Chicago Defiance Box Set Part One

by K E Osborn

  The bullets fire off rapidly as I try to keep my back as pressed against the car as far as possible, and a line of bullets pierces the car then slams straight into Linn’s man. His stomach opening up as the bullets pummel into him. Blood pisses out everywhere as his body falls to the ground leaving Ace wide open. I grit my teeth as Ace turns to look at me, fear in his eyes, but I can’t let my brother go down. So I think on my feet, reaching down and grabbing Linn’s guard’s body and yank him up. His body shielding mine, and I use him as a shield to protect Ace and me as bullets pound into his already dead body.

  Ace looks at me and nods in a gesture of thanks as I tilt my head with a grimace thinking we’re not quite out of this yet. My other side is open when the next car comes around. I glance at my other brothers seeing them all huddled together. Surge catches my attention, and I shake my head at him letting him know I have no idea what the fuck to do. He looks to me. I see his Adam’s apple bob up and down, and that tells me everything I need to know. He doesn’t see a way out of this either.

  Anger rushes through me, and I shake my head knowing we’re going to go down like this. This is my club, my brothers, and I’ll be fucked if we’re going to go down without fighting back. I brought them here, so I need to figure a way out for them.

  “Ace, I don’t really see a way out of this. But I’m not going down without a fight. If I’m going out, I’m going out in a blaze of glory.”

  He grimaces, looking to his other brothers. “Pres, I’m with you. I’ve got your back. Let’s fuck up some Andretti assholes.”

  I have no idea if my brothers will hear me or not over the fucking screeching of the Romeo’s tires, but I need to try. “Defiance… defend,” I call out, and they all look to me, hesitate for a brief second, but a fire lights in their eyes knowing what I’m asking.

  They know the cost.

  They know they will probably all die for the fight.

  But an honorable death is better than dying a coward.

  We both stand up, bullets flying, and we race forward to the middle of the warehouse where the others are huddling. Creating two circles, an inner and an outer row. Linn’s men watch on from their cars in surprise as they continue to shoot at the Romeo’s giving us some ground cover.

  But we aim, and we aim clear.

  All of us directing right at the Andrettis hanging from the windows. There’s only three of them, and there’s eight of us. Plus, Linn’s men. We’re all trying to take out the moving targets.

  Their rifles aim right at us, and I tense as a round of bullets fly haphazardly around us. Trax, Ace, Surge, and me are in the inner row and everyone else is on the outer. My arm extends between Sensei and Chains as I aim my gun, shooting it at the Romeos, and aiming as best as I can at the moving targets.

  My stomach sinks as I watch Chains shudder and fall to his knees, a grunt echoing from his mouth. But he stays upright keeping his gun up and continuing to shoot. I shake my head hating that he’s hit as I watch one of the Andrettis drop his weapon to the ground, his body bursting and splattering open with the pummeling of bullets spraying into him. His torso flops over against the open window hanging out of it lifelessly, blood seeping down the equally red car, and I smile knowing we’re down to two.

  The bullets keep flying as I continue to shoot knowing this is still a shitty situation, and it could go either way. But as I see Lift fall to the ground with a shudder, I let out a groan, and focus on the guy coming into my line of sight. I aim for his head, focusing intently on the moving object as he aims for us in the middle of the warehouse. His weapon pulls back, bullets flying, and one sweeps past Sensei’s head and shoots past my arm nicking it on the way through, making my shooting hand wobble a fraction, but I grit my teeth and pull the trigger. I watch as the bullet flies straight in between the Andretti framed eyes of his balaclava, and the guy falls forward out of the car his body slumping over the open window, his arms hanging lifelessly.

  I drop my arm as I shake off the pain seeping through me, and I look around noticing only one shooter left, but we’re two men down, and I figure if I’m nicked then others must be too.

  The car rounds the truck heading straight for us, and I tense up, the gunfire begins, and I watch in horror as Surge drops to his knees. I let out a muffled sound, but Sensei’s quick off the mark as he grabs a shooting star from his back pocket, and wastes no time hurtling it with skill and precision. The tiny metal star slices through the air spinning with such delicate ease that the air sparkles with the shards of light glistening from it as it slams straight into the Andretti’s forehead. He yelps in pain as he falls back inside the Romeo, his rifle dropping to the ground of the warehouse, and the gunfire halting immediately.

  The three Romeo’s take off, skidding out of the warehouse and leaving the scene as I breathe rapidly looking around at the devastation.

  I waste no time moving to Surge as I see him lying on the ground covered in blood. My heart leaps into my chest as I rush my hands to his chest, but I have no idea where to put them as there’s blood everywhere. “Surge, fuck.”

  He looks to me and lets out a muffled chuckle. “I’m okay, son. I’m okay…” he murmurs, then proceeds to blackout.

  Panic ripples through me as my hand rubs my forehead, then I realize it’s covered in his blood, and I’ve just smeared it all over my face. But I don’t care. I need to get my men tended to. “Ace,” I call out, and he limps to me. I look at his leg to see he has blood running down his thigh.

  Shit.

  “Yeah, Pres?”

  “Call Doctor Kline, tell her to meet us at the clubhouse. Now. Tell her to bring her surgical shit. She’s gotta lot of work to do. Tell her Surge is critical, and I don’t even know how Chains and Lift are doing.”

  He nods walking off as Linn moves out of his car and over to us. “Torque, I don’t know what kind of shit you pull here today, but this no-fly with me. You try take me out?”

  I flare my nostrils as my neck tenses with anger. “Linn, you think my men are lying here with fuckin’ bullets in them, and I did this?”

  He raises his brow, and a slow smile crosses his face then he bursts out laughing. The fucker actually laughs. “Oh, silly me, no, of course. I see you hit bad by this. But I lost men in this, Torque. I not like this. You understand that. Yes?”

  “Linn, I don’t really have time for this right now.”

  He frowns and nods. “Yes, okay. But I want my gun. You have a week. And if this shit happen again, we can no longer be friend. Okay? I no like my men getting splattered.” He grabs a handkerchief and throws it to me, then turns walking off as I grit my teeth.

  Sensei walks up to me and bends down to my level. “Pres, I think we need to take Surge, Lift, and Chains back via the truck. I will take Scratch, too, seeing as his ride is damaged. He can watch them, make sure they do not deteriorate. I will drive, and we will come back for the bikes later. For now, our priority is their health. They are bleeding out, and Doctor Kline is on her way. The rest of the brothers only have grazes. They can all ride.”

  Nodding, I let out a long huff looking down at Surge who’s still out and stand back up. “Right, everyone, back to the clubhouse. Doctor Kline’s going to patch us up, and then we need to figure out what the hell we’re gonna do.”

  Chains groans as he rolls onto his side. “Kline… she can’t handle this all on her own, Pres. Two of us are pretty bad. Surge is critical, and the rest of you have all sorts of injuries. It’s too much.”

  Sinking into myself, I nod, knowing that there is someone else I can call.

  I just don’t know if she will like the chaos I’m about to bring her into.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  HEELEY

  This morning my head has been in a fog. Last night was magical with Torque and then this morning’s conversation and him leaving, well, needless to say, I haven’t gotten any studying done. Instead, I got off my ass and cleaned. My apartment is now officially livable. My bedroom is tidy, my bathroom you
could eat off, and my floors are shining.

  I’ve officially lost my damn mind.

  And now it’s mid-afternoon, and all I can think about is a fucking man on a bike, and how I feel like I need to talk to him, but I have no idea what to say. He gave me a choice. Three really. Be with him and make a choice on whether to know it all and be liable or know nothing and always be wondering. Or, of course, there’s always the third option—not be with him at all.

  The last one makes me feel queasy. The thought of never seeing him again is doing my head in, but the thought of being a doctor and being okay with having a boyfriend who’s on the wrong side of the law doesn’t sit right with me either.

  Damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenario right there.

  Sinking into my loveseat, I let out a heavy sigh. Memories of sitting here with Torque flood back, and I wish I could get my damn head straight. All this overthinking is turning my stomach.

  Suddenly, my cell starts ringing, and I look at the coffee table to see Torque’s number flashing across my screen. My stomach flips and a slow smile spreads across my face. Reaching across to my cell I pick it up, and warmth encases my body.

  He said he’d give me time and let me contact him.

  Seems he couldn’t hold out.

  It actually makes me feel a little better as I swipe to answer the call.

  “Hey, couldn’t stay away, huh?” I ask as the general sound of people rushing about, and loud, frantic voices echo in the distance. Furrowing my brows, I sit up taller on the couch.

  “Heeley. I need you to listen very carefully…” He pauses, and the complete seriousness of his tone has my stomach back to twisting again. “There’s been an incident, and we need your help. Heeley… I need you.” The pure desperation in his voice has me instantly worried as the chaotic noise in the background continues.

  Nodding even though he can’t see me, I stand up and start to pace my living room. “Okay. What do you need?”

  A relieved sigh sounds down the line. “I need you and a first-aid kit. I need you to come to the clubhouse, now. Right now.”

  Opening my eyes wide, my palms begin to sweat, and I shake my head in a slight panic. “Torque, I’m not a practicing doctor. I haven’t done much practical work. I don’t know what I’m walking into, but I don’t think I will be much help. I’ve really only done theory-based work… I… I—”

  “Heeley… you can do this,” he interrupts my internal panic attack, and I take a deep breath and nod. “Please hurry, foxy. My men need you… I need you.”

  My eyes open wide and I gasp. “Are you hurt?”

  He exhales. “Just a little, I’ll be fine.”

  “Shit, okay. I’m coming now. I’ll be there as soon as I get my shit.”

  “Thank you… and Heeley?”

  “Yeah.”

  “This isn’t how I wanted you to see the clubhouse again. Please know that.”

  Nodding, I sigh and hang up the cell. Turning, I walk straight for my built-in closet to grab my first-aid kit. I have no idea what the hell I’m going to be walking into, but knowing Torque is hurt, well shit, I need to get there as soon as possible.

  Grabbing my kit, I head for my one-car garage attached to my apartment. I hardly use my car, always opting for my bike. But my first-aid kit is too bulky to ride with. So my graduation present from my parents will have to do for this trip.

  I jump in my 2011, lime green, Ford Fiesta hatchback. My parents bought her secondhand, and she’s a good little car, but I hardly use her now. She’s getting old, but she still runs like a dream. Placing my first-aid kit on the passenger side, I hit the button on my visor to open the roller door, and I reverse out of the garage.

  I head out onto the road and make my way to the clubhouse. The nerves running through me are at an all-time high, and I have no idea what I’m about to walk into. I had no idea what today would bring, but I never once dreamed I’d be going to Torque’s clubhouse, seeing brothers again, let alone seeing them under duress. I’m not sure this is the best environment for me to be in, but I’ll have to pull myself together because by the tone of his voice, he needs me right now. So I need to pull myself together and just be there for him.

  It’s not far to the clubhouse from my place, and I pull up to the giant mesh-covered gate, where a biker is standing. I wind down my window, and he looks in.

  I weakly smile at him. “Hi, I’m Heeley Fox. Torque asked me to come and help.”

  He nods, his face not giving anything away as he yanks on a big chain forcing the wrought iron fence covered in mesh to slide open. I swallow hard and drive inside.

  I have no idea where to park, but I see a line of bikes, a truck with a shitload of what looks like bullet holes in the side of it, and another couple of cars parked next to that. So I pull up next to the cars and jump out grabbing my kit.

  I hear a flurry of noise coming from inside. There are a few people outside, some women wearing barely anything, and a couple of bikers, smoking heavily as the women hang from them. They look at me raising their brows as I approach. I’m not sure what I should say or do.

  Whether I should just walk past them inside or what?

  “Hey, pretty lady, you here to give me a check-up?” one of the brothers I haven’t met asks.

  I raise my brow swallowing hard as I come to a stop, hoisting my kit over my shoulder a little more as I tense up. Noticing Ruby hanging from his shoulder, she rolls her eyes and tuts her tongue at him.

  “Shh… Renegade. This is Heeley,” she states, her tone warm and inviting unlike the clothes she’s wearing.

  I nod, my voice seeming to have left me.

  She smiles detaching from Renegade and steps forward. “Hey, hon. Torque’s waiting for you. They could really use your help in there.” She steps out placing her hand on my back and starts leading me through a door.

  Renegade grunts, “Sorry, Heeley. Didn’t know who you were.”

  I glance to Ruby who waggles her eyes at me as we step through the door. “Being Torque’s… whatever you are, makes them respect you. You have power here, Heeley. You should use it,” she suggests, but I can barely hear her over the noise pummeling my ears from inside.

  I turn to look, and it’s a sensory overload. I’m not sure what to take in first.

  The fact that Torque’s clubhouse looks nothing like I remember.

  The fact that it looks like complete chaos with people everywhere.

  What immediately grabs my attention, though, is Surge lying on a pool table with a woman standing over him, surgical tools in hand basically operating on him.

  Not only that, Chains and Lift are sitting on chairs by the pool table bleeding profusely. There’s pools of blood at their feet. Then there’s lines of bikers sitting around drinking, with blood stains on their shirts and pants, like they too have been hit, but aren’t as severely wounded but are just waiting their turn.

  What the fucking hell is going on?

  Why aren’t they going to a hospital?

  Why is this all being done here?

  My heart is racing so fast as the unmistakable metallic tang of blood fills the air, mixed with the bitter smell of beer, and the horrible scent of tobacco. Mix them all together, and it’s a foul combination. My nose turns up.

  Ruby looks to me and places her hand on my shoulder. “Hey, it’s a lot to take in for your first time. These are all good men. Sure, they might do questionable things, but their hearts are always in the right place, Heeley. Remember that,” Ruby pleads.

  “Heeley,” a female voice calls out, and I turn to the right to see Neala racing for me with her arms wide open. I finally bring myself to smile as I lean forward and hug her.

  “Oh my God, I’m so glad you’re okay,” I tell her, and she pulls back looking at me and grimaces.

  “Yeah, but my guys aren’t. Please… can you help them?”

  I tense up. “Honestly… I have no idea. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve really only done theory
-based stuff and haven’t practiced on real people.”

  She shakes her head and looks over to the lady working on Surge on the pool table. “Bex can help you. C’mon. I’ll take you to her.” She grabs my elbow and starts to lead me away.

  I glance back to Ruby and nod. “Thanks, Ruby.”

  She waves to me, and I turn back walking briskly through the bloodied bodies of bikers, and I can’t help but notice them all watching me as I walk with Neala toward the woman working frantically on Surge on the pool table. His blood staining the green felt. My chest tightens with concern for him.

  “Bex, I know you’re busy, but your intern just arrived,” Neala announces like that’s the most natural sentence to come out of her mouth.

  Bex nods, she’s pretty, actually strikingly gorgeous. Her blonde hair pulled back in a bun, a pair of forceps in her hands, a lighted magnifier over her head as she digs around in Surge’s shoulder. Luckily, he’s out cold because that would be hurting like a bitch if he was awake. I notice the other bullet hole in his side has already been stitched up, and the mass of gauze and surgical tools on a tray on the pool table like she’s nearly done with her surgery.

  “Well, I’m almost done with Surge. He was the worst of the lot. I managed to remove the bullet lodged in the muscle of his external oblique. His shoulder’s a little harder, but luckily the bullet stopped just before the rotator cuff. I have no idea how that happened. Surge is lucky as hell he didn’t have his shoulder blown to pieces, but I’m removing the bullet and trying to repair the muscle around the wound now. I would really love it if you could check on Chains please, Heeley.”

  Raising my brow, I jolt back slightly in shock.

  She knows my name.

  I stand back in a state of shock. These people here I have met except for this doctor, Bex, and they’re mostly all sitting around with blood on them somewhere. It’s a little daunting.