Fugitive (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 3)

by K E Osborn

  He’s a fucking superstar, and we just happened to sit at his table.

  But to be honest, I’m more interested in the quiet guy over there.

  “Are you his security?” I ask.

  “No, I’m no one. I met Rush tonight, too. Call me Kevlar.”

  Savanah chortles. “As in the vest?”

  “Exactly.” He dips his chin.

  I narrow my eyes on him. “You a cop?”

  “I was… not anymore.” Kevlar slumps back in his chair, looking pensive.

  Savanah sits forward, her eyes wide with excitement. “Oh, I wanna hear that story.”

  “No, it’s fine. We don’t need to know. It’s none of our business.” I glare at Savanah. She pouts, bringing her drink to her lips and sucking hard on her straw.

  “What’s your story? You here on a girls’ trip?” Kevlar asks.

  Savanah coughs on her drink, and I tense, “Something like that. I’ve always wanted to see New Orleans.”

  “How long are you here for?” Rush asks, finally lifting his head, joining in the conversation.

  “Just tonight. We continue our journey tomorrow.”

  “Road trip?” Kevlar asks.

  “Again… something like that.”

  “You’ve always wanted to come to New Orleans, but you’re only staying one night?” Kevlar asks.

  Savanah throws her hands in the air excessively. “See! They get it! We should stay a little longer.”

  “I don’t know, Sav—”

  Kevlar’s lips turn up like his happiness is growing exponentially. It’s almost as if he’s like the moon rising and darkness surrounds him, but he shines so damn bright it lightens the area. It comes from deep inside to spark in his eyes and spreads over every part of him.

  “Yeah… stay,” Kevlar states, then his eyes widen like he’s shocked himself.

  A slow smile crosses my face. “We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

  Rush chuckles. “I wish I could stay, but I have to leave for my tour tomorrow.”

  Savanah bats her eyelashes at him. “Well, then, we better make tonight count.”

  Rush pulls his sunglasses down flashing his baby blues at her. “Feel like dancing with a dude wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap?”

  Savanah widens her eyes. “Me?”

  Rush laughs again, pushing his tinted frames up. “Yeah, you!”

  “Fuck, yeah!” Savanah turns to me. “Will you be okay?”

  I grip her arm gently. “Have fun. Don’t worry about me. Kevlar will keep me company, right?” I ask.

  “Right!” He dips his chin.

  Savanah stands, along with Rush, then they walk off together inside the bar. I slide over into Rush’s seat, bringing my drink with me. “So, if you’re not here with Rush, does that mean you’re here on your own?”

  Kevlar tilts his head. “You should be a detective.”

  “Is that what you were?”

  “Nah, beat cop. But I had to give it all up.”

  I take a sip of my drink. “Injury?”

  He inhales, his eyes leave mine. “Love.”

  I sink into myself a little. Shit. I didn’t stop to think for one second, he might be unavailable. “She worries too much about you being hurt on the job?”

  “No, it wasn’t that…” he trails off, and I can see his mind ticking over when he continues with, “… her family was the issue.”

  Scrunching up my face, I try to figure it out, but I can’t. “Her family wanted you to quit?” I let out a snicker. “What are they… drug lords?” I tease.

  His face falls, and he exhales. “No, not drug lords…” He leaves it open.

  I swallow hard. “Oh, I see… so her family isn’t on the right side of the law.”

  He folds his arms over his chest. “I’ve said too much already. Em’s family is good people, that’s all that matters.”

  She has a name.

  “So, why are you here without Em?” He scrunches up his face like that was the worst thing I could have possibly said. “Sorry, did I say something wrong?”

  “No… it’s this place. It holds memories. I come here to feel close to her.”

  An uneasy tension rolls over me. “Did you guys split?”

  He shakes his head. “Em died three years ago.”

  My stomach sinks. “Fuck! I’m sorry—”

  “Don’t be… I need to learn to let her go. To move on. I know I need to, but when shit gets hard, you turn to what… to who you know.”

  My chest aches for him, so I reach out, grabbing his hand. The second my fingers loop around his, a shockwave slams straight into my chest. My eyes widen as I gasp. His widen too like he’s feeling the exact same thing. My skin prickles, goosebumps bursting all over as I gaze into his eyes. The intense hazel stares back at me, and for a moment, just a brief moment, all the noise, all the chaos from the pub blurs into white noise. It’s just Kevlar and me sitting here, staring at each other. I’ve never felt anything like this before, especially not from just touching someone.

  His free hand comes up sitting on top of mine, cocooning it in as my mouth goes completely dry. There’s something about Kevlar that’s rendering me useless, and I fucking love every captivating second of it.

  He inhales sharply, then breaks our eye contact, removing his hands. “Anyway, enough of my sob story. We’re here to have a good time, so let’s do that.”

  “Yeah, let’s.”

  He relaxes back in his chair. “So, you know my name, what’s yours?”

  I place out my hand for him to shake. We may have already touched, but for some reason, I feel this is appropriate. “Jovie. Nice to officially meet you, Kevlar.”

  His large, strong hand reaches out, sliding into mine.

  My body ignites again as I stare at him.

  The corner of his lips turns up in the most dazzling way.

  Damn, he’s gorgeous.

  “Jovie…” My name rolls over his tongue like silk. “That’s a unique name.”

  He still hasn’t let go of me.

  I lick my lips. “Mother was a fan of the band, apparently. Mom just spelled mine with an ‘e’ on the end, though.”

  He finally lets me go with a soft sigh. “Well, Jovie with an ‘e,’ where’s your final destination?”

  Thinking about what to say, I tense. “We’re going wherever the road takes us.”

  “Hmm… in my experience, when someone is on a road trip without a destination, it’s because they’re running.” He narrows his eyes on me.

  “Oh? Really?” My voice comes out higher than I was hoping for.

  “What are you running from, Jovie?” Kevlar leans forward, assessing me.

  Swallowing, I clench my eyes shut trying to stop the onslaught, but the wave washes over me before I can stop it.

  “I’m just taking out the trash, Tillie,” I called out, hands packed full of trash as I headed for the back door of The Lone Wolf—the seediest piano bar in all of San Antonio. The moon was high in the sky, but it was barely a visible crescent, so the light in the sky was at a bare minimum. The darkness had descended into the early morning as the air turned to steam with the heat of my breath.

  It was a theme night at the bar—all things Irish. So, the tight little bar-wench getup I was sporting was doing me no favors in the freezing weather. My teeth were chattering as I walked down the back deck to the side alley where the dumpster was located. With my hands completely full, I rounded the corner into the alley, and that was when I heard the unmistakable click of a bullet locking into the chamber. My head snapped up, and that’s when I saw them.

  The outlines I’d feared would come back into my life at some point.

  But I had no clue it would be now.

  I was only twenty-seven.

  I’d assumed it would be around my thirtieth birthday, so I wasn’t prepared for this.

  The trash dropped to the ground, the bags breaking open, and garbage flew out all around my feet. My palms coated in sweat while I s
tarted backing away.

  The three men all turned toward me.

  “Jovie, we just wanna talk.”

  Swallowing a lump, I shook my head slowly. “Then why are you all holding guns with silencers?”

  My two brothers had grown since I had last seen them. River was seventeen and Lennox was nineteen then. Now they were huge, sinister-looking men with guns aimed directly at me—their baby sister—their youngest sibling.

  “Because we know how… volatile you can be.” My father stepped between them. For the twelve years it had been since I’d seen my brothers, I hadn’t seen my father either. The shadows of the alley made it harder to see his face, but I could tell that time hadn’t been kind to him.

  My insides quivered in anxiety, the hairs on my arms stood to attention at the mere sight of him.

  I knew how dangerous the man was.

  It’s why my mother left him, taking me with her.

  “Then maybe you should have stayed away.”

  My father cackled the way he did. Even after all this time, that asshole persona hadn’t changed. The very sound sent a chill right through me.

  “I know what you’ve been up to, Jovie. We’ve been watching you… all your life.”

  I let out a scoff. “Stalker much… I haven’t even had one thought about you.”

  My brothers both grinned maniacally as my father took another step forward.

  I took one back.

  “The thing is, Jovie, I think you have. I think you knew the time was coming where you’d have to come and take your rightful place by our sides.”

  I let out a small laugh. “Me? Join you in the syndicate. You’re out of your fucking mind!”

  River and Lennox raised their guns higher as my father took another step forward, letting out a deep, crazed chuckle. “That’s highly probable, Jovie, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re Hannon royalty. You belong on the throne with us.”

  I gritted my teeth, my heart pounding in my chest. “Never.”

  My father dramatically started walking forward toward me. But I stood my ground even though every instinct inside me was to turn, run, and never fucking stop.

  Father stepped right up in front of me, his gun aimed at my head. “You will join the syndicate, Jovie. You will take your place. Or I start coming after the people you care about until you do. I have no qualms in hurting every… single… one of them.”

  My chest squeezed tight as tears pricked my eyes. The problem is I knew he would, but I couldn’t go with him. There was no way I was joining the fucking syndicate. So, I only had one choice.

  Sniffling, I stared him right in his beady gray eyes. “I. Hate. You.”

  He chuckled. “And that’s how I know you’re my daughter, and that attitude is why you belong in the syndicate. That anger inside of you is only a driving force, Jovie.”

  I let out a huff, adrenaline coursed through my veins. “Or is it enough for me to do this?” I brought my hand up, slamming it into his throat. The gun in his hand dropped to the ground as I thrust my foot into his shin bending his leg backward, causing him to fall back into the arms of my brothers.

  My heart leaped into my throat as I turned and started running the fastest I’d ever run in my life. Their pounding footsteps followed me every step of the way as I took off for my car. Luckily, I had my keys in the little pocket of my skirt. I heard the muted thump again, and something flew past me slamming into a tree as I ran past it, splintering the wood into tiny fractured pieces.

  Fuck, they’re shooting at me!

  “Jovie, stop!” Lennox yelled out, but I slid up to the driver’s side of my car, panting frantically for breaths as a bullet smashed my window. I let out a scream as I ducked for cover, reaching in unlocking my door and jumping in. The glass on my seat immediately cut my legs, but I didn’t care as I fumbled with my keys as they ran closer. Another bullet flew into the rear window, smashing it to smithereens as I started to cry.

  “We’ll find you! No matter where you go… We. Will. Find. You. Jovie!” My key went into the ignition. I didn’t even hesitate to take off at full speed, leaving those murderous assholes behind as I flicked up rocks in my dust.

  I couldn’t breathe, it was like the world was closing in on me, and nothing made sense anymore.

  My father came for me, and now he wasn’t going to stop until I was a part of the syndicate.

  I wasn’t safe.

  I’d never be safe again.

  My life was over.

  Savanah’s life wasn’t safe. It was only a matter of time before they found me and either ended me for good or forced me onto a throne I had no part in wanting.

  There was only one choice.

  Grab Savanah and become a fugitive from my fucked-up family.

  “Jovie?” Kevlar’s concerned expression focuses in on me. “I lost you for a moment.”

  Clearing my throat, I exhale. “Sorry…”

  He sits back in his chair, deep in thought, the wrinkles on his forehead squishing together in concern. “I had many years working as a cop. Seeing people who were in trouble, who had seen shit, been in shit… so, I will ask once… are you okay?”

  My eyes widen as I plaster on the fake-ass smile I am accustomed to sporting. “Fine! Couldn’t be better!”

  “Okay… just know that sometimes running only makes things ten times worse. Taking help when offered isn’t a bad thing.”

  “And you’re offering me help?”

  He smirks. “So… you admit you need some?”

  “No.” I let out a laugh.

  He grins, bringing his drink to his lips. “Then I guess I’m not offering.”

  I nod my head. “Good.”

  He takes a sip of his drink. “Mm-hmm.”

  “Are you always this inquisitive with people you’ve just met?” I fold my arms over my chest.

  He shrugs. “No.”

  “That’s it? Just no. You’re not going to elaborate?”

  “Yep.”

  I let out a snort. “Wow! Well, aren’t you an open book?”

  “You intrigue me, Jovie, but you’re as tight-lipped as they come. You won’t open up…” he shakes his head, “… so, why should I?”

  “Oh, I see how it is… tit for tat, right?”

  “You want me to share something about me?”

  “I mean, I don’t know how long Sav and Rush are gonna be off for, so our conversation is gonna get old really quick if we keep doing this back-and-forth nonsense without actually talking about real things.”

  He rolls his shoulders, staring me right in the eyes. “Okay, you want something real. How do you feel about bikers?”

  KEVLAR

  Jovie’s eyes widen as she tilts her head. “I mean, Jax Teller is a total babe, and that new guy in the Mayan’s, I wouldn’t throw him out of bed—”

  I laugh, interrupting her while shaking my head. “No, real bikers, Jovie. Not television heartthrobs. I’m talking 1%ers. Not necessarily bad guys… maybe a little more, um… misunderstood?”

  Her expression falls, her face paling as she peeks around like she’s being watched. “Are you part of them?”

  The fear in her is disheartening. “Why? Would that be such a bad thing?”

  Jovie’s breathing quickens as she sits taller, her hands gripping the armrest of the chair for dear life. “How did you find me?”

  I jerk my head back in confusion. “What?”

  Her eyes flood with tears as she exhales. “I knew we shouldn’t have stopped here. I knew they would find me. It was only a matter of time,” she mumbles more to herself than to me.

  What the hell is she talking about?

  My hand reaches out to try to placate her, but she flinches away. “Just kill me, okay? Please don’t hurt Savanah.”

  My face scrunches as I reach out more forcefully this time taking Jovie’s hand in mine. “Jovie, will you listen? I’m not here to hurt you. I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, but I’m not here for you. I�
�m running from something myself. Whatever it is you’re running from, I can help you. I can protect you!”

  Her body’s shaking beneath my hand as her eyes bore into mine. “Yo-You’re not sent by them?”

  “No. I don’t know who them are, but I swear to you, Jovie, I’m not going to hurt you.”

  She relaxes, but it’s only marginally. “But you’re a biker?”

  “Houston Defiance.”

  She exhales dramatically. “Shit.”

  “We’re not bad guys, Jovie. We may not abide one hundred percent by the law, but as men, we’re decent human beings.”

  “Okay…” She rolls her shoulders trying to center herself. “Say someone, we’ll call her Gina for this purpose… Gina works the diner all day—”

  “Is she ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’?” I smirk, but she glowers at me. “Sorry, continue…”

  “Gina’s working at this diner, and she’s taking out the trash, and then people from her past threaten her life if she doesn’t go with them and work for them.” She takes a deep breath. “The men chase after Gina, shooting at her as she ran to her car, but Gina got away, running to her friend Tommy’s house. Then they ran away together because they swore they would find Gina.”

  “Hmm… so ‘Tommy’ and ‘Gina’ ran away to New Orleans, right?”

  Jovie weakly smiles. “I guess Gina was ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’… a prayer that the men wouldn’t find her.”

  “Jovie, I know you’re scared. If you have people from your past coming to your work making a scene, threatening you, then shooting at you, that stuff is terrifying.”

  She inhales deeply. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.”

  “I think it’s a good thing we ran into each other tonight. My club can help if you want us to.”

  “But what would I have to do in return?” She grimaces.

  I let out a snort. “Nothing. That’s not how we work. You’re in trouble. I want to help you. Plus, there are some assholes chasing after an innocent woman. Obviously, they are not on the right side of the law, so that crosses into our territory. This is a job for us, Jovie… let us help you. It means you can stop running.”

  Her eyes alight with those few words. “That’d be nice. Not having to watch our backs constantly.”