on my side when it comes to Ivy.” I side-eye Nycto.
Nycto rolls his eyes. “Do you think Void would have any interest in Ivy if it weren’t for me? Be respectful, Eva.”
I purse my lips. “You’re doing everything you can to find her. It just kills me to imagine what those men could be doing to her. Of the…” I pause contemplating the horrendous sexual acts they could be putting her through.
Nycto exhales. “She’s important, Eva. I’m sure they’re taking care of her, not hurting her.”
Sniffling, I glance at Void, a glimpse of anger in his features. I’m not sure what that’s about, but I choose not to say anything.
“I feel bad for even considering enjoying myself out here with you all while she’s suffering.”
Nycto tightens his hand in mine. “Just enjoy your freedom for now. How ‘bout I take you on a tour?”
My mood shifts a little, my eyes wandering around the vast space. “Please.”
Nycto slaps Void on the shoulder, then leads me over to the bar. It’s a long concrete slab with black marble on top. Not what I would have normally pictured for a biker’s bar, but it suits this place. Tall black and metal stools line the length of it finishing off the decor. A tough-looking woman with shoulder-length blonde hair and a nose ring stands behind the area wiping the bar down. Her arms have scattered mismatched tattoos. It’s like she’s had a few hard years in her life, but she smiles at me kindly.
“Hey, Eva, I’m Stacey. You want something to drink?”
I shrug. “I’d kill for a Cuba Libre.”
Stacey’s eyes shift to Nycto, and he dips his chin in approval. She throws the cloth over her shoulder. “Cola, rum, and lime coming right up.”
“Thanks so much.”
Stacey turns to where the wall is lined with alcohol and glasses like at a real bar. She moves around like a bartender, and I’m impressed.
“Wow! Girl’s got moves.”
“Stace is our resident mixologist. We pulled her out of a dive bar that was going under. She wouldn’t be able to pay her rent, so we offered her a place here instead.”
Stacey turns, pouring the lime into the glass. “Haven’t looked back since.”
Smiling at the pure honesty oozing from her, she throws a straw into my glass, then slides it over.
I pick it up and raise it in cheers to her. “I’m glad you found a home here, Stacey. It certainly is interesting… to say the least.”
“You have no idea. Enjoy your drink, hon.”
I bring the straw to my lips, taking a sip. The refreshing coolness from the ice, the fizz from the cola, and the tang from the lime all make for a flavor explosion in my mouth. Then the warmth hits from the rum. She’s mixed it perfectly. No wonder they like having her here if she makes drinks this good.
“Thank you!”
Nycto pulls me over to the left. We walk toward the first big room, and that smell hits me again. We casually stroll as everyone moves about doing their own thing. We enter the room, a large stainless-steel kitchen makes me envious. I did all the cooking back home. I would have loved to have something like this. By the looks of it all, no expense has been spared. There are two large industrial ovens, two six-burner gas stovetops, a walk-in pantry I can’t see the end of, and two giant refrigerators, not to mention a chest freezer the size of a wall. It’s the perfect kitchen for mass production.
In the middle of the kitchen is an island where another beautiful woman is standing stirring something in a bowl. Her hair, a rich chocolate color, is tied up in a messy bun on top of her head. Her eyebrows are perfectly manicured. The shirt she has on is so tight, I can’t be sure it’s not glued to her skin, but she looks amazing. I’m not ugly by any means, but this woman is the epitome of perfection.
“Pep, how are you doing with that batter?”
I didn’t even notice Trixie’s in the room as she calls out to the stunning woman mixing the batter.
“All done and ready for you.” Pep’s face lights up like the dawning of the first sun of the day. “Oh, hey, Prez, is there anything we can do for you and Eva? We’re just getting lunch ready.”
Trixie turns around to face us. “Eva, it’s so good to see you out and about. Just wish Prez would let you have a little more freedom, so