by K E Osborn
“Who cares about talking? Honestly? Let’s fuck ‘em up.”
Shaking my head, I place my hand on his shoulder and sigh. “Trax, do not fire unless fired upon. Do you understand me?”
Trax’s lip curls up, and he shrugs out of my grip. He walks away out of frustration.
Turning to Ace, I nod. “Send the message. Let me know when it’s received, and we’ll head out.”
***
Half an hour later, we’re on our rides heading to the Chicago Park District. We’re meeting Enzo in the playground on the corner of W 19th Street and S Wood Street—a damn children’s playground will keep us all in line. One thing both the Andrettis and Defiance have in common is our absolute respect for children. Nothing will happen while there are kids present. I know this will be simply a discussion, to see why shit’s going down the way it is. What Enzo wants? And what we can do to try and curb him from taking over every fucking thing.
We pull into the parking lot and notice the parents of the children all look up as we enter. Some of them call out to their children which causes them to run to their parents. Others let their children keep playing but keep a close eye on them. The thing is, when you get one or two bikers, it’s intimidating, but when the majority of a club rolls in, it’s more than a little disconcerting. I understand why the parents are reacting, and I’m not the least fucked off by their actions.
We pull up and park our rides, taking off our helmets, and stand to the side as we notice Enzo’s men walking up to us from behind the fitness center. Immediately, I wonder if maybe they have bought that place too. My arms fold across my chest as I notice Enzo only has four men with him compared to my seven.
I like these odds.
He looks me up and down and lets out a long, drawn out exhale as he steps up in front of me and shakes his head. “This has been a long time coming, Torque.”
I glance to his side to see Alfonso is nowhere in sight, but there’s a new guy by his right hand. With a glance up and down, I don’t particularly like the way he’s looking at me. “No Alfie today, Enzo?”
Enzo smiles as his new guy stiffens his posture and flexes his fisted hands. “We don’t keep snitches at our table.”
Nodding, I look to the new guy, he seems on edge. Maybe he’s trying to prove he’s better than Alfonso. “What’s your name, new guy?”
“Franky, and I’m not new. Been with Enzo a really long time.”
Raising my brow, I nod. “Hmm… hadn’t noticed. You seem unimportant. Let’s get to business, shall we?”
Franky grits his teeth which does nothing but make me smirk.
Enzo places his hand on Franky’s chest and exhales. “Look, Torque... there’s some shit going on in this town I can’t explain. Like for instance, your MC going around and buying up all the fucking businesses—”
“Wait up! Defiance buying businesses? Don’t bullshit me, Enzo. I know it’s your mob under-handing everyone. Don’t think you can weasel your way out of this shit. You’ve always wanted the Defiance gyms. And now, I learn you’ve sent your men in, only this morning, in an attempt to take over. Did you think we wouldn’t figure it out? How stupid do you think we fuckin’ are?”
He raises his brow and shakes his head. “Well, it’s a fucking good idea, but it’s not fucking mine. Someone came into my gyms yesterday attempting to buy them out from under me. We thought it was you bastards trying to remain anonymous. It’s bullshit.”
I look to Sensei, and he tilts his head slightly.
Ace yanks out his tablet and begins typing shit into it.
“So, let me get this straight… you’re not buying up all the businesses in town?”
He shakes his head. “I mean, I bought an Italian restaurant a few weeks ago, but that’s as far as it goes. Other than that and my gyms, I have nothing else, Torque. For once, I’m not trying to bullshit you.”
I glance over to Ace as he steps forward and shows me a document. “I’ve done a quick search on how many businesses have been bought in the Chicago area in the last thirty days. This is showing a total of fifteen, all to the same mystery conglomerate. Seems the name Enterprises Holdings is coming up, and they’ve been purchasing under an umbrella business. I still can’t for the life of me figure out who the fuck it is. They’re well hidden, Torque.”
“So we have a third player in town?” I state, and Enzo’s eyes light up with fear.
“Someone from the outside is coming in and trying to take over what’s been ours for decades,” Enzo scoffs.
My stomach rolls uncomfortably, and I shake my head, not liking this fact at all. “Fuck. So what does this mean?”
“As much as I hate the fucking idea, I think we have to…” Enzo pauses, his lip turning up in disdain as he continues, “… work together. Find out who these assholes are and take them down.”
Tension ripples through the air, and I stiffen my back as I look at him and shake my head. “You want us to work with you? After you came in, stole our damn guns, and shot us all the hell up?”
Enzo looks around to his men like he’s perplexed. “Umm... what? Am I missing something?”
I throw my hands up in frustration. “Your men infiltrated our trade with the Triad. Took our damn load, and then shot at each and every single one of us.” I pull the sleeve of my shirt up to show my bandage where the bullet nicked my skin, and Enzo’s brows crease as he slowly shakes his head.
“Ahh… that wasn’t my men.”
“Bull-fucking-shit. They were in your Alpha Romeos, Enzo!”
He shrugs. “I don’t know what to tell you, Torque. We don’t have your guns, and we certainly didn’t shoot at you… as much as we’d really like to.”
Sensei steps forward tilting his head. “As much as I am having trouble believing Enzo… one thing does point to his honesty.” I raise my brow and glance to Sensei as he continues, “The men we believed were the Andrettis were wearing balaclavas. So, in actual fact, they could have been anyone. Just because they were using the same cars as the Andrettis, to make it seem like…” he dips his head, “… the Andrettis does not mean it was… in actual fact, the Andrettis.”
I let out a bemused chuckle, more out of annoyance than anything as Enzo shakes his head. “So whoever this is framed us so it appeared like we attacked you and stole your guns, hoping you’d retaliate and basically end up with us taking each other out. But you didn’t. You stopped and thought about it, you came to me instead. You talked it out, instead of war. You’ve outsmarted them, Torque. And believe me when I say this, you’re a fucking better man than me. If they framed you and tried to take out my men like they did, I would have had no qualms about coming after you all.” He raises his brows with a look of respect on his face. “I give you credit. It’s a good thing you didn’t make this war an all-out carnage without knowing the facts.”
Nodding, I glance to Trax who’s keeping unusually quiet through all of this. “Well, don’t thank me just yet. We seem to have a bigger enemy at our heels, but neither of us knows who the fuck it is.”
Enzo nods. “For now, I think we have no option but to call a truce. We have a much larger fish to fry. We need to pool our resources and try to figure out who this conglomerate is and take them the fuck down. No one comes to Chicago and takes it away from us. It’s always belonged to the Andrettis and Defiance. We can’t let some new coglione come in and take what belongs to us.”
I let out a small chuckle. “I’ve never heard you talk like that. It’s always been Chicago is Andrettis, or Chicago belongs to Defiance. It’s never belonged to the both of us.”
Enzo nods, and I take a deep breath and brace myself for what I am about to do. I’m still not sure it’s the right move, I definitely don’t trust fuckin’ Enzo. Not for a one single fucking second. But for now, it seems we’re on the same page. I thrust my hand forward and open my fist.
Enzo looks down, his eyes opening wide as I hear throats clearing behind me in obvious shock as well.
Enzo smiles and
thrusts his hand into mine, and we shake hands for the first time in history.
The O’Sheas and the Andrettis shaking hands.
Who the hell would have thought?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
TORQUE
After arriving back at the clubhouse, I feel strange. Like I’m in some parallel fucking universe. The thought of actually working with Enzo toward a common goal is so fucking weird. I still haven’t wrapped my head around it, and I’m sure he’ll cross me given a chance. But for now, we both have a bigger threat, and we need to find out where the hell that threat is coming from.
As I stride inside the clubhouse, Trax is by my side in an instant. “You think this is a wise play? I mean… teaming up with the Andretti, of all the scumbags, Torque?”
I slap his shoulder and shake my head. “You of all people should know… that sometimes, it’s better the devil you know.”
He shakes his head with a grunt and strides off in a huff.
Sensei moves up to my side. “You think we can trust Enzo?”
I snort. “Hell fucking no. Not for a damn second. But if he can help us get information on who the fucking asshole is destroying our town, then we need him right now.”
Sensei nods. “The thing is… we may have an alliance with him now, but we can’t forget the things they stand for, Torque. The way they treat their women. The way they carry out their dealings. We need to run things our way. Never their way if we are in bed with them.”
Nodding, I clamp down on his shoulder. “I hear you, and don’t worry, just because I have Enzo on our speed dial, doesn’t mean I’m going to be including him in anything to do with us, or that I’m going to be bowing to him. Remember, I’m the president of this club, and if I don’t like some shit, he’s gonna know about it.”
“Excellent. Just keep your eyes open with him… eyes on the prize at all times.”
Nodding, I smile. “Absolutely.”
Sensei walks off.
I notice Surge watching me from the bar as he sits next to Mom, so I walk over as my cell buzzes and yank it out of my pants pocket. Looking at the screen, it’s a text message from Vibe. My body tenses wondering how the shipment’s going, and so I open the screen.
Vibe: All good. Parcel delivered. Sorry, couldn’t message sooner. Linn talks like a fucking sorority girl on heat. On our way back. Be there in 15.
Relief floods me, and I send back a simple thumbs-up and put my cell away as I pull out the stool beside Surge and rub the back of my neck. A simple tap on the bar alerts Ruby I want a beer. She smiles and starts to pour straight away.
“So, you’re all back in one piece.” Surge’s bright smile makes me feel okay about how it went.
“You have no idea how crazy this meeting went, Surge. I’ll tell you all about it, just need a beer first.”
He nods with a chuckle as Ace slips onto the stool beside me with his tablet, and I glance at him as he types away searching for something. I nod to him, and he shakes his head. “I’m not finding anything I didn’t know fucking already.” I can sense his frustration.
Sighing, I wrack my jaw from side to side and then I think of a different approach. “What about instead of trying to find who the owner of the conglomerate is… who the asshole is… we attempt to figure out who the fuck is new in town?”
Ace’s eyes light up, and he smiles wide. “Why the fuck didn’t I think of that?”
HEELEY
A Week Later
It’s officially my last working day at Fox Froyo Bar. My shifts have been minimal this past week due to working so much with Doctor Kline, and of course, studying and going to campus. But it feels weird knowing this is officially the last day I’ll be working with Ari and Xav. Having our little threesome has been some of the best times of my life and knowing I won’t have that time each night is sad, but I know I’ll make new friends. Not that Ari and Xav won’t play a major part in my life anymore, I mean no way will that happen. But I will need people like Tiny at the hospital to keep me sane.
I’m going to miss this place, I think as I wipe down the frosted-over glass while Ari and Xav mess about behind me. There are so many fond memories I’ll be leaving behind. The biggest one, of course, was meeting Torque. Having the memory of him running through the store and ‘loitering’ out the back is strangely one of my favorite memories.
Letting off a weak smile, I continue to wipe the glass while Sia’s Helium plays over the store stereo, and I listen to the words closely. The somber-toned song making my melancholy mood even sadder as I think of Torque and how it’s been fifteen long and torturous days since I walked out on him at his club. Time is dragging, and as Sia sings ‘get me out of this hell,’ I wonder if I’m being pulled through a kind of hell by forcing myself to be away from him. I never knew choosing not to be with someone you thought was bad for you could feel so utterly wrong.
Kline believes if I want to have a life with Torque, but keep everything I have now, I could have it. I need the courage to be able to face the good with the bad. And I’ve seen the bad. I was there, right in the thick of it. I can see how dangerous being associated with an MC can be.
Death.
That’s how bad it can be.
But, I’m training to combat death in some ways. Sure, there’s going to be times when not even a doctor can stop the inevitable, but I sure as hell will try everything in my power to delay the inescapable. I just have to figure out if I’m willing to be a part of something that has the inevitable flying in your face way more often than a normal, everyday, comfortable life.
If I can stand that, to be with a man I can’t get out of my mind, then maybe Torque’s worth it. Maybe I am strong enough for his type of life. Sia sings about a ‘Superwoman sometimes needing Superman’s soul,’ and the lyrics sink in deep. I consider myself a strong woman. Torque says I throw around a lot of sass. That I’m capable. That I’m tough. Maybe I can be a Superwoman for Torque.
I almost have myself convinced.
Almost.
I giggle out loud.
The bell on the door rings, and I look up seeing a sight for sore eyes. My smile grows wide as I notice Mom and Dad walking into the store. I drop the cloth, excited they came in for my last shift. I race around to the divider and yank it open making Ari and Xav pay attention as they glance to me and follow me through.
“Hey, Mom… Dad. I can’t believe you came in for my last shift.” I reach out giving them both a tight hug, and they weakly smile as I pull back, not liking the look on their faces. I slump my body wondering why they appear so down. Then I start to panic thinking they’re not going to let me quit. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Heeley, Xav… I think you should sit down,” Mom instructs.
I glance to Xav, and we both look at each other furrowing our brows as they lead us over to a table. Ari walks away leaving us to our family meeting.
“Mom, you’re scaring me… is one of you sick?” Xav asks, and my stomach sinks.
Oh shit!
“No. No, honey. It’s nothing like that. Harrison, can you tell them,” Mom asks Dad, and I frown so wide not liking where this is heading.
Dad clears his throat looking down at the table and not at us, which is strange in itself. Like he’s ashamed. “Some men came and saw us and put an offer on the store, and we told them it wasn’t for sale, of course. They tried to bargain with us. But we then explained what it meant to us. That it’s a family store.…” He pauses, and Mom grabs his hand in a show of support, and my stomach sinks watching them. “But then they threatened if we don’t sell to them that unfortunate things could happen…” he looks up at me, “… to you and Xavier.”
I gasp as Mom begins to cry, and I stand up and begin pacing the floor as Xav shakes his head in confusion. “This is crazy. Who are these men?” I almost yell in my outrage.
They both shake their heads. “I don’t know. They’re new in town, but they want everything.”
“You didn’t sign anything, did you?”
I ask terrified.
They shake their heads, and both look to the floor. “Not yet, but we’re having the paperwork drawn up as we speak.”
A shudder runs through me, and I shake my head in utter contempt. My parents worked so hard for this place. It’s their baby, and Xav wants to make it his too. They can’t take this away from my family.
“No, this can’t happen. Don’t do anything. Just wait here.” I storm off to the back room ignoring Ari as she looks at me with eyes wide while I grunt and groan letting all my frustrations out through my feet stomping on the floor. I reach my backpack and yank out my cell with harshness and dial the number I know I need. It rings only twice before it picks up.
“Heeley?” His voice sends my heart into a crazy rhythm, and my breath catches in my throat as I clench my eyes shut to stop them from watering. I haven’t heard his voice in so long. Too long. And hearing him now is making me almost forget why I rang. “Foxy, are you okay?” Torque brings me back to the now, and I take a deep breath, opening my eyes while wiping the tears from my face. I clear my throat, “Torque…”
“I’m here.”
“I, ah… I know I haven’t spoken to you in a bit—”
“You can call me anytime, Heeley.”
A slow smile creeps across my face, and I relax a little. “Okay, but I kinda need a favor.” There’s a pause on the other end of the line, and I wonder if he’s still there. “Torque…”
“Yeah, I’m here. Sorry. What do you need? I’m always going to help you, foxy. Whatever you need.”
Taking a deep breath, I tense my jaw. “My parents just came into our store. Told me some guys are hounding them about buying their business. Said if they didn’t sell, they’d come after Xav and me.”
“They fuckin’ what?”
I giggle more out of nervousness than anything else. “That was my reaction, too, and you said if that happened, to tell you.”
I can hear him moving about, and I wonder what he’s doing. “Are you still at Fox Froyo?”
