Defining Darkness - K E Osborn Page 0,43

anger. Her feet stomp on the floor hard as she storms toward me in a wrath only seen by a raging stampede. I tense my muscles waiting for the impact as she lunges toward me and shoves me in the chest.

“You’re a fucking moron. I hate you. I hate the sight of you. Get the hell out!”

I stumble backward with the force of her push and at the shock of her words. She turns, grabbing my jeans and shirt from the desk, shoving them at me. As I grab them, she pushes me again. “I said… Get. Out!”

“This is my damn room. You’d do well to remember that and some manners.”

“So fucking what! You’re keeping me captive!”

“Eva!”

“Out!”

My anger flares as I grab the key from my jeans and unlock the door. Eva’s eyes widen. The knowledge the key wasn’t on my person last night, and she had a way out if she truly wanted to take it, now sinking in. Her bottom lip trembles as she turns, stomping away from me, then she throws herself onto the bed like a toddler.

The soft sniffling of crying comes next.

That noise claws at my chest.

I can’t stand to see her worked up like this. I don’t understand why. I don’t know what I did to cause this reaction, but I need to leave for both of our sakes. I can’t keep doing this shit to her.

Walking out of my room, I lock it. Thankfully, I see no one when I take a deep breath while standing in the hallway in just my boxer briefs. Quickly, I pull on my jeans and shirt. My cut’s still in my closet, and it looks like I’m going barefoot this morning. My brothers are going to wonder what the fuck’s going on.

They can wonder all they want.

I ain’t telling them shit.

Making my way out into the main room, I spot Void sitting at a table with Ivy next to him. A slow smile crosses my face as a sense of relief crashes over me. Taking in a steadying breath, I stride over to them. The brothers I walk past take second looks but keep their questions to themselves. I slide in next to Void.

Ivy raises her brow at me. “Morning, Nycto… everything okay?” I hear the tone in her voice. She’s curious about her sister.

Void stares at me as he sips his coffee, his lips turning downward as he takes in my appearance. “Where’s your fucking cut?”

I crack my neck to the side. “None of your damn business…” I turn to Ivy. “I trust you’re feeling better about your arrangements?”

She places her hands on the table showing them off. “No handcuffs. I’m a free woman. Though, honestly, being up here isn’t what I thought it would be.”

“What were you expecting?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I mean it’s nice and all. The people I’ve met are great, but I kinda like the Brick Cell. It’s like my own little piece of paradise.”

Void and I glance at each other.

Is she making a joke? Or does she really like it down there?

Maybe Ivy’s as twisted as us?

Void said she’ll fit in here well. Maybe she is made for this club.

“Paradise, huh? Most people think Hawaii or Fiji is paradise, woman, not an underground cell with no windows that smells like mold and dead—” I stop my line of talking. She doesn’t know about the walls or what’s behind them.

Ivy sinks back, relaxing. “I know it sounds weird. Maybe it is, but it feels safe. It feels like I belong. I can’t explain it.”

Void widens his eyes, saying nothing as he sips on his coffee, the steam from the hot beverage swirling up from the mug. Exhaling, with this enlightening news, I can now move ahead with my plan.

Ivy likes it here.

She likes the people.

She likes the atmosphere.

She wants to stay.

If I’m able to convince Ivy, then maybe this will all work.

“Ivy, I want to run something by you.”

“Shoot.”

I need to word this carefully.

“If Eva finds out you’ve been here all along, she’s going to fucking explode.”

“No doubt.”

“She’s gonna want to leave and take you with her.” Ivy stills, listening to me intently now. “I don’t want to lie to Eva, but at the time, I thought I was doing the right thing keeping you from her. It was a dick move, but Eva’s not coping. She needs to know you’re okay.”

“What can I do?” Ivy’s expression turns somber.

“I need you to lie.”

She sits taller. “Explain?”

She didn’t shoot me down.

“I want