Protective (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 5)

by K E Osborn

  Now, it’s time for that win to be shared with the rest of the club.

  With Wraith out of action, the VP duty falls to the SAA—Chains and me—so while Chains goes and gets our victim, Zero and I walk into the middle of the clubhouse to gain everyone’s attention.

  Zero lets out a loud whistle, and the Chicago and Houston brothers alike all turn to face us. “It has come to my attention on the day of the Halloween fundraiser, a non-patched civilian made a solid effort to defend the club.”

  Chains walks in with Koda. Thayleah is right beside him—I swear those two are joined at the hip. Sephy is strapped to Thayleah in a carrier—the look actually suits her.

  Chains pushes Koda into the middle of the room.

  “The fuck, Zero?”

  “You went into battle at the fundraiser when you should have hid with the women. Why didn’t you do that?”

  Koda snorts like it’s the stupidest thing Zero has ever said to him. “Because I’m a fucking Walker, and Walkers don’t run from a fight, they run toward it. Guns out, taking aim, shooting shit where they stand.”

  “You could have gotten yourself killed.”

  “Then at least I would have died protecting the club like I am supposed to.”

  “So this…” Zero waves his hand around gesturing to the clubhouse, “… this is what you really want? Life as a brother?”

  Koda stands taller, puffing out his chest. “I wouldn’t have left Stonewall and come back here if I didn’t think I was ready for this, Zero. I’ve more than proven myself around that fact.”

  Zero turns to me, and I nod. “We think so, too. So turn around, fucker.”

  Koda’s eyes light up as he tries to fight back his smile, then he spins. I grab the patchless cut and roll it over his shoulders. He threads his arms through, testing it for size as Thayleah giggles with pride.

  “Koda, getting a cut doesn’t automatically mean you’re in. You gotta work fucking hard. Being a Walker means you have to work twice as much to prove yourself. You think you can do that?”

  Koda turns to face Zero, shoulders back, chest out. “Fuck, yeah.”

  Zero’s expression deflates somewhat. “I just wish Prinie were here to see this.”

  Koda rolls his shoulders with a smirk. “Oh no, it’s better she’s not. Prinie would hate this.”

  Zero finally chuckles, slapping Koda on the shoulder. “Yeah, you’re probably right. Now, go shine my bike, prospect. It better be squeaky fucking clean, or I’ll have you doing laps of the yard in your underwear.”

  “He loves running, though. So that’s not a punishment for him, more for us, having to see him in his damn underwear,” Brady calls out from the bar with a smirk.

  “Shut up, Brady!” Ax shouts back.

  Everyone laughs.

  Brady seems to just pop up randomly. Honestly, I’d forgotten he was even here. He’s usually off teaching martial arts. Brady’s not in the clubrooms all that often, and when he is, he’s usually hanging out with Koda and Thayleah.

  “Yeah, Brady, let them give me a punishment that I am actually good at, dickhead,” Koda jokes as Zero shakes his head.

  Torque comes wandering over, placing out his hand for Koda to shake. “You’ve come a long way from that young kid who showed up with Prinie on our doorstep to this strapping prospect I see before me now. You did good out there at the fairground. You deserve this.”

  Koda shakes his hand once. “Thanks, Pres. That means a lot. I learned so much when I was at your club. I can’t thank you enough for the time I spent there.”

  “You’re welcome, Koda.” Torque turns to Zero, raising his chin. “I think it’s time we head off. We’re done with business here. Bianca Andretti is happy with the outcome, so we’re gonna head back home. We need to see our kids, especially after what’s happened. This hit close to home… we need to be with our families, just like you guys need to be with yours.”

  Zero leans forward, pulling Torque into an all-man back-slapping embrace. “Thanks, brother, for everything. We couldn’t have won that war if you weren’t there!”

  Torque pulls back shaking his head. “Happy to help. You were there for us with the Irish, it’s the least we could do.”

  “Let’s not leave it so long between visits, yeah?” Zero states.

  “Agreed.”

  “We’ll walk you out,” Zero offers.

  Torque signals to his men, and they all start moving for the exit. We follow, heading for the parking lot where their rental bikes are parked. Chicago mounts up, the harmonious chorus of Harleys fills the air as rev after glorious rev purr like the thunderous tones of Thor himself.

  Medic takes off, followed by Torque, then Trax and the procession follows until all of Chicago are off and roaring down the road on their way to the airport.

  I wrap my arm around Zero’s shoulder and exhale. “Thank fuck they came down when they did, hey?”

  “We’d all be dead if they didn’t. We owe them. Big time.”

  I slap him on the back. “You think things will ever be the same here?”

  Zero shakes his head. “I don’t think anything will ever be the same again.” He turns to start walking off as the gates go to close. I take one last look out, but something catches my eye.

  I turn back to Neon. “Neon, don’t shut the gate, I wanna check something.”

  He makes the move to open it again. Zero stops in his tracks, and in the distance, I see it. A row of Harleys parked, just sitting, waiting. My pulse rapid fires as I snap my head around to Zero.

  “Pres, you better come look at this.”

  Zero rushes over with Neon not far behind. “Can we make out who they are?”

  Neon pulls out something from his pocket and places it up to his eyes, looks through it, and tenses all over. “It’s Rage and the Heathens of Hatred. He’s just sitting there, watching us, watching him.”

  Zero rubs at his chin. “The fuck are they doing here?”

  “We did beat him half to death at his grandmother’s gravesite. We knew he would want retribution at some stage.”

  “Right now, while Prinie is down and Wraith is distracted, it’s the perfect time for the Heathens to strike. How they found out, though, I don’t fucking know.”

  Neon rolls his shoulders. “Looks like they’re leaving, Pres,” he states, then they turn their bikes, heading off in the opposite direction Chicago went.

  Good, at least they’re not planning on attacking them on the road.

  “They might be leaving now, but they have made their intentions and presence very clear. We need to be on guard. Like we haven’t got enough shit to worry about right now!” Zero turns, storming back inside the clubhouse as Neon and I make sure the Heathens completely disappear.

  Just one more thing for us to be concerned about.

  TEXAS

  A Few Days Later

  After the show of force from the Heathens, Zero made sure to have at least two other brothers at the hospital with Wraith at any given time. Having the club split like this isn’t ideal, but it’s the cards we’ve been dealt, so we do what we have to. Tensions are high, and the club is far from at ease. We may have gotten one over on the Triglav Clan, but the Heathens will always be an issue, and, of course, there’s still the ever-present danger of Maxen and his merry band of misfits who are after Fin.

  If anyone said the club has nothing to worry about right now, they’d be a damn fool.

  We’re sitting ducks with a big red fucking target on our backs.

  We’re down.

  Prinie and the baby in the hospital.

  Our VP out for the count.

  Our tech guru in mourning for his sister.

  Our club is hurting, and everyone is feeling the sting right now.

  As the brothers and old ladies who are here sit around the main room solemnly eating breakfast, the room is unusually quiet. Normally, the club is full of laughter and vibrancy. Today, just like the days before since the Halloween catastrophe, is dull and somber
.

  Fin sits by my side, pushing her eggs around her plate, barely eating anything.

  My eyes meet hers. “You okay?”

  She exhales. “There’s just so much happening with the club. I don’t want to add to the club’s problems either. This Maxen shit… if he finds out I’m here, I don’t want him bringing any trouble this way. It’s the last thing you guys need right now.”

  “Fin, I swore I’d protect you. I’m gonna do that, no matter what shit is going down here. And trust me when I say these guys don’t want anything to happen to you either. They want you here just as much as I do. They need you safe too.”

  “You don’t think I should go back home? Just for a little while until Prinie is better? Until the club is back on its feet?”

  Reaching for her hand, I turn to face her. “No. That’s not happening. Out of the fucking question. Maxen’s men found you there once, they will come for you again.”

  She slumps her shoulders with a heavy sigh. “I feel like I am invading on time that should be spent as a club, as a family. You guys should all be healing together—”

  “You’re a part of our family now. Whether you like it or not, you hear me?”

  The corner of her lips turns up, and she nods her head. “As long as you’re sure.”

  “Don’t ever doubt your place here, Fin.” I lean in pressing my lips to hers.

  When I pull back, out of the corner of my eye, I spot Neon checking something on his device. He groans, walking over to Zero, who then grimaces.

  Shit’s going down.

  “Something’s up. I’ll be right back, okay?”

  She waves me off. “Take your time, do what you need to. I’ll be fine.”

  I lean in planting another kiss on Fin’s forehead, then stand and rush over to Zero and Neon as they start walking for the exit. “Yo, what’s going on?”

  Zero curls up his lip. “We have company.”

  My pulse races as I roll my shoulders. “The bad kind?”

  Zero chuckles. “Depends on the day.”

  I furrow my brow as we walk out to a white BMW M6 Gran Coupe pulling into the parking lot. The expensive shiny car looking completely out of place here. It comes to a stop, and the front passenger side opens, a man in a suit hops out and moves to the rear door, opening it. A long leg slides out with red-trimmed heels. They click-clack on the ground as the Baroness slides out, looking like she always does. Her pristine white tailored suit, her cravat in place, and her blonde shoulder-length hair styled to perfection. She has quite the image that she puts together for herself to portray.

  My muscles tense with the instant stress.

  We knew the second she saved us at the fundraiser, this day would come.

  Everything comes at a price with the Baroness.

  “Boys, how lovely it is to see you again. How is Prinie doing? I hear she pulled through.”

  Zero steps right in front of her crossing his arms over his chest. “Cut the small talk, Connie. We owe you. I get it. Thanks for bailing us out at the fundraiser. We couldn’t have gotten out of that shit without you. But… I’m not stupid enough to know it doesn’t come without a cost. So just hit me with it. What do you need us to do?”

  She smiles, tilting her head. “Oh, Zero, so quick to assume I want something from you. Can’t I just do something nice for you… you know, ally to ally?”

  Zero snorts. “You expect me to believe you bailed us out, out of the kindness of your heart?”

  She lets out a laugh, her shoulders jerking with the motion. “You’re right that would be stupid. Seeing as I’m here, I may as well get you to help me with something.”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “I need Neon.”

  Zero and I both shoot our head towards Neon.

  “Ahh, you what now?”

  She chuckles. “Oh, calm yourself, not like that. I mean, you are good to look at darlin’, but I like a man with a bit more bulk, maybe like Texas here.” She turns and squeezes my bicep.

  I jerk my arm away from her like she has burned a hole clean through my arm and scrunch up my face in disgust.

  Zero and Neon smirk.

  Fuckers.

  “Anyhoo, Neon, I need your hacking skills. Seems I have myself a problem with some folks who were my allies, but aren’t so much anymore. Actually, you know them. I believe you had a run-in with them Neon and Texas, involving a truck shipment that went a little, how shall I say… sour. There was a crash, and you shot dead three of their men on a highway after they tried to run you off the road and kill you.”

  I narrow my eyes on her as Neon scowls. “The Russians, the ones who were working for you? They’ve turned on you because we killed their men?”

  She shrugs. “Guess they didn’t like the casualties. They need someone to blame and luckily for you, they’re focused on me. Unlucky for me, though, they are targeting my finances, and we all know my finances are a big deal.”

  Neon lifts his chin. “We talking bank accounts?”

  “They’ve taken control of my assets, of my oil companies. Locked me out of my accounts and transferred my money from my offshore accounts. I don’t know how, but the fuckers knew everything. Guess the Russians really are good at hacking.”

  Neon cracks his neck to the side. “This is gonna take some work. I can’t guarantee anything, Connie.”

  She smiles. “That’s why I have Ratchet here with me, he’s going to help you. You’re going to work on this together until it’s fixed.”

  Zero turns to Neon. “You okay to do this right now?”

  Neon inhales deeply. “The distraction will be good.”

  The Baroness’ shoulders drop as she turns to Neon. “Anna was… well, she was Anna. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Thanks… I think?” Neon replies.

  “Right, let’s get to work, shall we?” She signals to the car, and the rear door opens. Ratchet, her tech man, hops out carrying a laptop and large suitcase of equipment, and he walks over as the Baroness takes off for the clubhouse with Ratchet following behind her.

  I let out a chuckle.

  Zero shakes his head. “Sometimes I don’t know if we’re lucky to have her as an ally or fucking stupid.”

  I shrug as she walks through the door, shoving Blake to the side with force as she goes. Poor guy doesn’t know what to do as he stumbles out of the way.

  “I think we’re a little of both, Pres. A little of both.”

  Neon snorts out a laugh, then takes off. He has a job to do, and by the sounds of it, it’s not going to be easy to figure out the intricacies of what’s happened to Connie’s fortune.

  Making my way back inside, I walk over to Fin as she watches the Baroness head into the den with Ratchet and Neon. The door closes behind them while I slide in beside her.

  She smirks. “That’s gotta be something interesting.”

  “All her assets are being wiped out by a Russian organized-crime syndicate. She needs Neon to make it right.”

  “And if he can’t?”

  “He will, Neon can fix anything. He’ll get it back, steal their assets, and crash all their systems by the time he’s finished.”

  “I believe it. He got mine back pretty easily. You guys are lucky to have him.”

  “You’re telling me!”

  Phantom slides in beside us. “Was that the Baroness I saw going into the den?”

  “Yeah, brother.”

  “The fuck is she doing here?”

  “Needs Neon’s help with some shit.”

  “Ahh, I see. Calling in the favor we owe her for the fundraiser…” he trails off, but his mind is ticking over. “Is it just me or for an older woman is she actually a MILF?”

  I burst out laughing as Fin smiles wide. “Jesus, dude. She’s the Baroness. I can’t look at her that way. The woman is evil.”

  He shrugs. “But the evil ones are always so much more fun, if you know what I mean?” He winks, making Fin giggle.

  “Phantom, don’t ever change!” F
in states.

  “Couldn’t if I tried.”

  The day feels like it has dragged, and it’s now getting late when Neon, Ratchet, and the Baroness finally appear out from the den. Neon has a pep in his step, and instantly, I know the job is done. I make my way over the same time Zero does, and we all congregate in the middle of the main room.

  “How’d it go?” Zero asks.

  The Baroness lets out a mocking laugh. “Zero, Zero, Zero… you’re going to love what we found out about our little Russian friends. Honestly, I should do a little more background research into the people I deal with.”

  Zero narrows his eyes. “What the fuck does that mean?”

  She turns to me. “I hear your house guest, Finley Knight, has been having trouble with the white supremacist group headed by Maxen Miller?”

  Rolling my shoulders, I say, “What does that have to do with any of this?”

  “Ever wonder where Maxen gets his funding to run a movement like he does? To have the pull and persuasion? How he got his sentence overturned?”

  “I’m not following.”

  “The Russians… he’s being funded by the damn Russians. They tried to take all my money to bolster Maxen’s movement. That deposit of cash would have made them bigger, powerful, and more influential. And lawyers like Finley are the ones out there who can stop them.”

  “That’s why Maxen wants Finley gone?” I ask.

  “Right on the money, honey.”

  “Jesus! We have to do something,” I blurt out, my eyes shooting to Zero.

  He rubs his chin like he’s contemplating. “If we take out the Russians, we cut off the head of the snake leaving the tail wagging. Maxen might rear his ugly mug and seek vengeance.”

  “Then when the time comes, we take him out too.”

  Zero grunts, turning back to the Baroness. “This going to affect our working relationship if we go after the Russians? The men you hired to take us out!”

  “You’ll be doing me a favor! I’ll even lend you some men for extra hands when you go in.”

  The smell of vengeance is permeating the air.

  I need to do this.

  For Fin.