Sufferance (The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 4)

by KE Osborn

  Chloe’s eyes alight as we walk toward the clubhouse doors. Me, carrying two suitcases, her carrying the tiny fucking pot plant. She looks ridiculous, but if it helps make her feel more comfortable with this situation, then I’ll let her carry whatever the fuck she wants.

  We walk through the door inside to the low drawl of Vibe’s music echoing over the speakers as everyone turns to look at us. Their faces all scrunch when they take in the sight before them. Normally, seeing a woman with a cancer scarf on would be the unusual in this scenario, but I know they’re looking at my beaten-to-a-bloody-pulp face as we walk inside further toward the bar.

  “They’re all staring at you,” she murmurs subtly in my ear.

  “I know,” I whisper as Torque and Trax come storming out of the chapel stopping dead in their tracks when they see us.

  “What the fuckin’ fuck?” Torque calls out.

  “Jesus!” Trax follows.

  Chloe tenses as she stands taller looking over my president and my VP as they rush toward us.

  “Pyro, you said a minor glitch, not a full-on fuckin’ assault,” Torque grunts as he starts to assess my face, pushing on my nose and turning my head from side to side to assess the damage. I let him.

  “What the fuck happened?” Trax asks looking from me to Chloe, then back at me.

  “My dad.”

  “Your dad did this?” Trax grunts.

  Chloe huffs like she’s surprised that he’s surprised. “If you knew Frank Samuels, you’d know he’s capable of much worse,” Chloe mumbles.

  Torque and Trax both turn to her relaxing their stand slightly. “Chloe, it’s good to meet you finally. We have a room set up for you near the kitchen. It’s stocked with watermelon for whenever you need some,” Torque relays.

  She glances at me. “Thank you, that’s really nice. And thanks for having me here. I’m kinda excited to finally see Tremor’s digs.”

  Torque tips his head over to the bar, and Ruby starts to make her way over. “Ruby’s our head club girl, she’ll be in charge of you while you’re here. She’ll make you comfortable, and look after anything you need. Any questions, feel free to ask Rubes.”

  “That’s right, I’m the go-to girl,” she chimes as I mouth a ‘thank you.’ She winks at me as she signals to two of my brothers, who come over grabbing the suitcases from me. “Let’s get you settled in, so these boys can chat, okay, love?” Ruby asks.

  Chloe looks at me. “Go. You’ll be fine, Ruby’s the best. I need to chat with my brothers about how to handle Frank.”

  She grins at me then looks at Torque. “Take the fucker down.”

  PYRO

  I watch Chloe walk off with Ruby as Torque grabs my arm dragging me in the opposite direction toward the chapel. Trax is in hot pursuit behind us as we enter, he closes the door behind us.

  “Speak,” he simply says.

  I exhale while he grabs my chin moving my face from side to side looking me over once more.

  “I went over to Chloe’s to celebrate her final day of chemo, but when I got there, Frank was already in the house.”

  Torque lets my face go roughly while folding his arms over his chest. “Did you hurt him as bad as he got you?”

  Slumping, I shake my head. “No, he got me good. Then threw Chloe into a cupboard. It’s how she’s got the bump on her head.”

  “Fucking asshole,” Trax murmurs under his breath.

  “So you want us to pay him a little visit? Tell him he can’t mess with our brothers or their family?”

  “It’s not that simple—”

  “Don’t defend the fucker, Pyro,” Trax blurts out.

  I raise my brow. “Don’t think for a second I would ever defend that asshole after what he’s done to Chloe. I don’t care what he’s done to me in the past, but what he did to her… he needs to fucking pay.”

  “Tell us why it’s not simple?” Torque asks.

  I crack my neck to the side. “He’s a part of something, a club of sorts, I suppose.”

  Torque stands a little taller. “What kind of club?”

  I grimace. “It’s called the Chicago Gentleman’s Club. It’s supposed to sound all swanky like men playing poker, strippers, and shit…” I breathe heavily. “It’s that, but it’s also… not.”

  Torque scrunches his face up like he’s confused. “I’d heard myths about this club, but I thought it was all bullshit. How did we miss this when we profiled your father?”

  “It’s extremely secretive and very much alive. It’s one of those asshole clubs you have to be invited into by a member to join. Very exclusive, tailored to the individuals. How Frank got in I’m not sure, possibly his father. All I know is, he’s been in it all my life. Because of that, he’s protected. There’s no way you could have known about this, most people think it’s all fiction.”

  “So, what are we dealing with?”

  “Black market shit, trading, money laundering, contract kills, any fucking thing you want done under the table, the Gentlemen will do it for you.”

  “And Frank’s in on this?”

  “Frank’s high up in this shit, practically runs it.”

  “So, we go after him, we have to do it quietly, or we’ll have the Gentlemen to deal with, too?” Trax asks.

  “Exactly.”

  They exhale as Torque rubs his chin like he’s deep in thought. “Then we do it when he’s away from the Gentlemen, so they’re not involved. Make it look like some kind of a random attack?”

  Tilting my head, I purse my lips. “Any Gentleman dying is never considered a random attack.”

  They both exhale, then Trax opens his eyes wide like he’s come up with something. “When you were listing their downfalls, you never mentioned women.”

  Torque and I both shrug. “And?”

  “So do the Gentlemen have a policy on women?”

  “Yeah, women are the only thing they don’t trade or deal in. They seem to respect them. Women are revered, apparently. Apart from my father who’s a damn asshole, somehow he’s managed to get away with treating women in his life like shit right under their noses. I only know about it because Dad’s brother was in as well, and he told me about it before he mysteriously died.”

  “Well, that’s our out. We make it known Frank’s being taken out because of his crimes toward Chloe,” Trax states.

  A shudder runs over my body thinking of what she must have gone through at the hands of my father. The fact she can even look at me makes her stronger than I can possibly imagine.

  Torque slaps Trax on the back. “Well played, Trax.” He narrows his eyes on me. “Pyro, you good with this?”

  “Yes, we take him the fuck out… in the name of Chloe.”

  Torque’s face alights in a sinister way. “It’s settled then. I’ll make the arrangements. I’ll come back to you with when and how. For now, go about your business, make Chloe happy, but don’t fill her in on anything that’s been said. She can’t know anything until it’s done.”

  I let out a relieved sigh. “Thanks, pres, for taking this on.”

  “You’re my brother, a patched member, Pyro, we do this for family.”

  I turn to walk out.

  “One more thing… don’t discuss this with Neala. She might be the club princess, she might be your woman, but she isn’t an Old Lady. She isn’t privy to this shit just yet.”

  Turning back, I grit my teeth. I’ve been wanting to ask Torque for his permission to ask Neala to be my Old Lady. I guess having Trax here too it seems like the opportune time.

  Nerves swarm through me as I turn back to face the two burly brothers who are both looking at me with their arms crossed over their chests like they’re waiting for me to blurt out whatever it is I have to say. But I wasn’t coming in here to do this today.

  I’m not prepared.

  Maybe I should wait?

  “Spit it out, kid,” Torque grunts.

  I look at him, a flash of Lala’s face washes over my mind, and I know without a doubt she�
�s the woman I want to be with for the rest of my life. She makes me the happiest I’ve ever been, so I need to do this, so when the time’s right to ask her, I have both of their permission.

  “Torque, Trax… Neala means so much to me. She always has…” I let out a long breath as I take a step closer to them. “I know I fucked her around, I know I played it all wrong in the beginning. I was an ass.”

  “You can say that again.”

  Torque bumps Trax in the side making him straighten his face and listen.

  “I’m sorry for how I treated her. Just know for the rest of our lives I’m going to spend it making her happy…” I scrub my hands through my hair. “Fuck! I’m asking both of you for permission to claim Neala as my Old Lady.”

  “You’re asking our permission?” Trax states.

  “I know brothers normally demand and take their women. But I respect Neala. I respect the relationship you have with her and her role in this club. Inevitably, I will do it anyway, but I want your blessing... it means a lot to me.”

  Both their lips turn up into the biggest of fucking smirks. I’m not sure what the hell they’re going to say.

  “Do you love her?” Torque asks.

  Warmth floods through me, and I answer without hesitation. “Yes.”

  “Have you told her?” Trax queries.

  “Not yet. I was planning on telling her the same time I tell her I’m claiming her.”

  Torque looks at Trax with a devious smile on his face. “Okay, you can claim her, on one condition.”

  I grimace. “Okay?”

  “It has to be romantic and in public. Lots of people need to see your confession of love for her,” Torque relays.

  I chuckle. “Done.”

  “And it has to be filmed,” Trax adds.

  I scoff out a laugh. “Right. Any-fucking-thing else?”

  Torque steps up to me with a genuine smile. “Just… make her happy.”

  “I will, of that you can be sure.”

  “And if you hurt her, we’re going to ink you out and bury you alive under the silos,” Trax adds.

  I glance at him seeing his face is deadly serious. My stomach swarms with tension knowing they would more than likely do that as I roll my shoulders walking out of the room to head straight for Sparx. She’s the woman I need right now. A woman’s touch who’s also a geek with the internet.

  Yep, Sparx, you’re my next target.

  The Next Night

  After spending a few hours with Sparx going over all the possible romantic scenarios we could find, we settled on one I think will be nice, something a little different than the normal way for bikers to claim their old ladies.

  I want it to be special, I want Lala to feel appreciated. I want her to know she means so much more to me than just yelling it out in front of a bunch of my brothers. I want her to know that yes, this club is everything to us, but it’s not just what we are. I put my patch above her, I put this club before her, but not anymore. I’m doing this the right way. She’ll be my Old Lady, but she’s going to be doing it in a good way.

  So, I asked her to come over to the club to have dinner, so I didn’t raise too much suspicion, then I will enact phase one of my plan.

  As we sit quietly eating our dinner, she eyes me up and down as she slowly eats her pasta. “You know, you’re acting fucking weird. Is your head all fuzzy from your beating?”

  I raise my brow. “Me? I’m not acting weird. Eat your pasta, we have somewhere to be.”

  She lets out a small laugh. “I like it when you get all bossy on me, X-Man.”

  I purse my lips. “Don’t call me that, it’s Pyro, just Pyro.”

  “I think I like X-Man better.”

  I raise my brow tilting my head. “Look here, little miss defiant, stop with the sass, or I’ll have to take care of your attitude by plugging that mouth.”

  She chews on her bottom lip waggling her brows. “Promises, promises.” She then sucks up a noodle seductively as I groan rearranging my cock in my jeans.

  Little fucking minx.

  “Finish your dinner. We have to go, or we’ll miss it.”

  Her eyes light up. “Miss what?”

  “My surprise. Put your jacket on, it’s cold out.”

  She groans, grabbing her leather jacket from the table and sliding it on. “You’re so bossy.”

  “I’m just taking care of you and your bad attitude. Now c’mon, angel. Let’s go!”

  I stand up, she follows suit. While we walk toward the exit, I reach out and grab her hand. I glance over to see Chloe sitting down talking to Ruby and Lift. I feel better knowing she’s settled in for the night.

  “Have fun, you two!” Sparx winks at me as Trax gives us two thumbs up.

  Neala pauses to talk to them, but I drag her with me not giving her time to stop. “Hey, do they know where we’re going?”

  “Yes. But if we don’t hurry, it will all be for nothing.”

  She groans, picking up her step as we rush to my ride. I grab her helmet yanking it over her chocolate hair. I lean in planting a kiss to her lips briefly before putting on my helmet, then slide onto my ride. She moves in behind me. I swear I will never get tired of this feeling. Her arms wrap around my body as I start the engine, her thighs gripping onto me—it’s like fucking heaven. My cock throbs at the thought, but I try to reign it in as I hammer down, pulling off out the opening gates toward my destination.

  Not long after an easy ride, I pull up on the Chicago street below a skyscraper, feeling Lala tense up behind me. Smiling to myself, I tap for her to slide off the bike as I slip off with her. She looks up like she has no idea what the hell I’m up to.

  “You going into investment banking or something I should know about?”

  I chuckle grabbing her hand, leading her toward where we need to go without saying a word. I had Zane come here earlier to set it all up, so I hope he’s pulled through for me. We make our way up, into the loop, onto part of the elevated railway section. There isn’t a hell of a lot of room up here, especially seeing as most of it is for the train, but I’ll make do. I walk her over to the lookout area. I can tell if it’s the right one because people are gathering already. I see Zane has sectioned off the area like I told him to. Smiling, I step behind the red cordoned-off rope walking us inside. On the concrete floor is a plush red carpet fit for a princess—a biker princess. To the side is a fruit basket for dessert and a bottle of champagne for us to celebrate.

  She glances at me with a giggle. “Tremor, what on earth is all this?” She waves her hands around taking all this in.

  Smiling, I pull her to me as I quickly turn to the camera that’s set on a tripod clicking it to start recording. She lets out a loud laugh. “What the hell is going on, you freak?”

  I look back at her as I notice all the people around us watching what’s happening too. I brought her here for a reason, nerves filter through me, but I push past it as I hold her looking into her eyes.

  “Neala, we’ve had our ups and downs. No one can deny it. But my life with you is the only thing that feels fucking right in this crazy world.”

  A few people in the crowd cheer making us both chuckle.

  Her eyes glisten as she holds me tight as I continue, “What I’m saying is … I love you. And in front of all of these strangers here tonight, I want them to know you’re mine.”

  She chuckles. “Of course, I’m yours.”

  “Neala, I want you to be my Old Lady.”

  Her eyes open wide as she gasps. Her fingers lace through my hair, and she pulls me to her kissing me hard. Her tongue moves in like a frenzied attack as I hear the people cheering and ranting behind us. They don’t know us, hell half of them don’t even know what being an Old Lady means, but they’re happy for us anyway.

  I kiss her like there’s no fucking tomorrow. Hard, passionate, full of adoration. I love this woman, and I’m glad the world now knows she’s mine.

  She pulls back breathlessly her face alight in happiness. “Of
course, I’ll be your Old Lady. I love you, too, Tremor. So much. Wait! Did you ask my brothers?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Holy shit! How’d that go down?”

  “Actually, it was better than I thought it would be.”

  She bumps my side playfully. “You claimed me.”

  “I sure did, woman.”

  She giggles as she nuzzles into me, then her head shoots up. “Wait! Why here? On a rail track?”

  I glance up just as the sun is making its move below the horizon. I spin her, wrapping my arms around her tight, pulling her back to my front. She sinks against me taking in the view of the setting sun beaming in between the skyscrapers in its perfect alignment.

  “This is called the Chicagohenge. It happens only twice a year when the sun rises and sets lining up with Chicago’s East-West street grid. It’s a rare phenomenon happening in only a few places around the world… I wanted you to see something spectacular after I asked you.”

  She stands in awe of the stunning sight, the sun making its way between the skyscrapers as the gold hues of the sun set perfectly rounding out another autumn day. A mild breeze wafts through the air catching her hair, making it tickle against my face as the crowd cheers watching the sun finally darken the sky into night. I hold Lala tighter as she finally turns to face me, nothing but contentment in her eyes as she sighs.

  “This is perfect.”

  I gesture for her to take a seat on her plush red carpet. She giggles as people slowly begin to wander off leaving us to ourselves. We sit on the red carpet as I open the bottle of champagne, the cork flies off the edge of the side of the rail bridge. I peer over the edge to see it land on the roof of a passing car. Lala bursts out laughing as I grimace but go about pouring our glasses. She deserves this. She’s so fucking special, and this doesn’t even begin to show how much I appreciate her being in my life.

  NEALA

  I had no idea Tremor had this in store for us tonight. I’d heard about the Chicagohenge. I’d seen it on the news, read articles about it, but I never once got to see it in person. It was stunning. But that wasn’t the highlight of my night.