by K E Osborn
With everyone watching, I direct her toward the stairs but ignore their sideways glances. I’m not sure Oakley does, though, but she doesn’t say anything as we head up to the top level where I lead her down the hall. “That’s mine,” I point to my door. “I suspect this is yours.” Pushing open the door across the hall, there’s a neatly laid-out room waiting for her.
Oakley walks in, her eyes searching every facet of the small area. She places her bag on the bed, then sits on the edge. “So, my dad. I know you were holding back because my house might have been bugged…”
Nodding, I stiffen my shoulders a little. “Zero has Fort Worth Defiance on him, they’ll take him in if needed. But honestly, if we call in a favor, they’ll do it for us, no questions asked. So, it’ll be golden.”
“This is all kinda hitting me right now.”
“That you’re in hiding?”
Her eyes droop. “Exactly! What if the Heathens come here?”
“Then we’ll be prepared for them. Trust me, we’ve had worse than a rival biker club on our doorstep.”
Oakley stands, grabbing my hand in hers. The second our fingers connect, a jolt of electricity so powerful sends a shockwave straight through my being then directly to my dick. My breath catches as my heart stops then starts again with a massive thud.
What the fuck was that?
Her eyes widen like she’s feeling it too, her hand staying in mine as she clears her throat. “I-I don’t know h-how to thank y-you,” she stutters a little as she talks.
“You can thank me by staying here and doing what we say, so you don’t get your or your family killed.”
“No leaving the clubhouse.”
“Correct.”
“No making outside calls.”
“Not unless we give you confirmation it’s okay.”
“I have to give my cell to you, don’t I?”
“Yeah. But you will get it back. While you’re here, I have to stop it from being traced and check it for bugs. I have to go through your bags as well.”
“You’ll do that?” Her eyes widen like she’s impressed.
“I’m the tech guy for the clu—”
“You don’t look nor talk like a nerd.”
“Thanks… I think?” I snort out a laugh.
“That came out wrong. What I mean is… intelligence is sexy in a man.”
“So now that I’m a nerd, I’m sexy… but I wasn’t before?”
“No, you were sexy before, now it’s heightened.”
I tilt closer, my thumb sliding against her skin on our joined hand. Her breath catches, the air around us changing as it flows between us. I lean in, almost touching her lips with mine. “Lucky you’re sexy as hell, too.” Then I pull back, letting her go, spin for the door to leave her wanting.
She huffs out a staggered breath as I reach her door, then turn back to face her. “Come downstairs when you’re ready. We’ll have some food, and I’ll show you ‘round.”
“Sure,” she chimes in a high-pitched voice.
I smirk, walking out the door with a pep in my step and a semi-erect boner.
Heading downstairs, I shake my head.
This woman is bad news.
I need to get my shit together because I can picture losing myself in her.
She’s dangerous.
I need to keep focused on the task.
My foot doesn’t even hit the last step before Zero reaches out, grabbing my cut and starts dragging me away. “Jesus, dude, what the fuck?”
Zero grunts. “Shut the hell up and come with me.”
Finding my footing, I shrug out of his grip and walk with him. It’s clear we’re heading toward the chapel. He wants to talk. I get it. I’ve bent the rules for someone we don’t know, for someone who was once allied with an enemy of the club. Maybe my judgment is impaired by this broad. I don’t fucking know. The one thing I do know, Zero is going to want answers, and he wants them right fucking now.
He opens the door with a loud thwack that vibrates off the wall. Following in behind him, I ease the door shut behind us and start to explain, “Zero, loo—”
“Don’t look me, Neon. You brought her here. You better have some damn good excuse other than you wanna get your dick wet. Don’t think I can’t see the way you two are making eyes at each other, for fuck’s sake.”
I let out a huff. “You know me better than that. How long have we been friends?”
Zero instantly calms his ire. He pulls out a seat at the table, dropping his huge body into it. “Okay… I’m listening, but Asher, tell me this isn’t what it looks like. We did this shit with Kevlar and Sunshine. Look how that fucking turned out, the club was almost annihilated. Our bikes were totaled. Fuck, we nearly lost Koda. As it is, he’s going off to fucking New York for school to get away from all this club shit. If we’re bringing in more trouble just because you like her, then I want to make damn sure the fallout is fucking worth it.”
“I can’t lie to you, there’s something there. But fuck man, I can’t tell you whether it’s going to be something or not. All I do know is, when I’m around her…” I trail off because I don’t know how to describe whatever the hell I am feeling. I don’t want to sound like a pussy in front of my best friend, who also happens to be my damn president.
“Stop right the fuck there. I just told you this better not be about getting your dick wet. Didn’t you hear me? Think of the kids!”
Taking a deep breath, I really take in what he’s saying. Fuck! How could I let some chick I don’t even know be the start of chaos at the club all over again? I don’t want to disappoint him, so I change the subject to Oakley and what she’s told me.
“Oakley explained why the Heathens are after her. She had video evidence on them detailing all their underhanded dealings… evidence of all the illegal shit they’re into. She had it stored away securely in a storage locker, but when we went there, it was gone. The storage unit was totaled, and Rage was onto us. He bugged the place…” I take a breath. “He knows she’s with us.”
Zero scrubs at his face and turns away from me like he’s trying to keep his shit together. “He knows she was with you, and you haven’t taken her phone and checked her shit as soon as she got here? What the fuck is wrong with you, Neon?” His voice becomes louder and louder with each sentence.
“Don’t worry, it’s next on my lis—”
“It should have been first on your fucking list! You’re better than this… turn off your blinders and be a fucking Defiance brother, not a goddamn horny motherfucking asshole!”
“Zero, c’mon!”
When he turns, the glare in his eyes makes me almost want to take a step back. “You want me to get fucking serious? The fuck! I haven’t even started with you yet! You’ve brought a woman in here who is at war with the damn Heathens, a known enemy of Defiance, and you expect me to be okay with this?”
“I expect you trust my judgment.”
He scoffs, and I swear his eyes roll all the way back in his head. The disbelief he’s showing me is clearly evident, and then he takes a deep calming breath. “You think you can vouch for her? That she’s worthy of being here?”
A cool shiver runs down my spine, and a slow smile lights my face. “I don’t know her well, sure. But there is something about her, Zero. Something that tells me we need to step in and help her. If it helps, we can leave so the club is protected. But…” this time I take a deep breath, “… I hope you will let us both stay, so we can all protect Oakley with this ‘Heathen’ problem.”
Zero’s body slumps, then he lets out a slow chuckle as he sits back in his chair. “Jesus, I never thought I’d see the day.”
“What?”
He slaps my back, inhaling deeply. “When the kid I grew up with finally turns into a man.”
I punch him in the chest, and he flinches back with my hard jab.
“In all seriousness, though, we’ve established you like her. So, therein lies a problem…”
I tilt my head to
the side. “How so?”
Zero cracks his knuckles. “Because my best friend just admitted he likes her, so I can’t fucking throw her out to the wolves now, can I? Which means if the Heathens find their way to our doorstep because of her, whatever shit happens, it’s on you, and that shit doesn’t sit right with me. But I’m gonna let this ride because of who you are. Any other brother, she’d be out on her ass… just think about that when you’re fucking around. Think about the club, brother. The club always comes first!”
I grip his shoulder. “I will, Zero. The club comes first. My brothers come first.”
“I’m taking you on your word because when it comes to the crunch, Neon, if I have to make a choice between your happiness and Houston Defiance—”
“You won’t.”
“Just you make sure of that.”
“Thanks for giving this a go, though… you don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
Zero fixates down on the cherry he’s recently had tattooed on his left hand. “I do, I understand perfectly. Now c’mon, we need some of Fox’s moonshine to celebrate you growing a pair and becoming a man.”
“Fuck you.”
He chuckles, standing from his seat and grips my cut hoisting me from mine, then wraps his arm around my shoulders. “I still love ya, brother.”
“Don’t get all sappy on me now.”
We walk into the main room, both laughing, and Zero continues with his arm around me. I have to admit, it’s fucking incredible to have the old Zero back, where it’s just my best friend and me being dickheads together. We’ve spent so many years treading on eggshells around each other because of my sister. It’s taken a lot for us to get back to this place.
Back to the kids who grew up together.
Who went through the club together.
Who would do any-fucking-thing for each other.
Yeah, my sister, Anna, did some serious damage when she broke Zero’s heart.
But in a way, I’m glad she did because he’s a different person because of it. I don’t think he would be as good of a president now as he is without that heartache. He needed to feel the heavy loss and betrayal to know true pain before he could lead. So maybe Anna did him a favor. Maybe she did us all a favor. Because Zero, as he is right now, is the right man for this job. Though he’s tough, he’s fair. And while he might be being lenient with me, the second shit gets fucked up with Oakley, he will pull the plug. So, I have to play this just right because if I want to keep my end of the bargain with Oakley and keep her safe, I have to make sure everything runs smoothly on my end.
Let’s just hope I can keep everything under control.
But since when does everything ever go to plan…
OAKLEY
The Next Day
I’m on a burner talking to my crew chief, Mike, trying to calm him down. But telling the guy who basically runs my life I’ve gone into hiding for a while because of the shitstorm with the Heathens, hasn’t gone down so well.
Guess I saw that coming.
“Can you at least tell me where the fuck you are?”
I exhale. “Mike, what would be the point in hiding if I told people where I was?”
He groans. “Well, when will you be back, Oakley? We have shit to do, races to win.”
“Not for a little while. Not until this is settled.”
“Dammit, Oakley, we were on track to do big things this year. Now, I’m going to have to make some sort of false press statement, telling them why you’ve pulled out for the foreseeable fut—”
“I’m sorry, Mike, but it’s for the safety of everyone concerned.”
“How can I reach you?”
“You can’t for now, but I will check in as often as I can.” Neon twirls his finger around in a circle giving me the ‘wrap it up’ signal. “Look, Mike, I have to go, but I promise, I’m okay. Just keep an eye on my dad, will you?”
“Oakley… be careful. Whatever it is you’ve gotten yourself into, take care of yourself. Promise me!”
“I promise, Mike.” Taking in a deep breath and with a heavy chest, I end the call, handing the cell back to Neon.
“You okay?” Neon asks.
“Yeah, this is just all so… fucking heavy.”
Neon sits on the bed beside me as he takes out the sim card for the cell. “I get it… the tight restrictions are for your benefit and the club. If Rage doesn’t know you’re here by now, then he’s dense, but to try and keep you safe in the meantime, we need to keep all the precautions in place.”
I flop back on the bed. “When I took the evidence from Rage, I never thought it would come to this…” I let out a loud huff. “I thought I had it all planned out perfectly. There was no way possible he could find that shipping container, or if he did, that he would know how to get into it. I paid a high price for that security. I just don’t understand how this all fell apart… the plan was flawless.”
He cranes his neck. “The thing is… when a club is wronged, we fight continuously until we find our vengeance. Rage is no different. He would have been searching the entire four years for a way to get you off his back, to find a means to get hold of that footage. In the wrong hands, shit like that can do real damage. So, I understand why he fought so hard to get it back.”
“You think he’s in the right?” I scowl at him.
He chuckles. “Fuck, no, I want the Heathens taken down as much as you do. I’m just playing devil’s advocate here. Coming from a club, I’m just telling you why they didn’t let it slide.”
“Are you saying they won’t let this slide until I’m dealt with for betraying them?”
He hesitates—that’s all the confirmation I need.
I sit up in shock staring him directly in the eyes. “Jesus, am I going to be stuck here until they come for me, kill me, and do God knows what else, anyway?”
He raises his hands to placate me. “Look, no one knows how this is going to play out, but we’re gonna do everything we can to protect you.”
“Sometimes trying isn’t enough, Neon.”
He suddenly stands from the bed, placing the cell and sim on the bedside table. “Tensions are high, I need to take you somewhere to unwind. Right now, we know nothing about each other, other than I’ve vowed to protect you, so let’s change the dynamic and work on our social skills.”
“What are you… whoa!”
He lifts me from the bed abruptly and takes my hand in his. The same electric shock slams straight into my chest I felt the first time we held hands. He starts dragging me toward the door, and I follow him blindly. With Neon, I think I would follow him anywhere he wanted me to go. I don’t understand why, but I have blind faith in this man who is throwing caution to the wind for me. So, I need to do the same for him.
He ushers me to the stairs as I continue to giggle at his high energy as we race down them, and he makes way for the outside yard. He leads us straight over to the fire pit, then he gestures for me to sit around the already lit fire. I shrug, taking a seat in the comfortable-looking oval chair. He sits right next to me, grabbing a stick, prodding a log to stoke the flames.
“So?” I ask.
He slouches back in his oval chair. “So, Nicolette Oakley. You race drag bikes, you’re in deep with the Heathens, but other than that, I don’t know much about you. So… fill me in.”
“You wanna have a little chin wag?”
“A pow wow.”
“A chit-chat.”
“A confabulation.”
I let out a loud laugh. “Hold on a minute, you pulling out your nerd talk on me now, Neon?”
“You love it!”
Sinking further into the chair, I pull my knees up to get completely comfortable. I draw in a deep breath as I stare at the flickering hues of the amber embers. “My mother came to America from India when she was in her early teens. She knew a little English, but she had to grasp most of it at high school. That’s where she met my dad, Austin. He took to her right away… they just had this instant bond, even
though she could hardly converse with him. So, they spent all their time together when Dad wasn’t at the track, of course. Dad helped her with her English, and I guess the rest is history…” I gnaw down on my bottom lip.
“How was growing up? Having a famous father in the racing world?”
A weak smile crosses my face. “At first, I thought it was cool. But then came the pressure of not only to follow in the familiar footsteps, but of also being the first female in the family line of Oakleys… they weren’t sure I could live up to the expectation of the name, and that hurt.”
He scrunches up his face. “That shit’s hard. Pressure is never good, especially when you have to live up to expectations. It’s a pity you’ve had to live through that every day.”
I shrug. “I’m used to it. It’s why leaving the series is so hard for me…” I inhale, shaking my head, “… but I can’t race if I’m not alive. How about you? Let’s not make this all about me. Tell me about your family.”
Neon groans. “My family is fucked.”
“Oh God, sounds intense.”
“There’s a bigger backstory, but basically, it all revolves around Anna, my sister. I love her, of course, but honestly, I’m concerned for her well-being if she can’t find a way to deal with her emotions.”
This is taking on a more serious note, so I turn to face him. “You think she’s a danger?”
His hand rubs at the back of his neck. “Yeah… I just can’t tell whether it’s to herself or to others…” he trails off, and I sink a little. The clear defeat in his tone is saddening.
“Can you get her some help?”
“She refuses to believe there’s anything wrong. She considers the world is out to get her. That everyone is against her. I don’t know how to get it through that all we want is for her to be happy.”
“We?”
“That’s the other part of the story… Zero and her, they had this thing. When they split, it threw Anna into this…” he lets out a deflated sigh, “… I don’t even know who my sister is anymore. But she’s so focused on Zero, it scares me sometimes.”
“That’s not healthy.” I grimace.
He lets out a half-laugh, half-scoff. “You’re telling me.”