sitting in the main room. Trixie’s trying out her new menu on all of us. It’s a celebration feast for me finally being home from Nerve’s clinic and well again. Well, as well as I can be from being shot. Many of the brothers are recovering from their injuries too. Minor bullet or stab wounds, but everyone’s on the mend, all fixed by Nerve and the staff at his clinic. The clubhouse is now fully refurbished, Andrés has been dealt with, so things can get back to normal. Everyone’s having a great time, and the party is in full swing.
I’m sitting on Nycto’s lap while everyone chats, celebrating together. I couldn’t be happier with my life. With Andrés gone, Nycto thinks it’s safe for Ivy and me to have a little more freedom. I was terrified the night Ivy and I were taken. I thought my life was ending, but in truth, it was only just beginning. I had no idea Ivy and I had this darker side to us, but with all we’ve been through, it’s no wonder. I don’t see it as a downside, I see it as scars and war wounds, and I wear them as a badge of honor.
Nycto isn’t perfect. Hell, he’s as broken as I am, but I’m starting to see pieces of him being mended.
He’s healing me too.
We’re great for each other.
Nycto taps my leg gesturing for me to jump off, so I do, and he stands. “Everyone, I have an announcement to make…” I wonder where he’s going with this? “I want to thank Eva and Ivy for coming into our lives. Without them, a lot of shit around this club would have continued on the same path. You’ve changed the Tampa RBMC, and I know all the chapters of the RBMC would agree… we were headed down a dark road. The way we earned our money was easy, but it was so wrong. It took meeting you, Eva, to see that. Fuck, am I glad I met you that night.” He grips hold of my hand. “I never… fuck… ever thought I’d be the type of biker to do this…” He signals to Trixie, and she walks out with a cut handing it to Nycto. “Eva, I’m claiming you as my Ol’ Lady. You’ll wear this property patch as a symbol to every other fucker out there you belong to me. You’re my woman. Mine only.” I gnaw down on my bottom lip while excitement surges through me as he runs his thumb over the back of my hand. “You good with that?”
Ever the romantic.
“Yeah, Nycto, I’m real good with that.”
Relief washes over his face as he winks at me. Cocky bastard. He holds the cut out, so I move in looping my arms through with ease. The texture of the leather against my shoulders feels like it should have always been there.
Like I’m finally home.
The brothers all cheer and stomp their feet as he pulls me into him, kissing me with everything he has. I wrap my arms around him, my fingers threading through the hair at the nape of his neck. We continue to kiss in the middle of his clubroom with everyone watching. I guess I need to get used to being the center of attention now I’m the head lady in town.
Suddenly, the front doors open wide making Nycto pull back from me dramatically.
Every biker in here pulls their guns aiming at the door almost in unison.
Oh, God, not again.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
NYCTO
Aiming my gun at the door, I tense, waiting for whoever the fuck it is to walk through.
“Calm your titties, brothers. We have some business needs attending to.” Jameson strolls in holding his hands up as if to placate us.
I gesture to the boys to lower their weapons. Everyone drops their guns. It’s not every day you get a visit from the National Club President. He’s come a long way, but this isn’t your average drop-in-for-a-beer kind of stopover.
I let go of Eva, walking over to Jameson, his tall frame meeting mine. “Prez,” I shake his hand.
He cracks his neck as he exhales. “You understand why I’m here, Nycto?”
“I do.”
“Then you know I need to take action.”
“What’s he talking about, Nycto?” Eva asks, cuddling into my side.
Glancing at her, I smile but turn back to Jameson. “I understand. I’ll take whatever the brotherhood sees as a fit punishment.”
Eva gasps. “What? No. Nycto… what does this mean?”
I signal to Void. He steps up taking hold of Eva and