Sufferance (The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 4)

by KE Osborn

  “She’s my cousin, kinda my best friend… really the only family I care about.”

  My heart beats rapidly in my chest. I know Tremor’s family is dysfunctional. I remember him talking about his cousin, but I never remembered her name.

  “So you’re telling me all those times you left the clubhouse trying to make me jealous, you were going to hang out with your cousin?”

  He grimaces. “Yeah.”

  I narrow my eyes trying to wrap my head around this. Anger swarms through me. “You made me believe you were in a relationship with another woman for two whole months. Made me feel like I wasn’t good enough, like I was worthless. But all this time you were just… partying it up?” I throw my hands in the air in frustration.

  “Lala, it’s not like that. Yes, I did it so you would think I was moving on. I did it hoping you would try to find another man, but purely for your own benefit. But saying I was partying it up couldn’t be further from the truth.” He sinks a little in his posture. “Chloe has Stage 3 Melanoma. She had the growth removed, but she’s undergoing chemo mixed with immunotherapy right now, so I’ve been there through it with her. So no, it’s not a party. I’m there helping her because she’s sick.”

  My entire body breaks out in a cold sweat as the temperature in the room drops to freezing. It’s probably just me, but it feels artic in here. I’m shaking, but as I look to Tremor I see the pain in his eyes talking about his cousin who he obviously loves so dearly, my chest hurts.

  I hate I judged him.

  Without thinking, without knowing.

  Fuck!

  “God, Trem, I’m a fucking bitch.”

  He stands up tilting his head, shuffling over on the bed as he slides in beside me. He wraps his arm around me as I nuzzle into him, finally feeling the coolness of the room shifting back to warmth in his arms.

  “You could never be a bitch, Lala. You just didn’t know. Honestly, I shouldn’t have let you think there was something there for so long.” He grabs my hand linking our fingers. “It’s fucking hard to watch Chloe go through her treatments, but she’s strong, so fucking strong… you’ll love her.”

  Wiping a stray tear from my eye, I glance up at him. “I’d love to meet her.”

  He beams so wide I think his cheeks might explode. “I’d like that.”

  “Then it’s settled. I’m sorry about everything.”

  He brings his hand up to my face cupping it gently as he looks into my eyes. “You’re my woman, you have nothing to be sorry about. Plus, I like it when you get all feisty.” He chuckles leaning in planting a soft kiss on my lips as Bex walks in.

  “You shouldn’t be on the bed, Tremor,” she chides.

  Tremor shrugs. “Like it’s gonna stop me.”

  Bex bobs her head like she was expecting as much. “In any case, I have your results, Lala. You have a very minor concussion, and you’re going to need a few sutures in your forehead and brow. You might get a slight scar from it, but I’ll do my best to minimize it for you. You can go home tonight, but I think you should go back to the clubhouse so there’s eyes on you just in case.”

  Tremor sits a little taller. “She’ll stay in my room tonight. What do I need to watch for?”

  Bex has her serious face on. “Vomiting, blurred vision, rapid memory loss… any of these symptoms start, she needs to come straight back.”

  He looks like he’s taking this all in like he’s going to have an exam on it later. I tighten my hand in his. His eyes glance sideways at me. “I got this, Kline, I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”

  Bex chuckles. “Oh, I’m sure you will. Or you’ll have me and a couple of big brothers to answer to.”

  Tremor stiffens slightly beside me, so I bump into his side. “I’ll be fine. I feel fine.”

  “I don’t expect any complications. The concussion is mild. I suspect all you’ll be is tired. Keep up your fluids and take it easy… no physical exertion.” Her eyebrows raise on the last part.

  I pull my lips in trying not to laugh as I totally understand what she’s saying.

  No sex.

  At least not tonight.

  I’ve waited this long to sleep with Tremor, what’s one more night?

  Tremor exhales loudly beside me. “Got it. When can I take her home?”

  “I have to suture her up, then you’re good to go.”

  “Hold my hand?” I half joke to Tremor.

  “Always.”

  TREMOR

  We’re on our way back to the clubhouse, Neala called ahead to let them know we’re coming. While we’ve been gone, the brothers had church and decided what the hell to do with Renegade. I hope it’s long and fucking painful.

  We pull up in Trax’s truck since we didn’t want Neala riding on the back of a bike with a concussion. The summer rays are shining down through the mid-afternoon sun as I take a breath pulling up and turning off the engine. “Renegade is going to still be in there. Are you gonna be okay to go in, or do you want me to get Sparx to take you somewhere until we’ve dealt with him?”

  She turns to me, a fierce look in her eye. “No. I want to watch the punishment dealt to him. He deserves to pay for his sins... Asshole,” she murmurs the last word.

  She’s grown up in the club. She may seem fragile, she may seem like she can break easily, but underneath it all, she’s a tough woman who can handle what life throws at her. She is Defiance, just like the rest of us. That’s why I need to have her in my life.

  “Okay, but if you need to leave, let me or someone know, and we’ll get you out of there.”

  She agrees as we step out of the truck. I walk around to her side reaching for her taking her tiny hand. It feels at home like it should have been there all-fucking-along.

  “I’ll be fine, but thanks for taking care of me.”

  We enter into the clubrooms to see everyone is here, bar Renegade. A stool is positioned in the middle of the floor with a small table next to it. There’s stuff on the table, but I can’t see what it is. Vibe’s in the way, and I can’t help but notice he’s wearing white gloves. Raising my brow as we walk in, everyone turns to look at us making Lala and I both stop for the briefest of moments as I watch Torque’s eyes focus on our joined hands. He slowly smiles as he drops his chin in a nod for us to come in and join whatever the hell is going on.

  “What are you all doing?” Lala calls out before I get a chance.

  Torque steps into the middle of the room gesturing to Lift.

  Lift walks into the chapel, and then next thing he’s ushering a shirtless and handcuffed Renegade by his side. My skin crawls as I glance at Lala to make sure she’s doing okay. She stands taller, a fierceness in her eyes. I know right now she’s tougher than I give her credit for. The entire club— brothers, old ladies, and club girls—all stand around Renegade in a circle looking at him as Lift shoves him down on the stool.

  “We discussed in church, at great length I might add, what we thought we should do with Renegade for his actions toward you, Neala. Of course, death was on the table. This was my initial instinct, but it was shown to me that it was coming from a brother, not a president.”

  I sneer.

  “So, we’re banishing Renegade. From the club. From Chicago. He’s having his ink stripped, and he’s never to return—”

  “That’s it!” I yell, anger swarming through me as I let go of Neala storming forward. “He beat your sister, put her in hospital, and he gets banished? That’s his fucking punishment?”

  Torque subtly glances at Neala, then back at me. “The problem is, Tremor, Renegade was a respected member of this club. He’s been here longer than most of us, even me. We can’t turn our backs on that. He’s been here since the inception of the club.”

  I throw my hands in the air. “This is fucking bullshit!” I turn to face him. “You know this is the wrong choice. I should gut the motherfucker right here.” My adrenaline spikes through the roof as I rush for Sensei, reaching out for the blade he hides in the back of his jea
ns, but Sensei’s too quick. He grabs at my arm just as I snatch the blade. He twists my arm back up behind me, and I drop the blade while Sensei keeps pulling my arm higher and higher. “Fuck.”

  Lala gasps, her hand rushing to her mouth as I glance at Torque who’s shaking his head. Sensei finally lets me go, pushing me forward to Torque who grips my shoulders to stop me from running into him. I straighten myself out, standing up tall with a huff and stern look on my face as the room remains hushed.

  “You’ve disobeyed your president, Tremor. I should throw you out of the club for this.”

  I grunt. “I don’t care. There was a time when all I cared about was my patch. Now all I care about is the safety of my woman standing over there.”

  Torque tilts his head. “Well, then, I guess we can at least get some enjoyment out of Renegade’s last moments here. Chains, you want to go first?” Torque asks.

  “With fucking pleasure,” Chains chimes as Lift and Ace pick Renegade up from the stool. Chains walks up clenching his fist, laying a hard thrust straight into his stomach. Renegade hunches over letting out a huge puff of air but says nothing. He knows he’s better off.

  Vibe steps up next to lay a blow into Renegade. Over his time here, he has annoyed us all in one way or another, now we all get to have our own little piece of payback. Vibe tightens his fist, then he lands a punch into Renegade’s ribs.

  Next in line is Zane, he punches hard and with fury.

  Feeling a small amount of my tension waning as I glance at Neala to see her eyes alive in delight. She’s thriving on this. I’m not sure if it excites or scares me. Either way, she’s getting her revenge in this too.

  Brother after brother line up to lay blow after blow on Renegade. He’s panting for breath until it’s just Torque and I left. We both walk up to him together.

  Torque takes the lead. “This is for fuckin’ disrespecting my club and my sister.” His fist clenches then he smashes Renegade in the side of the jaw, his head snapping around as he spits out a line of blood and a couple of teeth.

  I step up to him, warmth flooding through me that I finally get to have some vengeance. “Don’t you ever come near her again, or I won’t hesitate to land the final blow.” My fist clenches as I draw back, thrust forward, then land the hit right in his junk. Pain tingles through my hand, as he lets out a loud moan as he falls to the ground, the metal stool tumbling to the concrete with a thud as he bends shielding his cock. I shake out my knuckles as I take a deep breath. I glance at Neala, she smiles while Lift and Ace pull him and the stool back into position, the metal of the legs grating against the floor. His barely hanging on body sags against them as they position him on the metal stool. Vibe flicks his gloves moving to the table right next to him as he hunches forward.

  “Renegade, you are being de-patched. You are no longer a part of Defiance MC. You are stripped of all badges gained in the MC. All rights pertaining to this club are null and void. You are banished from this day forth. If you show your face in Chicago again, you will be killed on the spot,” Torque calls out as he gestures to Vibe who moves in behind Renegade picking up a tattoo gun.

  I walk over to Neala wrapping my arms around her. She cuddles into my side as we all watch while the high-pitched drone of the tattoo gun echoes through the room.

  “Fuck,” Renegade calls out, saying the first thing since this all started.

  I feel good knowing Vibe’s doing a scratch job of the tattoo, digging the black ink in deep. Hard. Painfully. To cover the Defiance logo on Renegade’s back.

  Seeing the visible pain in Renegade’s face brings me some relief. Knowing he won’t be able to step foot inside Chicago helps too. Being banished from the club you love, the club you’ve lived for your entire life, the family you know, I guess it is a punishment worse than death.

  I get it now.

  I understand.

  I glance over at Surge, his face somber. Surge is an Original 9. He’s known Renegade the longest. They’re like brothers, so this must be hitting him hard.

  Deep groans echo from Renegade as the buzzing sound continues around the room, but against the buzzing, the room is deathly silent. Everyone’s watching him take his punishment—the brothers, the old ladies, the club girls. Everyone knows what blacking out your ink means. You can’t come back from it. Once you’re out, you’re out. There’s something so heavy in the finality of it all, it breathes a new chapter in the life of this club. Renegade’s always been a loose cannon. It was him and Trax. Now Trax is back to his old self and with Renegade gone, things here might work out okay. Knowing with the exit of one, makes way for the opportunities of growth. Who knows what’s in store for Defiance in the future.

  Even though it takes some time to cover his back piece, no one moves from the clubroom. We all stand, we all stay, watching the downfall of one of the eldest members of the club. Then with a flick, the buzzing stops, and Vibe puts down the tattoo gun. Torque peers around Renegade’s back looking at Vibe’s handy work. He then grabs Renegade by his arm hoisting him to stand. He’s wobbly on his feet from his mass beating as he swivels him around. His back is a messy swarm of black ink. Pride for this club, this family I have, floods through me as I tighten my grip on Neala. She lets out a long exhale almost sounding like relief as she tightens her grip on me.

  “Let it be known, any brother who dishonors the club in any way… this is the shit that awaits you. Get him the fuck outta here—”

  “Wait,” Neala calls out. I glance at her as does everyone.

  “Neala?” Torque questions.

  “I want to know why? Why did you do this to me?”

  Renegade curls up his bloody lip. “You wanna know why?” he sneers. “Your father told me I would take over as president when he stood down. But, of course, he never stood down…” he pauses for a beat then continues, “… fucker had to go and die in a car accident with Torque’s knocked-up wife, no less. Fucking inconsiderate asshole. Left me with nothing! I’ve been biding my damn time, just waiting to get back at your asshole family.”

  Surge steps forward. “Guinness would never have promised the presidency to you. You’ve made that shit up. It’s all in your damn head, you motherfucker,” Surge grunts out. Anger clearly evident in his tone.

  “Bullshit! It was implied. Just because you were his pet project—”

  “Enough! Get him out of here,” Torque spits shoving him toward Zane, who grabs Renegade leading him to the exit like it was pre-arranged.

  “I should be president. Me! It was promised to… me! Fuck it! I should…” Renegade’s ranting fades off into the distance as the rest of the brothers shake their heads at the absurdity of his words.

  Surge glances at Torque flaring his nostrils. “That shit he was dribbling, Torque, that’s gotta be drugs or alcohol talking. ‘Cause there ain’t no fucking way your father ever promised that weasel the presidency.”

  Torque nods. “I know. He was trying to wind us up. Bringing Guinness, Zoey, and the baby into it was just a way to bring up crap that didn’t need to be brought up.” He glances at Foxy who gives him a comforting smile. “It’s time to get on with shit, we’re not here to dwell on the past just the future of this club.” I notice Trax walking off toward the chapel, but I ignore it as Torque moves to the center of the clubroom again taking a deep breath. “We’re not just here to banish one member of the club today, brothers, as you all know. Well, all bar one of you.” What the fuck is he talking about? “Tremor, step forward.”

  “Ry, what the hell are you doing?” Neala bursts out as she steps forward out of my grip. I pull her back behind me, flaring my nostrils. Great, so he’s going to punish me for beating up a brother.

  “Neala, it was all worth it, just to be with you for a while,” I murmur.

  Her bottom lip trembles as her hand moves to her mouth in shock, while Sparx steps up wrapping her arms around Lala for support.

  “We all know there’s been an attraction between Tremor and the club princess, Neala, for a h
ell of a long time now. Through miscommunications and indecisions, they haven’t acted on it, mainly because of me. Tremor is loyal to this club. I can’t fault him on that, but his loyalty made him hurt my sister. That made me fuckin’ angry, and if you make me angry…” he leaves the sentence unfinished.

  Tensing, I glance to my other brothers who are all stern-faced, not giving anything away. I have no idea what pain is going to await me. “Tremor, sit on the stool,” Torque instructs.

  My jaw wracks from side to side as I breathe quicker not knowing what the fuck is coming. But he is my president, so I do as he says turning to sit on the fucking stool. My shoulders tight as he stands behind me. I’m completely open to whatever is coming my way.

  “You told me your patch meant everything to you, but Neala does, too. Right now, you want her more. If it meant I had to kick you out of the club then so be it… remember that conversation?”

  Tensing up, I glance at Neala, tears glisten in her eyes as I look at her sternly letting her know no matter what, I’m with her. “I do, and I meant it.”

  Torque chuckles. “I think your fascination with fire places a question over your pyromaniac fantasies, doesn’t it, Tremor?”

  I turn to look at Torque wondering what the fuck he’s talking about, but he grabs my head turning me back to look at Neala, whose eyes open wide. She can see what’s happening behind me. It only makes me tense up further when Torque yanks my prospect cut off my shoulders.

  “You have that lighter you carry everywhere. You think we can let a pyro like you stay in the club, Tremor?”

  Every muscle in my body is tight as I try to figure out what the fucking hell he’s talking about. What the fuck am I missing? What’s he trying to tell me? “Torque, I—”

  I pause as a cold sensation runs over my back. Wondering what the fuck is going on, I freeze until I realize they’re placing a cut over my shoulders. I relax as I thread my arms through it glancing around the room to see everyone smiling wide as a light chuckle filters through the room.