Sufferance (The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 4)

by KE Osborn

  I leave Chloe sitting on my bed with Neala as I walk off down the hall toward the clubroom where I know everyone is gathering. As I make my way in, Torque looks me up and down with an exhale. “That bruising’s still not looking good.”

  I shrug. “I don’t care about me in this, Torque. All I fucking care about is what Frank did to Chloe.”

  He glances at Ace who steps up to me. “We have his location, you just give us the nod, and we’ll ride.”

  I don’t hesitate as I give a single nod. Torque purses his lips sending a high-pitched whistle through the clubhouse making everyone turn to look. “Brothers, mount up. We’re going hunting.”

  Everyone lets out a cheer as Torque pats my shoulder. “We’re with you, brother.”

  I know what this means for my father. The man who raised me on his own. The man who taught me how to fight. The man who basically made me the man I am today. But he’s also the man who beat me relentlessly. The man who left me to fend for myself countless times. The man who told me time and time again that I killed my mother. The man who did unspeakable things to Chloe. The man who killed Chloe’s parents.

  Yes, that man is the man who’s going to pay for his sins today. No matter what, Frank Samuels has lived too long on this earth, tainting its good soil with his bad deeds. He can’t do that anymore, not to me, not to Chloe, not to God knows who else.

  The man has to pay.

  And he will.

  “Let’s ride,” Torque calls out as I notice Ace talking to Scratch, obviously telling him where we need to go. Scratch is our Road Captain, he generally always leads the way. I guess today is no different. We all file out of the clubhouse as we move to our rides. It’s just like any normal Sunday afternoon—just that today’s not by any means normal.

  Today is a huge day.

  All my life Frank has been standing over me making his presence known. I joined this club I suppose for this very reason. So one day, when the time came, I could enact my revenge on the man who brought me nothing but harm. It’s hard to put to words how I’m feeling right now. I guess until the deed is done, I won’t have my peace, but I am looking forward to telling Chloe when it is all over, that’s for sure.

  I pat my side pocket, an ode to Chloe’s lighter she bought me. She may not be able to be with me in this, but having a part of her with me means she’s here in spirit guiding me along as I slip my leg over my ride, pulling on my helmet. It’s all the support I need to start my engine, feeling pumped for my quest if you can call it that. Not many men go riding off with a view to killing their father, but that is all I have on my mind right now as Scratch pulls out, followed by Torque, then Trax. We all flow behind in our designated spots. Surge is at the rear, as always.

  I don’t know where we’re headed. I don’t know the plan. I don’t particularly care. All I know is that Torque will let me have the final blow, and that’s all I’m concerned with. The vibration of the engine sends a soothing energy through me. It has a calming effect—almost like my bike purrs in content at what’s going to happen today. The world is going to be a better place without Frank Samuels.

  The ride isn’t far as Scratch pulls up down the side alley near a known brothel. I guess I’m not surprised. The alley is out of the way, and as we ride in, it’s very dank and dark. I can imagine people don’t even know it’s here. Though, I can’t help but notice a security guard standing by a red doorway as he looks at us. His dark glasses hiding his expression as he watches us approaching.

  We park our rides getting off while Lift walks over to the guard taking him into a back-slapping hug. I wonder what the hell that’s all about when the guard turns walking inside shutting the door behind him.

  I place my helmet on my ride as we all huddle in a group around the door. I glance at Torque as he nods at me. “Just wait.”

  The door opens again to the security guard walking back out holding Frank, looking fucking furious as he grunts and moans. “Do you know who I am? You can’t throw me out. I’ve done nothing wrong!” Frank blurts out while facing the security guy.

  “Not according to your friends here?”

  He turns Frank rapidly, his eyes open wide when he takes in the sight before him. A mob of burly bikers, including his prodigal son. My stomach twists at seeing him, my initial instinct is to race forward, knock the fucker out, to wrap my hands around his throat and watch the life drain from his eyes, but I know it’s not Torque’s plan.

  So, I wait as I watch Frank begin to piece this puzzle together. His lip turns up as the security guard gives him a little shove forward closer to us, then bobs his head toward Lift. “He’s all yours, brother.”

  Lift nods his head. “Thanks, Noah,” Lift replies curtly as Noah turns to walk inside the brothel’s back entrance, closing the door behind him leaving us in the back alley alone with Frank.

  Frank’s eyes dart around like he’s looking for a way out as my breathing comes in short and sharp. I’m not sure what the plan is here, but I’ll follow Torque’s lead.

  “You think your macho dicks are going to threaten me, boy?” he sneers looking directly at me.

  Torque puffs out his chest. “We don’t threaten… when we can act.”

  Suddenly, the door flies open again as Noah appears chasing after someone. Frank grits his teeth as he reaches around his back. He grabs at something lunging straight for me. I don’t have time to think as he slashes at me with a blade. It doesn’t make contact because I’m pushed out of the way by Chains as the blade slices straight into Chains’ stomach. Everyone moves fast as we notice the man Noah’s chasing is none other than Renegade, who aims a gun right at an already injured Chains.

  Lift and Vibe rush forward grabbing and disarming Renegade before he has a second to think about his actions as I reach out for Chains. He groans clutching at his side, blood pools between his fingers as Frank’s knife drops to the ground, the metal of the blade clanking against the hard concrete. Frank darts off down the alley, away from the scene. Everyone’s concerned about Renegade’s appearance to worry about the fucking asshole that is my father.

  Renegade was banished.

  He’s not supposed to be in Chicago.

  He’s the man we need to deal with right fucking now.

  Frank can wait.

  “Fucking bastard,” Chains grunts out as I clench onto his shoulder looking into his eyes.

  “How bad is it?” I ask as the others grip onto Renegade holding him tight.

  Chains turns up his lip. “I’ll live…” he glances at Renegade with an evil sneer, “… he won’t.”

  Renegade’s eyes widen as he looks around nervously. I thought we’d seen the last of this fucker, but his long, oily hair, his fuck-ugly face is here to haunt us. “You fuckers! You weren’t supposed to be here. How the fuck did you find me?”

  I turn, striding up to him with purpose, anger running through every inch of my being. “The club gave you a pass. They blacked out your ink and let you ride! You treated Lala like that and you threw their respect in their goddamn faces, you piece of fucking shit.” I lunge forward, my fist clenched tight, and without hesitation, I thrust it forward straight into his nose.

  A resounding crack echoes down the alley from the clear break in his septum. Lift and Vibe hold him tighter as he struggles against their grip, spitting out a line of blood.

  “Fuck you! You don’t know the meaning of the word respect.”

  Gritting my teeth, I start to say something, but Trax steps forward holding a rag as he strides up to Renegade. His eyes bug out of his head as he tries to yell, but Trax is too quick wrapping a rag around Renegade’s mouth as a gag. A slow smile creeps on my face as I crack my knuckles one after the other.

  Trax stands back, giving me a nod. “This asshole isn’t who we came here after, but now he can’t make any noise, and because this brotherhood respects you, Tremor…” he looks directly at me, “… go your hardest.”

  Renegade’s eyes widen as I step up to him, my eyes narrow with
the hatred I feel for him.

  He hurt Neala.

  My Lala.

  I can’t let this slide.

  Not now, not ever.

  So, I tighten my fist again, adrenalin running through me at the thought of causing Renegade more pain. He struggles against Lift and Vibe. My fist comes back as I ram it forward into his eye socket. His bone crunches beneath my hard hit, but a rush swarms over me. My knuckles sear in pain.

  Images of Neala passed out on the floor with blood on her head, flash into my mind as I pull back and smash into his face again. Gurgling sounds come from behind his gag, but I don’t stop.

  I can’t.

  The devil has taken hold of me right now, and I need to let him control me.

  I punch again.

  Again.

  Again.

  My knuckles splitting and aching from pummeling his face. Blood is all I see as Lift and Vibe struggle to keep hold of his failing body. I’m in the depths of a rage so consuming, it swarms around me like a ravenous beast.

  He hurt her, he was going to violate her.

  There’s no way he can get away with this bullshit.

  He shouldn’t have been allowed to leave in the first place.

  This is his penalty.

  He didn’t stick to the club punishment, so now I will make sure he suffers for his sins.

  I punch again and let out a heavy grunt, my energy waning as I stagger slightly with each blow. Strong hands grab me from behind, pulling me away from the chaos, but I need to finish this—finish him. I need to see his life fade from existence.

  I struggle in the grip of whoever has me, then he pulls me back so hard we both fall to the ground. I pant for air as Vibe and Lift also drop Renegade into a heap onto the concrete. He’s unmoving as Torque rests his hand on my shoulder—it was him who grabbed me to stop my assault.

  I pant for breath taking in the sight before me. My knuckles are split and covered in blood. Renegade now out for the count.

  His face a beaten, bloody mess.

  He’s hardly even breathing.

  Good.

  Fucker deserves everything he gets.

  Torque leans in beside me. “You all right?”

  I nod while trying to catch my breath. “Yeah… just kept picturing Neala… on the ground in his room…” I tense up again, but Torque pats my shoulder in support.

  “I get it. I do. It’s all I can see, too. You did good, brother. This should have been done from the start. This is all on me…”

  Turning back to look at him, I exhale. “It’s done. As for Frank, his time will come. I don’t even care about him right now. I’m sure after this shit, he’ll go into hiding.”

  “I’ll get Ace to track him down. We’ll find him if that’s what you want?”

  Letting out a long breath, I glance at Sensei who’s screwing a silencer onto his gun. I nod my head. But right now, I want to spend time with Neala and get on with my life, and just be fucking happy. “In time, but right now, I want to spend time with my woman and my cousin. If we find Frank, good. But I don’t want to spend my days hunting him down. He can’t take over my life.”

  Torque bobs his head in understanding as Sensei hands Trax the gun. Trax takes it and without hesitation, fires off three bullets into Renegade’s chest. “That’s one bullet from Torque, one from me, and one from Tremor. All for Neala, you sick fuck.” Trax then coats his mouth and spits on Renegade’s clearly dead body as I let out a heavy relieved breath.

  Sensei walks over to me with a bottle of something. He opens it as I watch Lift and Vibe carry Renegade’s body off down the other end of the alley. I’m not sure where they’re going, but it’s not for me to worry about. They have their job, just like I did mine.

  Sensei pours something toxic smelling over my hands. It’s cold, and it stings like fuck as it washes the blood away. I turn to look down the end of the alley, but I can’t see shit. I don’t know what Lift and Vibe are doing. It’s probably best I don’t know.

  Torque puffs out his chest looking around our club, our brothers, our family. “Good job, boys. Now we get back to the club to celebrate… disperse.”

  I look at him with a gesture of thanks and make my way up the alley to my ride. I jump on without hesitation to head back to the clubhouse.

  To my woman.

  To my cousin.

  To a future without fucking limitations.

  NEALA

  Trying to figure out what I wanted to bring to the clubhouse from home was a nightmare. Lucky Chloe was here to help me narrow it down a bunch. She’s amazing. I couldn’t have done it without her. The guys have all been out today doing something. I don’t know what, I don’t really care either. Tremor will tell me when he gets back, but for now, Chloe, Sass, Sparx, and I are sitting in the clubroom chatting when Bex rushes in with her doctor’s bag.

  She strides up to us looking like she’s annoyed as she plonks down on the stool next to me. “I’m guessing they’re not back yet?”

  I raise my brow as I exhale hating that if she’s here with her medical supplies, it means the boys weren’t just out on a joy ride—clearly the boys are hurt. “No, they’re not, and obviously you know something we don’t?” I query as Sparx and Sass both join in on the conversation.

  “I got a text from Surge telling me to come straight over. He didn’t tell me who, just that someone was stabbed and will need assistance when they get back.”

  “Jesus Christ,” the three of us say in unison as Chloe opens her eyes wide.

  “Is this a normal thing for guys to get stabbed?” Chloe asks.

  Sparx and Sass sigh. “Kinda,” Sparx murmurs.

  “If it’s Sensei, I’ll freaking stab him again,” Sass groans, making us all wince at the seriousness in her tone.

  Concern flows through me. I have four men out there that I’m concerned about. My man, my two brothers, and my surrogate father, Surge. But then again, I love all these guys so any one of them being hurt, hurts me.

  The sound of engines roar into the compound, and it alerts us that all our guys are home. We all stand up as Bex starts to pull her medical equipment out of her bag. I wonder for a brief moment if anyone’s called Foxy. She’ll be at medical school. If it’s Torque who’s hurt, she’ll want to know. But I guess I’ll just wait and see who it is first.

  Tremor strolls in along with Torque and Trax, and relief floods through me. I run without thinking as fast as my feet will carry me toward my man. I hear other footsteps beside me as Sparx and I leap at the same time onto our men. Tremor wraps his arms around me tight as Torque lets out a small laugh.

  “Wow! What the hell’s this about?”

  I pull back looking at Tremor. “You’re okay?”

  He furrows his brow. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Someone got stabbed,” Sparx croaks as she hangs off Trax.

  Torque, Trax, and Tremor all pull back looking somber. “Yeah, someone did.” Torque sighs looking at Bex.

  She stops pulling things out of her bag as she looks at Torque. Her breath catches. “Chains?”

  Torque grimaces as my heart falls through the floor for her. I look over to see her eyes welling as she sniffles trying so hard to look stoic.

  “Is he…” She pauses not able to finish her sentence as Sensei and Scratch enter the room carrying Chains under each arm. He looks okay just a little pale.

  “Bex?” he calls. She lets out a gasp as she rushes to him. They place him on a stool by the bar, her hands instantly go to the blood pooling from his shirt, and she wastes no time yanking it up. I wince seeing the scars on his chest and stomach along with the stab wound that’s oozing blood.

  Her lips pull together in a tight line as he looks up at her. I see the closeness that’s always there between them. Normally, it’s because they’re bickering like an old married couple, but this time I see the love between them as he looks at her like he’s not sure what to do. I’ve never seen Chains seeming like he’s unsure of himself.

/>   “It’s okay. You’re okay. I got you,” she comforts grabbing some gauze, applying pressure to the wound. He winces with the pain, but his hand moves on top of hers as he looks at her, and for a moment, I don’t see a foster brother looking at a sister. I see a man looking at a woman in a way he definitely shouldn’t be looking at her. She looks back at him, and I suddenly feel like I’m intruding on their private moment.

  Like all of us are.

  Torque clears his throat making them both look away from each other and over to him. “What’s the verdict, doc?” Torque asks subtly, looking to Trax who appears like he’s trying to figure out what the hell just happened too.

  Bex flares her nostrils. “I can’t tell. He looks too pale and pasty for it to be just a minor flesh wound. I think I need to get him to the hospital.”

  Torque groans. “You can’t do anything here?”

  Bex stands taller. “Torque, this isn’t your life you’re playing with. If I don’t check him out for internal injuries with the proper equipment, he could die.”

  Torque raises his hands, dipping his head. “Okay, but you know the protocol, doc.”

  “I’m not stupid, Torque. How many damn times have I done this for the fucking club?” Bex grunts.

  “Woman,” Chains murmurs.

  “Kline, you’ll do well not to disrespect my club,” Torque grinds out folding his arms over his chest as Bex continues to fuss over Chains.

  I step forward. “Torque, it’s her brother. If it were Trax or me, you’d be defensive, too.”

  Torque exhales. “Take him to the hospital. I know you’ll do a good job, Kline. It’s why we have you on call.”

  Bex turns to face Torque. “I need to get him there. Now.”

  “Scratch, Sensei, help Chains to Kline’s car. And give us an update as soon as you know something,” Torque demands.