy… show me the drawing, or I’ll lock you in the room, and no one will come to visit you.”
Void curls up his nose as Ivy slides the paper across the table. It’s a park bench. Ivy and Void are sitting on it feeding ducks with the sun shining down on them.
They’re free.
Out in the world.
Not trapped in here because of the mess I’ve created.
“Sorry, Prez, I know you hate the light. I was trying to make Ivy feel like there’s something more than life down here.”
I slap his shoulder. “I’m not mad… more disappointed in myself. I can’t find a way to get this all moving quicker. Once the payments are made to the buyers, I’ll feel better. But then, we need to figure out the process of giving you both new identities. There’s so much to think about before I let you both go. The problem is, the second I bring you together, one of you, probably both of you, are going to want to take off while we have our guard down. It only takes a second, then your lives and my club—”
“Is in danger. Yeah, yeah, I get all that. For the record, amigo, I’m not running anywhere. I like it here, but Eva… she has this vision in her mind we need to be together, protected all the time.” Ivy huffs. “I’ve never felt more protected than I do down here in this… whatever the hell this room is.”
The corner of Void’s lips turns up like he’s impressed. Me, I see something in Ivy. She likes darkness and seclusion. Ivy’s had a traumatized childhood that shakes the foundations of your adulthood. She isn’t like her innocent and pure older