“That’s my sister, constantly surprising us. You’re amazing, Ivy,” Eva boasts as Nycto stands back with his arms crossed.
“Pretty badass for a small thing like you to ride a bike like that, Ivy. I’m impressed. A little turned on even—”
“Go get another drink, Hatch.” Void glares, interrupting him as I giggle to myself.
“Yep,” Hatch agrees, spinning around and walking back down the ramp to head inside the bunker, stumbling as he goes. He’s already had quite a few drinks by the looks of it.
“You ride well, Ivy. Void’s doing the right thing teaching you,” Nycto states.
“You think?”
“Just don’t get too complacent. Otherwise, you’ll end up like Void. How are your ribs, VP?” Nycto jabs, raising his brow.
Eva elbows Nycto in the side, so he turns to walk back down the ramp.
Eva lets out an exasperated huff. “Sorry, he’s worried you’ll hurt yourself. He’s only snapping out of concern. That’s all.”
I exhale. “I get it. But honestly, Eva, I felt good. I know I can handle this.”
“Yeah, you can. Nycto’s angry at me, not you, Ivy,” Void insists.
“Okay. I’m gonna park, then we’ll get back to the party.”
“Good fucking idea. I need a damn drink,” Void urges.
I wince as I watch Eva run off after Nycto. “It’ll be okay. Everything will work out, you’ll see.”
“You always have such enthusiasm about everything, but not everything always works out perfectly, Ivy.”
I contemplate how right he just might be while parking the bike.
***
This party sucks!
Everyone is wasted while I sit back wishing I were downstairs in my own little safe space inside my bubble. Instead, I’m up here trying to keep an eye on Void because it seems like whatever happened between him and Nycto outside has gotten to him. Now, he’s at the bar drinking. I don’t want him to hurt himself because he’s still recovering from the crash and taking painkillers. So, mixing them with alcohol can’t be good for him.
I just wish I knew how to help Void when he gets lost in his head like this. I have gone from such a high to now I’m sitting on my own on the sofa behind the pool table like a loser. I guess I’m glad everyone else is having a great time. As I sip on my second Cuba Libre for the night, Dash strides over with a slight wobble in his step. Oh shit! He flashes his pearly whites at me as he flops on the sofa beside me, his arm instantly wrapping around my shoulders. “Hey, good lookin’, heard you went for a solo ride tonight.”
“Are you drunk?” I tease.
Dash pouts out his bottom lip, his eyes shifting to the ceiling. “Hmm… maybe a smidge.” His free hand comes up, indicating a small gap between his thumb and pointer finger.
My hand taps his knee as I chuckle. “You need to remember how you’re gonna feel in the morning when you’re up bright and early doing all your prospect duties.”
A blank expression crosses his face. “Shiiit! You’re right. So, so right. How can you be so fucking perfect all the time?”
I furrow my brows. “Is that meant to be a compliment or an insult?”
His eyes widen so much, I’m scared if he tries any harder, his eyeballs might pop right out of his head. “No. Shit no. It’s a compliment, Ivy. You amaze me… all the time, like fucking constantly.”
“Dash… no, I’m nothing. Just a girl who hides in a Brick Cell.”
Dash’s irises darken as he focuses on me. “You’re a woman, Ivy. A woman who has me completely torn up inside.” His eyes glisten as his hand behind me moves into the back of my hair.
I gasp as he leans in, his lips puckered.
My hands move to shove him off me, but I don’t make it in time.
Chapter Thirteen
VOID
Yanking Dash up by his cut before Ivy can push him off her, Dash wobbles on his feet.
He’s wasted, but it doesn’t give him the right to kiss her if she doesn’t want it.
“Oh, hey, Voi—”
Pulling my fist back, I slam it straight into Dash’s eye socket making him spin, flying face-first into the pool table. My knuckles hurt like a bitch, but it’s nothing compared to the pain searing through my side. I need to be careful, but right now, when I look at Dash, all I see is fucking red.
I reach out, grabbing his cut, but as I do, he turns with all his energy pushing forward, ramming me back. I let out a groan as the agony in my ribs sends an intense pain through me. So much so, I can’t fucking breathe as he slams me down to the floor. I can’t function for even a second through the pain before his fist comes back, slamming straight into my jaw. The drunken assholes all cheer, enjoying the brawl rather than moving in to end it.
“Stop it,” Ivy screams, but Dash doesn’t let up, slamming me with another fist into my eye socket this time.
Suddenly, Dash is knocked away from me, and when I look up, Ivy’s standing there shaking out her hand while Dash is gawking at her, rubbing his face.
Did she just hit him?
“That’s enough! You two are fucking ridiculous. And Dash, hitting Void in the ribs, what were you thinking?” Ivy berates.
Nycto walks over, rubbing his chin in disapproval. “Prospect, you don’t attack the VP and not have consequences. Go to the chapel now. Void, go to your room to sleep this off. Party’s over for both of you.”
I try to stand, still finding it hard to breathe as I cough a couple of times.
Ivy moves into my side, helping me up. “You’re a damn idiot… but… thank you,” she whispers in my ear as she leads me through the drunken bikers to the hall.
“I know Dash wanted you to choose him, Ivy. I overheard him in the lab last night. Then seeing him try to kiss you just now… fuck.”
Ivy grimaces as we enter my room, and she takes me over to my bed and lays me down.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It’s not because I felt bad for him or anything, it’s because you’re hurt, and I just… I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t want you worked up and get hurt even more, trying to knock him out.”
I exhale, shaking my head. “I don’t care how fucking hurt I get, Ivy. I will always fight for what’s mine!”
She huffs, leaning in and grabbing the hem of my shirt. “Take off your shirt, I need to check your ribs.”
I help her take off my shirt, and she winces. “Shit, Void! Dammit! The bruising’s worse. Maybe I should get Nerve in here?”
I wave my hand through the air dismissively. “He’s drunk, he’ll be no help.”
Ivy slowly sits on the bed beside me. “Can you take a deep inhale of air for me?”
I somehow find the strength to smirk. “You going all ‘medical Ivy’ on me now?”
She rolls her eyes. “Just appease me, will you?”
I inhale as deep as I can. It hurts, but I’m able to do it. I have to admit, it does relieve me as I was concerned when I was winded out there that my fractured rib might have punctured my lung. It hurt that fucking much, and I couldn’t get a breath.