by K E Osborn
Bianca strokes Zia’s hair with an exhale. “Are you all right, principessa?”
Zia lets out a half laugh, half scoff. “Mom don’t call me that. Yeah, I’m fine. Got one of the guns from under dad’s desk, whoever they were, they weren’t counting on a teenager to open fire. Franky’s not too happy about that.”
Raising my brow, I don’t see the scared little Zia we rescued from the Scarsi Dettagli trafficking ring. This girl, this teenager, is growing into herself.
“You’re too young to be handling weapons, principessa,” Franky grunts.
“My father doesn’t think so. In fact, after these guys…” she looks at Torque and me, “… saved me two years ago, my father had me enroll in self-defense classes. I bet I can shoot, clean, and dismantle a gun better than you can, Franky.”
Bianca agrees, but it’s not enthusiastic. “There’s a lot about Andretti women you don’t know, Franky,” Bianca murmurs.
Franky narrows his eyes but signals to his men. “Do another sweep of the house. We have to make sure it’s clean,” he instructs, then turns storming off.
Torque glances at Bianca holding onto Zia tightly. “Want us to give you a moment?”
Bianca grimaces as she strokes Zia’s hair. “Mom? Mom, what’s wrong?” Zia asks as I stand, turning to walk with Torque down the stairs toward our rides.
He glances at me like he’s feeling a little lost. What a fucking night. I reach out gripping his shoulder and give it a tight squeeze. “I’m sorry, brother. I know what Enzo meant to you, to the club.”
He shrugs it off as we get to our rides, and we turn back to face the giant mansion, our eyes drift over toward Zia and Bianca. “It is what it is, Ace. It’s the nature of this beast. We lose good men. I just have no idea what the fuck’s in store for us now with the Andretti Mafia. Franky isn’t as reliable as Enzo. I don’t know how this’ll work. We could be up shit creek again.”
Suddenly Zia screams out, wailing as she falls to the floor of the porch. My chest squeezes watching Bianca bend down to comfort her daughter’s grief at losing her father. Seeing a family being torn apart is never something I wish to witness, and knowing with the impending birth of Bianca’s son, there may be more heartbreak in store for their family if he doesn’t make it.
This entire night has been one shit storm after another, and all I want to do is get back to the hotel and see Neve. Hold her, whisper in her ear that she’s beautiful, and slowly slide my cock into her from behind while she writhes at my touch.
But I can’t leave my brothers.
Not tonight.
Not while they’re recovering, it wouldn’t be right.
I’ll have to call her, tell her some story and hope I haven’t fucked things up with her.
But first we need to clear shit up here, make sure Bianca and Zia are safe with Franky’s men, then get back to the clubhouse and make sure everything’s okay there too. Last thing we need is to get back there and find out we’ve been hit too.
I have a feeling this night’s only just getting started.
What a fucking ride it’s been so far.
NEVE
“Cut,” the director calls, and Carter lets me go.
I peer up at him from our intense scene and take in a breath. “Great work, but I’m so glad we’re done for the night. I’m beat,” I tell him as people rush about the set doing their jobs.
I can’t help but giggle at the fake blood on his face as he yawns like it isn’t anything. “Same. I wish we didn’t have an early start. What I wouldn’t give for some ice cream right now.”
“You’re craving ice cream? Of all things?”
He pats his washboard abs under his torn suit. “No dairy diet while filming.”
“I feel you,” I murmur as we head off to the edge of the set. My stomach starts to knot in excitement at seeing Ace. The poor guy’s been here for hours watching me. I feel bad for him, but it’s nice to know when I leave, he’ll be here waiting for me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Neve,” Carter calls out as his crew rushes up to help him take off his fake blood while Brody meets me at the edge of the set with a warm greeting.
Not the hunk I was waiting for, but he’ll do for now.
“Hey, Brody, having a good night?” I ask. He starts walking with me along with Harry back toward my trailer while I subtly search around with my eyes for Ace.
“Watching a movie being made while standing around eating the set food? Yeah, pretty freaking good night if you ask me,” Brody quips.
“Brody?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you seen Ace?”
Brody exhales, bumping in a friendly way into my side. “He got called away… club business. I’m sure he’ll be back as soon as he can. In the meantime, though, you’re stuck with me, I‘ll take you over, then I’ll head off.”
“And us,” Cindi’s booming voice calls out from behind as she, Noah, and Grier bound up behind us as we walk the distance from the Water Plant to Unit Base. It’s a brisk night, the moonlight shining in silver streaks along the glistening water. I wonder what’s going on with Ace that would have him leave without saying anything, but then again, I guess he would have felt like he couldn’t interrupt filming.
I get it.
As a group, we all stroll along. We’re closer to the outside world here with only the security checkpoint to guard us from the streets of Chicago. But it’s late at night, and with Mike and his crew on the checkpoint, plus Noah, Brody, Grier, and Harry, I feel safe and secure.
We walk around the corner, and as we do, the screeching of tires catches my attention. We all stop turning to look at the security checkpoint to see a car aiming straight for it with another two following closely behind.
My body tenses as Cindi grabs me pulling me to her. “It’s an attack. Get down,” she calls out before the others even register.
The first car aims right for the security checkpoint. Mike and his men open fire, but the car slams straight into the checkpoint with the loudest bang I’ve ever heard. The makeshift building bursts apart as the boom gate flies up into the air breaking in two. Brody, Noah, and Grier immediately pull their guns from their holsters as Brody moves to his radio saying something into it, but I can’t hear over the screeching of more tires while the other two cars fly through the checkpoint.
Harry and Grier open fire on the cars, but they seem to be bulletproof. Cindi grabs me trying to keep me safe. Noah stands in front of Cindi while Brody stands in front of me as Grier and Harry attempt to stop the assault from gaining ground, but they just keep coming. My heart leaps into my throat. I go through this shit all the time, but it’s always fake, always stunt drivers and empty guns firing blanks. But this shit is real, and I’m fucking terrified as I shake in Cindi’s arms.
One of the cars skids to a halt right in front of Harry and Grier. Their bullets aren’t doing shit to the car so they hold their fire waiting for whatever’s going to come next. The other car slides in pulling up just behind it boxing us in.
We’re trapped.
Slowly the door opens. “Hold your fire,” a voice calls out, then all the doors open and a range of men step out with machine guns aimed at us.
We’re outgunned.
It’s obvious as our defenders pant heavily but slowly place their guns on the ground.
The main guy steps out from behind the car. I recognize him, it’s the guy that’s been meeting with Danny. My muscles clench as I stand taller gripping onto Cindi.
“What do you want?” I yell out at him.
The man stares right at me, a menacing sneer on his face. “Neve, my dear… we want you. This is all about you.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” Brody grunts.
The guy chews down on a toothpick. He glances at Brody’s name badge with a heavy exhale. “Officer Marshall, there are two things in this life that are for certain. Do you know what they are?”
Brody narrows his eyes at the man. “Generally speaking, death a
nd taxes.”
“Exactly, now Neve needs to pay her tax and come with us, and if she doesn’t…” He raises an eyebrow. “I think you can guess which option we’re going with.”
Brody glances at Grier, something passes between them, but he steps forward reaching for his gun. My heart leaps in my chest as it happens so fast. Brody dives for his gun, then aims it at the guy firing off a round, but at the same time, a man who’s beside the car fires his gun at Brody. Cindi and I both scream as we watch Brody fall to the ground, blood oozing in a red stain over his pant leg while he clutches at his chest as well. Grier doesn’t hesitate, she rushes forward without her gun, lunging at the man who shot Brody, slamming her fist into his face, following it quickly with a knee to the balls. How the fuck she hasn’t been shot is beyond me right now. Harry moves in beside her to back her up. A man attempts to grab Grier, but Harry punches him, a clear crack resounding through his nose as blood pisses out over his mouth. Grier’s on the warpath, she’s out to fight as many of these men as possible while Cindi and I stand back watching.
Suddenly, while Grier and Harry are fighting with the men, the main guy and another swoop in toward us. I tense up as Cindi lets me go. She stands in front of me protectively. As another man rushes toward the three of us, Noah stands firm, to protect us like he’s bound to do. The man rushes straight for him. Cindi tenses in my arms while I cling to her, and Noah lunges for the guy, t-boning him right in his stomach as he pushes him away from us. I shake in Cindi’s arms watching everyone fighting around us while Noah rams the guy into another. Cindi lets out a small squeal. As we watch, Noah bring his fist up and slams it into the guy he was railroading. Blood spurts from his nose as he collapses to the ground and a wave of excitement flows through me thinking perhaps this will be over soon when suddenly a crack resounds through the air as the other man Noah ran into, slams his fist into the back of Noah’s head so hard it sent a shudder right through me.
Cindi screams, her entire body wracking with fear as Noah drops like a lead weight, face first to the ground. Cindi doesn’t hesitate, letting me go as she launches, throwing herself on the guy who hit Noah. Her legs wrap around his waist as she flips him to the ground, landing a punch straight into his face. The problem is now I’m wide open, and Danny’s buddy is coming right for me. The beaming smirk on his face is wide and menacing as I glance at Grier. A man lays a punch right into her jaw and she falls to the ground.
“So, you’re okay with beating up women?” I yell at the man stalking toward me.
He shrugs. “If it gets the job done. Now come with us and no one has to die. And trust me, Neve, it’s not just these people here on the line. Think of pretty little Seraphina or feisty Gabriella. Oh, I’ll have fun with your little sisters if you’d just give me the chance.”
My body shudders when I hear him mention my family. I glance around seeing the chaos happening around me right now. Cindi’s rolling around the ground fighting, Grier’s doing the same, Brody’s bleeding out on the ground, Noah’s out for the count, and Harry’s in hand-to-hand combat with another. I glance toward the security checkpoint seeing it all but destroyed and bodies lying everywhere. There’s no one to help me.
Are Mike and the others still alive?
Enough!
Too much has happened because of me. For whatever the damn reason is, it needs to stop.
“If you stop all this, I’ll go with you.”
His eyes narrow like he’s proud of himself. “Get in the car,” he grunts.
My heart hammers in my chest as I see Grier almost beaten to a bloody pulp. Cindi gets a slap to her face, and blood trickles from her nose as I slide in the back seat. He closes the door then whistles signaling to his men. They all stop what they’re doing, then run to the two cars. Cindi and Grier lay on the ground attempting to catch their breath as Harry bolts for the car. My palm moves to the window as tears spring to my tired eyes. The car lurches forward, speeding off into the streets of Chicago leaving Harry chasing after us. But it’s of no use, we’re driving too fast.
Tears fall down my cheeks as I risk looking over at the man, my captor, and I curl up my lip at him. “What do you want from me?”
He sighs sitting back in his seat while lighting up a cigar. “No more talking till we get there.”
I scoff. “Get where?”
He reaches forward, his hand lashing out fast, backhanding me across the cheek. My head snaps to the side with a thwack as I yelp sliding across and hitting the door. The sting reverberates right through me as my hand rushes to my cheek.
I snap my head to meet his gaze.
He won’t scare me that easily. “Fuck. You!”
He twirls the cigar in his fingers, the plume of gray smoke billows from the end. “Ever felt what it’s like having your skin turn to ash, pretty little thing?”
Tensing, I swallow a lump in my throat as his eyes move to the glowing embers of the tip of his cigar. My body begins to shudder, and I feel like maybe now is the time to shut up and surrender just a little until we get to wherever we’re going. I don’t like the idea of having cigar burns.
So for now, I’ll be quiet.
“Good girl, it won’t be long.”
I sit back in the seat folding my arms over my chest wondering what in the fuck is going on.
Where the hell is Ace?
And does his drama have anything to do with my current situation.
The car ride doesn’t take long, but the entire way all I can think about is Brody lying there on the ground in a pool of blood. I couldn’t tell where the blood was coming from, but there was plenty of it. I hope he and everyone else is okay.
We pull up on a slight incline and a set of gates. They open like something you’d see from a home in the Hollywood Hills. Security at the gate, a lavish mansion at the rear. I have no idea what the hell this is, but I’m not all that interested in finding out.
The car grinds to a stop at the bottom of the mansion, and I wonder what the fuck this is all about. They have my family, that much I know, but is this some kind of power trip? Get money from the A-list actress? No, surely this is all too much for something like that?
A man opens the door pointing a gun at me gesturing for me to get out. So I do, stepping out with hesitation as I take in the opulence around me. I’m not in awe, I’ve seen places like this in Hollywood. Hell, I own one in Malibu, but I have to admit this one is huge.
A shove in my back makes me walk forward up the stairs as nerves filter through me, and I wonder what I’ll be stepping into. The doors open, and it’s quiet inside as I’m taken into a drinking room. The main man gestures to an old chesterfield, so I reluctantly sit down as he strides back to the doors leaving me here alone.
I tense up. “Wait,” I call out. He pauses just before the doors close. “So, are you, what? Holding me for ransom? I’m not a child.”
He taps his finger impatiently on his cigar. “No, your father owes us money. And when you owe mafioso money you can’t repay… then we find other ways for you to reimburse that debt.”
My stomach falls through the floor. This isn’t about me at all, this is my father’s debt. He’s been dealing with the Mafia.
Oh, father!
Curiosity tickles underneath my skin. I need to know how this ends. “How does the debt get repaid?”
His mouth curls up with disdain as he sneers. “By bills or blood.”
My eyes widen as I gasp. “You’re g-gonna kill me?”
“If your father doesn’t come through with the cash.”
“Who the fuck are you?” I yell.
“I’m Roman Ossani… and I’m not the one you should be worried about.”
ACE
After talking with Franky, he said he was going to have men man Bianca’s home for the foreseeable future until we can figure out exactly what the fuck is going on. But for now, we need some rest. To recover. To regroup. And see if we can figure out who these men are and what it is exactly they want.
; But now, I’m on my bike riding to the clubhouse. I’ve never felt like I’ve wanted to get a ride over and done with as much as I do right now. I’ve always wanted to stay on my bike for as long as possible, but, in this moment, I want to get in my room and call Neve to tell her a watered-down version as to why I left her. I feel bad, but my club needed me, plus I know she’s safe with Brody, Grier, and Harry.
As Torque and I pull closer to the clubhouse, I expect to see it dull and settled for the night, but all the lights are on, and people are even mingling out the front of the gate. The hairs on my neck stand tall immediately. Why the fuck are there so many people here this late at night? All the old ladies should be getting ready for shut down, the kids should definitely be in bed, and the club girls should have everything prepped for tomorrow. I don’t understand what the fuck is going on.
Torque pulls through the gate, and I follow to see our yard full of bikes. Not just Defiance brothers returned from tonight’s war, but there must be another chapter here or something. I hope there’s no more fucking trouble, I honestly don’t know if I have the goddamn strength tonight.
I park my ride trying to figure out who’s here. I don’t see any old ladies or club girls, but I notice a heap of bikers. My eyes are so fucking blurry from tiredness right now I can’t function. I slide off my ride, putting my helmet on my seat as Torque bobs his head at me.
“What’s all this?” I ask sounding curter than I meant to.
He exhales like he’s relieved. “Asked a favor of some old friends. Heard they were in town, so I requested they stop by, keep an eye on the place while we were out. Just to make sure no shit came our way.”
I rub my face trying to get my eyes to focus a little more as I see Sparx standing with an older biker who’s chatting with Trax. Then it hits me as a sense of relief floods through my entire body. That’s got to be Crest, Sparx’s father.
“The Notorious Knights?” I ask.
“Lucky they were riding through and could spare the night. Plus, Crest wanted to see his girl and his grandbabies,” Torque tells me.