Deceptive (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 6) Read online

  “What’s sweet?” Brady asks out of nowhere, suddenly sliding onto the seat next to Koda. Brady is the college student Koda and Thayleah brought back with them from Stonewall. We still don’t know the full story there, but I know he’s definitely a unique character.

  We all turn to him. His lips turn up cheekily like he knows he’s just interrupted.

  “We’re taking Billie on a trip.”

  “You’re right, that is sweet, if you’re into that kinda thing. I’d rather shoot something or train judo. You know, man up and all that.”

  “Do you need something, Brady?” I ask.

  He slouches. “Okay, fine, I’m bored. I go to work, spend my time over in the apartments, come here when I’m allowed, but if you guys are escaping to do something, please take me with you!”

  Thayleah wraps her arm around her friend and pulls him to her side. “I never thought of you as the type to beg for anything, Mr. Huntington.”

  “I guess leaving the Scorpio Society has been harder than I thought it would be. I’m not fully out and can go back to them if I need to. But being away from Stonewall and not being involved in the politics of it all, I guess I feel like I don’t have a purpose. So please, give me something to do. Anything.”

  Gripping his shoulder, I nod my head. “Fine, you can come, but you’ll have to drive. The rest of us are riding.”

  He widens his eyes like this is the best news he’s ever received. “Thank you. You don’t know how much I need this.”

  Koda shoves his friend in the arm. “Yeah, man, I think I do.”

  Billie wanders back over with a beer in one hand and a coffee in another. She’s fucking delicious as she slides in beside me. “You all look happy.”

  “We’re going on a road trip,” Brady chirps.

  “Oh, you are?” Billie asks.

  I turn to her, grabbing my beer. “No, we are.”

  Her eyes widen like she’s more than excited. “Seriously? Where are we going? How long for? Do I need to pack?”

  Everyone chuckles while I run my hands down her arms to calm her. “Just a few hours, nothing too exciting, but in a couple of days. We can’t stay for long because of the threat, just enough to have some time away. But it’s a surprise.”

  She gnaws down on her bottom lip like she does when she’s trying hard to fight the emotions inside of her. “Thank you!” she gushes out before she slams her lips to mine.

  I snicker against her lips, and they tingle against me.

  That spark surges, letting me know that whatever it is holding her back from me, the connection we feel is definitely not restraining itself.

  And I am so fucking happy about that.

  BILLIE

  Two Days Later

  Hanging onto the back of Phantom is freeing. Being on this bike with him is so relaxing like the pressures of being at the club and having to run defense for my brother all fade into the background.

  The wind whips my hair back as the bike rides through the windy road lined with tall trees. For the last forty minutes or so, I’ve finally been able to let myself relax as we ride down Country Road 1375.

  Koda rides with Thayleah behind him. She throws her hands up in the air, letting out a “woohoo,” the same time Brady honks his horn behind us like a mad man.

  I giggle, feeling Phantom’s torso shifting up and down, knowing he’s laughing, too, at all the craziness unfolding around us. Honestly, it’s nice to let my hair down for a while.

  Finally, Koda turns off the country road, pulling into a small driveway. Phantom follows with Brady in the car right behind us. As we ride up the beaten path to a small cabin set back in the middle of a bunch of tall, lush trees, he drops his gears.

  It’s simply breathtaking.

  Slowly pulling his bike to a stop, I slide off behind him, stepping in beside Thayleah, both of us widening our eyes in shock.

  “I had no idea you guys had a place like this,” Thayleah states.

  Koda chuckles. “We have heaps of places that people don’t know about. C’mon, let’s head inside.”

  Brady grabs the coolers out of the trunk and walks with us toward the entry. The rickety old porch creaks underfoot as we all step up to the door, and we file into an open plan living area. A large kitchen with oak paneled walls at the end looks over an even larger living room with so many sofas and beanbags, it’s like it is made for college frat parties. A giant log fireplace sits in the corner and a big-screen television is mounted on the wall above. The back doors are floor-to-ceiling glass that open onto the back patio. Outside, there’s a massive grassed area, a fire pit, and lush greenery takes up the rest of the space. In the distance is a forest.

  “This place is killer, man,” Phantom tells Koda.

  “Thanks for bringing me here. It’s great to get away, even if only for a few hours,” I tell him.

  Leaning in, Phantom plants a kiss on my head, and we continue to walk through to the back patio, where Brady sets up the cooler. He sits on the comfortable chair, tapping his lap, and I quickly move to take a seat, cuddling into him. He smiles, and it touches his eyes like he can feel how close we’re getting.

  It’s getting cooler, a gentle breeze picking up through the trees, sending a soft whistling through the backyard. It is so peaceful here as Koda stokes up the firepit.

  Brady hands Phantom a beer and me a soda.

  We all sit back staring up at the slowly dimming sun on the horizon. I knew I needed to get out of the clubhouse, but until now, I didn’t know how much I needed this for me—to take a break from being a super sleuth, liar, and deceiver. Now, instead of worrying about what I have to do—not to think about Rage and his fucking mission—I can simply spend time with Phantom and his friends to be me.

  I want to enjoy this time.

  However short it may be.

  “How long has your family had this place, Koda?” Brady asks, cracking open his beer.

  Koda reaches out for Thayleah’s hand, threading their fingers. “Generations. My father used to come here as a kid, my grandparents probably did too. It’s been the Walkers’ retreat for as long as I remember.”

  “It’s nice you guys have a place so close to Houston you can come when you want to unwind,” I tell him.

  He exhales. “We hardly come here, but when we do, it’s real fucking nice.”

  “Wish I had something in my family history to be proud of,” Brady mumbles.

  Koda sighs. “Your father… what he did in the Scorpio Society… that shit doesn’t define who you are, Brady. You’re nothing like him. Well, maybe a little cocky like him, but other than that, you’re your own man. You’re better than him.”

  Brady doesn’t say anything but simply takes a long draw on his beer.

  I’m completely lost with no idea what they are talking about, so I figure I’ll try and ask without being too intrusive. “Can I ask… what happened in the Scorpio Society? As an outsider, all this talk has me stumped?”

  Thayleah instantly rubs at her wrists, and Koda’s jaw ticks like he’s angry. Their faces tell a thousand stories, but none of them good.

  Shit, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

  “Sorry, I’m overstepping—”

  “No, you should know. My father was the head of a secret society. He tried shit on with Koda and Thayleah. Shit I can’t forgive,” Brady states.

  My eyes widen, letting out a gasp. “You and him still in touch?”

  “He’s dead to me. Nothing more than a memory I want to forget.”

  “That’s why you all left Stonewall?” I ask.

  “Fuck, yeah. Mud sticks, you know?”

  “I’m sorry, man. I don’t think the guys at the club realize how bad it was for you,” Phantom consoles.

  Brady shrugs. “I try to hide it with jokes and arrogance. It’s my go-to. It’s just easier than trying to explain all that shit to everyone.”

  “We’ve noticed.” Phantom chuckles.

  Brady relaxes a little, sitting back i
n his chair. “I’ve actually been talking to Ax. He thinks I’m a dick, but we get along well enough. We have the same interests.”

  Phantom raises his brow. “Military?”

  Brady drops his chin. “Being a part of something like the Scorpio Society showed me I have the brains and willpower to be something, to be someone. I have the strength to get the job done and definitely the discipline when I put my mind to it. Hell, if I can survive the initiation, how hard can basic training be. Right, Koda?”

  Koda laughs, but I cannot help widening my eyes. “Initiation?”

  Koda and Brady both wave me off. “Long story. All I am saying is… I think that’s where my life is taking me.”

  “You wanna be a soldier?” I ask.

  He rolls his shoulders. “I wanna be a part of the Delta Force.”

  “Is that still a thing?”

  “Oh, yeah, it’s still a thing. Just the public don’t know much about secret ops.”

  “You can take the man out of the Secret Society, but you can’t take the Secret Society out of the man.” I chuckle.

  Brady sits forward, placing his hands together like he’s being deadly serious. “For most of my life, I led my share of it in the shadows of Stonewall as a Scorpio. All I know is how to be an agent of something. Of some higher purpose.”

  “Well, I think it’s a great idea, Brady. And you sound super passionate about joining. You’re going to be able to do anything you set your mind to,” I tell him.

  “Thanks, Billie. Glad I have the backing of at least one person.”

  “You know I got your back, man. I’m a little shocked, is all. But in a good way. I think this will be good for you too. Do you have any idea when you’re gonna start looking into all this?” Koda asks.

  Brady exhales. “Ax is giving me lessons in combat training, marksmanship, and other crap he thinks might come in handy for when I need to take the entrance exam, but I’ll keep you updated.”

  “I want to say I’m so proud of you, Brady,” Thayleah states.

  “I want to serve my country and do the right thing. After living in my father’s shadow and under his thumb for so damn long, I want to stand on my own. Prove to people I’m not that cocky jock everyone sees me as.”

  From what I can see, Brady’s had a hard life, but he’s out to prove to the world he can and is better. That he will do better. And I, for one, believe he’s going to make a huge difference in this world based on what little I’ve witnessed. I can’t wait to see what he does and who he becomes.

  “Anyway, enough of this… let’s have an epic fucking evening and enjoy the fire. Koda, stoke it up, man, it’s getting chilly,” Brady declares, making us all chuckle.

  The sun starts to set over the forest through the trees in pinks and turquoise, and I cuddle into Phantom a little more, nuzzling into him. His arm wraps around me tight, then he leans in, planting a tender kiss on my lips. Everything is so calm and relaxing, I wish I could stay here forever.

  Koda, Thayleah, and Brady joke among themselves, but Phantom and I sit in our little bubble as the sun continues to slowly set. My eyes meet his, and I could get lost in him forever. There’s something about Phantom that calms everything and makes me believe there is a life out there for me that can be lived in harmony. Where I could have a beautiful happy life. Where maybe I could have him—have it all. Where maybe this could be my reality.

  But it’s not sound logic.

  Reality starts to set in, the dark clouds descending in my mind. My head is overrun with all the trouble I have caused Phantom and his club.

  Without me—the Slavers’ distribution center wouldn’t have been hit.

  Without me—Phantom and Koda wouldn’t have been targeted.

  Jesus! Phantom could have been killed, and it was because of me.

  I let out a gasp, suddenly standing from Phantom’s lap, my eyes filling with tears as I spin away from him and head for the cabin. My feet move at record speed.

  “Billie?” Phantom calls out, but I run inside, racing through the living room to the hall to find the bathroom. I rush in, locking the door behind me, then slide down onto the floor. Trying to control my frantic breaths, my head falls into my hands, attempting to stop myself from having a full-blown panic attack.

  A gentle knock at the door startles me, but it’s a voice I really wasn’t expecting. “Billie… are you okay?” Thayleah asks softly.

  A tear falls down my face as I let out a soft whimper. Shaking my head from side to side, my fingers claw in my hair, tugging at it to try and stop the pain in my chest. “I just want it to stop.”

  “What, Billie, what do you want to stop?” Her voice is so calm, soothing, and with it, I can’t help but slow my breathing a little.

  I can’t answer her, though, as I figure out how the hell I’m going to explain my way out of this meltdown.

  “Billie, can I come in?” Thayleah asks, her voice is full of kindness.

  Taking in a deep breath, I spin on the floor, then slowly unlock the door and slide out of the way. She cautiously pushes on it, just enough for her to pop through, then she closes it behind her. She spots me on the floor and exhales, sitting right next to me. “Okay, so Phantom is out there utterly confused, thinking he’s done something to upset you. But… that’s not it, is it?”

  I try to stop my bottom lip from quivering but fail. “No.”

  She reaches out, grabbing my hand in hers. “It might help you make sense of whatever is wrong if you tell me what’s going through your mind.”

  “I’m no good for him. Certainly not good enough for him. He’s this wonderful, sexy, amazing, caring, strong—” I stop then say, “Did I just say sexy?”

  Thayleah giggles. “Yeah, you did.”

  “See, he’s just… fucking perfect, and I’m… a hot mess.”

  “I don’t think he sees you that way.”

  “I just… I can’t put it into words. I’m scared.”

  Thayleah sighs. “You’ve been hurt before.”

  No. But let’s roll with that.

  Slowly nodding my head, she hums under her breath. “I see… so you’re scared because he’s so perfect that somehow, it’s going to all go wrong, and you’re going to end up hurt again?”

  I am going to end up hurt. There’s no way around that, and more than likely it will be physical as well. I can’t stop this cascading and spiraling out-of-control bullshit, no matter what I do.

  When he realizes who I am and what I have done, he’s never going to forgive me.

  And I shouldn’t expect him or the club to either.

  Why would they?

  They will kill me, and I’m completely aware of the consequences of my actions, even if they aren’t fully mine. If there has ever been a time I would love to just blurt it all out, it’s now, but how do I do that? How do I tell Thayleah? There’s no action without a reaction, no crime without punishment. My life was finished the minute I walked into Phantom and Texas at the hospital. Now it’s only a matter of time before everything ends up in one hell of a shitstorm that I created and have no way of stopping.

  Tears fall down my cheeks, but I quickly swipe them away. I am so angry with myself as I continue the ruse, “I’m scared this is all moving so fast, but I feel so much for Phantom already. I don’t want it to end, but I know it will.”

  “You don’t know that. You can’t know that. And hiding in here being terrified of an outcome you don’t know is going to happen is only going to stop you from having a great time with Phantom.”

  This is my chance to relax, to spend time with him without worrying about all the shit my brother is forcing down my throat or the recordings or bugs in my room or anything else that’s going on at the club. We won’t be here all night, and I’m spending what little freedom I do have locked up in the bathroom freaking out.

  “Thank you, Thay. I needed this.”

  She leans in, wrapping her arms around me tightly. “You got it bad for Phantom, don’t you?”

&nb
sp; Shrugging, I slump my shoulders. “Yeah… I think I do.”

  “If it’s any consolation, the way he’s cuddling into you, he’s got it bad for you too.”

  My stomach flutters when she winks at me. I smile when she moves to get up off the floor.

  “So, can I ask… Koda had some kind of initiation, what was that about?” I ask.

  She rolls her eyes. “Oh Lord, don’t even get me started on that bullshit. Give me strength, these boys will be the death of me.”

  Thayleah places out her hand to help me up, and I let out a small laugh. I stand, shaking my head. “It sounds like your time at Stonewall was intense.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “And here I am hiding out in a bathroom because I am scared of my emotions.”

  “Oh, trust me, emotions are scarier than scorpions sometimes.”

  “Well, that makes me feel a little less pathetic. Thank you.”

  Thayleah wraps her arm around my shoulders, pulling me toward the door. “Take a breath, and let things happen naturally. Don’t think of the what-ifs. That shit will give you a stroke.”

  You’re telling me!

  We make our way back outside, and Phantom’s eyes land on me instantly. He makes a move to stand but hesitates, staying where he is. I move over, sitting right back down on his lap. He wraps himself around me, and I cuddle into him. He leans his mouth up against my ear, kissing it tenderly, then whispers, “Are you okay?”

  I nod my head against his mouth, then turn, planting a gentle kiss against his lips. They tingle and sizzle with the connection.

  I don’t want to lose this.

  I don’t want to lose him.

  It takes everything in me not to let the tears stream down my cheeks again, but I hold them at bay while I kiss him, letting him know he hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s going to want to know what happened, but I know Phantom enough to know he will wait to talk to me when we get back to the clubhouse. So I have a little time to come up with something good enough for him to fall for.

  Let’s just hope I can pull this off.

  But then again, deceptive is my middle name.

  BILLIE