Addictive (Houston Defiance MC #2) - K.E. Osborn Page 0,27

I feel the intensity of someone’s gaze on me. I pull back from Phantom, peering over my shoulder to see Wraith leaning against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, the expression on his face like he’s just eaten an Atomic Warhead candy, it’s that sour.

I turn back to Phantom, my eyes pleading with him. “I’m sorry, I need to—”

“No… go. Of course. Find out what’s going on.”

I nod without saying anything else and spin, taking off toward Wraith. The closer I get to him, the more anxiety ripples through me. He looks so fucking good, but I can’t let that distract me from everything I need to know right now, and I want to know it all.

“So tell me… how is he? Did you see him? Was he okay? Will they drop the charges? Can Finley get him out—”

Wraith reaches out, grabbing me by my shoulders staring me dead in my eyes, ending my barrage of questions. “Stop! Slow down. Give me time to answer.”

I take a breath as he leads me over to the seats while Phantom heads inside to leave us alone.

“It’s gonna be a while before we’ll get the ball rolling on Zero’s case. He has an arraignment in two days. He’ll be sent into remand to wait out those two days… we expect he won’t get bail… then, he will be sent to county jail until his trial.”

My body goes ice-cold. Numbness takes over from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair. I can’t comprehend how this is even happening. It takes me a moment before I have more questions. “Why is no one talking to Cherry? If she is the person he’s supposed to have kidnapped, then why aren’t they questioning her?”

“Because the Baron is the one pulling all the damn strings. He’s the one making these false charges stick, somehow forcing people to do shit without asking any questions. He’s obviously interfered with evidence, has people blackmailed, somehow had shit included that shouldn’t be there. Problem is, with his influence and power in this town, it’s fucking ridiculous because no one is willing to challenge the bastard.”

A headache starts to form at the base of my skull. “Then find the Baron, Wraith. Find him and make him pay for doing this to my family.”

Wraith reaches out grabbing my hand. A spark shoots over my skin, but my body is too overwhelmed right now to react to it.

“I will, but I have to get Zero out before we can seek the type of revenge we need to on the Baron, or… we’ll never get Zero out.”

Clenching my eyes shut, this is all so much. I grip onto Wraith’s hand tighter, needing some sort of comfort from him. All I want to do is crawl up in his arms seeking his security, but I know that’s probably not the right thing to do in this moment. Glancing up, I see it in his eyes, the hunger, the way he wants to devour me too.

“Thanks, Wraith. Thanks for doing everything you can to help.”

He stands, pulling me with him. “Of course.” Our eyes lock, our hands still hold together as I take a step closer. The air around us swirls with the rush surging through us both.

I have an ease, a comfort with Phantom, and I want to feel that with Wraith too. So, I inch forward, sliding my arms around his waist. He doesn’t flinch back, or hesitate, his arms pulling me to him in a tight embrace.

I lean my head on his chest—he smells of sandalwood and leather, a fucking perfect combination—but the sensation I was searching for doesn’t come through. I don’t feel just comfort from Wraith, in this moment—I feel like I am home.

His nose slides into my hair, fully embracing the hug. I never thought for a second, we would get to this place again after everything, but damn it feels nice right now. After the day we’ve both had, just knowing we’re both feeling the pain of Zero’s loss, but we can be here for each other is something I think neither of us saw coming.

Regretfully, I pull back from him. My arms still locked around his waist, my eyes engaged with his as the air around us is a vortex, and it’s like being on a spinning-out-of-control carousel. I’m turning, though I’m standing still, and he’s the only thing keeping me upright. Wraith’s my gravitational force pulling me down and to him. I lick my