by K E Osborn
She nods her head, and her jaw wracks from side to side like she’s mulling that thought over. “And they’re the only two options?”
Nodding, I caress her cheek a little harder. “There’s no in between, foxy.”
She sighs scrunching up her face as she breaks free from my grip and moves to get out of the bed. I wince at the lack of contact as she shifts away to put some clothes on. The silence in the room is deafening, and I’m not sure if I should say something or let her mull this over in her mind. It’s a lot to take onboard.
I decide to sit up and move to get dressed too. I need to go anyway. Though leaving on this note, I’m not sure it’s the best idea, but I’m not sure I have much of a choice right now. I stand up from the bed and grab my clothes from the floor and start getting dressed.
She turns to face me, and I stop doing up my jeans as she pulls her shirt on and sighs. “I’m sorry for going quiet. I just… it’s a lot to take in.”
I walk around the bed wearing just my jeans, my bare chest on display and step up to her taking her hands in mine. “Hey… I know. I know this life isn’t like a normal mundane relationship. This life is not for everyone. The biker lifestyle’s hard, it’s full of action and drama, and fuckin’ bad guys at our tails. But, it’s also full of a brotherhood, a family who has your back, no matter fuckin’ what. A lifestyle that has the freedom for you to be anyone, to do anything you wanna do. We can travel if you want. Defiance has clubs all over the country. Hell, all over the world. And if you wanna see it, the clubs ride all the time. The comradery, the kinship, the family love of a club, Heeley, you won’t find it in civilian life. I’m not promising I’ll be perfect, either. I’ll fuck up, you’ll make mistakes, but biker life means you work hard at it. Together.”
She smiles and leans in wrapping her arms around my waist, her cheek rests against my chest as she cuddles into me, and I hold her tightly. “Who knew you could talk like a romantic.”
I snort. “That was romantic?”
She nods against my chest, her blonde hair tickling my skin. “Yeah, in your own biker way. It was.” She looks up at me and smiles. “Kiss me.”
Without hesitation, I lean down and press my lips to hers. My cock pulses as it always does when I feel that fucking spark between us. Her mouth opens, and my tongue wastes no time moving in and colliding with hers while I kiss her for all she’s worth.
Our conversation hasn’t been light this morning. It’s been heavy as hell, and after an amazing night, I guess a talk like this was inevitable—one about where our future together is headed.
All I need to know now is what direction she’s going to take.
Is she going to ride with me? Or ride off into the sunset alone?
Pulling back from our heated kiss, I look into her eyes, they’re glistening with an intensity I haven’t quite seen from her before. It’s a look of indecision. And I fucking hate it.
She sniffs, swallowing hard, and I pull back a little more. “I think you going to the club today is a good thing.” Her voice is a breathy whisper.
I step back putting a gap between us. “Why?”
She looks at the floor hesitantly. “I just… I need to think. This is a lot, Torque. And as much as I like you—”
“Okay,” I interrupt not wanting her to finish that sentence. I spin, making my way back to grab my shirt, my stomach churning at the thought she’s going to turn me down. I’ve put myself out there after all this time and now, I sigh and grit my teeth. “I get it.”
“Torque, please don’t be mad.”
Softening my stance, I look back at her. “I’m not mad. I understand. I’ll wait to hear from you.”
My gorgeous girl’s eyes well with tears, and that makes me think she might have already made up her mind. My muscles clench, and my stomach twists as I pull my shirt over my head. I turn not wanting to see her looking so upset, and I pull my boots on as I try not to let myself get too worked up.
I’m fucked off.
I let myself feel things for her.
I opened myself up.
And now it looks like she’s going to let me down.
I turn back in time to see her wiping a stray tear away, and I wince as I let out a heavy sigh. “Don’t be sad, foxy. Remember last night. That should put a smile on your face.”
Her face instantly lights up, and I grin as I turn and head for her living room. I grab my keys, my helmet, and my cell and make my way to her front door.
She rushes behind me and grabs my elbow to stop me. I turn, and she leans in and kisses me hard. I lean into the kiss just as she pulls back and sighs. “I’ll talk to you soon,” she relays.
I smile and turn, opening the door and walking out. She closes it behind me, and my stomach sinks with the muted hum of the door jam.
Fuck!
***
Walking through the door of the clubhouse, my shoulders are tense. Walking away from Heeley and not knowing if I’ll ever see her again nearly fucking killed me. Especially after the night we shared. But I had to give her a choice. This life isn’t for everyone, and while I think she’ll be suited to it perfectly, she’s the only one who can decide if she will fit in here. So maybe this is for the best. If she’s scared off by just the thought of what happens, then maybe she actually won’t be able to handle it like I thought she could.
I don’t fucking know.
What I do know is I need to get my head straight and into the game. I have a gun shipment to run, and I need to know it’s all going smoothly.
Ace walks up to me and juts his chin up in a greeting. “Pres, the container has left the yard, and is on its way to Linn’s men.”
Nodding, we continue to walk as we head for the armory. “Good. Did you do what I asked?”
He clicks on his cell and shows me a map with a moving red flashing light. I grin and round the corner into the armory to see everyone already here.
“Good work, Ace. Right, everyone… this is a typical drop run. The delivery should arrive after us. Vibe’s driving the load and should be at the warehouse in approximately twenty minutes. That gives us fifteen… to meet Linn, in the designated spot. Let’s grab what we need and ride out. Disperse.”
Everyone picks up their weapon of choice, and we all head out of the armory down the hall to the clubrooms.
Mom and Neala are waiting and watching as we go to leave, and I nod to Tremor who’s staying behind to watch them. He’s doing better, and he’ll be able to guard them along with the older brothers who are sitting this one out too. We don’t need everyone to go, just the main crew are handling it. Me, Trax, Chains, Sensei, Lift, Scratch, Surge, Ace, and Vibe will be driving the shipment.
Normally, we’d have a couple of prospects backing us up, but Tremor’s watching Mom and Neala, and Zane is still on Heeley. Even though she probably wants some space, the threat on her hasn’t eased, so I’m not letting her guard ease up either.
As much as we all want to take our larger rifles, we opt for smaller Glocks and place them down our jeans as we hop on our rides. We’re riding the streets, so it makes it a little more difficult to carry larger firearms. And the fact we’re dealing with Harry Linn, himself, makes us comfortable to ease up on the weaponry.
Linn is our ally.
So we don’t expect to have any kind of resistance or trouble.
This should be a simple trade.
Guns for money.
Plain and simple.
Working with Linn has always been effortless. We’ve never had any problems. We don’t expect any now. But nevertheless, we don’t show up unarmed. They might be our allies, but they’re still the Triad, and, just like us, they’re a lethal bunch of thugs, thieves, and murderers. We’re just better at it than them. We’re a classier bunch of criminals.
Starting up my ride along with everyone else, the roar of the Harley engines sing through the compound. The sound igniting my adrenaline. The noise sending a shiver of contentment through me as I smile and signal to Scratch to l
ead front door as always. My Road Captain taking the front of the group ride in his stride. The vibration of my engine between my legs makes me smile as I suddenly think of Heeley and how I would fucking love to have her on the back of my bike, gripping around my waist, holding on tight again. Her pussy pressing into my ass as we pound the asphalt. But I can’t think of that now. I need my mind on the task at hand, and I hammer down and take off after Chains, my Sergeant at Arms, who follows Scratch. Trax follows me, and my brothers pull out in a steady line with Surge at the back door. Being the most experienced rider, he always goes last.
It’s tradition.
The air blows past me, and a sense of ease washes over me as I ride toward the warehouse. Trading with the Triad always runs smoothly, and this will be easy. Meeting with Linn can almost be fun, his banter is witty, and for the mastermind of an elite Chinese dynasty, he’s actually pretty chill.
I like the dude.
The ride to the warehouse lets my mind wander. Heeley is at the forefront of my mind, and I hate the way we left things. But the ball is in her court, and I have to give her the space to make up her own mind.
I can’t make it for her.
Either she is in, or she is out.
I’m hoping she chooses option one.
Chains pulls to the right and into the giant parking lot of the warehouse. I follow. Water erupts in a small fountain of spray as my tires glide through puddles on the ground while I ride inside the open bay door of the warehouse to see Harry Linn and his Triad members already here. Their Nissan Skylines on show with their glowing neon lights underneath like something from the fucking Fast and the Furious.
I chuckle beneath my helmet as I pull up to the scene, and Linn opens his arms wide with a giant smile on his face. He reminds me of that fucking Asian guy from The Hangover, whatever the fuck his name is. He doesn’t look like him, but his actions are so similar. It’s uncanny.
I let my bike tip to the side as I kick out the stand, turning off the engine. Throwing my leg over, I yank off my helmet as the other bikes all pull to a stop. I head off straight toward Linn.
“Ohhh… hello, fuckers! It so good to see you again,” Linn calls out rushing up to me, grabs me in a tight man hug, his Asian accent thick as ever.
“Linn, good to see you, too.” I slap his back as he sways me from side to side, and I screw up my face at his little-too-affectionate hug. With a small push, I move him back gently from the hug, and he chuckles waving his hand at me.
“Oh, Torque, you so worry about your man part. You live free, boy. Embrace hugging. You feel much happier.” He walks back to his men standing by their neon-glowing fucking cars, and I shake my head as my guys all flank my side.
“Yeah, I’m not one for male bonding, but you go right ahead, Linn. I know it’s your style.”
He lets out a loud laugh, gripping onto the goon next to him as he bends over in hysterics. This guy is so fucking weird, but he’s all right by me. “Oh fucker, you have no idea. But anyway, we get down to business. Where the gun? It coming. Yes?”
I nod and smile. “Yeah, they’re on their way. You know we wouldn’t disappoint you, Linn. You’re our best customer.”
He smiles wide. “Ohhh, you guy, you so nice to me. I think you looove me.” He tilts his head with a smirk as I roll my eyes.
The truck pulls into the warehouse, but something’s off. Vibe’s driving erratically as he swerves and continues at a weird pace.
“Oh, here my gun now. Yippee.” Linn jumps on the spot, clapping his hands in the air as I turn to face the truck that’s driving right at us. My muscles tense as the tires screech just in time for the truck to stop. But it doesn’t stop in time before it takes out Scratch’s bike. The front of the truck slamming into the Harley side on before it comes to a complete stop.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
TORQUE
Everyone spins as everything inside me tenses. I know something’s wrong as Scratch bolts for the truck yelling and cussing at the top of his lungs.
“Oooh… bikers gonna fight,” Linn calls out as I step closer to the door. The truck opens, and Vibe falls out of the driver’s side, straight to the floor in a heap with an “oomph.”
Scratch and I race to Vibe’s side as he groans. Scratch reaches him first, and instead of smashing into him like I thought he would, he rolls him over bending to his knees and taps him on his face. “Brother, you okay?” he asks as I reach him and look down to see Vibe’s face covered in bruises, swollen, cut and bloody.
Like he’s been beaten.
“What the fuck?” I call out as the rest of our guys rush over.
Vibe groans out, spitting out a line of blood as he looks to Scratch. “Sorry about your bike, brother. My eyes lost focus. I couldn’t see for a moment.” His Finnish accent coming through stronger when he’s zoning out.
“Is there a problem, Torque? I have places to be, you know,” Linn calls out.
I scrunch up my face, ignoring him. “Vibe, brother. What happened?”
He glances at me, his left eye completely bloodshot and the other one is swollen shut. No wonder he was having trouble seeing where to drive.
“Cars ran me off the road. Then pulled up in front of me. I had to pull the rig over. Men in balaclavas jumped me. Took me out of the cab. Beat me…” he pauses. “They took the guns, Pres.”
My face falls as I turn to Ace, and he races to the back of the truck, the sound of the heavy metal doors squeal as they open. “Fuck,” Ace calls out, and I wince as Linn walks over to us, and I clench my jaw standing back up and turn to look at Linn.
“Problem, Torque?” Linn asks.
I crack my neck to the side as my anger intensifies. Fucking Andrettis screwing everything up for us. If my relationship with Linn is in question, this could start an all new problem.
Fuck!
Exhaling, I step up to Linn and place my hand on his shoulder. “Linn… Harry. We have a good friendship, don’t we?” I ask.
He smiles wide at me. “Of course, fucker. You’re my homeboy.”
I chuckle and walk him away from the scene where my other brothers are still tending to Vibe, but I do see Ace heading toward Linn and me. “That’s good to know. Because there’s a slight delay in your shipment.”
Linn stops walking and turns to me, his bright smile falling, and all humor is gone.
Shit.
“Okay. So, now we have problem. You deliver gun. I give money. This how we stay friend. Yes?”
I nod and let out a small sigh. “Yes, and we’ve done this for years, Linn. I’ve never let you down—”
“Then why start now, Torque?”
“Someone intercepted the load, and its arrival here—”
His fingers come up to my mouth, effectively shutting me up as he looks me deadpan in the eyes. “I don’t want excuses. I want your gun. You smart boy, Torque. You know how this work. We extend deadline. This once… in good faith. But you screw us. We screw you. You feel me, fucker?”
Nodding as he peels his fingers from my lips, he walks away to his men, and my muscles clench all over. I hate that our strong alliance is now on tenterhooks because of fucking Andretti. If I get my hands on that motherfucker, I’m going to tear him a new one and then take him out myself.
Ace steps up to me holding out his cell. It shows me a map with the glowing red dot. The dot on the map is not showing up in the same vicinity as we are now. I smile and slap his shoulder knowing the tracking device he put in one of the cases of guns is still active, and we have the location of the guns.
Fucker’s going to pay.
“Good work, Ace. I swear, Andretti doesn’t know the shitstorm he’s just rained down on himself—”
The screeching of tires breaks me mid-sentence as I look up to the entrance of the warehouse to see the telltale red Alpha Romeos of the Andrettis fly in. My muscles clench as I look at my men. They all stand, bar Vibe as we all draw our Glocks ready for whatever might come.
Linn’s men all stan
d around like deer in the damn headlights.
“Linn, take cover,” I call out as the three Romeos drive in circles around us menacingly. Their windows are tinted so we can’t see in. My heart is pummeling in my chest as I aim my Glock at the car nearest me.
I glance to Ace, who’s standing right next to me, his gun drawn too. Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Linn’s men shove him into his Skyline, which I know has been bulletproofed. Thank fuck. But his men stay outside of his car, and they too pull their guns while we all watch and wait while the Romeos continue to circle.
“You already took the guns. What else do you want, you fuckin’ Mafia scum?” I call out.
As if in answer, the windows of the Romeos wind down in unison, and Andretti’s men wearing balaclavas hang out their windows, weapons aimed high as I tense all over when I hear the first round of bullets let go. My legs don’t fail me as I start to bolt toward the closest car, which happens to be Linn’s while gunfire rings through the warehouse. The closed-in space makes the echoing of the gunfire seem even louder as the three cars, and the three men hanging out of the windows, don’t hesitate to shoot at my guys.
Slipping in behind Linn’s car to take cover, bullets fly past my head. The whirring of bullets barely missing me sets my heart racing at a million times a minute as I raise my gun and start firing, not really looking where I’m aiming. Just trying to take shelter.
I move around, and my body slams into the side of Linn’s car, next to Ace, and we both duck down as two of Linn’s men are on either side of us. Bullets pummel the car, and I have no idea how we’re going to get out of this. There’s absolutely nowhere for us to fucking go unless Linn opens the door to the car which I know he won’t. There’s too much fucking distance between us and the truck for safe shelter.
We’re screwed.
I look to my guys who are ducking down behind the side of the truck, firing off shots when they can, but I don’t see a way out of this. My chest heaves as a Romeo turns and comes into our view and I prepare to take on fire. An Andretti man hangs out the window aiming his weapon right at us. I aim back at him, but his rifle will beat a Glock any day.
