embrace family, hold onto them while you have them. You’d think I’d get that after Mom and Dad’s accident, but I guess they were taken from me suddenly. Seeing a family losing someone slowly has put things into perspective for me.
You need to appreciate the people you love.
All. The. Time.
“I love you, Eva. I don’t say it nearly often enough.”
She pulls back from me, tears welling in her eyes. “I love you, too. Where is this coming from?”
I shrug. “Just seeing Mia. She’s sick, and… I… don’t ever want to lose you.”
Eva exhales, pulling me back to her. “You and me, Ivy, we’re in this together. Always. Why do you think I fought so fucking hard for you when we got here?”
Guilt flows through me. I didn’t do enough when Nycto held Eva captive from me. “I’m sorry, Eva. I’m sorry I didn’t try harder to convince Nycto to tell you I was here. I absolutely should have.”
She brings her hands to my face, smoothing across my skin. “Shh… we’re good... you and me. Nycto and me. Everything turned out the way it was supposed to. Now, you go get some rest. You’ve had a big night.”
She leans in pressing her lips to my forehead before sending a look to Void. I’m unsure what the look means, but he dips his chin at her, then he pulls me with him toward the stairs.
“Have you been plotting while I’ve been away?”
“No. Eva wants you to rest. We all do.”
We take the stairs slowly down to the Bricking Room. The Brick Cell at the end is lit up waiting for me.
Home.
Calm washes over me for the first time in over twenty-four hours. It’s like I’m able to finally relax. Like things might get back to a semblance of normal. The man who tried to buy me from Cuba came after me, he found me, but he also let me go. I’m sure this won’t be the last time I see him, though, I’m free to live my life now he’s gotten what he wanted. This is a perfect outcome. I’m always waiting for the ball to drop, where this is all some dream, and the nightmare’s about to kick in.
Because good things don’t happen to me.
Everything goes bad in one way or another.
Void leads me over to my bed, and I let out a contented sigh. “Home, sweet, home.” I flop back on my bed, my arms spread out as I close my eyes and relax.
“So glad you’re home, Ivy… I missed you,” Void admits as he slides onto the bed beside me.
My eyes open as I take him in. A slow smile crosses my face as I turn on my side. I honestly wasn’t sure where we stood after our phone call last night. “I missed you, too.”
“I’m here for as long as you need me. Anything you want, you let me know.”
“Honestly, that’s not necessary. I’m fine. You don’t need to worry.”
He groans. “I do, though… I do worry. Probably too much, Ivy.”
Wow.
Honesty! Well, this is a refreshing change.
I prop my head on my hand, resting my elbow on my bed as I look him over. “You worry about what’s going to happen to me, or about the people around me?”
Void slides his hands in under his head, getting comfortable. “Both… you know by now I care about you. Last night was pure fucking hell. After our phone call, fuck… I think Nycto stopped me from riding out at least three times.”
My eyes widen while I gnaw on my bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I know you have an issue with Dash, but honestly, he was the perfect gentleman.”
He exhales. “That’s good to know. I… I don’t know how to act anymore, Ivy. I’m just…” he pauses, then stops.
“You’re not yourself when I’m involved.”
He turns his head to look directly at me. “I’m more myself when you’re involved, and that fact scares me.”
“I scare you?”
“I scare me,” he clarifies.
Shaking my head, I slide in, my head resting in the nook of his shoulder and chest. He’s tense, but as my fingers slide up his shirt to rest over his heart, he relaxes. “You don’t scare me, Void. Not even a little bit.”
His hand slides up, resting on top of mine on his chest, our fingers threading together. I take the hint and loop my leg over his, cuddling into his side completely. Closing my eyes, I let out a contented sigh as his other hand moves in caressing the back of