Impulsive (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 4)

by K E Osborn

  “I know that look. You’re wondering how I came to understand everything happening at your club? Well, I told y’all, you have a traitor in your midst. Still, you let her in on all your little secrets, let her carry on like nothing is different.”

  My head snaps to Oakley, sadness washes over her features as anger flares inside mine.

  Zero steps forward. “Tell us! Tell us who this traitor is, so we can deal with them.”

  The Baroness steps toward Zero. “Give me my money first.”

  Chains hands her men the bags as I turn to Oakley, tears welling in her eyes, only making her look guiltier.

  “I don’t think y’all are all ready to hear this,” the Baroness warns.

  I step forward my hands in tight fists. “Tell us, for fuck’s sake!”

  She laughs. “Especially you, Neon.”

  I spin back to Oakley, storming up to her. “Just admit it! The Baroness is practically spelling it out, Oakley.”

  Oakley bursts into tears as the Baroness cackles like a damn witch. I turn glaring at her. “You want this? To tear my life apart?”

  “Yes, actually! You tore mine apart when you effectively put the Baron behind bars, so I want you to suffer. Which you clearly are. But dear, sweet, Neon, I’m about to inflict much worse pain on you than you’re feeling right now.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “While you’re being so quick to jump to conclusions and point the finger on your lady love, you’re missing the big picture.”

  “What’s that?”

  Connie shrugs. “Oakley hasn’t been the contact with me, you damn fool. I’ve never met her before in my life.”

  I spin back to face her. Oakley’s eyes overflow with tears, but now I see it, they’re not out of guilt, they’re full of hurt.

  “Then how?”

  “Maybe y’all need to be looking a little closer… Asher.” The way the Baroness says my real name instantly has me turning to glare at Anna. Her entire body shakes as she stares at me.

  “Anna?”

  “Jesus Christ!” Zero grunts.

  “Was it you?” I yell at my sister.

  I feel like a switch is flipped as she rushes toward me. “I did it to protect you. To get Oakley away from y—”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” I shout as Oakley steps forward.

  “I do have a part to play in this. I told Anna about the smear campaign after you told me.”

  “Stay out of this. You’ve caused enough damage!” Anna’s irate screaming hurts my eardrums.

  It’s like Anna has changed into someone else right now.

  I shift my eyes to Oakley. “What? Why did you tell her?”

  “Honestly? She’s working with Rage. She said Rage has my dad. If I didn’t get something damning on you, the Heathens would kill him. It’s why I got you drunk that night. I’m so sorry, Neon, but I still don’t know if my dad is okay or not either. Anna won’t tell me anything.”

  My stomach churns hearing all this.

  Anna scoffs throwing her hands in the air. “You little bitch. You think you’re so smart telling everyone everything, don’t you?”

  Oakley shakes her head. “No, Anna, I don’t. You still have the power over me because you know where my dad is being held.”

  Anna lets out booming laughter, the uproar sounding nothing like her. “You honestly believe I teamed up with Rage and the Heathens? If I did, Oakley, wouldn’t they have come here for you? For a smart girl, you really are dense.”

  Oakley’s face contorts as she takes that in. “You were playing me?”

  Anna shrugs like she doesn’t care. “I needed to get you away from Asher.”

  Oakley lunges full force for Anna. “You fucking bitch!”

  I reach out grabbing around Oakley’s waist, pulling her back away from my sister as she tries to get her hands on her. Honestly, I need my hands on Oakley right now because I’m scared of what I might do to Anna if I let Oakley go.

  “See, Asher will always protect me, Oakley,” Anna jabs.

  Anger flares through me. “I won’t protect you this time, Anna. You nearly ruined me by going to the Baroness. What the fuck were you thinking!”

  Anna’s eyebrows draw together as she looks at me. “I needed Oakley away from you, for you to think she betrayed you. She’s bad for you, Ash—”

  “Enough, Anna, this is beyond crazy. You need help. Your dependence has gotten out of control. You’re willing to hurt people, even me, in the process. Your mind is twisted.”

  “But we’re a team, Ash, you and me. When Zero left, it was you and me against the world.”

  I glimpse over at Zero. Does he feel a little responsible for the amount of crazy she exhibits right now? I have no real idea. But when they split, things changed for her. At that time, she became needier and more dependent on me to always be there for her. The situation worsened with Cherry here and them getting engaged. That tipped Anna over the edge right into crazy town.

  “Chills, will you take Anna to her room? Make sure she is okay?” I ask.

  Chills glances at Zero. He nods.

  Anna scoffs. “I do not need to go with the club doctor, thank you very much.”

  “That’s an order, Anna!” Zero barks.

  Anna cowers in on herself, bows her head, then scurries off with Chills toward her room. Chains heads that way, too. He obviously wants some protection for his Old Lady, and it’s a fair call at this point. She’s showed she is capable of anything.

  The Baroness chuckles. “Well, I should probably tell you, that little truck accident you had with the Russians, Neon, and Texas. They were my men, too.”

  I widen my eyes. “What the fuck, Connie!”

  “They were never going to kill you, but they were going to rattle you. Get you thinking you were in deeper than you actually were, but you came through it like Defiance always does.”

  “We could have gone to the Militia. That shit could have started world war fucking three!”

  “Don’t be so dramatic, I would have come to you before then. I don’t need my town goin’ up in smoke with you assholes shooting each other up all over the damn place. I just needed you a little shook up, is all.”

  Zero grumbles under his breath. “You’re skating on incredibly thin ice, Connie.”

  “Oh, and how I do love the winter weather, it’s always so hot here in Houston. This was fun! Neon, our slate is clean. But for future reference, if I ever piss you off enough for you to take me down, give a girl a heads up to get my affairs in order because you’re damn awesome at what you do. I don’t think I could outdo you in the tech department.”

  “Did you just compliment me?” I raise my brow.

  “I give accolades where they’re due. The Baron’s smear campaign was faultless. Honestly, I was impressed… he had no hope against someone like you.”

  She’s fishing, trying to figure out if I had help.

  I did. From Finley. I refuse to tell the Baroness that.

  “Right. Just know… if you cross the club, we’ll come for you, too.”

  She smiles wide. “Oh, Neon, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I look forward to working with you boys more closely in the future. In the meantime, Neon, I’d get your sister assessed. She’s not well… mentally. I could tell from the few small encounters I’ve had with her. Turn off your blinders, Neon. Help the woman or have her committed. If not, she will be a much bigger problem in the future.”

  I nod as the Baroness turns to leave.

  Holy shit, what a cluster fuck!

  NEON

  I spin facing Oakley, pulling her to me in an embrace. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

  She draws back awkwardly. “We’ll talk later. For now, you need to focus on Anna and getting her the help she needs.”

  My heart sinks at the distance in her tone, but I can’t blame her. I acted like a fucking jerk. “We’ll talk soon? Promise me you’ll be here when I’m done talking to Anna?”

  “I prom
ise,” she whispers.

  I lean in pressing my lips to her forehead, but she withdraws completely, holding back.

  I’ve lost her.

  I take one last look, then head off for Anna’s room.

  As I approach, Chains waits outside. I raise my brow at him as he stands with his arms over his chest.

  “What’s going on?” I ask.

  Chains grunts. “Chills kicked me out.”

  I chuckle while knocking on the door, but there’s nothing, so I gently open it peeking my head through. Anna lies on the bed, her eyes shut, while Chills calmly talks to her in what looks like a form of meditation.

  My eyes widen as I slowly enter the room, quietly shutting the door with a click behind me.

  “Anna, I’m just going to let you rest for a moment to collect your thoughts. Continue to focus on your breathing… in and out.” Chills stands, signaling for me to keep quiet as she walks with me back to the door. We edge outside leaving Anna alone with her deep fucking breathing. Chills carefully closes the door, letting out a long exhale.

  “What the fuck is going on with her, Chills?”

  “Honestly, she’s at breaking point. She needs to go into a psychiatric facility… and it needs to be soon.”

  The weight of a thousand-ton truck smashes into me as I rub the back of my neck. “Did I do this?”

  Chills shakes her head. “I think she did it to herself. It started when she cheated on Zero. Her life has been spiraling ever since, and it’s led to this point.”

  “What do you think is wrong with her?”

  Chills tilts her head. “She definitely has a disorder. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly without further testing, but from what I’ve seen, I’d say it’s a form of DPD with sociopathic tendencies.”

  I stare at her dumbfounded. “DPD? English Chills?”

  “Dependent Personality Disorder. Basically, she fears separation and has an excessive need to be taken care of. People with this disorder will often engage in behavior that forces the people around them to produce care-giving actions. It’s her obsessive need to always have you around, or always need you, that has me believing it’s this. The problem is, because her pattern has been this way for years, you being the nurturer you are, you’re feeding the disorder every time you pander to her needs and will.”

  “I made her worse.”

  “You didn’t know. You were being a supportive older brother. It’s not a common disorder people hear about.”

  Chains grips my shoulder supportively. “You were trying to be a supportive brother. I know what it’s like, wanting to protect your sister.” Chains looks at Chills lovingly.

  “No offense, brother, but your sister is your Old Lady, and you have a kid together.”

  Chills slaps my arm. “Foster sister… there’s a big difference to a blood sister. Thank you.”

  “I’m just teasing. Chills, thanks for helping with Anna. Can you get her in somewhere good?”

  “I’m gonna do my best.”

  “Can I go talk to her?”

  “I think she’d like that.”

  Taking in a deep breath, I edge past Chills, turning the knob for the door and walk into her room. She sits up on the bed now, much calmer than the crazy mess I saw out in the clubroom a little while ago. But her eyes reveal her pain. The sight hurts my heart. No matter how betrayed I feel, she’s still my sister, and I need to help her.

  “Can I sit?” I ask.

  Anna nods, and I move in beside her. “You hate me now, don’t you?”

  Don’t pander her, Neon, the little voice inside my head screams.

  “I don’t hate you, Anna. I never could. But I am angry as hell. And what you did, the reason you did it, it’s not logical. Even you have to see that?”

  Anna closes her eyes, her chin lowering to her chest. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way.”

  “It shouldn’t be any way, Anna. You’re my sister, that’s it. I’m not your caregiver. I’m not your white knight. We’re a team, sure, but not in the way you’re making it out to be.”

  She peeps up at me, her eyes glistening. “You think I’m sick, too, don’t you?”

  I wrap my arm around her. “Yes, and you need help. I’m sending you to get some—”

  Her hands rush to her face as she leans forward in her despair. “All I ever wanted was for you to need me like I need you.”

  “We’re family, Anna, that will never change. But you can’t force me to stop seeing people because you don’t want me showing them attention. Don’t you want me to be happy?”

  “I do. I just…” she sniffles, “… I don’t know what I’m doing, Ash. Ever since Krew left me, I’ve been in this chasm, and I have this gaping hole where he once was. I don’t know how to get my life back without him.”

  “You have to, Anna. He’s moved on with Cherry. He’s happy now. They’re getting married. You will never get back with Zero.”

  “I don’t remember the last time I truly felt happy, Ash.” She softly weeps.

  “Then you need to go to the facility Chills has recommended… let the doctors help you feel happy again.”

  “Will you visit me?”

  I want to say ‘every damn day,’ but I need to let her do this on her own. “You have to stand on your own two feet, Anna. I can’t hold your hand anymore.”

  “Are you angry at me because I told the Baroness?”

  My muscles clench, then unclench as I try to keep my rage under control. “Yes. And for lying to Oakley about her father. I can’t comprehend why you would come up with something so elaborate just to keep me all to yourself. I’m mad. I’m frustrated. But most of all, I am worried, Anna. Worried about the mental health of my sister.”

  “I’m okay.” She tugs me to her in an embrace.

  I pull back, looking in her eyes. “You’re not, Anna. You are far from it.”

  She shoves me hard as she stands from the bed. “Fine! I’ll go to your damn psych ward, but I don’t want anything to do with you.”

  “Anna!”

  “Go! Get out, Neon!”

  She didn’t call me Asher.

  I bob my head, turning for the door. Grabbing the handle, I turn back. “You’re gonna be okay, Anna.”

  “Get. Out!” She picks up a perfume bottle, hurling it at me. I jump out the door, closing it just in time before the bottle smashes against the other side with an almighty crash.

  I rest my head against the woodgrain for a moment, her soft sobs coming from the other side.

  There’s nothing more I can do.

  I can’t help her.

  I’ve done all I can.

  OAKLEY

  Sitting at the bar, feeling like shit, I drown my sorrows. I tap the bar for another whiskey as Sunshine sits on a stool beside me.

  “Geez, Anna was such a bitch to you. If it makes you feel better, she came after me, too, when she thought I was close to Neon.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh, yeah. I mean it wasn’t to the extreme she went to with you, but she sure as shit went off the deep end at me.”

  “Glad it’s not just me then, I suppose.”

  “Not just you, hon. Sorry to tell you, but you’re not special,” Sunshine mocks.

  I take another long drink of my whiskey. “I thought I might have been special to Neon, but I guess that was a lie.”

  Sunshine reaches out gripping my arm. “If there’s one thing I understand about these guys, it’s when they want a woman, you’ll know.”

  “Then I guess I know! Because right now, I’m sure he doesn’t. To be honest, I’m too mad at him to care.”

  Sunshine sighs. “So, there’s no going back for you two?”

  I drink the last of my whiskey. “I don’t think so,” I say as Neon steps into my space.

  Sunshine widens her eyes, standing abruptly. “That’s my cue… I’m here if you need me.”

  “Thanks.”

  Neon takes a seat next to me, and he signals to Nessie to pour us a drink. She d
oes, then quickly heads off to the other end of the bar, leaving us alone.

  Neon exhales, his bloodshot eyes heavy as his head hangs low almost wobbling on his neck with his exhaustion as he turns to face me. “Anna’s going to a psych facility. Chills is setting it all up now.”

  “Good, I think it will help her.” I feel some relief from the news.

  “I didn’t realize I was part of her problem. Me always dropping everything for Anna only made her more dependent.”

  “Well, I’m glad she’s going to get the help she so clearly needs.” I take a sip of my whiskey, trying to dispel the awkwardness that’s currently waving between us.

  He physically turns in the seat, so he faces me. “Oakley… Nic… I’m fucking sorry I didn’t believe you. I’m sure I made you feel like shit, and that’s on me.”

  “I’m not completely guilt-free in this, Neon. I did tell Anna. Though, it was under duress. But the fact you came at me so hard is what gets to me, Neon.”

  “I thought the Baroness had dirt on me…” He rubs the back of his neck. “I could only see one clear source…” He exhales with a heavy sigh. “Dammit! I know better than to jump the gun than to be impulsive like that. To act before thinking it through. It was a dick move, Oakley. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I hope you’ll give it to me anyway?”

  I sit back. The moment his eyes stared into mine, and he accused me of betraying him to the Baroness jumps straight into my mind. The utter contempt he held for me in that moment. I can’t shake the image, the deception I knew he thought I had done behind his back. “Neon, you hurt me when you said you couldn’t trust me. It changed something deep inside me.”

  His expression falls, then he reaches out talking my hand. “Nic, I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”

  “Then, I think, for now… I have to go.”

  His breathing comes in short and sharp. “I don’t want you to.”

  I pull my hand from his, tears forming in my eyes, my chest squeezing so tight it hurts for me to breathe. “You don’t have a choice.” With my heart pounding, I stand and turn to walk away.

  Neon reaches out, grabbing my arm, halting me. “Oakley!”

  I sniffle, and without turning back, I pull my arm free from his grip, rushing up the stairs to head for my room. I jump onto my bed, crying into my pillow while thinking that might just have been our final goodbye.