by K E Osborn
“Pieces of ass?” I screw up my nose.
He puts the car in gear, heading for the gate. “You know what I mean. I find talking to women hard, Oakley. I always say the wrong shit.”
The gate opens, and he slowly drives out, then once past the gates, he drops it back a gear moving faster.
I wind my window down to let the wind whip at my hair. “Honestly Texas, you just gotta relax. You put off this cocky attitude, but really, you’re wound-up fucking tighter than a camel’s ass in a sandstorm.”
His booming laughter sets me at ease. We head out to the freeway, where he can really open her up and let loose. Texas drives fucking well, so I relax back in my seat and let him do his thing.
“You can see all that just from the time you’ve been at the club?” he asks.
“I see that just from our interaction right now.”
He exhales. “I’m confident most of the time, but then there are just these times I feel like I’m not myself like I’m this bystander watching me talk to people like a damn fool. Like I can’t control whatever the fuck comes out of my mouth. I know I’m being a dick, or overly cocky, or arrogant, or whatever, but I can’t stop myself. Like I’m numb to it all. Then after, I’ll dwell on it for hours, worrying about why I acted like such an idiot.”
I narrow my eyes seeing him a little differently right now. Not so much of the cocky man trying to be a brave macho dick, but a man just trying to find his footing in the world. “You know, I think we all have times like that… where we’re not sure what we’re doing, where we feel lost.”
“I feel stupid mostly around Finley… you know, the club’s attorney. I don’t know why I keep trying to be this macho guy in front of her, but I keep coming across as some sort of weird lost puppy.”
A slow grin appears on my face. “You like her?”
His eyes meet mine for a brief moment, then he turns back to the road. “No. I don’t… do I?”
“Only you can answer that question truthfully, but she comes up a lot when you’re around.”
He lets out a long, drawn-out breath. “She’s an attorney.”
“Do you have a point there, buddy?”
He scowls. “Attorneys and bikers don’t tend to bode well together.”
“Neither do doctors and bikers, it’s a code thing. But look at Chills and Chains, they have a kid together. Then there’s the cop and biker thing. From what I’ve heard, Kevlar’s brother stands on good terms with the club. So shit can work, you need to find a workaround… loopholes. If Finley works for the club already, then she’s willing to bend the rules for you guys. What keeps her from bending the rules for you, Texas?”
He’s quiet for a moment like he is mulling it over in his mind. Then he huffs. “Enough about me. What about you and Neon? How are you guys going?”
My stomach falls through the floor of my Camaro, my tires running over it at record speed. “We’re doing okay, but I don’t see how it will work with Rage on the warpath. He’ll either find his way to me or something worse,” I mumble thinking about hurricane fucking Anna.
Texas side-eyes me. “You okay, Oakley? You seem like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders?”
I pep myself up, so I don’t give myself away. “I’m fine. It’s nice to get out and have some fun.”
“Hell, yeah. I’m only just getting started with this beast box. You ready for me to really open her up?”
Maybe I need some speed and adrenaline, that always makes me feel better.
“Yeah, Texas. ‘I feel the need… the need for speed,’” I quote the famous line from Top Gun.
He chuckles, then drops a gear, squealing the tires as we speed off down the open road.
Time to let my hair down, my mind wonder, and all thoughts of my betrayal to leave me.
If only for this joyride.
The Next Day
I can’t help the guilt crashing back into my body. I have no clue what Anna is going to do with the information I gave her, but I have a feeling Rage will be involved. That kind of leverage in the hands of a rival club creates danger. I’m the sole person who has put Neon in that predicament. He wouldn’t be in this trouble if it weren’t for me. I should have never come to this club. I’d be dead right now if I had just let Rage deal with me. Houston Defiance would be living their normal happy lives without the drama I’m bringing to it.
Neon walks over, wrapping his arm around my waist, leaning in to kiss me. I hesitate, not because I don’t want him to kiss me, but subconsciously I know I don’t deserve his affection anymore. He pulls back, his eyes narrowing in on me. “Nic, that’s the third time since yesterday you’ve pulled away from me…”
My entire body begins to tingle in a cold sweat, my pulse racing as my mouth goes dry.
I want to confess everything.
Scream at him how fucking sorry I am.
Tell him I didn’t mean to betray him.
That I only did it for my father to be okay, that I sincerely hope he will forgive me, but it won’t do any good. Because if Anna found out, she’d send word to Rage, and who knows what terror would await my father. I know the kinds of pain Rage inflicts on the people he tortures. I don’t want that for my father, not in any way, shape, or form. So, I need to let this play out, no matter how fucking painful it feels.
“You haven’t done anything, I promise. I feel a little off from the alcohol. It hit me later than I thought it would,” I lie.
“Yo, everyone, listen up,” Zero calls out, interrupting as he steps into the main room. “We have a visitor in a few minutes, I want everyone on high alert.”
Neon jerks his head to the side. “Who? I never received any kind of information?”
Zero groans. “That’s because it came direct to me. They’ll be here any—”
An alarm sounds around the clubhouse, making me tense all over.
“Brothers, guns at the ready. Chains, Texas, escort the entourage inside, will you?”
Chains and Texas take off outside as Neon pulls out his gun. “We expectin’ some sort of an attack here, pres?”
Everyone in the main room tenses, on edge.
Zero rolls his shoulders walking to the center of the room. “Not likely. But be on guard at all times.”
The sound of heels click-clack as a woman walks in wearing a white pantsuit. Her immaculate appearance looks like she could run for Congress as she waltzes in like she owns the damn place. A bunch of men in suits flank her as though they work for the Secret Service. She’s hoity-toity, that’s for sure.
Zero raises his gun aiming it right at her.
I widen my eyes as Zero puffs out his chest.
“What do you want, Connie?”
“Is that any way to formally address me?”
“Just say what you have to, then leave!”
“Oh, you’re going to be interested in what I have to say. Seems you’ve been a very naughty club.”
“We’re 1%ers for fuck’s sake. What do you expect? Daisy picking and bake-offs?”
“You’re funny, Zero. I understand why my darling Tilman liked you.”
Zero grunts. “The feeling wasn’t mutual.”
“I’m sure.” She smirks.
She turns to face Neon shaking her head. “You’ve been up to no good, tech boy.”
My stomach clenches tight as Zero turns to face his best friend. “Talk to me, Baroness.”
“Oh, so now with the formalities, when you know I lurk close to something. Huh, Zero? Neon holds the responsibility for the Baron ending up in jail. For that incredulous smear campaign defaming his character. Yes, you Neon, put the entire thing together… and I have a way to prove it.”
Neon’s face contorts in utter disbelief as his eyes shift to Zero, who’s plays it much cooler than me, on the other hand. I want to be physically ill because I told Anna, and now this Baroness knows, whoever the hell she is.
Which only means one thing—Anna’s gone rogue.
This is going to kill
Neon.
Zero huffs. “You don’t know shit.”
The Baroness huffs right back. “I have a witness testimony from someone closer than you think.”
Everyone looks around, but Neon’s eyes land right on me. I see it, the second it clicks in his mind. My eyes brim with tears which, of course, makes me appear instantly guilty as hell. His nostrils flare in undeniable rage.
But I didn’t tell the Baroness, I can honestly say that.
I didn’t betray the club.
I only told Anna.
She took it higher.
“So, while you all ponder who in your camp is a traitor. Let me put this to you… I will keep my silence… for a fee, of course.”
“What kind of fee?” Zero asks.
“Oh, I don’t know? A measly million will do.”
“A million-dollar payoff? That’s a fucking bribe!”
“How do you think I got so rich? Oh, and I need it in cash preferably… non-sequential numbers. I don’t want to pay any tax on it… you understand!”
My stomach sinks as Neon glares at me so intensely I feel the burn from here.
“Why wouldn’t we just kill you?” Neon states.
“Because in the case of my death, the information goes straight to the Chief of Police and every major news outlet. You didn’t think I’d come in here without having my bases covered, did you, Neon?”
“Timeline?” Zero grunts.
“I’ll give you one month to pay. After that, I release the details of Neon’s indiscretions. Remind me again… how was it in jail, Zero?”
“We’ll be in touch, Connie,” Zero deflects, not wanting to give her any more leverage.
“Back to Connie again, hey? You’ll learn, Zero. You’ll all learn respect… sooner or later.”
She turns and walks out.
As soon as she leaves, Neon storms up to me and gets right in my face. “What the fuck, Oakley?” he yells.
Tears stream down my face as I shake my head adamantly. “I swear, Neon, I swear to you I didn’t tell the Baroness anyth—”
“Then how the fuck does she know? One day after I told you, huh? Tell. Me. That! It doesn’t make any damn sense other than you, Nic.”
Zero rushes over, mad as hell, steam rushing from his ears. “What the fuck is going on?”
“I didn’t tell the Baroness, Zero. I promise.”
“I should have never trusted you, Oakley. You swooped in here turning my fucking world upside down. People warned me to be careful of you and… I. Didn’t. Listen. I want you gone!”
“Neon!”
“I don’t want to hear it!” Neon turns, storming off, leaving me reeling as I burst into tears.
Zero exhales, grabbing hold of my bicep, dragging me into the chapel. He slams the door shut behind him as I wipe my face, my eyes fogging over from all the warm salty water escaping them.
“Tell me what the fuck is going on, Oakley,” he shouts.
I haven’t had any word about the Heathens releasing my father yet, so I can’t risk saying anything. Rage could still have him. I’m totally screwed right now.
“All I can say is I honestly didn’t say a word to the Baroness about Neon, Zero. I don’t even have a way to contact her, nor would I want to. Honestly, I don’t even know who she is… I care about Neon. I would never want to hurt him like that.”
Zero runs his large hand over his beard. “He’s the fucking dickhead for telling you in the first place. Club business is club fucking business. This shit won’t fly in this club. Somehow we need to think of a way to make a quick million to get Neon out of this.”
“Well, I know a way, but… it’s risky.”
Zero scrunches his brow. “I’m fucking listening.”
Sniffling, I gather myself quickly. “When I left Rage, I stole a template of their counterfeit design. It’s fucking good, and I know the process back to front. If you get me the equipment, I’ll teach the guys how to run off a mill, or more, in well under a month.”
Zero shakes his head. “That’s fucking dangerous, especially, if the Baroness picks up we exchanged fake money.”
“Then we launder it. We produce large notes then go to stores and ask them to exchange it for other notes. For example, we print a fifty, then ask the attendant for two twenties and a ten. Most places will oblige if you’re nice about it. The faster we print it, the faster we exchange it. We also purchase large items with the counterfeit money and return them for cash.”
“I dunno, Oakley, this sounds like a lot.”
“The Heathens have made bank with it for decades now and get away with it. They run a full enterprise like this.”
“After this shit with the Baroness, you want us to trust you?”
“Because you pulled me in to save me. Why would I do something to jeopardize not only my safety but everyone here, too?”
He rubs at the back of his neck like he’s unconvinced. “What the fuck are you hiding, Oakley?”
My stomach swirls, my eyes instantly glistening as I stare at him. “I can’t tell you, but I want you to trust me.”
He scoffs. “Why the hell should I trust you on a shitty excuse like that? What can you do to prove to me that I can?”
Shrugging, I exhale. “I’m not sure I can. But I do have a way to help the club. I will do everything I can to save Neon. Someday I will earn your trust… I promise.”
He groans, averting his eyes from me like he’s mulling it over. Then he throws his hands in the air in frustration. “Well, right now, we have no other viable option. Can you access the design plate and shit from here?”
“Yeah, I stored it all in the cloud under an alias. We need to get a plate made up, plus all the equipment, and a place to print. A lot of steps happen before printing, and we will need to source all the materials quickly. All the information is there, but it’s not going to be easy. We have serial numbers to worry about, raised print, and other embedded security issues. But it can be done. I have seen and worked on it. Believe me, I took all the information, even where to source what we need quickly, so I could use it later if I needed to. It will cost money to set up, but the rewards outweigh the initial outlay.”
“I’d normally say talk to Neon, but I have a feeling he’s not going to be on board with this. So, I’ll put this on Texas. Anything you need, go to him. In the meantime, keep your head down, okay? Give Neon some space.”
My eyes flood with tears again, but I blink them away.
Nodding in understanding, I slowly rise to help the club.
Neon’s angry.
Nothing I say will fix that fact.
We need to put some space between us right now.
Even though the thought of that hurts me to my very core.
NEON
I slam my fist into the punching bag, taking out all my fury on the leather. I’m fuming that Oakley could do something like this. How does she even know the Baroness? Was she playing me this entire time? Since the moment she came up to me at the track? Was everything leading up to a point where she would frame me? I have no fucking clue, but I feel like a fucking idiot.
“I told you so,” a shrill voice chimes from behind me.
I hit the bag one more time, then turn to Anna watching me and with a heavy sigh I say, “Sorry I didn’t listen to you.”
Anna rushes over, pulling me into an embrace. “I’m glad you’ve seen the light. We’re family, Asher. Family above anything else. Even this club. We need to stick by each other, always.”
“I don’t know how I didn’t see it.”
“Blinded by lust. It’s okay. We’ve all been there.”
“Thanks for having my back, Anna, especially after I’ve been such a dick to you.”
“I’ll always be here for you, big brother.”
Zero steps in, his eyes landing on my sister and he huffs out, “Anna.”
“Zero.”
“Can I have a moment, please?”
Anna grumbles. “Fine. But I’m not leaving this pl
ace while she’s here.”
Zero rolls his eyes, taking a seat on the weight bench as Anna leaves us to talk. “I’m not one hundred percent convinced Oakley’s the person you need to be angry at.”
I scoff. “It can only be her!”
“She swears she didn’t tell the Baroness, and I believe her.”
“You’ve always had your doubts about Oakley. Why the sudden turn around?”
“It’s not sudden. She’s been here a while now… I have been watching. She needs a chance.”
“I can’t. There’s too much on the line.”
“Okay… but don’t get sucked back in by Anna. You were doing good when it came to her.”
“There’s too many fucking people telling me what to do and how to think right now.”
Zero exhales. “You’re smart, Asher. You always have been. But when it comes to people you care about, you seem to have your rose-colored glasses on. You don’t want to see the bad in anyone, then when you do, you shut them out completely. It’s all or fucking nothing with you. Maybe you have to find a middle ground for once… with both Oakley and Anna.”
“Middle ground?” Zero nods. “I’m so fucking angry at Oakley right now. How could she betray me?”
“Like I said, I don’t think she did. But you need to talk to her about it because she plans to stay, and she wants to help.”
“Don’t tell me, she intends to counterfeit the cash for us?”
“Using the Heathen’s template.”
An uneasy feeling washes over me. “Isn’t this all a little too damn convenient? Oakley approaches me running from the Heathens, a club we’re enemies with, now we’re using their template to produce counterfeit money? Doesn’t this all seem pre-planned to you?”
“You’re hurt. Do you know how many things would have had to fall into place exactly for the Heathens and Oakley to pull that shit off? Then what? With the notes we make, the Heathens get us busted? That’s their grand scheme in all this?”
I throw my hands in the air. “Sounds fucking plausible to me.”
Zero sighs. “It’s possible. Oakley could be that good at playing you. Every record you have found indicates she’s been away from the Heathens for four years. It doesn’t add up, Neon. You’re trying to make sense of this. There is an explanation, and we will find it, but don’t go shooting Oakley in the foot before she’s been given a fair trial. Fuck! The Heathens will be busting their own money-making scheme wide open if they are in on this shit.”
