by K E Osborn
I widen my eyes in shock.
Thayleah punches Koda in the arm.
He chuckles like he doesn’t give a shit. “What? It’s true!”
Screwing up my eyebrows, I turn to Phantom, who simply shrugs. “Just want you to get settled and feel welcomed, that’s all.”
There’s no way I can’t fight back a smile as I spot Neon storming this way toward me. He’s tense, his shoulders sturdy while he holds a device in his hands and a sour expression on his face.
He knows.
Oh God, he knows!
I sit taller, not having a clue what my fate will be in the next few seconds.
Meanwhile, Neon steps in beside me, his nostrils flaring like he’s ready to ream me a new asshole.
This is it.
This is where it all comes crashing down.
If I say something first, maybe they will spare me. Who am I kidding? But fuck, I have to try!
“Neon—”
“Billie, I need to talk to you,” Neon grunts out.
My breathing hitches, my entire body ignites with heat, and a bead of sweat forms on my temple as I glance from Neon to Phantom, who watches me curiously. “Okay?” I almost whisper, waiting for him to tell me the gig is up, and I am a dead woman walking.
That he knows I was in his den last night.
That he’s checked Rage’s logs and now knows every damn thing.
“You want to tell me what you know about this?” His tone is curt, abrupt, and I begin to shake when he places his device down on the table in front of me.
I’m terrified to look, but I know I have to.
I just don’t know what kind of evidence he’s going to hit me with.
My eyes fall to the tablet, and I see Dominic Torres. My eyes widen as I sit forward, grabbing the tablet, staring at it in disbelief.
“This is the guy you told us might have it in for you, right?” Neon asks, shocking me.
I let out a half-laugh, half-scoff. “Yeah, Dom, that’s him.”
Neon rubs at the back of his closely shaved head and purses his lips. “I found an address for him. Did some digging into his socials. The asshole’s been making some vague book posts about his extracurricular activities of late. Some of them include shit about going out, finding an ex, and dealing with her. Were you romantically involved?”
I curl up my nose. “No, it was never like that. We went out a few times, and when I told Dom I couldn’t see him anymore, he started threatening me. It didn’t last long and cooled down pretty quickly once I saw that side of him, but it was scary at the time.”
Neon bobs his head. “Okay… right! I’ve talked it over with Zero, and he’s given the all-clear for a few of us to ride out and pay this Dominic Torres a visit. See if he’s had anything to do with your incident and other weird shit that’s been happening to you.”
My muscles tense, not only because Rage seems to have pulled through on his end and covered my tracks, but also because poor Dom is going to have these guys coming at him for absolutely no reason. But I have to let this play out.
They will soon realize it wasn’t him once they talk to him. I just hope he doesn’t say anything incriminating. “Thanks, knowing who attacked me will certainly put my mind at ease.”
Phantom rests his hand on my thigh, my skin instantly prickling with goosebumps. “I’m gonna ride out with them, make sure this is all settled.”
“Are you sure? This seems like a lot of trouble. Maybe I should go home? I mean, my potted plants need watering anyway, right?” I question, hoping like hell they won’t take me up on the offer.
Phantom shakes his head. “You’re safer here. We got you!”
“Thank you. And thank you, Neon. You guys helping me is more than I deserve.”
Phantom squeezes my knee, then winks at me. “Don’t worry, Billie, we’ll have this dealt with before you know it.”
Koda leans in, kissing Thayleah on the cheek, then both Koda and Phantom stand and walk off with Neon toward the other guys.
I let out a long exhale, not meaning to, but because my heart is pounding in my chest so hard, I feel like there is no air getting to my lungs. Honestly, I thought the gig was up, and I was heading out to the back to be shot.
Thayleah weakly smiles. “You doing okay, hon?”
I place my head in my hands. “Honestly, I have no freaking idea.”
PHANTOM
There’s just something about Billie I can’t quite put my finger on. She’s closing herself off from the club and me. There’s something, maybe in her past or present, that’s keeping her guard up, and I want to help her feel like she can trust me, trust us.
I’ve sent River to check out her apartment. Her address was in her background check. River is going to see what it’s like and do a maintenance check—water any plants or shit that might need attention—then report back to me and tell me what he finds.
While River is investigating, we’re heading out to find the person who attacked her, and if that is going to make her feel safe, then I’m going to go headfirst into this with everything I have. Because from what I have seen, what I have felt, Billie could be amazing if only she would try.
I want to be the guy to help her blossom, but I don’t know what it is that’s holding her back. However, if talking to this Dominic guy can give me some answers, then fuck, I am going to try and get them.
The wind whips at my face as I ride along with my brothers out to this asshole’s place. Joining the club wasn’t something I went into lightly. My father’s strict inability to leave me the fuck alone and let me be an average teenage kid threw me into a tailspin of rebellion and anarchy. All I wanted was to get away from his controlling, selfish ass.
Fox was the one who found me one day, laid out on the high school football field, beaten to within an inch of my life by my father. The asshole wanted me to join the military, and I sure as shit did not want to turn out like him, so he tried to beat me into submission. When Fox found me, he brought me back to the club, and the medic patched me up. It was a no-brainer, and in the short time I was there, I knew this was my calling. As I was young, I started going to the club more as a hangaround, and a part of me knew it would destroy my father if I joined an MC.
It wasn’t all that long until I became a prospect.
And I was so damn proud of myself.
However, that’s when Dad truly lost his shit.
He beat me badly that day, so much so, I almost lost my life. But once again, the club came to my rescue, and I’m better off without him. They warned my asshole father off, and here we are.
The club is my home, these brothers at my side are my family, and as we ride to find out what the fuck is happening with Billie, I think how lucky I am that I found these people.
It makes me wonder, Is she in the same kind of situation? Is someone holding her under their thumb?
Because I see myself in her.
Back where I was before I patched in.
My mind wanders to all the possibilities and all the scenarios that could be plaguing Billie while we ride closer to Dominic’s home. We don’t know what we’re going to find when we get there. All I do know is that I’m not leaving without solid answers.
Texas pulls up on the side road, and we follow behind—Koda, Neon, Kevlar, and me. Kicking out my stand, I turn off my engine, jumping off, making my way to congregate with the others.
“Right. His house is the one on the corner. There’s two ways we can do this… go right up to the door and knock, but if he’s guilty of this shit, he could run, or—”
Texas cuts Neon off. “Or we do it the fun way… go in through the back and surprise the motherfucker.” Texas’ smile is so wide, it’s like he’s pumped with the idea.
Kevlar steps forward, looking more in the direction of the house. “If you want my opinion from going through years of sting operations…” he raises an eyebrow, “… there’s enough of us to do it both ways.” We all furrow our brows when he continues, “Two go t
o the front and knock on the door as a distraction. He’ll either answer or run. The rest of us go in the back to cover all exits. That way, we get the fucker no matter what.”
“This is why we bring you, Kevlar,” I state.
He doesn’t reply as we grab our guns, locking and loading.
“I’ll take the front with Koda. We’re the least intimidating-looking. You three take up the rear,” I suggest, and everyone nods.
Stowing my gun down the back of my jeans, Koda and I round the fence, then walk down the sidewalk toward the entry of Dominic’s home. I spot Texas, Neon, and Kevlar jumping over the side fence. They’re moving into place, so I turn to Koda. “You ready for this?”
“I’m good. I won’t let you down, I swear.”
I grip his shoulder. “You have more experience than any other prospect who’s ever come into the club, Koda. I know you won’t let us down.”
He dips his chin as we enter the small gate and make our way up to the front door. We each take a step out on either side of the giant wooden ornate door. I reach for my gun. Koda grabs his, too, then he pushes the doorbell. My hand drops down holding my gun to the side, so it’s not visible the second he answers the door.
A moment later, the door opens to a middle-aged, balding man with a beer belly and fucking shocking taste in clothing. His eyes shoot straight down to the gun in my hand, and instantly, he tries to shut the door. Quickly reaching out, I slam my forearm up, stopping the movement while he takes off through the house.
“We got a runner,” I call out as the back door bursts open, and the guys rush in from the other end of the house.
Koda and I race after Dominic. He runs inside, spots Kevlar, then turns, heading for the stairs. He grabs a vase on the way through, hurtling it at me. Successfully, I duck out of the way of the flying object. It smashes against the railing, glass shatters, and shards fly across the foyer as he stumbles up the stairs. Immediately, I take off after him, my arms reaching out, grabbing his ankles and yanking. He falls face-first onto the carpeted stairs.
“Whatever you want, take it. Just… please… don’t kill me!”
I flip the fucker over, then sit on top of him on the stairs as Koda moves in next to me with some cable ties and string his hands together.
“Fuck! You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”
“Well, now that depends,” I tell him.
He’s physically shaking, and I am pretty sure that stain on his crotch is piss.
Pushing up, I stand as Koda grabs him by his godawful shirt and yanks him up. We drag him with us back down the stairs. Neon closes the front door, and Texas pulls out a dining chair from under the table and into the hall, then Koda shoves Dominic onto the seat. He’s panting ferociously like he can’t catch his breath while he internally panics.
“Calm down, lover boy. We’re not gonna hurt you if you cooperate,” Texas tells him.
The asshole’s eyes light up, and he shakes his head. “Is this because of the betting app? The deal I made on those horses? I swear I will get the money—”
“This just keeps getting better and better. No, we’re not here because of your gambling debts, asshole. But if you help us, maybe we can do something about the money you owe,” Neon states.
Dominic turns to Neon. “Then what’s this about?”
Neon pulls out his cell and holds it in front of Dominic. “You know this woman?”
Dominic scrunches up his face like he’s in shock. “Yeah… that’s Billie.”
One step forward and my gun is pressed to his temple.
He tenses, the whites of his eyes widening as he stares back at me in fear.
“When was the last time you saw her?”
His breaths become faster, more frantic. His eyes shoot between the gun and me, the gun pressed to his temple. “I-I haven’t seen her in months… I haven’t needed to. I stopped going to her because I have a girlfriend now… and that would be fucking weird. I mean, it was good while it lasted, but I don’t need her anymore.”
He’s not making any damn sense.
What in the hell is he talking about?
He lets out a little whimper when I press the gun into his head further. “Are you harassing her? Stalking her? Did you attack her?”
He jerks his head back in complete shock as his eyebrows become one long line because he is scrunching them that much. “Me? No! Like I said, I have a girlfriend and don’t need her services anymore. But in her line of work, she could have any number of guys after her. I mean… it’s not your everyday kind of thing now, is it?”
My eyes go straight to Neon, he shrugs, so I move the gun to the guy’s kneecap, and he stares at me. “No, please. I’ll do anything!”
“Tell me what she does?”
He slumps in his chair and exhales. It’s loud and sounds almost like he’s frustrated. “She sent you here to harass me, but she didn’t tell you what she does?”
With that little show of disrespect, I instantly click off the safety, and he simply closes his eyes like he’s made peace within himself.
“The thing is, when you become a client of Billie’s, you sign an NDA…” he pauses before continuing, “… to keep both parties safe. If she hasn’t told you what she does, she doesn’t want you to know. And legally, I can’t tell you.”
“Even when a bullet is about to be put through your kneecap?” I grunt out.
“Look, I like Billie. She was always so fucking good to me. Did I get a little clingy near the end? Yeah, but would I hurt her? Never. You got the wrong guy.”
My eyes shift to Neon, and he tilts his head toward the door. As much as I fucking hate it, he’s right, and there’s no need to take this any further.
Dominic is not our guy.
“You keep gambling, your girlfriend is gonna leave you. You know that, right?” I tell him.
He slumps his body. “Yeah, yeah… I know.”
“Fix this shit, Dominic. Keep your mouth shut about us being here, and I’ll wipe your tab clean. This is a one-time deal, you hear me?” Neon states.
Dominic nods his head frantically. “I hear you… and if it’s any consolation, I really do hope Billie is okay. She’s a great girl. She was there for me when I needed her. I hope you guys can be there for her if she needs you now, which I’m assuming she’s in some kinda trouble because here you are—”
“Keep your nose clean,” I interrupt but don’t say any more. Raising my chin to Koda, he moves in, cutting the cable ties on Dominic’s hands. He rubs at his wrists, then places his hand out to shake Neon’s.
“Thank you. You may have scared the shit out of me when you showed up, but… in reality, you are a blessing in disguise.”
“Don’t waste our generosity. Or mistake it for anything other than what it actually is.”
“A payoff for my silence.”
“Exactly!”
“Got it… still appreciate it, though.”
Before we make for the front door, I slap his back. “Use the money you save on not gambling to fix your back door,” I tell him, and Dominic snaps his head to the rear entrance that the boys tore down on entry.
As we head out the front, Dominic’s girlfriend is walking down the path. Her eyes widen as she takes us all in. She shuffles back, taking small steps and keeping her distance from us. I dip my chin and keep walking.
“What the fuck, Dom?” she asks from a distance, where she seems to feel safest.
“Nothing for you to worry about, babe.”
“I swear to God, Dom, if you’re in bed with bikers, we’re done. For good this time.”
I smirk as we round the corner and make our way back to our bikes.
Neon steps up to me. “You okay with how this went?”
Nodding, I roll my shoulders. “We need to find out what the fuck Billie does for a living. That might be the key to all this.”
Texas cocks his head to the side. “Are you prepared for what you might find out because to me, brother, it doesn’t sound like
it’s going to be something you’re gonna wanna hear?”
The only thing running through my mind right now is that Billie is some kind of escort, so I couldn’t agree more with Texas’ assessment of the way things went down in there.
And that thought fucking terrifies me.
I can’t imagine that scenario.
I don’t want to think about her selling her body.
She’s worth so much more than that.
This shit is fucking distressing.
Why? Why would she feel the need to do that?
I don’t have answers to the questions running rampant in my mind, so no point dwelling. I need answers, and I need them now.
Letting out a loud sigh, I say, “I need to know.”
Neon steps forward. “We all do. The club needs to know who she really is. What kind of person is living with us? Who the hell she is?”
“Then let’s head back and find out.”
Marching back into the club, I’m a man on a damn mission.
I’m unsettled.
Fucking rattled.
Uncertainty is messing with my head.
I’ve been so caught up in Billie, I didn’t take a second to think her story wasn’t adding up. There are holes—holes I need for her to fill in the blanks.
Because this uneasy feeling doesn’t fucking wash.
The five of us make our way into the clubhouse and over to Zero. Billie is sitting with Cherry. Her eyes shift to mine, and that sudden spark of adrenaline surges through me when she stares at me.
That’s why this is so fucking unsettling because of the way my body ignites with just one look.
I need to know more about her.
She is a mystery.
And that’s not a good thing when it comes to the club.
Zero places his pool cue down on our approach, lifting his chin. “How’d it go?”
Neon shakes his head. “Wasn’t him. Told him I’d clear his gambling debts to keep him quiet about our little visit.”
Zero rubs his bearded chin, his eyes darting to Billie. “So, where’s this leave us?”
“With questions,” I reply.
Zero turns to me. “Go on…”
“Dominic made it clear, whatever their relationship was, it was confidential. He signed an NDA and wouldn’t tell us about her job.”
