Deviance (The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 3) Read online

  No matter what.

  That’s what brotherhood is all about.

  We’ve been riding for a while, but I’m getting frustrated. I feel like we’ve been out now for at least an hour when Ace pulls off to the side of the road stopping quickly. We all follow as my fists clench against my bars in annoyance. We should be riding, not stopping. But I pull over while Ace is frantically working on his cell.

  “Shit,” he murmurs.

  “What the fuck is going on? Why’d we stop?” I call out.

  “I think they’ve switched cars.”

  My eyes open wide as my chest heaves. “What? Why do you think that?”

  Ace zooms in on a picture of the Sonata stopped at a gas station, then there’s a snapshot of Sparx and Everett getting out of the car then into another one, but the plates are too hazy to see what they read.

  “Fuck! Without my other tech gear, I don’t know how to trace this second car, I’ve only got limited shit with me,” Ace states.

  “So we’re an hour and a half from the Defiance clubhouse with no fucking idea where the hell he’s taking her?”

  Ace huffs. “I think it’s safe to say he’s heading toward Grand Rapids. We’re definitely headed in that direction, just don’t know where in Grand Rapids.”

  I grunt. “Fuck! Fine! We need some way of tracing her. Is there another way, Ace? Think!”

  He looks up at the sky as if to look for some kind of fucking divine intervention, then looks back to me. “Fuck! Why didn’t I think of this first. Did she have her cell on her?”

  “Yeah, she shoved it down her bra before we left.”

  Ace scrunches his face like he’s frustrated but then quickly taps something into his cell. “Give me a few moments, I’m going to try and see if I can track her cell from here. If she still has it on her, it might be our best bet.”

  I turn toward Torque, and he lets out a sigh. “Trax, we’re heading into Knights’ territory. If they hear about Defiance riding in Michigan without us filling them in, you know we’re gonna to be in for a world of hurt.”

  I groan. I’ve been dreading making this call, but I know I need to. Plus, maybe having the Notorious Knights on our side as we ride in to get Sparx would be helpful. The more to take down this cockhead, the better. I just hope Crest doesn’t ream me a new asshole for being a fucking failure at protecting his princess. Spinning on my heels, I walk away from the guys dialing Crest’s number. Taking a deep breath, it rings twice before he answers.

  “Trax, you better have something good to tell me.”

  “Crest… I failed.”

  Silence filters down the line for a brief moment before he clears his throat and grunts. “Trax, what the fuck does that mean?”

  Running my hand through my hair, I cringe. “Everett has her.”

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Jesus, Trax! I brought her to you to keep her safe. I trusted you. It’s been one thing after the other since I brought her there for your damn protection…” he pauses. I let him gather himself as my stomach churns with anxiety. “Fuck! When? How long has she been gone?”

  Sighing, I crack my neck to the side. “A couple of hours, give or take—”

  “What! Are you fucking insane? Why the hell are you only calling me now?”

  Swallowing hard, I knew that was coming. “We’re on our way into Grand Rapids. Ace was able to track the car Everett took her in, but now they’ve switched cars, and we don’t have the tech equipment we need with us to track the new car. From what we can make out, it’s a Honda Civic, a midnight blue color, but that’s all we know. We’ve been tracking them, following them. We know they’re headed your way, but we’ve lost them. Though, Ace is now trying to get a trace on Mylee’s cell signal to see if we can follow it.”

  Crest lets out a heavy sigh and is quiet for a pass. The heaviness of the situation obviously catching up with him. “Shit! Trax... she’s my baby girl.”

  I rub my temple. “And she’s my Old Lady… the mother of my unborn children, Crest. I know how you feel… we have to get her back.”

  “I’m getting the boys together, and we’re gonna ride, right now. Where are you?”

  “The Gerald R. Ford Freeway… we’re about an hour or so out.”

  “Right. We’re gonna go searching around town for blue Civics till you get here. We’ll meet you at the turn-off. We’ll get her back. We have to. Don’t worry. If there’s one thing about Everett, all he wants is for him and Mylee to be together, so as long as we find him, we’ll find her.”

  For some reason, it doesn’t soothe me. “See you soon. And Crest?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Sorry.”

  He exhales. “Your apology means nothing, just fucking get her back.”

  I end the call as I turn to see Torque watching me closely while Ace works frantically on his equipment.

  Fuck, I hope he’s come up with something.

  MYLEE

  It’s been hours since we left the doctor’s office. I know Trax must be going crazy if he’s still alive. My cell’s tucked in my bra, but I don’t want Everett to know it’s there. I just hope like hell it doesn’t make any sounds while we’re together. I did manage to turn it to silent when Everett turned his back at the gas station. I momentarily thought about making a run for it too, but he didn’t really give me much time to do anything. My plan was to say I needed to use the ladies room, which I actually do need—baby bladder and all—but he only had time for us to stop the car next to another one, get out, and steal the Civic. I was so shocked I didn’t even realize what was happening until it was too late as I was shoved into the car, and he sped off.

  I feel so out of my depth. I’m so scared, the darkness of thunderclouds threaten to roll in above my head, but I don’t want my fears to settle in. I must keep my wits about me, but it’s hard when my brain is fogging over. I need to keep control. I’m doing everything possible to keep my mind focused and active, not to let it drown in the fog or the storm that’s brewing.

  The day is shifting to night, and the further we drive, it becomes more obvious we’re driving past Grand Rapids and out into farmland. I can’t help but wonder where the hell he’s taking me. The sun’s setting, it’s getting close to nine at night, and I’m stressing wondering if anyone’s going to come.

  I hope Trax will be doing everything in his power to search for me, to find me, but Everett’s doing his best to keep us moving. Changing up the vehicles we’re traveling in is only going to make it even more difficult for the club to find me. But being so close to Grand Rapids makes me think of Dad and the Knights, and what the hell they’re going to do if they find out I’m here being held by Everett.

  Everett won’t only have Defiance coming after him, but the Knights too. He’s in for one hell of a shitstorm. And I can’t wait for it to rain down on him.

  Pulling off into a farm, he looks at me raising his brow. “I’m so excited we will finally be able to be connected like we’re supposed to,” he utters breaking the deafening silence that’s been riddling the car for the past few hours.

  I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”

  “After the cleansing ritual, to rid you of your demons, to rid you of your evil, you will be purified, and we can be together like we were truly meant to be all those years ago.”

  “All those years ago?” I question, we were only in the hospital two years ago, he’s not making sense.

  I’m confused.

  “Yes. We were meant to grow old together, you and me, remember? We’ve said it ever since we were six.”

  I click remembering about the girl in the barn who died, the one he connects to me for some reason—I still don’t really know why. “The girl in the barn, the one who died, Everett? She’s not me. I’m Mylee.”

  “No.” He shakes his head. “Something changed when you were shot. You forgot. You altered your name slightly… only slightly. You look so much like her.” His eyes widen. “The government! The government is the ones tryi
ng to keep us apart, Rylee, don’t you see?”

  I open my eyes wide. “Rylee?”

  “Yes. Now you remember, don’t you? Is it coming back, Rylee? Are you coming back to me?”

  I shudder in understanding. I completely get why he clung to me, not only is my name only one letter different to hers, but if I look like her too, then no wonder I’ve sent him over the edge. He must have really felt something for this Rylee, they must have been good friends for him to have such a bond to her all these years later. But then again, I guess, if they were best friends and he shot her, accidentally killing her, then your family covers it up for your entire life, and you’re bound to have some mental issues.

  Poor guy.

  I actually feel for him now.

  The amount of pity I have for him doesn’t lessen my fear, though. The fact is, he has me confused for a dead six-year-old girl. A girl who isn’t coming back. There’s nothing I can say or do that’s going to change his mind.

  He pulls up to a barn, stops the car, and jumps out. I tense up as he rushes to my side yanking me out of the car forcefully. I grimace at the tightness of his clenched fist around my bicep as he pulls me inside the barn. The barn is paneled in wood and appears really old. Like it has been here for a century. It creeps me out.

  “The barn’s just like the one we grew up in. Isn’t it, Rylee?” he calls out looking up into the rafters above us, his eyes alight in wonder as a cold shudder runs through my very soul. This is all a little too creepy. The fact Rylee died in a barn, and now I’m alone with him in the darkening night is scaring the shit out of me. My instinct is to run, but I’m petrified and don’t want to put any risk on the babies, but staying is risking them too.

  I’m so freaking torn.

  I have no idea what to do.

  Everett drags me to the middle of the barn to a lone wooden chair. I crease my brows leering at it as he looks me up and down with a beaming smile. “You’re wearing a white dress, it’s perfect for the purity ritual.”

  Tensing, I’m scared to ask, but my curiosity wins out. “What’s this purification ritual?”

  He shoves me down onto the seat, the wood creaks with the force as he pins me down. “I need to cleanse your body, get rid of the bad energy inside of you. You can’t have demon spawn inside of you, Rylee. When Dad sent Jason to find you, Jason told us you were shopping in a baby emporium. I couldn’t believe it. At first, I thought it was for the other girl. She seemed to be more into the baby stuff holding it up to her stomach and such, but then after Jason went missing, Dad got his people to dig deeper. It was then we knew you were staying with the Defiance. There were two reasons for this—one Jason followed you from their clubhouse, and two, that biker was wearing his cut. Then we found out you were with him.” His nose turns up in a snarl. “It’s you that’s knocked up. He was keeping you hidden from me. You weren’t going anywhere but to your doctor, so with Dad’s help, I had no choice but to take you from there. It was my only option, the only way I can cleanse you of the abomination, Rylee.”

  I snort, shaking my head. “Do you hear yourself?” I lash out instantly regretting it as he glares at me.

  “Do you hear yourself? You were such a sweet, innocent young thing, then you lived with bikers all your life, and that’s when the change happened. When the bullet took you, morphed you, then the government intervened… when my father and his politicians took you from me.”

  My stomach sinks in anguish. He’s so confused. He thinks Rylee was taken after she was shot, put into the Notorious Knights biker club, and that girl is me, but she simply isn’t.

  Rylee died, and I’m just the unfortunate woman who’s similar to her and lived in the same state. It’s all a coincidence that somehow I ended up in the same psych ward as Everett. If we never crossed paths at the same time, he wouldn’t even know about me.

  “Rylee, I’m going to make everything better. Once you’re clean, we will ascend to a better place. We can be free together.”

  The sincere look in his eyes petrifies me. That right there is crazy talk as he pulls some rope from the ground moving behind me and threading it around my wrists behind my back. My arms are almost locked to the back of the chair as I sit on it, my stomach churning while panic starts to set in.

  I can’t help but wonder what the hell this purification ritual is exactly. I have no idea how the hell I’m going to get myself out of this. I can’t pull my hands free. I have no idea if Trax is coming for me. I hope he’ll be looking, but is he looking in the right place? Will he be able to find me in time?

  Everett walks off making my heart rate spike up a notch as I watch him. He grabs a hay bale starting to spread it around me in a large circle.

  “Everett, what are you doing?”

  He looks at me but says nothing. The sight sends a chill through me as I immediately begin to struggle in the seat to get my wrists free from their restraints, but they’re tied really freaking tight. So tight the furry texture of the ropes grinds against my skin, tearing at the surface. I feel blood dripping from my wrists and down my hands as I try to maneuver it.

  He makes a full circle with the hay rubbing his hands together like he’s done a hard day’s work, then walks off toward the door of the barn like he’s going to fetch something. It makes me even more fearful considering what he might be coming back with as I’m left in here alone. Darkness filters in through the open doorway, and I can’t help but question whether these might be my last moments on this earth. So I stop struggling as I look up to the moon that’s shining in through the crack in the door. Tears pool in my eyes as I think of Trax.

  The love of my life.

  The man of my dreams.

  The man who took me in, without hesitation, even with all my faults.

  I never got to thank him.

  Never got to truly tell him how honored I am to be the one he’s having a family with.

  That he chose me to be his Old Lady.

  There’s so much left unsaid. After everything we’ve been through to get to this point, for it all to possibly end now—I don’t know how this is going to play out—but if I die tonight, I don’t want things to be left unsaid. So, I figure, even though he’s not here, I’ll say them now. “Trax, I know you can’t hear me…” I sniff, tears filling my eyes as I stare up at the moon, “… but coming back into your life is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I know it’s been rocky, I know it’s been unexpected, but these babies, though surprising…” I can’t help but smile, “… I love them, Trax. I know I said I never wanted kids, but that was only to protect them. To protect them from what I’ve become, from what they might become. Not because I didn’t want them, not because I wouldn’t love them. Because I do. So much.” I let out a small sob. “Just as I love you with all my heart. If I never see you again, just know my last thoughts are of you, always—”

  A round of clapping disrupts my monologue as I look to the doorway to see Everett round the barn door as he steps in. “That was sweet. But it only proves you need to be cleansed, sooner rather than later. I was going to wait until midnight for the ritual, but I think I need to move it up to… right now!”

  My stomach sinks through the floor making me feel sick. “No, Everett, I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I can wait until midnight. I promise I won’t say anything again. Please, just wait!” I want to bide as much time as possible to give Trax enough time to find me, but Everett beams at me with a crooked smile.

  “No. You need to be cleansed, now. It can’t wait, you’re far too tarnished.” He grabs something from his jacket, the glimmer of something silver shimmering against the purple hue of the night as he brings it in line with his face. I notice it’s a lighter as he flicks it on. The flame flickering in the slight breeze.

  Tension ripples through me as I shudder with fear wondering what the hell he’s planning on doing with that. “E-Everett,” I stutter calmly. “How am I going to be cleansed?” I ask.

  His eyes grow dark as he looks down at
me with hooded eyes. His almost demonic face flickers in the light. “In flames. You will be purified by fire then we will be reborn together as one. As we should have done, my love.”

  Opening my eyes wide, my skin riddles in goosebumps, the hairs on my arms standing to attention. This is madness, he’s completely insane. I have no idea how I’m going to get out of this. The thought of burning alive scares the shit out of me. Storm clouds are rolling overhead, but I also know I need to keep my mind clear, I can’t get lost in my emotions. I need to fight my way out of this.

  For my babies.

  He moves to the outer rim of the hay circle and bends down, the flickering light of the flame igniting the hay, making me instantly break out into sweat. I'm shaking so hard as the circle lights up, flames flapping, swarming and engulfing me in a plume of smoke and fire. I can’t hear anything but the intense crackle of the flames bursting and popping as I cough while adrenaline spikes through me. I look at my stomach, thinking of the two lives inside of me.

  This can’t be it.

  They haven’t had a chance.

  I can’t let this be it for them.

  My fighter instincts kick in. The wall of flames is high, I can’t get through them. I know Everett’s on the other side, but I need to get off this damned chair and get low. Smoke rises and luckily Everett made the circle too wide so the flames are not intense right now. I tilt my body making the chair fall to the side. I turn slightly to protect my babies in the fall. I hit the ground with a thud, my shoulder taking the full impact as I groan out in pain. My eyes water as I try not to let the pain or emotion overtake me. I have to keep my head clear. I cough and splutter through the damn smoke and heat haze. The flames aren’t hitting me, but they are close. I have no idea what else to do.