Chapter Twenty-Eight

NYCTO

Aiming my gun at the door, I tense, waiting for whoever the fuck it is to walk through.

“Calm your tits, brothers. We have some business that needs tending to.” Torque strolls in, holding his hands up as if to placate us.

I gesture to the boys to lower their weapons, and 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 and walk over to Torque, his tall frame meeting mine. “Pres,” I say in greeting and 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.

With a glance at her, I smile but turn back to Torque. “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 and takes hold of Eva, then starts dragging her away from me, Trixie trying to talk her down the whole way.

“Nycto, no! Tell me what’s going on.”

“Close your eyes, Eva. Whatever happens next, keep your eyes closed.”

Eva lets out a gut-wrenching sob as she clings to Void.

The sight tears at my chest.

She shouldn’t have to witness this.

Torque nods his approval at me as my brothers all stand around on edge. I dip my chin, letting him know I’m ready for whatever he’s about to dish out. He stares me down.

I deserve this.

I put my club in danger.

Two brothers and a hangabout died, and many were injured.

I must pay for my sins.

It’s his job to dish out the punishment.

I will take this like a man, whatever is coming.

Torque’s nostrils flare, and he sends out a whistle. My brow furrows as Hurricane from the New Orleans Chapter walks through the door. I roll my shoulders. I haven’t seen him for ages, though it’s not like the presidents cross paths all that much. I’m not entirely sure what Torque is playing at here.

Then, movement at the door catches my attention as Sin from Vegas strolls through, followed by Alpha, Gunner, Six, and Zero.

Oh shit.

I begin to breathe a little faster as president after president of the Defiance chapters filter in through the bunker doorway. I have to admit, I’m starting to feel the strain as even more walk in.

I was worried about Andrés killing me.

But there is something worse than death.

Losing my presidency.

Or worse, losing my fucking patch altogether.

If that’s what these presidents are here for, to de-patch me in front of my club, I’d rather die.

I puff out my chest, standing my ground. I’ve fucked up, but I’m not letting them think I’m sorry for it. The last president walks in, and the sight hits me like a sucker punch to my stomach.

Hawk.

My lip twitches as I watch him watching me. He’s helped me so fucking much. Knowing he’s here to dish out whatever shit is coming my way stings, but I also understand that if Torque calls, you come running.

“Brothers, presidents, we all know Nycto has been a loose cannon. I’ve filled you in on what happened with the two women. While I understand this was a good outcome for them, it brought death to two patched members of our club. Tampa and Miami both suffered casualties and deaths because of your actions, Nycto. In saving two, we lost two brothers-in-arms, and their lives cannot be replaced.”

Eva’s soft whimpers and sniffles echo through the room as I tense further. “I understand, Torque. I also mourn for Crow and Spite. I lost those brothers like you all did, and while I wish they weren’t dead… if it meant I get to keep Eva and Ivy safe, then I’d do it all again. That’s the God-honest truth. Eva’s wearing my property patch, Torque. It might not say much to you, but it means a hell of a lot to me.”

Torque glances over at Eva, taking in the cut. “I know you well enough, Nycto, to recognize that’s a big deal. I respect your stance on this. You were trying to do the right thing. In a small way, you did. You saved two women from a terrible life, but that does not excuse putting your club in danger, putting us all in danger. Let us not forget that your actions contributed to their lives being endangered in the first place. And you know the loss of two brothers can’t go unpunished.”

“I take full responsibility. Do what you need to, but if I can ask one thing, please… make sure Eva leaves. I don’t want her to witness this.”

Torque folds his arms over his chest. “No. She stays. She’s as much a part of this as you are.”

My chest squeezes as I face her and mouth, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s coming, but I definitely don’t want Eva to see.

I make my way to the center of the room, and tension fills the air. The presidents of my brother chapters circle me. I stand tall, trying to keep my shit together.

“Alec,” Eva whimpers.

Her desperation almost kills me.

“Nycto, you’ve been found guilty of endangering the Defiance brotherhood. Your sentence… each president will take out their form of punishment in their own way.”

I grit my teeth.

Fuck.

This could go on for hours.

Eva will have to stand there and witness me being tortured. I don’t want this for her. She didn’t sign up for this. Anger flares inside me.

Gunner steps forward and glares. I ball my fists tight, staring right back at him. “This is for that time you slapped my Old Lady on the ass after I gave her my property patch,” he says. He balls his fist and slams it straight into my jaw. My head snaps to the side, then he grabs my shoulders, pulls me forward, and slams his knee right into my groin. The breath is immediately knocked from my lungs. My balls feel like they’ve been pushed up inside my body, and I let out a groan as I drop. I try to catch my breath, and he bends down, staring into my watering eyes. “Hopefully, now that you have an Old Lady, you’ll be more damn respectful.”

I grimace, my balls aching like a motherfucker as he walks past Alpha, slapping his hand as he goes.

What is this, a fucking tag-team match?

Alpha moves in, circling around me as I sit back on my knees. I know I must roll over, take the beatings like a man. I fucking deserve it. He stalks me, my adrenaline pumping as I wait for him to make his move. He stops behind me and shoves me forward. I fall flat on my face, going limp, letting my body lie there.

I’m embarrassed this is happening in front of my brothers.

But I’m doing this for Eva.

Everything is for Eva.

Alpha rushes around to my side and slams his boot into my ribs. My body flips onto my back, and I groan, coughing and spluttering as he lands another kick to my flank. Rolling onto my side, I bring my knees up without thinking. I have merely a second to catch my breath before I’m hauled up using the back of my shirt by Hurricane. As he holds me upright, Six stands in front of me, fist clenched. I tense as Six’s fist lands straight in my nose. Blood trickles, and pain radiates through my face more than I thought it would. I think the fucker might have broken my cheekbone.

Eva’s cries grow louder, distracting me for a moment, her eyes glistening with tears as Void holds her tightly. Ivy is on one side and Trix on the other, trying to soothe her, but nothing is working. She sobs as another fist smacks straight into the side of my head, knocking Eva from my vision and rattling my mind.

Hurricane hands me to Six to hold, then Sin takes over the beating.

Hit after violent hit, my body goes numb as it rocks to and fro with the ferocity of their actions.

Punch after punch.

Kick after kick.

Blow after blow.

President after president.

My head is foggy like I’m fading in and out. My body wants to give up this fight. As I lie starfished on the floor, I’m sure I have a concussion. I lost count of how many have laid into me and, more importantly, how many are still to go. My body aches so fucking bad I can barely breathe. I roll onto my side and clutch my ribs as I cough up blood.

A slap across my face makes my eyes shoot open. I blink a couple of times through swollen eyes. Hawk kneels over the top of me, sporting a tired expression. Rivulets run down my face. Blood? Sweat? I don’t know.

Hawk lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. “You look like shit, brother.”

I stifle a chuckle, which turns into a cough, then morphs into a moan. “Am… I… still… pretty?” I manage to murmur.

“Yeah, you pussy. It’s just a scratch.”

“You haven’t… had… your shot yet… have you?”

Hawk grimaces. “Last one, brother. Think you can manage one more?”

“Do your best, Hawk.”

“Oh, there was never any doubt about that. I just needed to assess how hard to go.”

I tense. “I owe… you a punch. Don’t… hold back.”

He doesn’t want to do this. Not really. I can tell by his eyes. I’m sure none of them do deep down, but rules are rules.

“You got it, brother.” He pulls his fist back, and I clench my teeth as he slams it straight into my stomach. I let out a gasp, trying to catch my breath as another one smacks into my nose almost immediately. This time, a crunch really reverberates through my face, and I’m sure there’s a lot broken. I gasp and wheeze for breath, but he doesn’t hesitate to slam his fist straight into my eye socket. My head slams back onto the concrete floor, and darkness swarms around me.

I found my way to the light with Eva.

Now, I’m unsure if my brothers have sent me straight back into the dark.

Permanently.

EVA

My heart breaks at the sight of Nycto unconscious and bloodied on the floor. I want to run to him, to help him, but Void is stopping me from doing anything.

Hawk stands, wiping his bloodied hands on his jeans as everyone looks down at Nycto.

“Is he alive? What are you waiting for? Help him!” I yell, seeing as they’re all standing around like lost fucking puppy dogs.

Torque smirks then tilts his head at me. “You heard the Old Lady. Help the man.”

Nerve rushes forward at the same time Hawk and some of the other men who were beating him do. They lift him onto a table as Nerve flashes a tiny flashlight into his eyes.

I struggle in Void’s grip, pushing him off me. “Eva… Eva, stop,” Void calls out as I break free.

I don’t stop. Instead, I run over to Nycto. My breathing is so freaking fast it’s hurting my recovering lungs. “Nerve, tell me he’s going to be all right,” I beg.

He keeps shining the light in Nycto’s eyes. Finally, Nycto flinches, pulling away like he always does.

I exhale a sigh of relief. He’s still in there. I bring my hand up to his beaten and bloodied face. What a mess.

A tear escapes and rolls down my cheek as I caress his blood-stained head. “What did they do to you?”

Nerve presses on Nycto’s ribs. He groans and flinches away, and I jump on the spot. “Stop, you’re hurting him.”

Hawk reaches out, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. “We did what we had to, Eva. Trust me. Nycto knew what was coming.”

“He… he never told me.”

“Why would he? It would have scared you. You’re a part of us now, Eva. If a president puts the brotherhood in danger, he has to pay. Nycto knew that when he went in and saved you. He did it with full knowledge there would be repercussions. He knew, and he did it anyway.”

“You’re telling me… when he took me, he knew this day would come? He knew that he’d have to suffer to keep Ivy and me safe?”

“Yes. He risked everything for you. His club, his patch… his life.”

All the air leaves my body, and I sway on the spot. I gave him such a hard time when I first arrived. I had no idea that all along, from the very first second he decided to take me, he was risking everything .

He really is my dark prince .

I wipe fresh tears from my face as I lean down to his ear. “I know you can’t hear me right now, Alec, but I’ve just realized how much I love you. Hasta la muerta. ” Until death.

He inhales sharply, letting out a groan as his eyes fling open. He pants for breath—they are so shallow.

I grip his hand. “I’m here. I’m here, Nycto. I’m not going anywhere.”

His swollen eyes meet mine. “Chiquita?”

Goose bumps prickle over my skin at hearing him call me that right now. “Yeah?”

“I love you too.” He tries to smirk but can’t due to the swelling of his face.

The clubhouse erupts in a round of cheering as Nycto chuckles on the table. I lean down, pressing my forehead gently to his, not wanting to hurt him but needing to be closer to him. I don’t want to kiss him because his lips look too painful for me to touch right now. This will have to do.

Hawk snickers. “I never thought I’d hear the day Nycto confessed his love for another living thing.”

“Hear, hear!” call out some of the brothers.

“Fuck… you… all,” Nycto mumbles between rattling breaths.

Hawk pokes Nycto in the ribs. Nycto jerks, letting out a garbled moan, and Hawk grins. “It’s good to see you happy, brother.”

Torque steps forward. “The fallout was shit, but I agree with you, Nycto, it was for a good cause. Seeing you fighting for something, someone you believe in, is a refreshing change,” he emphasizes.

Nerve approaches, shaking his head. “Right now, you’re all finished. Someone, get Pres a fucking icepack or three… I have to get him to a bed to check him over properly,” Nerve grumbles.

Trixie rushes off to the kitchen.

“We’ll stay the night. Some of us have been on the road for fucking hours to get here. Stacey, let’s get these beers started. It’s time we celebrate Nycto finding his Old Lady,” Torque instructs.

Nerve signals to Void as I step back. They both grab Nycto and hoist him up. He lets out a deep, guttural groan as they walk him toward our room. My stomach rolls in anguish as I follow closely behind.

Trixie rushes up, handing me some ice packs. “Good luck tonight, hon.”

I nod but scurry off after Nycto. As I walk into the bedroom, Nerve and Void lay him on the bed. The dull glow of the red lamp makes the blood and bruising on his face appear even more violent if that’s possible. My brows draw together as I stand back and observe Nerve while he tends to him.

“Is he gonna be okay?” I whisper.

Void takes the ice packs from me and, with his free hand, grips my bicep. “He’s tough . He’s been through far worse than a beating. With you by his side, he’ll be good as new by morning.”

I glance at Nerve for confirmation.

“He’ll be fine. Just needs rest. The guys out there will be partying it up tonight. Keep him calm in here, and if you need anything, come get me, okay?”

I nod, walk over, and sit on the edge of the bed. “I can’t believe he did this for me.”

Nerve places one of the ice packs over Nycto’s ribs, then another on his swollen face. “You’re his Old Lady. It was the only way. It’s meant to be.”

I reach out and grab Nycto’s hand, looping our fingers. He’s out cold, so he doesn’t tighten his fingers in mine. The blood staining his skin is a reminder of what he’s done for me.

Tonight, it’s my turn to make sure he’s taken care of.

Because I am his Old Lady.

He’s mine, and that means more to me than anything I thought ever could.

***

I hardly slept all night.

I kept checking to make sure Nycto was breathing.

I was worried he was so badly concussed that he was going to leave me, and I couldn’t handle that at this point. The thought alone is enough to disarm me completely. This man, this gorgeous man, is a part of me now, and that’s never going to change.

Lying on my side, I run my hand up and down his chest lightly. I’ve been hesitant to touch him all night, but I need the contact.

Nycto’s eyelids slowly flicker, even in their swollen, bruised state. My heart leaps into my chest as I stare at him. Eventually, his eyes open, then squint like he’s feeling immense pain all over again. He exhales with a slight groan, and his hand comes up to his head like he’s trying to soothe an almighty headache. “Fuck me.”

I smile weakly. “Good morning.”

Nycto’s gaze flicks to mine, and the corner of his lips turns up ever so slightly. “The only thing good about this morning is you, chiquita . Everything else is fucking shit.”

I shrug. “I dunno about that… I’m your Old Lady now. Andrés is gone. Your punishment is over. We can get on with our lives together.”

His hand caresses my cheek. “You’re fucking amazing… and right. I’m focusing more on my embarrassment than the good stuff.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Nycto.”

“I took a beating in front of my club. Don’t think they will respect me after the presidents’ retaliation.”

I look deep into his eyes. “You took punishment for doing something you believed in. For taking a stand for your Old Lady. If they don’t see that you fought for something, stood for something, then they don’t belong in Tampa Defiance.”

This time, his grin is wide, his face glowing with pride. “I knew… I knew from the second you fired sass back at me you were going to be a kickass Old Lady. You’ve proved it to me time and time again, chiquita . ”

“I really want to kiss you right now,” I whisper.

He chuckles. “Don’t ever hold back from kissing me, Eva. You want to kiss me, you fucking kiss me.”

I narrow my eyes. “But your lip looks so sore—”

He leans up, his lips pressing hard against mine. The second our mouths collide, that intense fire lights and burns inside me. There’s something about Nycto that turns me into an insatiable wreck.

He ruins me.

Completes me.

He is everything I never knew I needed.

I kiss him back, trying to be careful, but it’s hard to control myself when he’s so fucking irresistible, so I deepen the kiss, showing him as much enthusiasm as he’s showing me.

That is… until he hisses in pain.

My eyes shoot open when I see I’m leaning on his ribs, and I shoot up instantly. “Shit, sorry. Are you okay?”

“Better than I have been in a long time… just sore.”

I wince, taking in his nose’s crooked form and pointing to it. “I think it’s broken.”

“It is… I heard the crack.”

“I get it, you know…” Rolling my shoulders, I exhale. “Why they did it that way.”

He raises his brow like he wasn’t expecting me to understand.

“I didn’t love it. It killed me to watch. But you broke the rules… and other than killing you, that was the next best thing. That was their only form of punishment.”

“You don’t know how right you are. They could have de-patched me or taken my presidency… or, yeah, killed me. What I got was the tame version. All other variations would have involved some form of torture. Torque’s tough but fair. I did the club wrong, so the punishment must fit the crime. Two brothers died because of me. I got off lightly.”

“You knew… right back when you first took me, you knew something like this would happen.”

His hand comes up, stopping me as his swollen eyes meet mine. “I’d do it all over again for you, Eva.”

My stomach flutters. Nycto knew from the moment he saw me we’d end up here. I think I did, too, in some ways. I refused to believe it, being so caught up in finding my sister. I’m not sure we had love at first sight—that would be impossible—but there was chemistry. There was something pulling us together.

You can’t have light without dark.

And together, we’re that little bit of both each other needs to survive.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t…” I say.

He lets out a small laugh, then groans from the pain.

“I appreciate your sacrifice, Nycto. It means so much to Ivy and me.”

He squeezes my hand, then stretches a little because no more words need to be said. Now, it’s time to get on with our lives.

“Right. I need food. Shall we face the music?”

I nod and stand, then help Nycto up. Wrapping my arm around his waist, I do my best to gently loop his arm over my shoulder to help him walk. He’s not crippled, but he’s not stable either.

“Let’s go,” he says.

We walk out into the bustling clubroom, and all eyes focus on us as everyone watches closely. He wobbles slightly, and I steady him. He exhales, looking out at the sea of presidents. “I want to thank you all for coming…” He pauses, catching his breath. “I know I did the wrong thing. I knew I had this coming to me…” He wobbles, blinking a few times. “Tampa isn’t dealing in trafficking anymore. We’re out.” He stops to catch his breath. “We have a new business, which I’ll need to discuss with you, Torque… when I’ve had pain meds… and maybe less knuckles to the damn head.”

A light snicker filters through the room as Torque nods. “You got it. Nerve, get this man some drugs, some beer, and somewhere to sit with his woman while the rest of us party on his dollar.”

Nycto groans as the rest of the clubroom cheers. I help Nycto move to a seat, my heart pounding ferociously as I wrap my arm around his waist and lead him into the back corner, as far away as possible from the excessive noise, and sit him on a chair.

Trixie steps over with a giant plate of food. “You doin’ okay, Pres?”

He looks out at the sea of Defiance with a smile. “You know, Trix, I am. I have my woman. My brothers are here. Honestly, I might look like a massacre now, but I feel like a masterpiece. I’ve come full circle, and I know where my path is leading…”

“Where’s that?” Trixie asks.

He turns to face me, grabbing my hands. “Wherever Eva is.”

My heart swells. I never thought I could feel this whole. That I could ever know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I could live my life for one person. Yes, obviously, I live for Ivy, too, but Nycto has made a home in my soul.

Something changed that night we first laid eyes on each other. He was cocky, self-assured, and arrogant, yet through the darkness, he shone bright, the light threatening to break through. He’s so much more than he gives himself credit for. I see him, flaws and all.

To me, he may be dark, but that doesn’t define him. It doesn’t make him who he is. Because after darkness, there always comes light, and though he lives his life shrouded in darkness, hounded by the depths of his depraved past, he’s finding his way through.

With me by his side, I know we can accomplish anything.

I am his guiding light.

Just like he is my darkness.

And that is all we will ever need.