Chapter Fifteen

VOID

The Next Day

Fucking Ivy was everything I didn’t expect it to be.

It was her first time, so I held back and kept my past where it belonged, buried under years of psychotherapy. But in an instant, she had it all creeping back and bubbling under the surface.

Oh, the things I want to do to her now.

Ivy is always surprising me, but that was on a whole nother level. The choking I thought maybe she was doing to appease me, but when she drew back and slapped me, the playful twinkle in her eye and the cocky smirk on her face both let me know she’s all about the kink.

How the hell could I be so lucky?

It’s like I brought something out in Ivy, something maybe even she wasn’t sure was there. But she’s brought something out in me too, because I stayed with her after we fucked. Usually, I would fuck and flee. I’m not used to sticking around after I bed a woman, so staying, having a conversation, showering together, then falling asleep with her in my arms, yeah, that never happens.

It’s all new to me.

I’m feeling things for her I am not sure I ever thought I could feel. And to be honest, I like it.

The idea Ivy and I could fall into this pattern together feels damn good.

It feels right.

But I do need to figure out what the hell I’m going to do about those photographs that are making me more anxious than I care to admit, especially since I still have no damn leads. I have no clue what they mean. I’ve got nothing. No idea if it’s a threat or not, but I’m sure I need to take it as one.

Ivy’s with the crop, doing her thing. Unfortunately, now that Dash isn’t around, she has to work twice as hard. I feel bad about that, but at the same time, I’m relieved he’s not here. It’s made life with Ivy so much fucking easier.

Sitting at the bar as my brothers fuck about around me, I feel like maybe I can relax a little.

Until Stacey walks in with the mail and hands me an envelope.

“Another one for you, VP.”

So much for kicking back and taking a load off. My muscles tense as I grab the orange envelope from her hand, which is stamped the same as the last one. Taking a deep breath, I slide it open. No pictures—it’s practically empty—so I turn the envelope upside down, and a key slides out with a tag attached. Rolling my shoulders, I turn the tag over.

You’ve unlocked her chastity belt.

Now she’s ready.

My eyes shoot open as I grip the key tightly in my hand.

A cold shudder runs down my spine.

I haven’t told anyone about what happened with Ivy and me yesterday. Not a single soul knows, and unless she’s told someone, we have a big problem.

I can’t keep this to myself.

Now’s the time to tell Nycto.

After returning to my room to grab the envelope with the photographs, I walk to the Chapel to find my president. I knock on the door, hear a grumble, then turn the handle. He’s buried deep in paperwork as I walk in. “What’s happening?” I ask.

“Just getting shit dealt with paying back Hawk for Eva and Ivy.”

“I should offer you some cash. You put everything up to keep them here, and I’m profiting out of the arrangement. Let me offer some greenbacks to help.”

Nycto lets out a laugh. “Holy shit! Who are you, and what have you done with Void?”

I scowl. “The fuck you talking about?”

“I believe you just admitted you care about Ivy.”

“Yeah, I do. I know… I’m Void, I don’t care about anyone… but I do care about her. Can we drop it?”

Nycto fights his smile. “You owe me nothing, VP. Just seeing she’s affecting that cold, dead heart of yours is payment enough for me. I made this financial mess, I’ll clean it up. Anyway, you after something?”

I walk over and slide the two envelopes across the table. “I received these in the clubhouse mail. The photos a week ago, the key just now.”

Nycto hesitates, his eyes lingering on me like he’s aware this isn’t going to be good. He exhales, his lips a thin line as he picks up both envelopes. He opens the first one, and the key drops onto the table. Then he flicks open the other and pulls the pictures out. He studies one. “This is from when you wrecked a couple of weeks back?” I nod. “Hmm…” He picks up the key, assessing what’s written on the tag. His eyes shoot to me. “This true?”

“Yeah. Yesterday.”

Nycto lets out a surprised chuckle. “Well, shit! Congrats? Is that even what you say in this situation?”

I groan. “Pres, concentrate. Nobody knows but Ivy and me, and now you.” I gesture to the envelopes. “I don’t know how the fuck they, whoever they are, found out.”

Nycto looks back down at the photographs in front of him. “You see anyone while you were out of your head?”

“Hard to say… I saw a lot of shit while I was tripping.”

“You have any clue who it could be?”

“I have a couple of ideas. My main one right now, though, is the DeLucas, seeing as on the key it’s brought Ivy into it, and they already had someone tail us taking pictures. Maybe they’re seeking out some kind of sick form of revenge for us taking Ivy, even though they got what they needed in the end. You know the saying…”

“Never trust a DeLuca,” Nycto finishes. “Okay, we need to check it out before this gets out of hand. We’ll ride out there to see what Tony has to say.”

“Thanks, Pres. Appreciate it.”

***

There is something different about riding Reva. I can’t explain why. Maybe because I bought this ride with Ivy, I have more of a connection to her. There’s something about it which makes everything disappear, and all my troubles seem so far away. Though in the back of my mind, I know when we arrive at Tony’s house in Miami, trouble is going to be the first thing I find.

We ride up to the large, white driveway, then pull to the front of the house. Guards walk down the path, a six-man gun salute waiting for us as we park. I side-eye Nycto, who doesn’t even bat an eyelid. Nycto, Whiskey, Ominous, and I jump off and start the walk toward the front door, but the guards halt us.

“What the fuck do you want… rebels?”

The other guards cackle as if that was some sort of insult.

I roll my eyes at the cunt. If we had a dollar for every asshole who thought calling us rebels instead of Defiance was an insult, we’d be rich. Dickhead!

“Need to speak to Tony. It’s important,” Nycto grunts out, obviously as unimpressed as I am.

“He’s had his fill of you. He has no need to speak to you again.” They snicker once more, and I groan.

“Okay, that’s gonna get old real fucking fast. Tell Tony we’re here, or I start shooting,” I demand, pulling out my gun and aiming it at the idiot.

They all point their guns at me as the front door opens, and Tony steps out. “Abbastanza!” Tony snaps at his men. “Defiance are our guests. Treat. Them. As. Such!”

They lower their weapons while I do the same.

Tony assesses the four of us. “Dash isn’t with you?”

Nycto hesitates. “Ah, no. He’s… indisposed.”

“Pity. Mia would love to see him again.”

“Children do love playing with other children,” I mumble.

Nycto glares at me as Tony waves his hand through the air. “Come. Obviously, we have business to discuss.”

We follow Tony, but Nycto pulls me aside. “Behave your-fucking-self. No exceptions!”

I nod, and we continue. We walk through to an open living room—the place is enormous. Tony gestures for everyone to take a seat, so I move to the giant chesterfield armchair at the end of the leather sofas. Everyone widens their eyes, shaking their heads as I go to sit.

Tony sneers. “It appears your VP does not know protocol, Nycto.”

Everyone stares at me. “What?”

Tony purses his lips. “I sit first. I also sit in the same chair every time.”

I scoff. “Well, Tony, you’re dealing with Defiance. And from what I’ve been told, we’re at a truce. You’re no better than us, we’re no better than you. That custom doesn’t stand if we’re supposed to be equals.”

Tony glances at Nycto, but he shrugs. “He’s got a point, Tony.”

Tony shudders but walks to the leather sofa sitting next to his chesterfield armchair. I am sure it’s taking everything in him not to pull out his gun and shoot me. “You’re strong-willed, Void. It’s either going to get you far, or get you killed. I haven’t decided which yet.”

I shrug. “Hopefully both, just one a little later than the other.”

Tony chuckles. “Now, what is it I can do you for?”

Nycto nods for me to explain. I sit forward in Tony’s chair, my hands on my knees as I exhale. “We had a threat come through to the club toward me and Ivy. I need to make sure it wasn’t you.”

Tony stands abruptly, running his fingers through his hair, sheer panic crossing his features. “You need to keep Ivy protected. If you can’t, then bring her here. I need her, Void. I need her blood for Mia. It’s too valuable. I’ll likely need her again in the future. You must protect her!”

I scoff at the righteous asshole. “You’re only concerned about the blood Ivy contains, not her as a person. Great.”

Tony shakes his head. “That came out wrong. My main concern is always my Mia. If you’ve ever loved someone, Void, you’ll understand the lengths you would go to, to protect them.”

“So, this threat wasn’t you or your men, Tony?” Nycto confirms.

“No. Ivy’s too important. But my offer stands. You need somewhere for her, my home is her haven. No one would get to her here.”

“Not happening. But we will keep you updated on what’s going on,” I tell him.

“Please do. And Void?”

I stand, turning to face him. “Yeah?”

“You’ve shown your hand, now make sure you look after her. A strong woman deserves a strong man.”

I dip my chin at him as I turn with my brothers in tow, and we head for the door to make the long journey back to Tampa. Now, I just need to figure out if we tell Eva and Ivy about what’s going down, or whether we continue to keep it quiet.

One thing I know for sure—blocking Ivy out and building a wall hasn’t done me any good so far, but telling her someone’s watching us is going to scare her unnecessarily.

I don’t want that, not now she’s finally starting to blossom.

I have to play this cool.

Try to see what I can figure out before I go to her with the information.

First things first, I need Atomic to sweep the Cell and my room for bugs.