obnoxiously as I turn toward Nycto.
He’s assessing my every move with precision. “What’s your next move, Eva?”
Rolling my eyes, I jut out my hip. “Just take me to Ivy!”
“That’s not the way to ask for something.”
“Can you take me to Ivy… please?” It’s totally sarcastic, but I don’t care as I cross my arms over my chest.
“Of course, Chiquita. Whatever you want,” he mocks equally as sarcastic.
I might revisit hating him again, after all.
But I’ll worry about that later.
Right now, I need to see my sister.
Chapter Eighteen
EVA
Nycto walks me through the clubhouse. Brothers watch me like they know some shit’s about to go down, but all I can do is be on my mission to Ivy. Nycto tries to take my hand, but I yank it away from him.
I’m angry.
No, I’m furious.
He’s had Ivy here for a whole day, and he didn’t tell me. Nycto huffs leading me past the entrance to the clubhouse where I was planning my escape only moments ago. If I’d succeeded, I would have left, when Ivy’s here. How fucked-up is that?
We walk to a set of stairs that head down, and he gestures for me to lead the way. The stairwell is dark, ominous, foreboding.
Where the hell are they holding her?
Is she some kind of prisoner?
Taking in a long breath, I start the descent, finding myself entering a darkened area. It smells all kinds of wrong. It’s fucking eerie and strange. I step in, the walls are made of brick. Some look new, some older. The whole area makes no sense to me, but a light catches my attention at the end of the long dank room. A large brick wall is open, showing some kind of makeshift hotel suite inside.
What the fuck is this shit?
Nycto ushers me forward, and with each step I take, my nerves heighten even more. This place is beyond strange. Movement on the sofa catches my attention, and I pause. My heart thuds rapidly as I glance at Nycto. His lips turn up slightly as if trying to ease my nerves. It doesn’t help.
My body trembles as I walk faster toward the room. “Ivy?” I call out.
The figures on the sofa turn.
Then I see her.
She stands while I stop dead still.
She’s perfect.
Exactly as I remember.
It hasn’t been a long time, but I don’t know what I was expecting. A small whimper escapes me. I can’t hold myself back any longer, so I race forward, the chill of the concrete floor sending a shudder through my bare feet.
Ivy’s arms throw out to the sides as she rushes out of the room toward me too. “Eva!” her voice breaks as she calls out my name.
My breathing is frantic as I run like hell to get to her. It’s an eternity, but when I reach her, we slam into each other. My arms wrap around her, holding her to me so fucking tight. I never want to let her go. Ivy clings to me as tears cascade down both our faces.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I pant out as I grip onto her for dear life.
“No, I’m fine. Completely fine. Are you all right?” she asks frantically back.
Sniffling, I pull back from her, my hands moving to her face smoothing her hair back as I look at her—really look at her—to make sure she isn’t lying to me. “I’m fine. Just dying to find you. Jesus, Ivy, I was so fucking worried, so fucking scared. I was out of my mind.” I pull her back to me, just needing to make sure she’s really here with me and not some figment of my imagination or some nightmare I’m yet to wake up from.
“I know. I was worried about you, too, but I was told Nycto and the guys have been taking good care of you. They’ve been nothing but amazing to me since I arrived.”
I peek over my shoulder. Nycto’s watching our interaction intently, then I turn back to my sister. “I’m so glad you’re here. Not knowing what was happening to you was killing me.”
Ivy winces, grabbing my hands in hers, staring right in my watering eyes. “I’m fine. I promise. Nothing happened to me. I’m one-hundred percent okay. Not a scratch.”
I lean in pressing my lips to her forehead. “I love you… so, so much. I don’t ever want us to be separated again.”
Ivy brings her hand up swiping under my eyes to wipe away my tears. “We won’t be. We’re a team. We do everything together. Make decisions