Call My Bluff

by Elizabeth Knox

  A pen sits on the dresser next to my notepad. Quickly I pick it up and begin writing a message to Fleur. Fuck all this secrecy. I think I might be able to trust her. At the end of the day none of us ever chooses this life. It’s chosen for us, usually with something being held over our head.

  I don’t want to talk. The apartment might be bugged.

  “It’s not bugged. I did a scan the first day we arrived because I can’t stand being spied on. Father’s tried to plant bugs in apartments I stay at, but I destroy the fuckers within the first twelve hours. So, what’s gotten you so freaked?”

  I breathe a sigh of relief. “I know everything I need to about Declan, because I went to go see him last night.”

  “You what?!” Fleur’s eyes widen to twice the normal size. She’s baffled by what I’ve done. I don’t blame her. I’d be both terrified and shocked as well.

  “Hear me out, if I didn’t go over, he would’ve been screwing everything up and you know it too.”

  Fleur sucks in a deep breath and shakes her head, walks over to my bed and takes a seat. “What did you do, Lola? Actually, no, I know what you did. You started to fuck this up for all of us. You know we won’t ever be able to get out of this now, don’t you? You . . . God dammit!” Fleur breaks out into tears.

  I can only imagine how I’ve made her feel. I know if the roles were reversed, I’d be terrified, scared out of my mind we’d have the Arcane coming after us. Let’s be honest, it’s what’ll end up happening. There’s no other option.

  “Declan said he’d help me get out of this,” I say.

  “You? What do you think will happen to Nadia, or me? Father will kill us regardless, Lola. He won’t give a shit if we had nothing to do with whatever you’re planning. He’ll kill us to send a fucking message! Excuse me if I don’t give a damn about what your old mark is going to do for you. Especially when you’ll get us killed in the process, all because of your own stupidity.”

  I didn’t think about this before . . . not in full detail. Declan said he’d help me get out but the reality of what we’d have to do is bigger than he can ever imagine. It won’t ever be simple. It’s going to be terrifying every step of the way, because we’re both starting a war with one of the most powerful men on the planet.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about you or Nadia.” I confess to Fleur.

  “Oh really?” She barks back sarcastically.

  “I need to talk to Declan soon. We need to change our plans. Fuck, we need to re-think this entire thing.”

  “Yeah, I’d sure say. What is the plan anyway?”

  “To take Father down,” I reply.

  “Oh, so it’ll be super easy to do. I’m putting my full faith into the both of you.” She’s continuing on with the sarcasm.

  “Okay, I realize I didn’t think this through with him enough. We just decided on it this morning. I’m supposed to meet with him in two days to go over things.”

  “Lola,” Fleur looks at me sternly, rises from the edge of my bed and places her hands on both of my shoulders, “We all need to run if you’re going to do this. I . . . damn. I’ve been thinking about it for too long. I’ll do it if you are, and Nadia really has no fucking choice. We’ll all be screwed over by your choice, so.”

  “Where will you go?” I ask.

  “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out.”

  All of a sudden an idea hits me, one I can’t go to Declan and ask him right now . . . but I won’t leave these women behind. They’re automatically damned because of the choice I’m making. “Come with me, Fleur. Nadia too. We’ll be stronger together.”

  “Where are we going?” Nadia asks from behind me, causing me to jolt into the air. Crap. Just as I was starting to convince Fleur of the idea, now I need to get Nadia onboard too.

  “Lola and Declan have decided to live happily-ever-after. He’s going to help her get out of this life, so you and I need to run as far and fast as we can to get away from Father.” Fleur catches her up to speed in the most insensitive way possible.

  Nadia presses her lips together and closes her eyes, a tear falls from the corner of her eye. “I’m dead regardless. Do what you want.”

  Bringing my brows together, I need to figure out what she means. “How are you dead regardless?”

  She scoffs, “My last mark’s sister. She went to the FBI and Father has intel this is closer than they’ve ever been. He told me this is my last assignment.”

  God. He’s given her the death penalty. It’s a signature move where he’ll let one of us work our last assignment and then soon thereafter he’ll put a bullet through our head. It happens in the most unexpected of ways, but we always know it’s coming.

  It’s just a ticking time bomb.

  My mind is made up. Declan and I don’t have enough time. We need to get out of here quickly. As a matter of fact, the sooner the better.

  Chapter Fifteen

  She was an angel craving chaos. He was a demon seeking peace

  ~ TheMindsJournal.Com

  Declan

  Staring down at my laptop for what feels like the tenth hour. In reality, it’s only been a couple of hours. I’ve been responding to emails, checking up on projects the company has around the world. It’s all a desperate plea to try and occupy my time until I see Lola again.

  Samira walks into my home office, squints her brows together and speaks up. “Declan, you have a visitor here. Her name is Lola, and she says she was here yesterday . . .,” Samira no doubt believes Lola is some crazy woman who’s infatuated with me. There have been a few times where I’ve brought one-night stands over and they’ve shown up just like Lola has.

  “It’s alright, let her in.” I say, trying to sound calm and collected when I’m worried why Lola’s come back so soon.

  Samira exits my office and while I wait I finish typing up the email to one of my clients and shut my laptop. Samira escorts Lola into my office. “Samira, will you please shut the door on your way out?” I ask.

  She gives me a look that only tells me she’s uncomfortable with doing so, but she will do it. After Samira shuts the door I walk closer to Lola. “What’re you doing here?”

  “We don’t have much time, Declan. Things are in motion that I wasn’t even aware of. We have to run, there isn’t another choice.” What in the world? Where is all of this coming from?

  “What are you talking about? This morning we had a solid plan in place.”

  She nods once, “Yes, we did, but I didn’t know he plans on offing one of the women who are working with me.”

  That doesn’t make sense. “Why would he kill one of his employees?”

  “To sum it up, there was an issue on her last job. The way he typically does this is he’ll tell us before he or one of his hired hands comes for us. We’re to work our last assignment, which is the assignment she’s doing with me. After she leaves she’ll be dead, Declan.”

  “Why does he tell you ahead of time?” Isn’t it just encouragement for them to run?

  “Because he wants us to be afraid of what’s coming.”

  “Shit,” I mutter, wiping my hand over my mouth.

  “Declan, I want to do things the right way. I know we just started to orchestrate how we were going to pull this off . . . but I’m afraid our options are limited now. We need to act quickly, and I’m going to beg that it’s not just the two of us who leave. Please, from the bottom of my heart I ask you to let us bring Fleur and Nadia. Nadia is the one who will be dead soon.”

  Everything I’ve said to Lola is true. I want to keep her safe. I want to get her out of this, and while she doesn’t know it, I expressed to Heidi and her team how I want to help others get out of the same position as well.

  “Yes, we’ll take both of them.” I declare, trying to figure out where we can go. With my own disappearance they’ll connect the dots. I need a house that will be big enough to house the four of us, in a remote location if possible.

  “How are we going to do this?” I can tel
l how nerve wracked she is.

  “I have a friend who owns a private island off the island of Guadelope. He has a luxury resort on it with a few mansions for upper class individuals who prefer a more private oasis. I can reach out and see if he’ll give us a lease. It should help us stay under the radar. Very little people go there. But we’ll need a jet and while I have one . . . again it’ll look suspicious.”

  “You’ll need to change the names on the manifest. Our names can’t be on it.” Lola states. I naturally assumed their names couldn’t be on it. Talented individuals could easily hack into it. Wait . . . I have a splendid idea.

  “Actually, we will take my jet. I have a feeling I know who’s names we can use.” I grab my phone from the top of my desk and immediately call my friend Marcus, who is the owner of the island and spend about ten minutes telling him how I’m trying to give a few employees of mine a specific retreat for a bit, but how we’ll be working there as well. He’s offered to let me stay there as long as I need to free of charge.

  I’m pleasantly surprised at this bit, but I did save his ass not too long ago when I stood up for him. This must be his way of repaying me for that. Now, I call Heidi and hope she’ll answer.

  “Declan, why are you calling me at this hour?” It’s a little past ten in the evening. I don’t know why she’s freaking out.

  “I want to buy a share of your company for 3 million dollars. You can have a fifty-one percent stake, and I’ll have forty-nine percent. You can veto any decision I make and have the final say on everything.”

  “What? Where is this coming from?”

  “I don’t have time to explain right now, but I need you and your team to meet me at an airstrip tomorrow morning. Pack a bag, bring your laptops and everything else you may need. We’re moving your office.”

  “Declan, you can’t just call me and present an offer like this . . . and expect me to accept straight away.”

  “Fine, then don’t accept it straight away. Just meet me at the airstrip with your essential personnel and let me show you what being a partner of mine can be like.”

  Heidi grumbles something on the other end and the call ends abruptly.

  “What’re you doing, Declan?” Lola asks.

  “We’re doing what we have to. Tomorrow morning at ten, we’ll all be leaving. Go get your girls and make sure they know the plan. I’m going to bring you all on board and we’ll have on the manifest that I only have a certain number of passengers. No one will know you, Nadia, or Fleur are even onboard besides the pilot, and crew.”

  She nods a couple times, biting the corner of her lip. “I’m scared,”

  “Of course, you are but I’m going to get you three out of this. You do trust me, right?” I stare into her eyes and wait to hear her response. Her eyes glisten over with water and I can tell she’s on the verge of crying.

  “More than you could ever know, Declan.”

  I go right up to her, pull Lola in my arms and make a promise to her. “You’re all going to be okay. Tomorrow morning we’ll be on a flight, far away from here.”

  The End . . . for now.

  Authors Note:

  Dear Readers,

  I so hope you enjoyed this new novella I’ve written. Conned was something I was planning to write for just the anthology. However, I’ve made the decision that after the anthology term is complete I will be releasing this as a novella. However, the rest of this story will be released shortly thereafter. I’m thinking I might release one every month, or every two weeks until Lola and Declan’s story is complete.

  They’ve worked together to figure out a plan that will keep the women safe. But, their story isn’t over yet. This is just the beginning and I hope you’re ready for whatever else is going to be coming our way.

  I’m sure many of you are wondering where the next installment will pick up. I can fully say the first chapter of the second book will be as they’re on the flight to Guadeloupe. Expect to see the rest of this coming in Early 2021!

  Xoxo,

  Liz

  Vengeance

  The Chicago Defiance MC Next Generation Novella

  KE Osborn

  Blurb

  The love of your family should be unconditional.

  My lineage—a long line of MC presidents before me.

  My role—to live up to the expectations of those who filled the shoes I now wear.

  Through my self-doubt, the lights of Vegas shine a beacon of hope.

  A phoenix to rise through the ashes.

  When my VP goes rogue, putting the club in jeopardy for his chance at happiness, will I find mine when the dust finally settles?

  Or will my darkest secret be the very thing that not only destroyed my past but also a chance at a bright future?

  This story isn’t about finding a way through—it’s deception, misunderstandings, attraction, and lies.

  Love—it’s possible.

  But who will have their vengeance?

  Chapter One

  VIPER

  I slam my gavel hard on the table at the end of church, the loud thump resounding through the room as I take in my men. My VP, Vex, who also happens to be my cousin, sits to my left and Socket, my baby brother and Sergeant At Arms, to my right. Around the table of the Chicago Defiance MC, it’s a real family affair. My other cousin, Highway, sits at the end opposite me. While the rest of the men of my club-family, not by blood but the men I’ve grown up with, surround the table—Kampai, Vegas, and Atomic.

  The thing about us is we grew up here.

  Every single one of us.

  We’re all sons of elders.

  Hell, Socket and I have the privilege of having an ex-president as our father.

  Rylan ‘Torque’ O’Shea—his name is famous around the streets of Chicago.

  Synonymous with winning fights against the Yakuza, coming up against an ex-POTUS, turning the leader of the Andretti Mafia into an ally, and bringing down underworld organizations, to name a few, yeah, Rylan ‘Torque’ O’Shea is like a myth, a fucking legend in these parts. So, it’s tough being in my position—the president of this club—while trying to live up to his image and all the good he did for the Chicago underworld.

  But I’m trying.

  We’re all trying.

  And with my dad, the fucking legend himself here in the background as our ‘Wise One,’ he’s always giving my brothers advice about what to do.

  My brothers stand from the table getting ready to walk out while my attention is brought back into the here and now. My blood brother, Socket, is loitering at the rear of the chapel, and Atomic is sitting at his tech station.

  I exhale, aware of what they want.

  So, I walk over to them.

  “Look, I know what you’re thinking, but it can’t be a serious threat, can it?” I ask, my eyes focused in on Atomic.

  He grits his teeth while typing something into the computer system. His father, Ace, still tries to come in and take over. Often. I guess you never stop being a tech guy for the club. “I don’t know if there is any other way to see it, Pres. Unless someone’s sending out false data, it’s pretty conclusive.”

  I shake my head in aggravation. “I don’t want this to be true. We’ve had peace in the streets of Chicago for years. My father and the brothers around him brokered that peace, and now because of one stupid misunderstanding, that could all be blowing up in our damn faces.”

  Socket grips my shoulder. “Look, I know you haven’t been wearing that president’s patch for a long time, but shit, brother, if you need advice, you know who to turn to. Dad knows these guys better than anyone. He’ll know what to do. There’s no shame in trying to nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand.”

  I flare my nostrils. “Yeah… but fuck! Last thing I want is to go to Dad with this, but I see no other option.” I swipe my hand through my hair. “He’s gonna fucking kill us,” I murmur the last part.

  Socket grimaces. “Want me to come with? You know, for back up?”
<
br />   “Nah… I’m the president. I have to man up to my club’s mistakes.”

  I turn, heading out of the chapel.

  Music assaults my ears as Jada and Mish serve behind the bar, their tits practically hanging out of their tops. The two new prospects, Kaden and Ash, are drinking heavily, their eyes firmly set on the club girls’ cleavages.

  I roll my eyes, walking past them. “Go! Clean the damn bikes, prospects.”

  They both turn, dropping their beers to the bar with shock. “Yes, Pres,” they blurt out in unison and scurry off. I may not have been president for long, but being a third-generation president gives you mad respect.

  I just hope I haven’t screwed it up in my first month of being in the damn chair.

  My eyes continue to search the clubroom. It’s a mismatch of the old and new. The next generation is climbing the ranks while the older generation is slowly taking a back seat.

  My parents have entered their early sixties.

  Dad could have stayed on the throne. There was no reason for him to hand it down to me. He’s not sick, but he told me he wanted to spend more time with Mom and maybe travel. He spent his years behind the desk, and he wanted to pass on the gavel. That way, he could be here to guide me—well, Socket and me. When Dad did that, my Uncle Trax decided to do the same. So, his son, Vex, was promoted to VP.

  Vex is just like his father—immature in his actions, irrational in his ways. They say deviance is an absence of conformity to the normal, and you better believe Vex is just like that. His moods are up, down, and all over the place. He’s a loose cannon.

  Mom and Dad sit in the corner, all cozied up. It’s crazy, even at their age at how loved-up they still are. As I walk over, their heads turn up, and I grit my teeth.