Deceptive (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 6) Page 19

  We both burst out laughing as Cherry pulls me to her in an embrace. “See, he adores you for you. Warts and all. Don’t be afraid of this life, Billie. Embrace it. Because you’re so good at embracing things.”

  I chuckle at her lame joke. “This is going to be a running joke now, isn’t it?”

  “Oh, yeah! Every damn chance I get.”

  Maybe I shouldn’t let my guilt overwhelm me.

  It’s only going to get me found out.

  I need to take each day as it comes and enjoy the time I have here because honestly, who knows how much time I have left with these people I totally adore.

  BILLIE

  Chatting with Cherry made me feel so much better, happier. I was wallowing, getting myself into a state all because of Rage. This is what he does to me, though. He makes me doubt I have a place here at Defiance. I don’t know if that is true or not, but the longer I play this game, shortens any hope I have. All I can do right now is keep playing my part here, even though I don’t feel like I am playing anymore.

  I feel like I belong.

  Prinie and Wraith battle it out on the pool table, and their banter is keeping me occupied as I sit here until my cell vibrates in my pocket. Can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve been expecting this. I stare at the screen for a solid ten seconds before deciding to stand. My heart hammers in my chest as I walk out the back with Texas scrutinizing me closely as I head down to the elm tree. The call ends, and I wait for him to call again. He does instantly, so this time I answer and bring the call to my ear. “Hey.”

  “Why didn’t you answer?”

  “I had to find somewhere to talk.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me Defiance had sent their men to the distribution center?”

  My muscles clench, and I feel the color drain from my face.

  He must have had his guys monitoring the center.

  Fuck.

  “I’m sorry, I got distracted. The First Lady nailed me down. I couldn’t break away—”

  “Bullshit, Billie! You were trying to save your precious piece of ass from me? From your brother? Do you think I would hurt you like that?”

  My hands shake at the tone he’s using—he is bating me. I don’t know how to play this. “No, of course, I don—”

  “Then you don’t know me at all, do you,” he sneers.

  A rush of heat washes over me so intense I feel sick. My stomach rolls, I hunch over, gripping hold of the tree to stop me from falling. “What have you done?”

  “I have Phantom, my boys and I have paid him special attention. The other one with him, Ax, I think his name is… we’ll be dealing with him too. Military training only gets you so far when you’re heavily outnumbered.”

  “What the fuck do you want?”

  “When I message you next, the Heathens will be storming the Defiance clubhouse. I need you to let us in. The alert is a warning to let you know to take cover as a fucking courtesy. If you keep this shit to yourself, I will bring Phantom back to you alive. If you tell anyone, I will kill him slowly and painfully and send him to you in pieces… bloody, oozing, shredded pieces.”

  I dry wretch, trying to keep the tequila in my stomach as a fat tear runs down my face. “I hate you so fucking much!”

  “Feeling is mutual, little sister.” He ends the call.

  My legs feel like jelly.

  My breathing comes in short and sharp as I try to figure out what the hell to do.

  The Heathens are coming.

  They’re going to attack.

  It’s an absolute.

  I have to warn them.

  But if I do, then Phantom dies.

  Do I choose the man I am falling for—the man I think I am in love with—or the club I want to call my home?

  Defiance can fight.

  They’re good at what they do.

  When the Heathens arrive, the brothers will be able to protect everyone, of that, I am sure.

  I have to keep Phantom alive.

  I have to keep my mouth shut for his safety.

  I have no other choice.

  Not knowing how long it will be until the Heathens storm this place, I need to prepare. I need to put my game face on and find myself a gun so when they do arrive, I can take out as many of those fuckers as possible.

  The number one on my hit list will be—my brother.

  Walking back inside the clubhouse, it’s bustling and busy, laughter and fun echoing around the place like nothing monumental is about to happen. When a cell phone rings right next to me, I glance up to see it’s Zero’s, and he picks it up, swiping the call.

  I casually peer over his shoulder to see it’s a video call. Oakley, Neon’s Old Lady—Rage’s arch-nemesis and the entire reason these two clubs are at war—is tied to a chair looking a little roughed up. My eyes widen as Zero grunts out, “Shit! Shiver, you okay?”

  Neon rushes over, shoving brothers out the way. “Where is she?”

  Rage steps into view on screen and slams a blade straight into Oakley’s thigh. She lets out an ear-piercing scream. Neon balls his hands into fists at his sides. “Dammit, Rage, I’m gonna fucking kill you if you touch her again.”

  Rage turns back to the camera, bringing his face right into the screen. “Then you better come get her. We’re waiting for you!” A slap sounds, Oakley lets out an “oomph” as he steps to the side to see Hash slamming his hand across her face.

  “Tell us where you are!” Zero shouts.

  “The place where this all started!” Rage ends the call, and everyone scans around the room, appearing confused until Neon widens his eyes.

  “The shipping container in Dallas!” Neon is already running for the door.

  Zero slides his cell back in his jeans pocket and sends a whistle through the room. “Brothers, we ride now. We’re heading into Heathen territory, prepare yourselves, this isn’t going to be an easy fight. Fox and Frost, you stay here and watch the ladies!”

  Fox and Frost nod as the rest of them rush out while the women stand back out of the way. Oakley has been away on a press tour and racing the whole time I have been here. It’s the only way I’ve been able to get away with this because the second she saw me, she would have known me for sure.

  I can’t stand seeing Rage assaulting her.

  When she was around the Heathen’s club, it was nice having another girl around. When she left, I felt more alone than ever. I was incredibly proud of what she was able to do to gain her freedom from the heinous club. If anyone was going to bring down Rage, it was going to be her.

  The revving of bikes, then the loud roar of them taking off in a flurry brings me to an all-new realization. If Rage is going to be storming the clubhouse—if he is going to do it in the next couple of hours—it means he’s going to do it when the brothers aren’t here to protect the women and children.

  No.

  He wouldn’t.

  Would he?

  Making my way over to Cherry, she’s busy talking to Prinie, who’s rocking baby Leo in a stroller and holding Sephy on her hip.

  “I can’t believe he got to Shiver. What does that mean for Blake and Slick? Did the guys even stop to check on them?” Prinie asks.

  “Maybe I should call Slick, make sure they’re okay?” Cherry offers.

  Prinie bobs her head, continuing to bounce Sephy on her hip. “That’s a great idea.”

  “Okay.” Cherry pulls out her cell and goes to dial, but I grab her arm, gaining her attention. Her eyes meet mine. “You, okay? Sorry, this can be scary the first time you go through it,” Cherry offers so kindly.

  My stomach swirls in apprehension, but I have no choice, I have to warn these ladies that the Heathens could come in here any second. “Cherry, look, there’s something I need to tell you…”

  Her kind eyes make this even harder for me. “I don’t even know where to—”

  Suddenly, my cell vibrates, and I glimpse down at it seeing a text from Rage, so I swipe it open.

  Rage: We have the code for the ga
te. It’s opening in two minutes. Think yourself lucky I bothered to text you. Take cover!

  My eyes widen, my breathing coming in fast and hard. “Fuck!”

  Cherry grips my arm. “Billie?”

  I turn and without thinking, race for the exit. I don’t have a second to waste. I need to find a way to stop them from getting in through the gate. So I run like hell for the door.

  “Billie!” Cherry calls out.

  As I run outside to the main gate, I start trying to find something, anything, to stop it from opening. I bolt like lightning around the yard but fuck if I even know what to do to stop this.

  Cherry rushes outside, following me. “Billie, what are you doing?”

  “I need to secure the gate! Help me!”

  Cherry runs over as I hurry over to a stack of wood, trying desperately to lift the heavy beam. She reaches out grabbing my arm, halting me. “Why, Billie?”

  Grief overwhelms me. I turn to her, and fear overtakes me as I stare at my friend. My pregnant friend, and I burst out into a sob. “Because the Heathens are coming.”

  I see it.

  The second the panic registers on her face.

  She doesn’t ask how I know or why they’re coming, she simply kicks into gear.

  Cherry reaches out, grabbing my hand and pulls me toward the clubhouse. “C’mon, if they’re coming, we don’t have time to barricade the gate, and it won’t do any good anyway. If they want in, they will get in. We need to arm ourselves.”

  We run fast, and as we enter the clubroom, everyone turns.

  “Thayleah, gather the children and take them all downstairs into the chamber. Hide them as best you can. Chills, Sunshine, Prinie, Ash, I’m going to need you all on deck for this. Fox, Frost, the Heathens are coming, they double-crossed the guys, and there’s no time to call them. Nessie, get the girls ready for a fight, we’re gonna need you club girls armed too.”

  Fox and Frost look at each other, and something passes between them—I can’t tell what the emotion is, but whatever it is, it’s not good. They’re the only brothers here to protect all the women. But they don’t falter, racing for their guns and heading straight for the door.

  “We’ll try to hold them off as long as we can. Cherry, you’re in charge in here,” Fox states, and then they rush outside.

  “Be safe, guys. Don’t take any chances,” Cherry calls out, but the guys are already gone and closing the door behind them. The women race around as Nessie unlocks something under the floor behind the bar and starts yanking out gun after gun and throws them toward all the women. Thayleah takes off with the kids, Sadie helping Kobe walk along with her, and Lucas pushing the stroller with Leo while Thayleah carries Sephy. She ushers them all along into the chapel, shutting and locking the door behind her. I’m not sure where they go from there, but I’m assuming since they’re going to the chamber that there’s another room or a secret location within the chapel.

  Cherry throws a gun my way, and suddenly a wave of power rolls over me. Like maybe when Rage comes in here, I can take some control back. Then suddenly, a large blast echoes from outside shaking the entire foundation of the clubhouse.

  Oh God, Fox… Frost!

  We all drop, lock, and load our weapons. I crouch behind the bar with the rest of the women.

  “Keep your cool, girls, we got this,” Cherry instructs at the same time as a menacing whistling starts from behind the main entrance.

  Rage is coming.

  So I aim my gun toward the door, ready to pull the trigger as soon as he enters, but the person who stumbles through first is Phantom. His beaten and bloody body, barely recognizable and unable to keep upright as Rage holds Phantom close to him as a human shield. Gritting my teeth, I aim my gun higher, standing out from behind the bar and pointing the gun right at Rage.

  “Billie!” Cherry whispers, trying to get me to stop, but I can’t.

  The rest of the Heathens all saunter in, aiming their guns at me, but I don’t falter, flicking off the safety as a warning.

  “Shit!” Cherry chimes, then the other women and her all rise from the bar, guns aimed, slowly stepping out and meeting the Heathens face to face. It’s a standoff, but my hands don’t even tremble, pointing my gun directly at Rage, needing so badly to end him.

  If only Phantom weren’t in the way.

  “Now you pretty little things are going to put your guns down, or Phantom here is going to get a bullet in his ribs,” Rage instructs, jamming his gun into Phantom’s side. He flinches. His face is all banged up, blood still dripping from his nose.

  “You hurt him, and I swear to God—”

  “Uh-uh-uh… I’m the one making the demands here, little girl,” Rage mocks. “Put the gun down, or lover boy gets a happy meeting with some lead.”

  “Don’t do it, Billie,” Phantom mumbles, but then Rage slams the butt of his gun into the side of Phantom’s head, he drops to one knee, and it makes me gasp. Instantly, I raise my hands and lower the gun to the floor. “Dammit, Billie!” Phantom spits out a line of blood, swaying from side to side.

  “Now, all you other ladies follow suit.”

  “I don’t think that’s likely,” Cherry states, her sarcasm is not lost on me.

  Rage smirks, then sends another whistle through the air. We all glance to the doorway to see Finch, the VP, dragging Oakley inside. She’s barely conscious. He drops her to the clubroom floor like a ragdoll, then promptly fires a round into her already bleeding leg.

  Everyone screams when she jerks from the shot, but she doesn’t react with pain. Instead, she simply writhes from side to side like she’s exhausted. Panting for heavy breaths, Rage has a glint, a sparkle in his eyes. It’s sinister, evil, pure venom. Hatred seeps through him like an animal that’s been caged and has just been unleashed.

  He’s not done.

  He’s nowhere near done.

  And the women of Houston Defiance are his next victims.

  BILLIE

  Tears stream down the faces of all the Defiance women where they stand watching Oakley bleed out on their floor and not being able to do a damn thing to help her.

  “You fucking bastard!” Cherry spits out with so much venom.

  Rage chuckles. “If you want Oakley to come out of this alive, I suggest you lower your weapons… I won’t ask again.”

  Cherry hesitates but nods her head to the other women, and they slowly lower their guns to the floor.

  “Good girls… boys!” he announces.

  His men come around, kicking the guns out of the way and then push us all to drop to our knees in front of them, each with a man behind us.

  My bottom lip trembles. I stare up at my brother, this man who has completely lost his way in the vengeance he has been longing for. This is not the way. Oakley took evidence from the Heathens that could bring down the club, and she used it against them to buy her freedom, but surely, it’s not worth all this?

  “Now you have submitted to me, you’re going to see just what crossing a Heathen does for you. I have a phone call to make. Let’s inform Zero of our arrival, shall we? Cherry, your cell, please.”

  She hesitates but slides her cell out of her jeans pocket and hands it over.

  Rage grins, and the evil hits his eyes. He presses the number placing it on speaker. It rings a couple of times, then Zero answers. “Cherry, are you okay? Is the baby okay?”

  Rage shakes his head. “Pregnant? Well, well, well… that’s something I didn’t know. Congratulations are in order, Cherry. Zero would have made a fine dad, just a shame that when we’re done raping and torturing y’all, there won’t be a baby Zero left in your fucking worthless excuse of a body.”

  “Rage? You hurt any of the women, and we will rain hellfire down on you. Not just us, but I will make damn sure that all the Defiance clubs go to war with every fucking Heathen chapter in the country. You wanna have a national war on your motherfucking head, asshole?”

  “If it means I get to watch while you suffer… you and Neon, th
en I’ll watch the world fucking burn. See you soon!” He ends the call.

  Is he going to follow through on his threats?

  Rage then signals to Carnage.

  Carnage brings Rage a tool belt, then he kneels on the ground next to Oakley’s unmoving form, and I tense up.

  “Rage, you don’t have to do this,” I scream out.

  He chuckles. “Oh yeah… yeah, I fucking do!” He’s nodding his head like he is agreeing with his own words. Rage rolls out the belt revealing an array of instruments, and we all widen our eyes as Carnage and Finch move in, each holding down one of Oakley’s arms. I begin to sob, along with all the other women because there’s nothing we can do right now.

  Phantom tries to stand, but Lynch slams his face to the floor, then restrains him. “Rage, you motherfucker. You do this, and I will personally kill you!” Phantom growls.

  “Oh, don’t worry, Phantom, you have enough on your plate to hate me for, let alone what I am about to do to Oakley.”

  Phantom breathes heavier. “The fuck does that mean?”

  I tense all over.

  Rage picks up a scalpel, twisting it from side to side, the reflection of the shiny object flicking in my eyes and making me squint.

  “It means there’s more to be revealed. You simply have to bide your time. But for now, enjoy the show!”

  “Rage! Rage! Stop! Rage!” Phantom calls out as Rage bends down, ripping Oakley’s shirt open, then presses the tip of the blade into her flesh. She lets out a scream, finally waking from the pain he’s now inflicting. I shudder, hating that she’s going through this.

  I turn my head to look away, not wanting to witness his lunacy, but her ear-piercing screams echo through the clubhouse make me want to vomit, and I can’t help but look back.

  “Oh God, Shiver. I’m so sorry.” Cherry sobs, barely able to control herself.

  “Who’s enjoying this party?” Rage calls out, his voice so chirpy and happy over the ear-piercing screams coming from a woman he used to be so close to.

  His men all snicker with enjoyment while my eyes shift to Phantom. I mouth ‘Are you okay?’ He nods, and it gives me a little bit of strength to turn back, even through the screaming.