“Just getting shit dealt with paying back Hatch for Eva and Ivy.”
“I should offer you some cash, you put everything up to keep them here. 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, and 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, were you after something?”
I walk over, sliding 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, picking up both envelopes. He opens the first one, the key drops on to the table. Then flicks open the other, pulling the pictures out. He studies one. “This is from when you wrecked a couple of weeks back?” I drop my chin. “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?”
“Prez, concentrate.” I groan.
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, Prez, appreciate it.”
***
Riding Reva is different. I can’t explain why. Maybe because I bought this ride with Ivy, I have more of a connection to her. There’s just 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 Jacksonville, trouble’s going to be the first thing I find.
We ride up to the large, white driveway, then pull into the drive. 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… bastards?”
The other guards cackle as if that was some sort of insult.
I roll my eyes at the cunt. If we found the word bastard derogatory, we wouldn’t have named our club that way. 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 bastards again.” They all snicker once more as I let out a 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 stupid idiot.
They all point their guns at me as the front door opens, and Tony steps out. “Abbastanza! <Enough!> The Royal Bastards are our guests. Treat. Them. As. Such!” Tony snaps at his men.
They lower their weapons while I do the same.
Tony assesses the four of us. “Dash isn’t with you?”
Nycto hesitates. “Ahh, no. He’s… indisposed.”
“Hmm… 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 things to discuss.”
We follow Tony, but Nycto pulls me aside. “Behave your-fucking-self. No exceptions!”
Nodding, 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 doesn’t know protocol, Nycto.”
Everyone’s staring at me. “What?”
Tony purses his lips. “Generally, I sit first. I also sit in the same chair every time.”
I scoff. “Well, Tony, you’re dealing with the Royal Bastards. And from what I’ve been told, we’re at a truce. So you’re no better than us, we’re no better than you. That custom doesn’t stand with us 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 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 one yet.”
I shrug. “Hopefully, both. Just one a little later than the other.”
Tony chuckles. “Now, what is it I can do you for?”
I sit forward in his 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 probably need her again in the future. You have to 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, but my main concern is always to Mia. If you’ve ever loved someone, Void, you’d understand the lengths you will go to, to protect them.”
“So, this threat wasn’t you or your men, Tony?” Nycto asks just for clarification.
“No. Ivy’s too important. But my offer stands. You need somewhere for her, my home is her safe haven.”
“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?”
“Look after her. She 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, building a wall hasn’t done me any good so far, but telling her someone’s watching us is going to scare her unnecessarily.