Chapter Twenty-One

EVA

One Month Later

Being confined to the clubhouse is starting to wear thin. I knew we would kind of be in isolation, but I had no idea Ivy and I would be kept on the clubhouse grounds with such restrictions all the time .

Ivy has coped with it better than I have. She’s happy in her little bubble, as she calls it, but I want to explore America, to experience the city of Tampa, and to go to a freaking mall and buy my own things, but Nycto’s adamant we can’t be seen. The more time goes on without us being found, the more his tension grows. He’s anxious. It’s like something’s eating at him, and no matter how I try to talk to him, he won’t budge on opening up to me or going to speak to a counselor. He’s stubborn.

Other than our mutual frustrations, we’ve been doing good.

Rolling onto my back, I stare at the same gray stucco ceiling I’ve stared at every day for the past… how long has it been now? How long since I’ve set foot on Cuban soil? I don’t know where the hell I am, really, or why on earth I’m here, but for some weird reason, Nycto chose me. It’s something I still don’t completely understand. But when he’s around, something shifts. The air between us becomes thinner. My skin prickles and tingles.

And even though this man is, in a small part, part of the reason my sister and I were stolen from a damn nightclub in the first place, he’s more than that now. I’ve gotten to know him, to see the real him. I can’t control the way my body ignites when he’s around me, the way my heart beats faster in his presence. Is it from fear? That one day he’ll grow bored and get rid of me? Or because he excites me more than he terrifies me?

There’s a part of me that is also completely intrigued by him. He’s hard to read. So alpha, yet there’s a softness in him. Something he tries to hide, and I don’t know why. I guess I’m going to have to pull him out from behind those walls he builds like some kind of fortress. That is if he ever opens up to me again.

Our sex life is off the charts. I’ve never felt more at ease being with someone than I do when I’m with Nycto. We’ve fallen into a relaxed rhythm already, like we’ve known each other for years, not for how ever long it has been… Weeks? Months? I’m not even sure at this point. It’s also funny how being involved with Nycto tends to give me mad respect from everyone else in the club. If I ask for something, I get it right away and without hesitation. They don’t need to bend over backward for me, but they do anyway. Is it because Nycto told them all to do it? Or is that just what happens when you’re kind of seeing the president of Defiance Motorcycle Club’s Tampa Chapter?

It’s like I’m somehow the queen of this clubhouse. I have to admit, it feels fucking good.

This past month, I’ve been trying to spend as much time as I can with each member—brothers, club girls, and a couple of the old ladies of the older members. I’m making my way around to everyone. If I’m going to be here for the long haul, I need to make friends with them all.

On the other hand, Ivy has been keeping more to herself downstairs. She does come up and talk to people, but she isn’t as social as I am, which is the complete opposite of how she was in Cuba. I’m not sure if she doesn’t fit in here like I do or what’s keeping her away, but I need to figure it out. If she’s not happy, then we have got to find a way to fix it.

As I head downstairs to the Chamber, the chill I always get when I walk in shivers over my spine. How she lives down here, I’ll never know. I hate it down here. I’m convinced it’s haunted by espíritu spirits. One day, I heard moaning coming from behind a wall, and it wasn’t Ivy. Moaning. Ivy told me it was the wind and ushered me back upstairs, but being down here gives me the creeps.

Making my way to the Cell, I pull the wall back. She’s sitting with the laptop Void got her, watching some kind of video on the screen.

She giggles, her eyes shift up, and she waves at me. “Eva, come look at this. It’s so cool…”

The brightness on her face has me intrigued. I round the table, then sit next to her, looking at the screen. A giant pimple comes on, and suddenly, someone’s bursting it. The liquid oozes everywhere, making me scrunch my face up in revulsion. “Whoa, that was a good one,” Ivy gushes.

My stomach rolls as I yank her laptop closed, pulling a sour face. I gag, and it takes a moment before I recover enough to speak. “You’re disgusting.”

“You know there’s an actual television show dedicated to popping pimples? The doctor on it is so cute. She’s one of those people you just wanna squeeze ’cause they’re so adorable.”

“It’s official. You have too much time on your hands. Ivy, you need to get out of this…” I wave my hands around, “… cell. And come upstairs more.”

She pouts. “I like it down here.”

It’s time to get serious. “Why? Do you not like everyone up there? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Her eyes widen in shock. “Fuck no, of course I do. I love the guys and the club girls. They’ve made me feel so at home it’s not funny.”

“Then what is it, Ivy? Why would you stay down here? It’s so… creepy .”

She shrugs. “In Cuba, I had to be this outgoing and fun person to fit into this mold so I could be the person they all wanted me to be. Here, I can actually be me. I can stay down here and be a loner, or I can come up there and hang with everyone. They’re okay to let me be me, and I love them for it. They don’t force me to be anything but myself, so I’m taking it and running with it. Please don’t be the one to stop me from being who I really am, Eva.”

My head jerks back in shock. “I had no idea. I thought you loved going out partying and hanging with all your friends in Cuba.”

“I had pigeonholed myself into being a person I hated. I hated my life in Cuba. I love being at this club and my space down here. I have since they rescued us from the boat. You probably don’t understand, but please try.”

I shrug. “Okay… I get it…” I pause, thinking back on something she said. “Since they rescued us from the boat? What about when—”

Her eyes go as wide as saucers, and she stands, suddenly turning pale. “I meant you when they rescued you from the boat. Then, when they brought me here later… much later…”

My heart rate quickens, and my breathing intensifies. “Ivy?”

“ Shit. I got it confused, Eva. Don’t listen to me. In fact, Void’s calling me. I need to go.” She turns, racing for the stairs.

Now I really know something’s wrong.

“Ivy Alicia Pérez, you get back here . Right. Now .” I bolt after her as she runs up the stairs, taking two at a time.

Anxiety floods through my veins while I am running. I’m not entirely sure what’s happening, but something’s been hidden from me. Something I’m sure I’m not going to like.

“Ivy!” I yell out as I reach the top of the stairs.

She’s sprinting toward Void, but I stop at the top. Anger races through me as Nycto turns to take in the chaos.

I huff. “Ivy… stop!” I yell, making everyone halt what they’re doing and turn and look at me. I have the attention of the entire clubhouse, including Nycto.

Ivy’s fearful eyes turn from Void to Nycto, and she grimaces. “I’m so sorry,” she whimpers.

Nycto takes a step forward. “What the hell’s going on?”

I cross my arms over my chest. “I’d like to know that myself.”

Nycto turns to Ivy as she throws her hands up in surrender. “It was an accident,” she says, her voice is a soft whimper.

Suddenly, it all falls into place.

The reason I was always locked in Nycto’s room.

Why Ivy has been so calm.

Why they didn’t search for Ivy straightaway.

When Nycto took me on a tour of the clubhouse, why he didn’t take me downstairs.

I don’t understand everything, but there’s a lot that makes sense.

Ivy was down there all along…

She’s been here since we were taken.

It’s why she’s so comfortable down there.

My body slumps, and I fall to my knees. I let out a whimper as I clutch at my chest, pain from their deception crippling me.

“You lied,” I growl, looking between Nycto and Ivy through rapidly blurring eyes.

“Eva, let me—”

“You lied!” I yell, cutting Nycto off. The back of my throat burns as nausea hits my stomach full force. Tension fills the air. It’s so rife you couldn’t cut it with a chainsaw, let alone a knife. Nycto moves to take a step forward, but I step back. He holds his hands up in surrender as tears stream down my face.

“How could you? Why would you? I-I d-don’t understand. It makes no sense.”

Nycto’s eyes meet mine, pleading.

Dammit. I thought we had something.

A connection.

A future.

It was all a lie.

“Chiquita, I didn’t keep Ivy from you as punishment—”

“Jesus Christ, it is true. She was here the whole fucking time? Is that why you’ve been staying away from everyone, Ivy? Because Nycto made you keep this lie from me?”

“No, Eva. I was telling the truth about why I like staying in the Cell. I’m sorry we didn’t tell yo—”

“ You were in on it? You knew the whole time he was keeping me in his room, and you did nothing to help get me out? Ivy… I fought day and night for you.”

Ivy’s bottom lip trembles. “It wasn’t like that, Eva.”

“Wasn’t it? Tell me what it was like, then? Because you knew I was locked in a room, and you did nothing .” My bottom lip trembles as I swipe the tears away from my face.

Nycto takes another step forward. “Eva, this is all on me.”

I let out a half laugh. “You’d better believe this is all on you . It’s your fault completely. You took me. You made me believe Ivy was sold, having God knows what done to her. You sat there… night after night after night while I cried to you and begged you to find her.” I let out a hefty scoff. “You are the biggest liar of them all. I can’t ever trust you, Nycto. My whole relationship with you is based on a fucking lie.”

“Eva…”

“I thought you were some hero, some guy who swept in and saved not only me but then ‘found’ Ivy. I put you up on this pedestal, like no one could come close to how amazing you are… even with all your flaws and faults. I mean, fuck, how do I believe anything you say? About your past, about any fucking thing. I don’t even know who the fuck you are, Alec. Is that even your name? Or was that a lie too?”

Everyone in the room shifts uncomfortably as Nycto’s nostrils flare, the vein in his neck ticking in aggravation.

He’s angry.

Good.

I bet it’s not even a pinprick of how I’m feeling.

“You’d better start watching your mouth, Eva. I need you to remember where you are and who you’re talking to,” he warns.

“I need you to remember I’m a human being, and you played a game with me. I don’t know what the hell your intentions were or what the fuck you thought you were going to achieve, but actions have consequences. Did you want to show everyone you could easily make me look like a fool? Congratulations, Nycto , you won.” I slow clap, giving myself applause. “Aren’t I the idiota? I want out of this clubhouse and away from your pendejo deshonesto ass .” I hope Trix translates for the stupid dishonest ass. “And to be honest, I don’t care whether you come with me or not, Ivy. You’re as guilty as the rest of these assholes. My own familia. Mi hermana .” I sniffle, then turn, stomping for the clubhouse exit.

“You can’t leave the compound, Eva,” Nycto calls out.

“Watch me, cabrón ,” I yell in reply, determination flowing through me. What an asshole.

I’m angry.

Angry as hell.

Fucking furious.

The anger fuels me as I storm out the exit.

The rays of the late afternoon sun hit me as I make my way up the concrete ramp toward the giant gate. The funky smell of the bay causes me to turn up my nose as I reach the giant ten-foot wrought iron fence. The top of each blackened spike has barbed wire circles linking it to the next like rings of fucking death. There’s no way I could climb it, even if there weren’t barbed wire.

I stare at the brother sitting at his station while he assesses me curiously.

“You gonna open the gate or what?” I snarl at him.

“No can do, Eva. Not without permission from the pres.”

Groaning, I fold my arms over my chest. There must be another way out of this fucking hell hole. Making my way back down the concrete ramp, I rage as I traipse around the side of the bunker. It’s mainly concrete and shrubs out here. Every angle I take, the fence is impenetrable. My anger is starting to wear thin as I make my way to the rear of the bunker when I finally see an out. Excitement bubbles inside me as I rush up to the opening in the brush, pushing it to the sides.

This is it. I can finally break free and leave this godawful place.

Suddenly, a sign comes into view as I push another shrub out of the way.

Warning: Electric Fence Ahead

My throat closes up, and my chest tightens. My body shudders as my legs give out. I plummet to the ground and let out a harrowing sob, then another. All my pent-up emotions pour out of me as it all becomes too much.

My parents dead.

Nycto lied to me.

Ivy lied to me.

Why?

I don’t fully comprehend.

I can’t even imagine the motivation behind it.

Did Nycto want me to submit to him? Was this all a power play to see if I would fall into his arms?

The whole idea makes me sick.

I bury my head in my hands, and the tears flow into my palms as I rock back and forth on the ground. I’m losing my shit. It’s as if everything I thought was reality is all a fabrication. Am I going to wake up again in that godforsaken shipping container to find out none of this was real? That it was all a dream, and we’re on our way to a fate far worse than can be imagined?

Suddenly, ripped-jean-covered knees hit the dirt behind mine, and an arm slides around me.

“You’re going to be okay, hon,” a smooth, velvety voice says. “It’ll all be okay.”