Chapter Twenty-Three

NYCTO

My nerves are shot.

Not only from Eva finding out everything, but also because taking her off clubhouse property is a huge risk. If Andrés or one of his men sees her, there will be hell to pay.

But Eva needs this.

We need this.

If I’m going to have any hope of getting Eva back on my side, I have to give a little. I need to show her I’m not a heartless bastard and have compassion for her. This is the only way I can think of to do that. If I give her a full-face helmet to cover her features, this ride shouldn’t be a problem. I can give her a sense of freedom without anyone knowing it’s her.

We should be fine.

The late afternoon sun is still bright, but as soon as we exit the bunker, I put on my sunglasses. As we walk hand in hand to my bike, an ease washes over me. Unlike the tension clouding us moments before, I can sense Eva relaxing, and it eases my nerves a little. We reach my ride, and I grab the spare helmet from the rack on the fence and walk it over to her. “You need to wear this, chiquita . It covers your face and keeps the wind from whipping your hair in your eyes, but above all, it will keep you hidden.”

She nods as I pull it down over her head, encasing her. I can’t help but smile at the big black helmet smothering her. I slide up the visor to make sure she’s okay in there. The internal padding pushes against her cheeks. “You good?”

“This is comfy,” she replies, her tone muffled. I tap her on top of her helmet, then slide onto my ride. “You have to keep a firm grip around me. When the bike moves, you move with it. Nothing jerky or overstated, okay?”

She winks at me in understanding. I gesture for her to move in behind me. My stomach tenses when she shifts into place, the feeling foreign for me, but as soon as her front slides against my back, it’s like she’s meant to have been there all along. I clench my eyes a little to try and bring my cock under control. He has a mind of his own right now. The idea of Eva always being behind me on a ride is something I wish I could have. This, right here, is the best fucking feeling in the damn world.

“Where’s your helmet?” she says, her voice muffled, while sliding her visor down.

“Don’t need one, babe.” I kick over the engine, and it roars to life.

Her fingers clench onto me tighter, squeezing me as the vibration rattles through us. She’s quiet, not making a peep, but I can tell she’s affected by the way her thighs squeeze around me. Smirking, I duck-walk backward out of my space, then slowly head toward the gate.

Ominous peers down at me from his post. “Good to go, Pres?”

“Should be a few. If anything happens while I’m gone, get me on the line,” I call out to him over the roar of my engine.

Ominous casually salutes me, then opens the gate. I rev my engine twice, alerting Eva I’m getting ready. Excitement builds inside me. I’ve wanted to take her on a ride for as long as I can remember.

Now is my chance.

She squeezes me tighter, so I hammer down, leaving nothing behind. My bike roars to life, soaring out of the gates and the safe confines of the clubhouse lockdown. Eva squeals in my ear, but it doesn’t sound like fear—it sounds like pure adrenaline. Hearing her only fires me up further as I exit the feeder lane and turn onto the main road, and I don’t hold back. I want her to know what this feeling is like—the purr of the engine, the love of the open road.

It will be sunset soon. I want to make good time to get there before the hot sun starts to fall.

My baby vibrates through me, and having Eva wrapped around me sends my nerves into a peaceful calm as we make our way to the West Central Coast of Florida. Eva is an enigma. Even though emotionally, we’re not in the best place, physically, right now, there’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be.

The wind whips at my face, my sunglasses protecting my eyes as I fly down the streets heading for the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. I have no idea if Eva’s figured out where we’re going—probably not as she doesn’t know much about Florida, let alone this part of town—but who knows. She’s smart, and we’re almost there. As we get closer, I slow the bike a fraction for the upcoming roundabout. As much as I love taking Eva on this breakneck-speed ride, taking a roundabout at this velocity probably isn’t the best idea. So, I drop gears, trying to obey the speed limit for the first time since we took off.

Taking a left around the roundabout, I turn down Coronado Drive, pull into the Pier 60 parking lot, and drive into one of the bays facing the beach under the tall palm trees. The white sand is pristine against the crystal blue water as it crashes against the shore in a rocking motion. I cut off my engine, finding myself at ease just being here. Squeezing Eva’s leg, I turn back to her, but when I do, she’s already taking off her helmet, her hair waving about in the slight ocean breeze, the hot summer sun beaming on her face, lighting her up like the angel she is.

I tense. “Fuck, chiquita , you’re supposed to keep your helmet on.”

She scoffs, sliding off from behind me to stand and admire the beach like she doesn’t give two shits about what I’m saying. Her eyes take in the picturesque scenery. The sun is starting to set over the slowly moving waves.

With an exhale, she asks, “Why did you bring me here, Nycto?” There’s calm in her tone, an ease I haven’t seen in Eva since she and Ivy were reunited.

She finally seems happy.

I can’t take this from her.

Not now.

“I come here sometimes to clear my head. When shit gets fucking hard, when I need to refocus, this is where I come to let everything fall back into place.”

“What’s it called?”

“Clearwater Beach.”

She closes her eyes, lifting her face to meet the setting sun’s rays. “I get why you like it here. I do too.”

Reaching out, I take her helmet from her hand and place it on the bike. It’s a bad move—I feel it in my bones—but she needs this moment, a moment of freedom. I don’t know when she’ll get another one. So, I move in behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and holding her to me. I’m unsure if she’ll fight me on it, but when she cuddles into me, her head falling back on my shoulder, I take every ounce I can get.

I gently kiss under her ear. “I never meant to hurt you.”

Eva’s eyes are still closed as she basks in the setting sun. “I understand. The problem is, you did, but I don’t want to hate you for the sake of it. Not when my body doesn’t hate you… at all.”

Exhaling, I hold her tighter. “I can’t promise there will be many moments like this, chiquita . I can’t promise you excursions to fancy places or to give you the world. Not until I find a way to fix the fact you’re meant to be dead.”

Her eyes open, and she watches the sun slowly fade as it sinks farther below the horizon. “I’m not sure how you’ll fix it, Nycto, but you will find a way. It may not be today or tomorrow. Hell, it might take a year… but I can wait. Being here now, seeing this will tide me over. It’s worth it just to be here with you.”

“We’ll stay until the sun is gone, but then we need to get back. We can’t be out in the open like this for too long , chiquita . It’s dangerous.”

“Thank you. Thank you for bringing me. I reacted when I found out—”

“You had every right to.”

“You’re damn right I did. What I was saying was I reacted. I’m not sorry about how I reacted, Nycto, but I am sorry I did it in front of everyone. I never want to put your presidency in jeopardy or make your brothers think less of you because of me.”

Hearing her words means more than she could ever understand. “Being president means a lot to me. It shows those asshole kids I’m worth something, that I’m more than they thought of me growing up, but I’m making bad choices when it comes to you. You blind me, Eva.”

She exhales, turning in my grip to face me. Her arms loop around my neck as she stares into my eyes. “I make bad choices when it comes to you too. Maybe we blind each other. Maybe we’re not good for each other,” she suggests, looking crestfallen.

I bring my hand up to caress her cheek. “Maybe we’re not, but I never was one to follow the rules. I’ll break every damn rule if it means being with you.”

Her bottom lip trembles, then she leans forward, pressing her lips to mine.

I lose track of how long we stand next to my ride kissing, but the sunset fades to twilight, which turns to nightfall. When I finally pull back from her, her eyes are brighter than the twinkling stars above. She might be angry at me, but we’ll work through this together. It will take some time, but we’re going to be okay.

“I need to get you back. The guys will send out a fucking search party. We have a forty-five-minute ride home.”

She glimpses over her shoulder at the beach one more time, then inhales. “I love the smell of the ocean… I hope we get to come here again sometime.”

My fingers tighten around hers. “I promise, chiquita , I’ll bring you back one day.”

She dips her chin, then slides past me to grab hold of her helmet. I help Eva secure it properly, then jump on my ride. She moves in behind me, and I take one last look over Clearwater Beach. I start my engine, duck-walk out of the parking space, rev the engine so Eva grips hold of me tighter, then take off toward home.

As I exit the Pier 60 parking lot, a couple of cars follow behind us. I take off quickly to get to the roundabout to take me back over the Memorial Causeway. One car turns off down Mandalay Avenue, but the other follows behind. While this isn’t a strange occurrence, I’m keeping an eye firmly on my six.

We were out in the open, for far longer than I planned. Time crept away from me. It’s on me if something happens because of this.

Tension rolls through me as the black SUV keeps its tail on us. As we reach the Courtney Campbell Causeway, he continues to follow. An uneasy churning in the pit of my stomach tells me something may be wrong. After this stretch, if he doesn’t take off in a different direction, then that worry is likely right. I hammer down but not so fast I alert Eva that something is up.

I continue my course home, but I will change our route if this car follows too closely. As I turn down the next street, he continues to follow. This is a little too fucking coincidental. There’s no way he’s come all the way from Clearwater Beach to this exact spot. He’s a definite tail. I take a right next, but he drives right past me, continuing on. Pulling to the side of the road, I peer over my shoulder to see where the car is heading as Eva follows my line of sight, but it’s too late. It’s gone. My stomach knots, my muscles tensing all over as sweat beads down my brow.

“What’s going on?” Eva asks.

“Nothing. Thought I saw something. We’re good,” I lie as I take off back toward the clubhouse at lightning speed.

Ominous pulls open the gate while tapping on his wristwatch. I flip him the bird as I ride us in, then park my bike. Void rushes up the ramp, throwing his hands in the air like a damn madman. Eva jumps off the back, and I turn off the engine.

“What the fuck, Nycto? I was about to send out a search party.”

Eva places her helmet on the rack on the fence, then I lean in and peck her cheek. “Chiquita , go spend some time with Ivy. Got club business I need to attend to.”

“Okay, thanks. I needed that. Talk to you later.”

I wink at her as she saunters off down the ramp, heading inside.

Void stares at me like I’ve lost my damn mind. “So what… you took her somewhere and fucked her for a couple of hours?”

I groan. “No… took her to Clearwater—”

“What? Why the fuck would you take her there? Nearly an hour away from the clubhouse and way too public. That’s too fucking far if you needed us.”

I roll my shoulders. “She needed something to relax.”

“Then take her to the back of the compound and fuck her. Don’t put us all in danger.”

“You done?”

He groans, waving his hand through the air. “Fucking yeah.”

“Good, ’cause while you’re busy flapping about like a bitch, I’ve been waiting to tell you I think we have an issue.”

Void pinches the bridge of his nose like he’s been waiting for shit to hit the fan. “Fucking hell… here we go.”

“I think Eva was made.”

He turns to me, eyes wide. “Of fucking course you do. The fuck were you thinking takin’ her out?”

“Trust me, I know what shit we’re in. If it was one of Andrés’s men…” I trail off because I know the consequences, as does he.

“Jesus, Nycto. Why weren’t you more careful?”

“Eva took off her helmet before I had a second to stop it. I figured once it was off, the damage was done. If we were being tailed, they would have seen her, so she may as well enjoy the beach.”

“Your fucked-up move might cost us all our lives, including Eva.”

He’s right. I have to get ahead of whatever might be coming. If one of Andrés’s men were in that car, I need help, and I need it now. But for the first time, I don’t think we can count on Miami. Hawk was crystal clear when he said his chapter would help with the cash, but that’s all. It’s time I finally do the right thing. My club is in danger because of my actions with Eva and Ivy. Now they could be in danger by being here.

I can’t risk Eva being hurt.

“I need to make a call,” I tell Void.

“Need me with you?”

“Nah, brother, this is something to face up to on my own.” Storming past him, I make my way inside the clubhouse, through to the Chapel. Closing the door behind me, I yank out my cell as I sit at the head of the table, dropping down onto my seat. Placing the cell on the table, I stare at it for a solid minute before dialing the number I need.

The call I’ve been dreading.

I hate that it’s come to this, but it’s a call I need to make.

It rings three times. “What have you done this time?” Torque’s gruff voice answers. Our National Club President sounds like he’s preoccupied.

Honesty is the best policy. Truth be told, I want to get straight to it. “I fucked up. Now we’re in over our heads.”

Torque pauses for a moment, then exhales. “Nycto, what exactly do you mean?”

I crack my neck to the side, my stomach clenching as I prepare to tell him everything. “You know how we transport packages from ships to the sellers or buyers… whatever the job calls for?”

“I’m not gonna fucking like this, am I?”

“While transporting my last shipment, I kept two of the packages. Told Andrés they got away from Dash, then drowned.”

“The fuck were you thinking? More importantly, why? It’s not like you to take a liking to the packages. I’ve not been a huge fan of Tampa being in the transport industry, but this is next-level shit, even for you.”

“That was a month ago, and we’ve kept them on the down-low until now. I’ve put my club in danger. That’s on me. I take full responsibility for my actions. The thing is, Torque… I’d fucking do it again because I care about Eva more than I thought I could. She adores her sister, so as it turns out, the packages were a package deal.”

“Christ. Never thought I’d see the day when a woman took residence in your cold, dead heart.”

“I agree. The thing is, we broke lockdown today, and I think Eva was made.”

“I hear what you’re saying, brother. Look at everything I have done for Foxy, but you acted recklessly, then broke your own lockdown, and now your club’s at risk. What do you want me to do about it?”

“If Andrés comes with trouble and I call for backup, no one’s gonna want to come when they hear why. But if you send out the call, they won’t have the option.”

Torque grumbles under his breath. “I don’t appreciate you putting Defiance on the map like this, Nycto. You need to handle your own shit. But I understand why you did it. You need help… it’ll be there, but don’t think for a fucking second this is the last you’ll be hearing from me about this. There will be repercussions.”

“I expect nothing less, Torque.”

“Keep your ear to the ground and your guns at the ready. If Eva’s been made, you’re probably looking at trouble heading your way sooner than later.”

I nod. He’s not telling me anything I haven’t already thought of. It’s the very reason I called him. “Got it. And Pres?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks, brother.”

He mumbles something unintelligible under his breath, then ends the call. He’s pissed off. I get it. I’ve handled this entire Eva situation like a lunatic, but if it means, in the end, I get to keep her, then maybe it will all be worth it.

I know I have punishment heading my way for putting my club in jeopardy, but I’ll take any fucking thing they throw at me.

Because Eva is worth it all.