Balance (The Chicago Defiance MC Book 6)

by K E Osborn

  I snicker. “I don’t think he’ll appreciate you calling him ol’ Jules. Julian is very particular about his name. He’s… fussy.”

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed,” Ace mocks.

  As I roll out of his arms, I slap his chest then pull the blanket off me. I jump out of his bed while he slides out as well, then I start the search for my clothes. As I turn around, I see him striding around the room gloriously naked, and my abdomen squeezes. Shaking my head, I pull myself together, grabbing my clothes and pulling them on, then make my way to the bathroom to fix myself up. After getting my hair in some sort of order and trying to make myself appear somewhat human, I walk back out to see Ace sitting on the bed waiting for me.

  “You ready for breakfast?”

  I steady my shoulders stepping toward him as he stands up grabbing my hand then we walk for the door. I have no idea what the hell is in store for me this morning, but I’m kind of looking forward to seeing his brothers and the ladies again.

  We stroll out into the hall, and I smell the food instantly. My stomach growls, and Ace glances at me. “Worked up an appetite?”

  I roll my eyes and continue walking into the clubroom where most of his brothers and the women are already sitting. As they turn to see us, they all wave or gesture a hello, then continue on like it’s no big deal that we’re here.

  I love it.

  Normally, whenever I walk into a room, people start screaming or flocking to be around me.

  I get it. It’s all part of who I am. But here, I’m just a normal person, not some Hollywood actress on Ace’s arm.

  We stroll up to a table with a bunch of people already sitting around it, a couple of bikers slide apart to let Ace and me sit down. Ace helps me step over the bench seat, then he sits next to me. Everyone watches, but I’m not really sure what to say or do, but a new girl I didn’t meet last night beats me to the punch.

  “Hey, Neve, nice to meet you. I’m Neala, but everyone calls me Lala.” She reaches over the table putting her left hand out for me to shake. I don’t miss the giant rock on her engagement finger as I shake her soft hand. She’s sitting next to Pyro from last night. I’m pretty sure she’s the woman he was searching for. Lala must be the woman he’s marrying. She’s stunning. Now that she’s here next to Torque and Trax, they kind of all look similar as I stare at the three of them.

  Lala’s enigmatic smile is almost teasing. “You’re trying to figure it out, aren’t you?”

  I raise my brow. “Sorry?”

  Torque seems to catch on tilting his head. “Lala’s the princess of the club and my baby sister. Trax is the middle child, the problem child—”

  “Hey, I take offense to that,” Trax scolds as he glances past us. I follow his line of sight to see Sparx walking in with a toddler on her hip—a little girl with short, blonde hair. Walking beside her, holding her free hand is another toddler, a boy with darker blond hair. The three make their way over to us.

  Trax sighs with contentment. “I have more to live for these days, so I’m not a dick anymore.”

  “Well, not all the time.” Torque chuckles.

  Trax scoffs pushing a guy with the word prospect on his cut in the shoulder to move. The prospect slides out and reaches for the booster seats putting them in place as Sparx sits. Then he helps Sparx put the twins in the seats and everyone sits back down.

  “Thanks, Luc,” Sparx chirps toward the prospect, then she leans in pressing her lips to Trax’s. “Hey, you.”

  Trax beams with obvious love for her. “Hey, Mama.”

  “God, you guys are so sappy. If Pyro and I end up like you two, this club is really going to get a name,” Lala jokes.

  Torque’s head snaps around to face his sister. “Wait, does that mean…” His eyes grow wide. “Lala, are you… pregnant?”

  The whole room shifts as even Pyro’s eyes widen like he’s in shock. Lala rolls her eyes. “Settle down, Mr. Overprotective, no, we’re getting married first. Don’t worry. God, if you had your way, I’d have to tell you before I told Pyro.”

  “Can you?” Torque asks quite sincerely.

  I smirk as Pyro, Lala, and Foxy all shake their heads. “No,” all three of them say in unison.

  Torque huffs. “Kid sisters, huh? Don’t know when to let them go, don’t know when to keep them locked up.”

  Lala groans while Pyro rubs his temple.

  “I see where you’re coming from, Torque.” Everyone looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind, except for Torque of course. So, I try to explain myself. “The thing is, I’m the eldest of three siblings as well, so I’m kind of like the Torque of my family. I have Gabriella, she’s twenty-three, the middle child… the rebellious and mischievous one. Then there’s Seraphina, she’s twenty-one, the innocent, sweet, but sassy youngest one. Sound familiar?”

  Torque’s face exudes an older brother’s dominance, sitting back folding his arms over his chest as if he likes where this is going, whereas everyone else appears a little confused. So I continue, “The thing is Seraphina might be sweet and innocent, but it can get her into trouble sometimes. She knows to call me to ask for guidance these days because she tends not to make the right decisions on her own. She understands the ‘picking’ on her I did when she was growing up was actually only me looking out for her, to make sure she didn’t fuck up too big. With a family like mine, in the industry I’m in, one fuck-up can be monumental. So, we had to watch Seraphina, and it fell on me to do that. She hated me for it for a while until I pulled her out of a really shitty situation.” Ace gazes warmly at me. “Then she realized I was only doing it out of undeniable, unwavering love.”

  Everyone’s eyes narrow like they see Torque in a slightly different way.

  “Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Torque cockily answers.

  I plaster a stern posture ready to put him back in his place. “The thing is, though, Torque, as much as Seraphina had to learn she needed me, I had to learn I needed her just as much. In doing so, I had to loosen the reigns when I realized she’d grown up and had found her wings to fly on her own. It’s hard to let go, but if you don’t, your baby sister will end up resenting you.”

  The room’s quiet. I don’t know how these bikers take to outsiders coming in and letting strangers tell them how things work, but maybe some home truths from someone who isn’t so close to them might be the wakeup call they all need.

  Fuck!

  No one says anything.

  I watch Torque watching Lala. Her eyes misting up as they stare at each other. It’s like something clicks inside both of them. He nods at her. I think it’s a symbol to let her know he’s letting go. Ace’s hand slides up my spine, his palm resting on the back of my neck while massaging slightly. It’s just the comfort I need right now—him letting me know he’s in this with me—while the room’s still silent.

  I feel like I’ve broken them.

  I just wish someone would say something.

  Torque clears his throat, rubbing his chin. “Lala, a word?” he asks, his voice soft, not hard or demanding as he stands gesturing to the other side of the room.

  Pyro grips her hand for comfort, then she walks off with her older brother as everyone stares at me kind of like they’re in awe.

  My eyes flutter to Foxy, letting out a heavy breath. “Shit, I’m sorry. Did I say the wrong thing?”

  Foxy reaches out grabbing my hands across the table, shaking her head. “No. No, Neve. You said exactly the right thing. Thank you.”

  Pyro genuinely looks happy. “Yeah, thanks. If this fixes shit completely, stops him from watching us all the time, I honestly don't know what I’ll do to thank you, Neve.”

  A sense of happiness washes over me. Knowing I came here and was able to help in some small way, that I was able to repay Ace’s club like they’re helping me with my situation, well, it makes me feel good. “I’m glad if it helps.”

  We all turn around to see Torque and Lala chatting, then Torque says something as Lala rushes forward taki
ng Torque in a tight embrace. They stand there hugging each other. I feel like I’ve actually accomplished something today.

  “Well, I for one am glad you brought Neve to meet us all, Ace,” Foxy coos.

  I glance back at Ace as his eyes meet mine. “I’m glad I brought her, too.”

  “I think you’re gonna get along just fine at the club, Neve,” Sass calls out from further down the table.

  “Thanks, Sass, I hope so.”

  One of the club girls walks over smiling wide, her brunette hair falling over her shoulders like a doll, it’s so perfect. She’s stunning. “Hey, hon, you hungry this morning?” she asks.

  I glance at Ace with a small tilt of my head. “Yeah, thanks, Ruby, we’ll both have a big breakfast.” I squish my eyebrows together and open my mouth to rebut, but he stops me before I can answer. “Shhh… you’re here, and you had a big night. You’re not having a fucking fruit bowl or some damn granola shit for breakfast, Neve. You can have protein and grease.” He leans in closer so no one can hear. “We can work the calories off later if you’re worried.”

  I pull my lips in together, the same time I clench my thighs tightly while I attempt not to look too suspicious glancing at Ruby. “A big breakfast sounds lovely, thank you, Ruby. Do you have any Glacéau Vitaminwater?”

  Everyone stares at me like I’ve gone mad.

  Ruby raises her brow. “We have Berocca, is that the same thing?”

  I giggle. “Umm… no. Juice?”

  “We definitely have that.”

  “Juice it is then. Thanks, Ruby.”

  She winks at me. “Coming right up.”

  I sink into myself a little. Sometimes I forget where I am. There are times to be a diva, then there are times to just be a homely girl, and now is the time to remember what it was like before I had all the extravagant luxuries. I glance at Ace with a sad look on my face, but he doesn’t even seem to have taken any notice of what just happened. He’s watching me like I’m the light in his life as he slides a stray hair from my face behind my ear, then leans in planting a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. The gesture is so freaking sweet I almost burst into tears. No one has ever done anything like that to me before. Especially not in a room full of burly bikers. He really is one in a million.

  How the hell did I get so damn lucky?

  To think I was thinking of not pursuing this with him because of his connections to this club. But all I’ve seen since being here is a group of people who care, probably too much for the other people around them. I don’t see anything negative, just a big, happy family. I haven’t seen anything like what I thought goes on at a biker clubhouse. I mean there are kids here for crying out loud. This club is nothing like I thought it would be when I first met Ace and Noah.

  If I can see how fantastic Ace and his brothers are, then surely when news breaks of our relationship, the world will be able to see it too?

  ACE

  After eating breakfast and spending a little more time with my brothers and the ladies, regrettably, I have to take Neve back to the set. Project ‘stealth mode’ is called into action. I told Neve I have a plan, but what I didn’t tell her is that it involves Foxy. I text messaged Torque last night to ask if I could borrow Foxy’s full face helmet and he approved it, but also that she would need it back, so he was happy to have Foxy tag along for the ride.

  Foxy also rides a bike, albeit a blue Kawasaki Ninja 250, but I don’t hold it against her. My plan entails having Foxy ride with us. Seeing as Foxy’s helmet is full face, Neve will wear her helmet, and Foxy will wear my open-face bell helmet. That way Neve’s face will be completely covered and no one will have a clue it’s her when we approach the hotel.

  Then, once we arrive at the parking garage, I’ll give Neve the cap I wore to the clubhouse, and Neve will wear it up to our room.

  It should work.

  Neve’s going to leave her hair down with the cap to cover more of her face, so fingers crossed no one suspects anything.

  Everything goes off without a hitch, and we’re now in the parking garage about to head inside the hotel saying goodbye to Foxy.

  I glance around to make sure everything’s okay. The whole area is empty as Foxy walks over to us removing my helmet.

  “What a beautiful day for a ride,” Foxy remarks.

  Neve takes off Foxy’s full face helmet, her hair swaying to and fro as she places the helmet under her arm.

  Goddamn, she’s sexy.

  “I still can’t believe you ride your own bike. No wonder you’re the first Old Lady, you’ve got lady balls, that’s for sure,” Neve quips with a big smile.

  “Lady balls not so much. Adrenaline junky, I suppose. And maybe I like the thrill for bad things. Just took me meeting Torque to truly embrace it.”

  Neve glances at me with a smirk.

  “Thanks for helping us out, Foxy. I appreciate it,” I state.

  “Yeah… we both do,” Neve adds.

  Foxy waves her hand through the air placing my helmet on my seat. “Any excuse for a ride is fine by me. Need me to come up to the room with you to be a further distraction?”

  “I think we should be okay. With my hair down and this…” she reaches up yanking the baseball cap off my head with a giggle and places it firmly over her head, “… I should be okay to go.”

  I yank the rim of the cap down a little more to cover Neve’s eyes.

  “Wouldn’t even know,” Foxy declares.

  “Thanks again, Foxy. I owe you,” Neve remarks.

  Foxy softens her stance. “The only thing I want from you, Neve, is to take care of Ace. He’s important to us, so while he’s on loan to you, treat him well.”

  Ever the first Old Lady.

  Neve turns to me, the soft gleam in her eyes shows nothing but the passion that’s pouring out of them. “I will, don’t worry. He’s important to you all, I see that, but he’s also important to me as well, Foxy. Please know that.”

  “Ladies, stop! All this will pump up my already inflated ego.”

  Foxy snorts while rolling her eyes. “Have a good day you two, and Ace?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Look after Neve. I like her, she’s good people.” She winks at Neve who’s smiling back at Foxy. She pulls her helmet over her long, blonde locks then turns toward her blue bike and strolls off.

  I grab Neve’s hand to head for the elevator. “You ready?”

  “Let’s do this.”

  We ride it up to the foyer of the hotel. As the doors open, I wrap my arm around Neve to let her cuddle into my side so she can hide herself some more. She molds to my body, hiding her face into me as we walk through the lobby. The lobby’s brimming with people. They’re all checking out or into their rooms as we walk through.

  The flash of a camera goes off.

  Neve suddenly clings to me trying to hide her face even more. “Shit,” she cusses against me as we rush faster.

  My head shoots to where the camera flash came from, but it’s just a tour group taking a photo of themselves against the welcome sign. “It’s okay, it’s not for us,” I tell her as we rush for the elevator seemingly undetected. I press the call button as Neve clings to me like I’m her lifeline. I guess I’ll never know what the feeling is like of not wanting to be caught by the paparazzi.

  All I know is it must be daunting.

  I mean, I don’t like having my picture taken at the best of times, but Neve has hers taken all the damn time. Even when she doesn’t want it to.

  “It’s okay, Starlet, we’re nearly there.”

  The elevator opens, luckily no one’s inside, so we rush in. I quickly press the close door button as Neve pulls out the keycard to swipe to get us up to our room. The tension as we wait for the doors to close, hoping no one will step in with us, is almost unbearable. As she swipes the card and presses the level for our room, the doors slowly close, and with it, we both let out a long breath.

  She moves to my side, peering up at me. “We might just get away with this.”r />
  “As long as no one hops onto the elevator on the way up.”

  As if on cue the elevator slows down, I pull Neve to me, her front to mine, her face resting in the crook of my neck as if she’s cuddling me. I wrap my arms around her in an embrace as the doors open. I put on my cheesiest facial expression at the old couple who peer in at us. The grandma’s face softens like she’s reminded of her youth as she sighs. “Going down, dear?” she asks.

  “Sorry, we’re on our way up.”

  “Young love. It’s so beautiful,” she coos.

  “Oh, shush, Margaret, we need to get to the buffet before all the good food is gone,” the grumpy old man snarls.

  I grimace as the doors start to close on the old lady’s face falling. Poor thing, I feel for her.

  Neve pulls back, her eyes meeting mine. My hand moves to her face to caress her cheek tenderly. Leaning in, I kiss her lips softly as the doors close entirely starting our ascent. She kisses me back, our tongues finding each other, dancing in a slow rhythm. It’s good to be alone before we have to go back to her world.

  The elevator dings letting me know we’ve arrived at our floor. I groan in disapproval as she gingerly pulls back from me.

  “Back to the real world,” she mumbles.

  “Yeah, at least we’re back before Julian’s had a chance to light up your cell again this morning.”

  She crinkles her eyes and nose as we stroll into the hall and make our way to our room. She swipes the card, then we enter still chuckling as we make our way to the main room. Neve pulls off her baseball cap as she turns to face m. I wrap my arms around her as she walks backward, and we stare into each other’s eyes. “I can’t believe we got away with this.”

  “Got away with what?” a booming voice echoes through the room. I turn her around placing my body in front of hers as we enter the main room to see Julian sitting on the sofa seeming mightily annoyed.

  I relax, letting Neve walk out from behind me as she throws the baseball cap on the bed, her face falls then shifts over plonking herself on the edge of the mattress like she’s preparing for a lecture. “Making our way back to the hotel without being seen.”