Deceptive (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 6) Page 20

  As I turn back, blood is running across the floor, and it makes me shudder.

  Is Oakley going to make it through this?

  If Rage has anything to do with it, she won’t. I take in the cuts on her stomach to see he’s carved the word ‘Rage’ on her, and inwardly, I cringe.

  “So, you never forget who was here and did all this damage to you, Oakley. I need you to remember every time you look at yourself who disfigured you. Now, for that award-winning smile, let’s make it go even higher up your face, shall we?”

  I can’t stand this anymore.

  Standing abruptly, I race forward, out of the grip of the Heathen holding me, and I run for Rage. I slam into him, knocking him back and onto the ground. The scalpel flies off scattering across the floor, and I straddle Rage landing a heavy punch into his face before two of his men yank me off him.

  “Billie!” Phantom calls out, struggling in Lynch’s hold, but he can’t get free.

  Rage stands as the two Heathens drop me to my knees. Rage strides up in front of me, tutting his mouth. “Billie, Billie, Billie… you try so hard, but you’re nothing but a pathetic excuse for a human.”

  “Pot, kettle, much?”

  Rage chuckles, then dramatically his face drops like he’s filled with anger, his fist clenches, and he slams it straight into my jaw. Pain sears through me so intense, stars circle my vision. I flop to the floor with my ears ringing.

  There’s yelling around me, but I can’t make it out for a good few seconds as I regain my bearings.

  It’s only when the tip of something cool hits my fingers that I come to. Checking, I see the scalpel and quickly gather it in my hand.

  Rage laughs like he’s got complete control of the situation. “You can struggle all you want, Phantom, you’re not going to save her. In fact, you are going to turn against her, you mark my words.”

  My head is foggy, but those words make me try to sit up as Phantom grunts out, “The fuck would you know?”

  “That’s a discussion for another day. For now, we have some more business to tend to.”

  Shaking my head a little, I sit up, my eyes opening and closing to gain my equilibrium, then they shift over to Phantom, who’s staring at me with nothing but concern. ‘I’m okay,’ I mouth to him, and his entire body sags. I slide in next to Oakley, she’s struggling to stay awake, but while the Heathens are occupied talking to each other, I must take this one chance.

  I slide in beside her and stealthily place the scalpel in her hand. “Oakley, keep hold of this, okay?”

  She slowly nods, letting me know she understands as I sit back.

  All of this is my fault.

  Everyone that is hurt today is because of me. I should have stood up to Rage right at the beginning.

  If I had said no to this stupid deception, then we wouldn’t be in this mess right now. Sure, Rage may have found another way in, but it would have turned out differently and Phantom wouldn’t have been caught in the crosshairs of Rage’s madness.

  Rage turns around, a bright smile on his face. “I told Zero we were going to rape and torture you all. We were just discussing whether we should just go at it hammer and tongs, a full group bang, all of you at the same time, or do you one at a time, so the rest of you will be forced to watch. We decided that one at time would be more enjoyable… for us. So we can all see the look in the other women’s eyes. The fear. The terror. While you witness us rip apart your friends, knowing your men can’t be here to save you.”

  Phantom breathes heavier, trying to stand up one more time, fighting against Lynch. He uses every ounce of strength he has in him, pushing Lynch off him, then he rushes for Rage. My heart hammers in my chest as Phantom lunges for Rage, but Finch and Carnage reach out first and slam him to the ground. Finch and Carnage struggle to keep Phantom down while Rage chuckles.

  “We have a live one here, boys! He’s trying to protect his girl. The only thing Phantom has done is make Billie the first target. Bring her on up!”

  My eyes widen with a gasp. “What? No!”

  Struggling against Rage’s men, they drag me in front of everyone.

  Phantom grapples like hell against Finch and Carnage. “Don’t you fucking touch her! Billie! Billie!” he calls out while tears stream down my face.

  Rage slides his fingers down my cheek. “Oh, Billie… I had high hopes for you. All you did was prove to me what a waste of space you really are. Hash, you want her? You take her!”

  Gasping in fear, Hash steps forward, unbuckling his belt and licking his lips. “Oh, Billie, we’re gonna have some fun, you n’ me!”

  I spit at his feet, and he smirks.

  “Take off her pants,” Hash instructs.

  Lynch moves in trying to grasp at my jeans, but I struggle, letting out a sob, kicking at him while the other two hold my arms down.

  “Get off me, you fucking prick!” I kick Lynch in the face at the same time all the old ladies’ cells start blaring with an alarm. Like clockwork, every single one of them drop to the ground, covering their ears, including Phantom. My head snaps around, trying to figure out what the hell is happening as Rage grunts.

  “Find out what the fuck that shit is,” he screams.

  The chapel door opens, and a canister flies out into the middle of the main room.

  “Grenade,” Rage yells.

  My head snaps around to look at it as the Heathens all jump to try and get out the way. My hands are released, and I attempt to cover my ears, but I’m not quick enough before the loud stun blast vibrates through the clubhouse. Glass shatters behind the bar, sending liquor pouring out everywhere as my insides feel like they’re liquifying. My eyes roll around in my head, then I fall to the floor in agony while smoke begins to fill the room.

  I can’t gather my bearings.

  My ears ring with a high-pitched squeal that blocks out all other noise.

  The Heathens are out for the count, just like I am, but the old ladies jump up and start to run around the clubhouse. Oakley somehow finds the strength to get up and drag herself through the smoke and debris to safety. As the echo of gunfire starts to clear in my ears—my hearing is coming back—I slide up onto my feet and start moving through the chaos, finding a gun on the ground, and I take off for the bar. I run into something hard and gasp, but when I look up, it’s Zero, and I instantly relax. He steadies me, looking me over. “You okay?” I nod.

  “Fox and Frost!” I whimper.

  “They were knocked out by the initial blast, a little burned, but they’ll be fine.” Then before I have time to say anything else, he takes off again.

  Defiance is somehow here, and they’re going to save us all.

  Running for the bar, I spot Rage taking off after Oakley. She’s dragging her leg across the floor to try and get away, but she’s not going to make it far. Every part of me tenses as he reaches out, grabbing her. She spins and drops to the floor, but as he tries to grab her, her hand comes out, the scalpel slamming into his leg as she rips it right across his thigh.

  “Fuuuck!” he screams, blood spurting out with every beat of his heart. He slams his hand against Oakley’s face, and the knife goes flying across the room.

  As I rush up behind Rage, I take aim and shoot him twice in the back. He jerks from side to side, falling next to Oakley, and then he rolls over, looking up at me. “You’ll get yours, Billie!” he states.

  My hands reach out for Oakley, and I drag her away from him just as I spot Phantom entering the fight with his brothers. Goodness only knows how he is even standing right now.

  Finch lands on the floor right next to Oakley, making us both jump right when Texas slams his fist into Finch’s face. Texas then yanks him up, throwing him over the bar like a lifeless ragdoll. Finch stands, drawing out his gun, but Kevlar rushes past shooting Finch in the head, his brain matter splattering all over the broken mirror behind the bar as he slides down onto the concrete flooring.

  Texas drops his chin in thanks, taking off as Cherry rushes past in
front of me. A gun slides across, and I pick it up, aiming it. Cherry widens her eyes like she thinks I am going to shoot her. I pull the trigger, the bullet zooming past her head to hit Hash right in the chest. Cherry sags, spinning to see I’ve taken out the asshole who tormented me at the Heathens, and she tilts her head at me. She moves in behind the bar, finding a gun, then brings it up and starts shooting at whoever is still moving.

  We line up together and aim at all the assholes who have invaded our club.

  Sunshine, Ash, Prinie, and Chills slide in as well.

  The women seem to know to hide behind the reinforced bar when there’s an all-out battle in the clubhouse, and while our men are out there fighting hand to hand with the Heathens, we can be behind the protection, taking aim and knocking them down.

  Glancing down, Oakley is zoning in and out while she bleeds out all over the damn place. Putting the gun down, I lean back, grab a cloth, and start tending to Oakley’s wounds. I have to stop the bleeding. A bullet slams into the bar next to us, sending shards of wood, splintering off in all directions. We both duck at the chaos unraveling in the clubhouse.

  My eyes meet Oakley’s, and it’s like she’s finally realized who I am. “I’m so sorry, Oakley… this is all my fault.”

  “No, this is all mine. I knew this day would come, Billie. I just don’t know what you’re doing here?”

  Cherry drops down to meet us. “You know Billie, Oakley? You haven’t been at the clubhouse to have met her?”

  “At the clubhouse? You’ve been here, Billie? What is Cherry talking about?”

  Cherry stops shooting and focuses on me. “Billie… it’s time to start talking.”

  Oakley narrows her eyes like she is confused as hell before she says the words I have been dreading, “Billie is Rage’s sister.”

  Oh shit!

  Cherry’s face scrunches like she is in physical pain, then she suddenly turns her gun on me. “You fucking little bitch!”

  I hold my arms up in defeat while Oakley snaps her head from Cherry to me then back to Cherry. “Rage made me do it, I swear. But the more time I spent with y’all, the worse I felt!”

  “You. Let. Them. In…”

  “Rage was holding Phantom, he said he was going to kill him. When Rage told me they were coming, I tried to find a way to stop them. I tried to warn you.”

  “She gave me a knife to protect myself, Cherry. She’s been fighting along with us in this,” Oakley defends.

  Cherry shakes her head. “This whole time… this whole damn time you’ve been infiltrating for the enemy?”

  My stomach churns with nausea as tears flood my eyes. There’s a battle happening out there, but there’s a war brewing behind the bar. Finally, my eyes overflow, but movement to my right has me turning to see Phantom staring down at me in disbelief. The look of betrayal on his face is as gut-wrenching as I had imagined it would be. He turns, running back out into the fray without saying another word.

  “Phantom… Cannon!” I call out, but he’s gone as the fighting begins to slow somewhat.

  Cherry and Sunshine take hold of me, lifting and dragging me out into the middle of the clubhouse, dropping me to my knees next to Rage, who’s been captured by Neon. Rage is losing a lot of blood and is pale and pasty—I know he doesn’t have long.

  Rage chuckles as I’m dropped beside him with tears streaming down my face. “Guess they found out you’re a deceptive shit, hey, little sister?”

  The rest of the Houston guys widen their eyes all spinning around to face Phantom.

  “You know about this?” Zero grunts out.

  Phantom tries real fucking hard to keep his shit together. “Just found out.”

  “She played you?” Zero asks.

  Phantom’s vein on his neck pulses. “Yeah.”

  “She played all of us.” Cherry sounds so angry it’s like she’s another person.

  Oakley wobbles out, slumping down next to me. “She saved me. And I understand you’re angry, Cherry, but she saved you and your unborn child too. I know Billie, we were friends when we were both at the Heathens. I saw firsthand the way Rage and his men treated her. He ruled over her with an iron fist. Rage made her do this and was using Phantom and Defiance’s safety against her. She was only looking out for the club. That’s got to count for something!”

  “We can’t trust her. She led them right to us!” Phantom states like it physically pains him.

  “In all fairness to my dim-witted sister, I told her if she didn’t follow through, I would kill her and you, Phantom, very, very, very slowly. Just like we killed Ax.”

  “You what!” Zero yells.

  “Don’t believe me? Where is the little solider boy now then, Zero, huh? Ask your precious Phantom what we did to him.”

  Zero turns to Phantom, whose swollen eyes turn down. “Rage is telling the truth. When they captured us, they took me, then killed Ax. I tried to help, Pres, but they had me outnumbered.”

  “Oh… waa, waa, waa… such a cry bab—”

  “Shut the fuck up, Rage. We’ve got our own back by killing every member of your club, and don’t worry, you’re next,” Zero snaps.

  “What you don’t realize is that Phantom and Ax were never my target anyway. Oakley was. Just a shame I didn’t push the knife in a little harder. Guess now you have to deal with the woman you can’t trust as well as try to save the woman I should have killed.”

  Neon slams his fist into Rage so hard, a tooth comes flying out, and Rage just cackles in response. Why? Because he’s a damn maniac.

  “You say you can’t trust Billie, but she was protecting you, Phantom, can’t you see that?” Oakley comes to my defense.

  “Not at the risk of my family. I’d rather die than risk everyone else.”

  Staring at him, my bottom lip trembles. “But I didn’t want you to die, Phantom. I care about you too much.”

  His stone wall doesn’t crumble as he turns away.

  Oakley hobbles over to me. “You’re not with the Heathens, are you, Billie?”

  Shaking my head emphatically, I let out a sob. “No. I’m Defiance. I only did what I did to protect you, Phantom.”

  “Then protect him now, Billie.” Oakley hands me the knife I gave her, and Chills and Sunshine let me go. Taking in a deep breath as everyone watches me, adrenaline flows through my body, while Rage laughs like he thinks I won’t do it.

  “Why would Phantom want anything to do with you? You’re used goods, Billie. It’s not like you have a chance here. At a family with anyone but me!” Rage’s attention shifts to Phantom. “As if you could have a family. You wouldn’t be capable of loving your children just like your father doesn’t love you.”

  A low growl rumbles from Phantom’s chest as adrenaline surges through me. All the anger, resentment, and bitterness I harbor toward my brother pours out of me as I stare into his eyes with nothing but venom. “You can’t control me anymore, brother.” He smirks menacingly, like he thinks I don’t have it in me, but I grip the blade letting my inner demons take hold.

  Without hesitation, I lunge forward, slicing at his face, the feeling of his muscles pulling with the tension makes me feel more alive than I have felt in years. Blood spurts out all over my legs, and I can’t hold back my anger. “This is for all the times you touched me inappropriately!” I stab him in the chest, dragging the blade as he groans out in pain. Yanking the sharp metal out, I lunge for him again. “This is for letting your Heathens touch me, for letting them beat me, for letting them abuse me!” I stab him in the side of the head, somewhere around his ear. I can’t tell, I’m frantic with rage. Gripping his hair with one hand, I slash at his throat, blood splashing out all over my chest as I pant, my eyes not leaving his for a second. “I hate you for hurting Oakley!”

  I think of all the times he’s tormented me.

  Made me do things for the club—unspeakable things.

  Made me believe I’m the reason for our parents’ deaths.

  He put everything on me.
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  He made me deceive Defiance, and for that, he must die.

  Rage’s eyes widen as he gasps for breath, struggling in the grip of Neon, his eyes shifting to me. He pants like he is trying to speak, so as I try to control my breathing, I lean in to hear his whispers. “Phantom deserves… a whore like you!”

  I feel nothing as I curl up my lip. “I’d rather be his whore than your sister.”

  Twisting it, I push the knife further into the side of his neck, his jugular vein pulsing a mass amount of blood out, making Rage’s eyes widen. He gurgles, taking in one last, gasping breath. Then his head flops to the side. His body goes limp, and all that evilness fades away, leaving me feeling so much fucking lighter and freer. A feeling of dread washes over me, knowing Defiance will now take their vengeance.

  Sagging, I glance around seeing all the Heathens dead, and I can’t help the emotion building inside of me.

  These men, these tormenters, have held me captive my entire life.

  The tears can’t stop from falling as I let out a contented sigh. “God, that felt good.”

  But then my eyes shift to Phantom, and he’s utterly devastated.

  Oh God.

  Phantom knows I deceived him.

  And there’s no coming back from this.

  PHANTOM

  Hearing Billie played me this entire time has my stomach in knots. I don’t even know what to fucking think. I don’t know how to fucking feel—I’m torn as all hell.

  Billie is a Heathen.

  Not just any Heathen—Rage’s fucking sister!

  I can’t even begin to process that fact.

  I would have died for her.

  Thrown fucking everything to the wind for her.

  Like maybe I could be in love with her.

  Instead, I don’t even know her.

  Is everything she told me a lie?

  Is everything we’ve shared a lie?

  Did she choose me because I fell for her like a lost little puppy at the hospital? Because I was a sad sack of shit who had lost his way? Is she this manipulative mastermind who completely outwitted me? This deceptive siren who called out and had me completely under her spell?