by K E Osborn
“So, you’re on your own?”
“I am, but the two people I’m protecting… I know them, even if they don’t know I’m watching them.”
She’s gone quiet again and doesn’t speak for a few seconds. “Why don’t they know you’re watching them?”
“Because my president sent me here. To teach me a lesson in respect.”
Shadow lets out a small laugh. “A lesson is respect… right? It’s Ivy, isn’t it?”
She’s so fucking smart.
“Her and Void, my VP, they’re here together hiding out. There’s a threat on them, and I’m the first line of defense if anyone comes to find them.”
“So, you’re the man they take down to get to them, is that what you’re saying?”
I frown. “I don’t look at it that way. But yeah, I guess so. But I would fucking hope I take them out first.”
She stutters out a long breath. “Dash…”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t get fucking killed, I still owe you a punch.”
I finally smile, relaxing a little. “So, tell me, what’s been happening with you?”
“Ominous is a barrel of laughs.”
I chuckle. “Tell me about it. How is he interacting with Frank?”
“Actually, Frank is probably the only patron he talks to.”
“It’s the military training they have in common.”
“Ominous was in the military?”
“Special forces.”
“That explains a lot.”
“How’s Scarlett?”
“Mmm… she’s not your biggest fan. After the lunch incident, you have some crawling to do with her.”
“If it’s all the same, I want to make sure I’m okay with you first. Then, perhaps, I’ll work on Scarlett.”
“Oh, you have some major crawling to do. Don’t you worry about that.”
“I know, and I intend to.”
“I guess you better save your battery, right?”
I want to talk to her for hours, tell her it’s her.
But I don’t.
Because I don’t know where we stand.
“Yeah. Nycto omitted to tell me I’d be without electricity for days on end, the asshole.”
“And would your president be okay with you calling him an asshole?”
“Fuck, no. I’d probably get my ass handed to me on a silver platter… or bricked up behind a wall—”
“That’s oddly specific.”
If only she knew.
“I’ll call again when I can. And the first thing I’ll do when I get back into town is come see you.”
“Okay.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I’ll believe it when you’re here.”
“I won’t let you down again, Shadow.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then she clears her throat like she’s full of emotion. “Talk soon.” Then she ends the call.
And just like that, I feel like a fucking little schoolboy all over again.
There’s something about Shadow that has me seeking her out, wanting to be near her, dying to hear her voice constantly.
The thought of her right now is keeping me sane in all this fucking madness out here at the bungalow. Pulling out that selfie she sent me, I stare at it, letting out a heavy sigh. She might not know it or feel it, but I want to prove to her she means something to me. I don’t know when or how I will get that chance, but I know I will.
And I can’t fucking wait to be with her.
Chapter Nine
DASH
Three Days Later
I’m so fucking bored!
I swear to God, if I have to stay out here for another damn week, I’m going to hand in my patch personally.
This is too much.
The punishment too severe.
There’s learning your lesson, learning respect, finding your place at the club, and then there’s fucking plain old-fashioned torture. If this was Nycto’s way to get me over Ivy, it’s sure as hell worked. I’ve seen enough of Void and her these past few days to turn my damn stomach—I’ve heard things no man should have to overhear unless it’s a porno. It’s why I’m sitting back, with my feet up, away from the bungalow today. I never lose sight of the area, but I’m going out of my mind.
Suddenly, a loud bang blasts through the air making me shoot up. I peer through the brush, men wearing all white are entering the bungalow, carrying guns.
“Shit!”
There’s a fucking lot of them.
This is what happens when you lose sight of what you are meant to be doing.
There’s nothing I can do from where I am. I dart through the brush to get closer to the bungalow where men drag a gagged and bound Ivy out behind them. I move to get her, but a glimpse of something through the house catches my attention. Void’s tied down to a chair inside, and one of the men in white is lighting up the front porch as they all jump into their vans.
My eyes shoot to Ivy as they throw her inside. My breathing comes hard and heavy as I decide what I need to do.
Do I try to fight these men on my own to try to get Ivy?
Or do I stay and help Void who will die if I leave him tied down in a burning bungalow?
I take a step toward Ivy’s van as they start the engine.
A loud bang gains my attention, I turn seeing Void fall over on the chair inside, the flames getting stronger and now almost out of control. I let out an almighty roar as I regrettably let the van with all the men drive off taking Ivy, making sure to memorize the number plate.
“Motherfucker!”
Rushing like hell to get to the front door before it too is taken over by the raging inferno, smoke billows through the air, making it harder to breathe as I run straight for the door. Aiming my shoulder firmly at it, I slam with all my force. Flames lick against my skin as I enter the bungalow and find Void on the floor. His eyes darting around like he doesn’t believe I’m here.
Why would he?
They thought they were alone this entire time.
I pull out my pocketknife and start cutting him free from his confines. “C’mon fucker, up you get,” I urge as I lift him from the chair, and edge him toward the front of the house. We make it out onto the porch, flames coming at us from every angle as a section of the roof slams down in front of us, completely alight.
Coughing, I glance around trying to find something to push the debris away from us. A rocking chair sits just to the right, so I grab it, using the legs to push the debris out of the way enough to clear a path. The smoke around us fills my lungs as I reach for Void, pulling him out onto the front area and we both fall on the grass.
Void coughs frantically, trying to get some air as I pant for much-needed breaths.
I might not like my VP, but I would never let him die. The brotherhood is exactly that! We are brothers, therefore family, and you do everything you can for family.
I reach out, patting his back trying to help him breathe as I turn to look at the quaint little bungalow go up in a fiery inferno. If I wasn’t here, Void would be inside burning right along with it.
Void moves to stand but falls instantly back to the ground. “We need to find Ivy.”
Did he not see how many men there were?
“No, we need to call for help. We’re too far away from either club to get back up here in time, but Ivy did tell me of someone who might be able to help who’s nearby.”
Void coughs, narrowing his eyes in on me. “Hang on! Why are you even here? Weren’t you supposed to be off taking a break or some shit?”
Another section of the roof caves in with a giant thud, which makes us both jump, but I shake my head in confusion. “Is that what Nycto told you?”
Void shrugs, clearing his throat, trying to take in a deep centering breath, but he can’t seem to get one.
I furrow my brows. “No. He sent me out here in secret as surveillance. I was told to be your backup but to keep my distance. Said I needed to learn to respect y
our relationship and my VP again. I’m sorry, man, Ivy’s amazing, we both know that. So, as long as you make her happy, which from what I have seen over the last few days, then I’m happy.” I’m also digging another chick, one better suited to me, but I’m not about to tell him that.
“So, Nycto punished you by making you watch us together, huh? Clever man. I appreciate you taking a step back, brother. But this is all shit talk ‘cause we gotta get her back.”
“Yeah, so let’s make a call and go get your girl!”
“Who the fuck are we gonna call who will help us all the way out here?”
Yanking out my cell, I see there’s only ten percent battery left. “Ivy and I have ties out this way.”
Void cranes his neck to the side. “Someone who is willing to take down my father and his fucked-up cult?”
“That’s what this is? Your father took Ivy?”
“Can we focus? Will your guy get her back or not?”
Bringing the name up for Tony DeLuca, I hit dial. “I played dress-ups with his sick daughter, Mia. The man owes me a favor.”
Void’s eyes widen. “Tony DeLuca? Jacksonville’s Mafia Don?”
The phone connects. “Dash, Mia’s been asking for you. When are you coming by the house again?” Tony asks as Void’s wide eyes stare me down.
“I hope Mia is doing well. But, I have a favor to ask of you, Tony.”
“Dash, for you… anything.”
My eyes shift to Void and I grin. “You in for causin’ a little chaos?”
Tony exhales like that’s the best shit he’s heard in years. “Ahh… Dash, chaos is my middle name.”
“Great, because we need a lift, we need some backup, and we need someone to track a van.”
“Send me through your location, my men and I are leaving now.”
I dip my head to Void to let him know we’re on. “Thanks. And Tony?”
“Yeah?”
“Bring something explosive.”
He lets out a booming laugh. “Oh, fuck, yes… I’m gonna enjoy this.”
***
Tony and his men get to us fucking quick when I tell him it’s Ivy we are rescuing, seeing as she’s the main reason his mafia and the club are allies in the first place. With Tony’s tech team on the hunt for the van with the plates I recalled and Void telling them to be on the lookout for a farm with some kind of lake or body of water, we narrow the search area down to one farm just out of town from where we are.
So we’re taking the chance.
Tony and his men are stocked up with as much ammo as possible to take out this fucked-up cult when we get there. If they think they can take Ivy and do fuck knows what to her, they have another thing coming. She might be Void’s woman, but deep down, she’s my friend, and I don’t want anything to happen to her.
We enter the property, and no one is on the gate, which is strange. We park by this huge mansion on top of a hill, all jumping out expecting a welcome party. But as we draw our weapons, we glance down the hill where a row of cult members are all dressed fucking crazy.
Ram heads sit atop the men’s shoulders as they lead Ivy down on a bed of twigs and flowers toward the water. Jesus Christ, that’s some fucked-up shit right there! She looks out of it, as an old man, who I assume is Void’s father, Wyatt, stands in the water holding onto a knife.
“What the fuck is this shit, Void?” I grunt.
He flares his nostrils. “The cleansing ceremony.”
Tony scoffs. “They touch her, they die. You understand me? I don’t care who they are to you, Void.”
Void clicks the safety off his gun. “I’m right there with you, Tony. We need a distraction.”
Tony signals to one of his men, who rushes around to the back of the van, and walks out with a grenade launcher. “This should do it, yeah?”
Smiling wide, I turn glancing at the massive house and point to it. “Let’s give them an extra window!”
“I like the way you think… Fabrizio, take care of the renovations while we attack!”
“Si!”
Glancing back down to the body of water, Ivy goes to make a run for it. My chest tightens as she wobbles, running straight into the arms of one of Wyatt’s disciples. Void tenses when the disciple drags her back toward the water, while we rush down toward them as Fabrizio prepares the grenade launcher.
Ivy brings her fist up slamming it into the disciple’s stomach—you go, girl—and his ram’s head falls off into the water as he lets her go. We all rush behind the trees lining the way, so we’re not made. It takes everything in me not to rush down there and charge straight for those fuckers in the water manhandling her.
She goes to run again, but two more men stride through the water grabbing her upper arms so tight she lets out a whimper. They drag her back into the water to stand in front of Wyatt. He’s talking to her, but I can’t make out what he’s saying, I’m too far away.
“What’s he doing, Void?” I whisper.
“He’s about to brand her.”
“Dammit! What the fuck is Fabrizio doing? Blow the damn house! Now!”
Ivy lets out a sob, her body hunching over.
Void inches forward, he’s dying to get to her, and I press my hand to his chest. “Wait for the signal, man. Don’t blow our surprise attack.”
“He’s gonna brand her, Dash!” Void grunts through his teeth.
Wyatt moves his hand to the top of Ivy’s white dress, ripping open the material, exposing her left breast.
“Shit!” I cuss while gripping hold of Void’s cut and pulling him back as he lunges forward. “Stop! You’re gonna blow it and end up with them putting a bullet in your brain and hurting Ivy in the process. We need to play this smart.”
He turns, running his hand through his hair in frustration as we shelter behind the trees watching, as three women bring up their jugs and pour the red contents down over Ivy’s head, enveloping her completely.
Wyatt brings the knife to her chest, pressing the tip of the blade into her skin. My breath catches in my throat as she shrieks out in pain, but just as she does, the house behind us explodes in a massive fireball.
I let go of Void as dust and debris start raining down from the grenade launcher. “Now, Void! Go now!”
He takes off faster than I can even comprehend toward Ivy as Wyatt’s disciples scatter, racing up the hill toward us. I run out of the trees, bringing my gun up ready to fight alongside Tony’s stronghold of men.
A disciple comes toward me with a spear, so I take off to flank Void. Bringing my gun up, I aim it straight at his knee cap, pulling the trigger and he falls, the spear slamming into the ground before he and his body plunge down on top of the other end impaling himself. I let out a small laugh—how fucking appropriate—as I continue to run, following Void down to the body of water.
Tony’s men fight off the disciples behind us, gunfire ringing throughout the compound. A bullet whips past my ear as Wyatt calls out, “We’re not letting this go, Ivy. You will be cleansed.”
“Not on my watch,” Void calls, darting out from behind a tree, drawing his gun then aiming it at his father.
But Wyatt reaches out, pulling Ivy to him as a shield. I shoot another disciple who tries to race toward Void on our way to get to Ivy. His ram’s head splinters apart as he falls to the ground, blood pooling around him on the green grass. Fucking fitting.
Ivy’s eyes widen the moment she spots Void and me working together.
I get it, I never thought this shit would happen either.
Void shoots another disciple, his mask splintering into pieces as he falls to the ground next to the last—blood pooling all over his white shirt. Behind us Tony mows down more of the assholes with his semi-automatic, their stomachs explode as the bullets pummel their jolting bodies and their blood and innards fly all over the place.
Suddenly, Ivy reaches up grabbing Wyatt’s arm, biting down hard, taking out a big chunk of flesh. He yelps in pain as she spits out the meat then elbows him in the s
tomach. He lets her go, and she turns, kneeing him hard in the balls while Void and I stand here in awe.
We came to rescue her.
Seems she can save herself.
The asshole hunches over, his eyes bursting out of his head as he glares at her. “I thought you were sweet, innocent.”
She lets out a mocking laugh. “You don’t know shit!” Then she tightens her fist and sucker punches him right in the mouth. He falls backward into the water, then floats to the top, completely knocked out.
I widen my eyes, impressed by her strength. She was kidnapped, almost maimed, then tortured, and now she’s fighting back like this. She’s as strong as they come. A true spitfire.
Her eyes shift to her exposed breast, trying to fix it the best she can. I think she believes we didn’t see it—we did—but she doesn’t need to know.
Void surges forward through the water. Not hesitating a second longer, he assesses her all over as another bullet whizzes past my arm. I duck out of the way, turning to return fire on one of those assholes while Ivy and Void get reacquainted.
“This is disgusting… get me out of here.” Ivy groans.
I turn, jumping into the water, grabbing Wyatt and drag him ashore. Ivy smiles at me, and I dip my chin at her as the roaring gunfire begins to settle down. Ivy is clearly shivering from the cold of the water as Tony and his soldiers begin to make their way over to us.
“How did you find me?” Ivy asks.
Void runs his hands up and down her arms to try and keep her warm. “Dash called Tony like you told him to do if the club ever needed help. Because he’s out of Jacksonville, closer to Savannah, he has tapped-in resources.”
I take a step closer. “I figured Tony might have an idea where to start looking. With Tony’s tech guru on the hunt and Void knowing they would want a farm with a lake or some kind of body of water, we were able to narrow the search down pretty easily. This was the only hit, so we took it.”
“I’m glad you did. Thank you, Tony, for putting your men on the line for this… for me.”
“If it weren’t for Dash, we wouldn’t even be here,” Tony replies.