drift from my mind.
Chapter Nineteen
Void
After showering and getting ourselves warm, we’re all fucking snuggled up on the sofa. Ivy’s got her legs over mine, and her body’s draped against me. I swear I’ve never been the type of man who was into affection. It was drilled into me from an early age that tenderness wasn’t even a thing. It was all about sex, doing what had to be done, then leaving. So, needless to say, cuddling with a woman is new territory for me. I might have been a lot of Ivy’s firsts, but fuck if she isn’t getting a few of mine as well.
My fingers play with her hair as I let out a contented sigh.
Ivy glances up at me. “That sounded contemplative.”
“I was just thinking of how you’re changing me.”
“In a good way, I hope.”
“I’ve never been the type of guy to admit when I like someone. Hell, I’ve never been the type of guy to even like someone, so this…” I wave my hand around us, “… is all new to me.”
“In case you’ve forgotten, this is kind of new to me, too, but I’m glad we’re experiencing it together.”
Leaning in, I kiss her, my hand running through her hair, holding her to me.
For so long, actually most of my life, I’ve been a void, completely empty inside, lacking empathy and emotion for anyone or anything, until Ivy.
I had no clue how the world could change, how colors could seem brighter, how sounds could be clearer. Everything is simply better with someone in your life who means fucking everything to me.
The problem with that, it means you also have something significant to lose.
And that makes you weak.
Ivy gives me strength, but she’s also my single greatest weakness.
Three Days Later
It’s so nice to be back in Ivy’s good graces. I thought for a second, we were going to be spending the rest of our stay here with her angry at me, but with us fucking on the bank of the creek, it pulled us back to each other. It’s what we needed. We have got to be united in this because we work better as a team.
Today, though, has me on edge. I’ve had no word from Nycto, the club for all I know could be fending off an attack right now. So, I’m doing my best to keep Ivy occupied. We’re on the sofa watching television. I’m wrapped around her, trying to keep her as calm as possible when the floorboards on the porch outside creek.
Ivy and I both shoot our eyes to the front door.
I ease Ivy off me slowly, not making any sudden movements. “Go to the panic room. Don’t come out until I come get you,” I whisper as we both stand quietly. I draw out my gun as she turns with nothing but fear in her eyes. “Go!” I mouth.
Ivy grimaces, then starts running.
Before I even make it to the front door, it bursts open. Men wearing the same white slacks and white shirts my father used to make us wear surge inside, all with guns aimed directly at me. I point mine back, but honestly, there’s nothing I can do. There’s way too fucking many of them.
A disciple signals to the others, and they rush me. I grit my teeth as one of them grabs my gun from my hand, the others pull me over to the kitchen chair, slamming me down on it. I try to fight them, but they pull wire ties out of their pockets, tying my wrists together behind my back as I let out a low growl.
“Whatever you want, you won’t find it here!”
The ringleader chuckles. “We already have.” He waves his hand through the air, and another disciple comes from down the hall dragging a gagged and bound Ivy behind him. Her eyes are fraught with fear as she tries to fight them off. I thrash about on the chair in an attempt to get to her, but the disciple holds me in place.
She didn’t make it to the panic room.
“Ivy! Get your fucking hands off me. Ivy! Let her go, you fucking brainwashed pieces of shit.” I pummel about, fighting harder than ever, but all it does is make my wrists burn against the tension of the ties. Two men hold me down with every ounce of strength they have, while the disciples laugh.
But then everyone stops when a man walks into the bungalow.
All eyes turn.
And I take in the tall figure.
He hasn’t changed at