Addictive (Houston Defiance MC #2) - K.E. Osborn Page 0,52
to be on the wrong side.”
Kevlar scoffs. “Ethan’s the most straight-down the line cop I know.”
“We’re aware of that, but maybe his pig buddies don’t. Either way, let Ethan know I appreciate what he did. The entire club does. I know he did it for you, but the club won’t forget it either.”
Kevlar frowns. “I’m in shock, honestly. Ethan hates the club with a fiery passion, so I have no idea why he did this.”
“Well, let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth. Thank him. He’s saved Zero’s life.”
Kevlar nods as he stands, then walks off.
Neon slides over to the seat Kevlar just vacated and exhales. “You think Ethan is playing some kind of game?”
I shrug. “Not sure. He might be angling something with Kevlar, but I guess we will have to wait and see. In the meantime, I have some people I need to tell about Zero.”
Neon’s grin widens. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to hear someone’s been stabbed before in my entire life.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, me, too. Zero must’ve put up a fight. Because if I know Damir like I think I do, he wouldn’t have been aiming for Zero’s abdomen.”
“My thoughts exactly. Zero’s a strong bastard. Damir probably wasn’t counting on that. Then the guards must have come in at just the right time.”
“That was not the phone call I was expecting, but I will take the outcome.”
“Fuckin’ yeah. You wanna call a club meeting to inform everyone?”
“Can you tell Texas and Chains? Get them to gather the brothers together in the chapel and let them in on what’s happening. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I have to tell Prinie and Cherry. If they hear it second hand…”
“I get it. Go. Let me handle the brothers.”
I grab my Tylenol quickly drinking them down with my coffee that I so desperately need. A couple of sips will have to do. “Thanks, brother.”
I stand, giving Mack a scruff on his head, then walk over to Cherry who’s sitting with Chills and baby Kobe. “Cherry, can I grab a moment?”
She lowers her coffee cup, eyeing me suspiciously. “That phone call looked intense.”
“Can we go find Prinie and all talk together?”
The mug starts to tremble in her hands as she slowly lowers it to the table. She quickly stands in a rush. “Sorry, Chills, I gotta—”
“No, go, this is important,” Chills offers.
Cherry moves into my side, fighting like hell to keep her shit together. She smooths her hands down her jeans nervously as we head for the stairs. “Jesus, I don’t think I want to hear this,” she mumbles under her breath.
I reach out placing my hand on her lower back. “It’s gonna be okay, Cherry. But I have to tell you and Prinie together.”
We traipse up the stairs, heading for Prinie’s room, and Cherry’s struggling not to panic. The strong woman from yesterday is losing the fight right in front of me. We reach Prinie’s door, and I grab Cherry, spinning her to face me. “You can’t go in there like this. It will freak Prinie out. He’s alive, okay?”
Cherry’s entire body sags in relief as she closes her eyes trying to steady herself. “Fuck! You could have led with that, Wraith.”
“Shit! Yeah, well, I’m no good at this crap, okay? All I know is we have to go into Prinie’s room and explain it all. She needs to know everything’s okay.”
“Is it, though? Is everything all right?”
“Let’s just go inside, and I’ll tell you all about the call.”
Cherry turns, knocking on Prinie’s door while I clench and unclench my fists.
Why am I this nervous to talk to Prinie?
“Come in,” her voice is melancholy and low as Cherry grips the door handle.
Here goes nothing.
PRINIE
Sitting on my bed, I pull the AirPods from my ears where Lewis Capaldi wistfully mourns about letting his guard down. The song hits home at the moment in more ways than one as I let my air buds fall to the mattress.
“Come in,” I somberly murmur, answering the knock.
My door casually opens. Cherry and Wraith stand there. “Well, are you coming in, or am I going somewhere with you?”
Wraith gestures to Cherry for her to enter. She rushes over to my bed, sliding in next to me then she reaches out gripping my hand in hers. Instantly, I know whatever’s coming is about Zero. Mentally, I brace myself for impact.
Wraith moves over to the desk chair, pulls it out, turns it around, and straddles the seat, putting some distance between