Chicago Defiance Box Set Part One

by K E Osborn

“Spanner, I like you—”

  A sudden knock on the door startles us both. We turn to see Dad, his eyebrows drawn together tight, with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and his oxygen tube dangling from his nose.

  Taking a large step back from Vince as Dad opens the door, he walks in as he eyes us both.

  “Everything all right in here?” Dad asks as I clear my throat and nod probably a little too excessively. “Spanner get to work. I need a word with Vince.”

  Vince’s brows crease as he looks at me. I grab my job sheet and turn without saying a word and walk out shutting the door behind me. I have no idea what Dad saw, but all I know is I don’t want to be in that situation with Vince again. I’ve never been one to be lost for words. I’m always strong, confident, brash as Sensei put it.

  I’m not sure if I saw that coming.

  Vince likes me.

  This could make things awkward at work now because I don’t know how to play this.

  The fact is, Dad won’t be here much longer, and then this place will be mine. If I have guys like Vince falling at my feet, I’m sure the others at the garage won’t take kindly to that.

  Then what the hell hope do I have of running this place successfully?

  Somehow, I need to figure out how to carefully steer away any advances that might come my way at work.

  Good luck to me!

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  SENSEI

  The Next Day

  A bunch of us have headed to Gunner’s gun range for some target practice and to let off some steam. Things are tense, and with the Ishikawa in town, we need all the target practice we can get. Who knows when we’ll be putting our aim to good use.

  As Torque, Trax, Chains, Lift, Scratch, Ace, Vibe, Tremor, and I walk through the foyer, Gunner nods his head in a gesture of greeting. His red hair now showing flecks of gray the older he gets. He doesn’t come by the clubrooms as often anymore spending most of his time here, but when he does, we always welcome him with open arms. The guy has a family—kids and grandkids. He has a life outside the club, and we don’t begrudge him that.

  “Lads, good to see you again,” Gunner calls out as we pass him.

  “Thanks, Gunner… appreciate you letting us train today, I know the place is hectic with bookings,” Torque calls out as we round the hall and head to the back area where the inside target range is set up. We walk through the door and close it behind us with general excitement. We all love the power and thrill of shooting a weapon. Normally, it’d be aimed at an Andretti, but for now, our weapons are stowed when it comes to Enzo and his men. I’m still getting used to that fact.

  We each grab a set of earmuffs as I step up to my station to set up my rounds. The targets all start to swing back into position as I stand in my partition next to Torque and Chains while I load my weapon feeling the flood of euphoria flow through me. This is one of the best feelings in the world, although it will never beat the feeling of a blade in my hand.

  The countdown timer begins as I unclick the safety bringing my Glock up to my eye and aim. I wait for the buzzer, and when it sounds I squeeze the trigger. It kicks back, the sound of roaring gunfire blasting off through the range. The energy in here is intoxicating. I don’t know why I love the sound of a weapon’s discharge so much.

  After shooting a few off, I realize I must be getting close to the end of my magazine. Suddenly, the lights in the range flicker out sending the room into pitch black, only the green of the exit signs illuminate the exit points. For some reason, the emergency lighting hasn’t kicked in.

  We halt our shooting. I lower my weapon then yank off my earmuffs and glance around my partition to look at Torque, but it’s very hard to make him out in the darkness.

  “Everyone okay?” Torque calls out, and a general “yeah” resounds through the room.

  Unease filters through me. I don’t understand why the lights are off. Sure there could be an outage, but it’s unlikely. The creak of a door hinge lets us know someone’s entering the room, followed by the tapping of feet on the concrete floor. I bring my weapon back up and aim it toward the door. The figures silhouette, but it’s just too fucking dark to see anything concrete.

  “Who the fuck’s there?” Torque calls out, but no one answers as the lights flicker and then turn on to show the Yakuza, including Aiko Ishikawa standing in front of us, rifles aimed at us all with sly smiles on their faces. I raise my gun into a higher position, but the problem is I have no idea how many bullets are left in the chamber—if any. My brothers will be in the same predicament.

  “Now, now. No need for un-pleasantries. Let us all put our weapons down, shall we?” Aiko offers and Torque raises his gun higher aiming straight at him. So I do the same which makes Aiko smile.

  “Not gonna happen,” Torque replies as we all stare at them.

  Aiko sniffs and nods like he expected as much and takes a step forward, his men aiming their rifles directly at Torque more than any of the rest of us. “Now, I’m not going to make a mess of this. I am a reasonable man, Torque. I don’t want bloodshed… but don’t mistake that for kindness. I will draw blood if the need arises—”

  “Do you have a fuckin’ point?” Torque interrupts abruptly making Aiko smirk as he straightens out his jacket.

  “I do. I want more guns, and you…” he points directly at Torque, “… will give them to me.”

  While shaking his head, Torque lets out a stifled laugh. “Oh, I’ll give them to you, will I?”

  “I think you will.”

  “I think I won’t. Thanks, I’ll fuckin’ pass. Good chat. Now get the fuck outta my gun range.”

  I tense up as I watch Aiko’s jaw clench like he’s becoming aggravated by Torque’s tone. His eyes narrow as he signals for his men to raise their weapons, they all do aiming at us all now.

  “I think we’re on an uneven footing here, Torque. My men aiming guns at your men, but my men have full magazines. How many bullets are in your chambers do you think?”

  Torque grunts but still aims his weapon at Aiko. “I only need one bullet to make it count, and it’s going straight between your fuckin’ eyes.”

  Aiko chuckles as the door opens and Gunner steps in with a Glock and grabs the guy closest to him, which I think happens to be Aiko’s second-in-charge. Gunner wraps his arm around the second- in-charge’s neck aiming the barrel right at his temple.

  He stares at Aiko who raises his hands in surrender. “Lower your weapons, or I swear I’ll put a bullet through his skull,” Gunner calls out.

  Torque nods to him in reassurance.

  Aiko gives the nod to his men who all lower their weapons to their sides, but don’t drop their guns completely.

  “Who has the upper hand now?” Torque calls out cockily with a smirk.

  Aiko smiles. “You never learn, do you, Mister President? We always have contingencies.”

  My stomach falls as Torque’s brows crease together. “What does that mean?”

  Aiko nods to one of his men. He reaches into his jacket and we all turn our aim to him, he hesitates but then slowly pulls out an iPad. He spins it showing a split screen playing a real-time video. I narrow my eyes wondering what it is I’m seeing and then it hits me. It’s a sniper’s vision and on one screen is Foxy in the campus quad—the sniper’s sights are zeroed in on her. And on the other, is Sass at the garage—the other sniper’s sight is zeroed in on her.

  Torque and I move at the same time, both of us rushing forward to get to Aiko as Trax and Chains reach out grabbing us both and pulling us back. I grit my teeth and breathe harshly trying to gather myself as anger races over my whole body. That typhoon inside finally breaking free and raging like a wave of unfathomable torment.

  The thought of Sass being brought to harm by this monster only makes me want to kill him even more as he smiles at me. Not Torque, but me, and it shocks me as I wonder why he’s focusing his energy on me in this moment. It makes me wonder if he knows. If he realizes I am his son, and he’s just playing al
ong like I am. Fuck! I stand down and take a breath as Trax gains control of Torque, and we both stand back trying to figure out what the fuck to do.

  “So you see, Torque, you will give me the guns I want because I have ways and means to easily get to the people you hold dear.”

  Torque shakes his head and shoves out of Trax’s grip turning up his lip at Aiko. “You hurt either of those women, and I will burn you.”

  Aiko smiles and nods. “Noted. I will give you two weeks, not a minute more, to decide on how you want to gather your guns together and deliver them to me. I am not a patient man, Torque…” His gaze turns to Gunner. “Gunner, was it? You can let my Wakagashira go now.”

  Gunner glances to Torque for confirmation. Torque hesitates but nods, and Gunner lets the man go with a shove, he falls forward, but then stands up and straightens out his expensive looking suit with a crooked smile.

  “Get the fuck outta my gun range,” Torque grunts and Aiko nods.

  “You could ask politely.”

  Torque smirks. “Get the fuck outta my gun range… please,” Torque mocks, and I smirk.

  Aiko cracks a smile and raises his brow. “You know, if you stopped fighting the inevitable, Torque, I believe we could be allies, you and me.”

  Torque snorts out a laugh and shakes his head. “Not gonna ask again.”

  He nods and signals for his men to leave. “Two weeks, Torque. No more. I want my guns.”

  Torque doesn’t reply or make any move in a gesture of response as Aiko turns to leave, and the Yakuza slowly exit the gun range.

  My stomach is rolling around in a swirl of uncertainty. I hope like hell they aren’t going to hurt Sass or Foxy, but if I know the Yakuza like I think I do, they will honor their word and our women won’t be in harm’s way now. When the door closes, a collective exhale is let out, and I look to Torque, but before I have a chance to say anything, Trax steps forward.

  “We’re not giving them any motherfucking guns, brother,” Trax blurts out.

  Torque rolls his shoulders. “Trax it’s not as simple as that.”

  Trax shakes his head, curling up his lip. “It fucking well is. We find a way. We talk with fucking Enzo. We work with those motherfucking Mafia bastards. We don’t want the Yakuza having more damn guns and taking our business from us.”

  “So you’re on the Enzo train now? Suddenly, you’re fuckin’ okay working with him?” Torque blurts out, and I cock my head wondering the same thing.

  Trax groans and shakes his head. “No, I’m really not. But fucking hell, brother, if Enzo can pull us out of this shit and help us defeat these fuckers, then let’s beat these cunts at their own game… we’ll turn around and kick Enzo’s ass after that.”

  Torque lets out a sarcastic laugh. “You’re screwed in the head, you know that?”

  Trax nods. “I’m right, though.”

  Torque shakes his head. “You’re not, but we can’t give guns to the Yakuza. Letting them gain more power in Chicago, and us handing it to them on a silver fuckin’ platter is not happening. Let alone the fact our money train’s gonna dry up so quickly we’ll be outta business. Aiko has given us two weeks, so we’ll take it to figure something out. We’ll make a plan. If we can’t, we’ll get Enzo involved. Agreed?” We all nod and Torque lets out a long drawn out breath. “Okay, let’s get back to the club. Sensei, you and I need to check on our women. Once that’s done, and we’re back at the clubhouse, I’ll call Church so we can discuss.”

  As the rest of my brothers move to walk out, I glance at my best friend. “They must be following us or watching us if they know about Sass already, Torque. If he hurt her or Foxy…” I curl up my lip, shake my head, and he nods with a fierce look in his eyes. One that tells me he’s on the exact same page as me. I don’t care who the fuck you are, you do not mess with our women.

  A low grunt rumbles from his chest. “Go! Check on Sass, make sure she’s okay, but get back to the clubhouse as quickly as you can. Remember, though, Sensei, she’s not your Old Lady…” He raises his brow as if to remind me I can’t tell her everything.

  I simply nod in understanding, grip his shoulder in compliance, and turn to race for my bike. I waste no time in hopping on, my helmet slams over my head as I rev the engine then hammer down heading straight for the garage.

  It doesn’t take me too long to get there, the gravel driveway shifts and spreads beneath my tires as I pull into the main entry. I notice Heath look out from the garage to eye my approach. Then Sass comes bouncing out of the double bay doors, her coveralls splattered in grease, her hair tied up in a ponytail with her telltale red bandana wrapped around her head. She has a bright, gorgeous smile on her face, and she’s completely oblivious she had a sniper rifle aimed at her only mere moments ago.

  The thought sends an ache right through me as I subtly look up and around trying to scope out where the sniper was sitting. I see the tall building up and to the right where I think he was positioned. But I can’t see anything right now. No telltale signs of anyone watching or waiting. So I take off my helmet as Sass comes bounding up to my bike, and I put on a bright smile to welcome her as I slide off.

  “Well, visits during the day? I am a lucky little devil,” she chimes as she bops up on her toes and leans in giving me a peck on my lips.

  I hear Heath let out an audible groan as I chuckle wrapping my arm around her waist and pull her to me. I don’t care if she’s filthy right now, I just need to hold her, to make sure she’s okay. But I have to do it all without raising her suspicion.

  “I was just passing by, thought I’d call in on my way through… see my favorite woman.”

  She raises her brow blowing out a bubble of her gum. It pops with a loud bang as she draws it back into her mouth, chewing on it while she smiles wide. “Whaaat did you do?” she asks with a hint of doubt in her voice.

  I chuckle as I blurt out, “Nothing.”

  She narrows her eyes at me, pursing her lips. “Mmm hmm… why don’t I believe you?”

  Smiling, I sigh. “Maybe there is this one… small… thing.”

  Sass lets go of me, her hands coming out as she shoves me in the chest playfully. “Ha! I knew it. Sensei, you’re so easy to read. Okay, hit me.”

  My jaw clenches as I grab her hand and pull her to the side. Heath’s prying eyes are annoying me. He watches as I pull her around the side of the garage, but he soon shrugs and walks back inside to continue working. As I pull Sass to look at me, I face her and take a steadying breath. “You know I can’t tell you club business…” She nods, her face falling like she knows this is going to be a serious chat. “So, I can’t tell you much. You’re going to have to trust me.”

  Sass raises her head like she’s listening intently as she holds her breath. “Okay.”

  “I want to put a protective detail on you.”

  Her eyes bug out of her head as she lets out a stifled laugh. “You wanna what now?”

  I tighten my hand in hers, my brows scrunching together. “This is serious, Sass. I want to have someone watching you twenty-four-seven—”

  “Whoa… hold up, what the fuck?” she blurts out a little too loudly for my liking.

  I grit my teeth and tilt my head. “I wouldn’t be saying this if it weren’t for a good reason—”

  “Then what the hell reason is it for?”

  Exhaling, I rub the back of my neck with a slight wince.

  Sass lets out a stifled laugh and nods. “Right, club business and all that. Sheesh man… I mean, fuck…” She sighs looking away from me for a moment as her body sags coming to the realization. Her head flicks back to me, her eyes open wide. “Is something going down? Am I in danger? Are my brothers? My dad, is he in danger?”

  I grab both her hands and look her dead in the eyes. “Sass, I won’t let anything happen to you. As for your brothers and your father, no harm will befall them. I promise. But it’s you I want to make sure is always protected.”

  She chews on her bottom lip. “So you’re tell
ing me you want to bring in one of your burley bikers to stand guard here at the garage. To stand in the corner and watch me all day?”

  I smirk, tilting my head. “He’d be here to protect you from any harm.”

  “Sooo, you’re telling me he’s a voyeur, a creeper, leering in on my workday, annoying me constantly.”

  I can’t help the grin that forms on my face. This woman, she always has a way of making me smile. And honestly, the thought of me telling Tremor that he would be seen as a voyeur actually makes me want to put him on her tail even more. Just to see his reaction.

  “He’d be guarding you, Sass. Honestly, this really isn’t up for discussion.”

  She jolts back and smiles wide. “No, you’re right. It isn’t because it isn’t happening. Not at work anyway.” She throws her hands into the air in frustration. “I can’t have some broody, gruff biker stalking around the place scaring off my customers and making my co-workers uncomfortable, Sensei. I have my brothers and the other guys here at work, they’ve always kept me safe. They will always look out for me here.” She lets out a sigh. “If you want someone to follow me home, hell… if you want someone to guard out the front of the house, then fine, but not at work. I can’t have that. If you want my brothers and my father to respect you and the club, then you need to let my place of work be just that… a place of work, and not let it be brought into your biker problems…” she pauses and continues, “Sensei, I like you, I like what we have, I want it to keep going, but if you put a guard at my work…” she shakes her head, “… we’re gonna have issues.”

  My stomach rolls, a tight knot forming in it. I don’t like this. Everything in me is telling me that I need to put a guard on her garage. But if it’s going to be a deal-breaker for us, then she’s kind of giving me no choice here. I grit my teeth, tilting my head. “When you depart for the night, you fucking call me. If I can’t come and get you, someone else will, and they’ll escort you home. A guard will be at your home, and anywhere else you go other than work. This is a non-negotiable, Sass.”