Survive the houston defi.., p.1
Survive (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 8), page 1
K E Osborn
USA Today Bestselling Author
SURVIVE
The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 8
K E Osborn
USA Today Bestselling Author
Copyright 2022 K E Osborn
All Rights Reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real events, real people, and real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, organizations, or places is entirely coincidental.
All rights are reserved. This book is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author. All songs, song titles, and lyrics contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.
Disclaimer: The material in this book contains graphic language and sexual content and is intended for mature audiences aged 18 and older.
ISBN: 978-1922489340
Editing by Swish Design & Editing
Proofreading by Swish Design & Editing
Book design by Swish Design & Editing
Cover model by Cody Smith & Chloe Glynn
Photography by Reggie Deanching RplusMphoto
Cover design by Designs by Dana
Cover Image Copyright 2022
All Rights Reserved
We started a war.
One we thought we could win.
The moment the club tried to outsmart the Militia, the battle lines had been drawn.
As the brotherhood of the Houston Defiance MC, our job is to be loyal. To show respect when it’s due. There are ranks in place for a reason.
Prospects will fight the system.
Those we love will fall.
Chaos will rule the streets of Houston.
Can the club survive, thrive, evolve?
Change is on the horizon.
The dawn of a new age.
Romances will flourish, the enduring relationships will prosper.
But not everything is smooth sailing.
Everyone will be tested.
But in the end, will Houston Defiance Survive?
From USA Today Bestselling Author K E Osborn comes the highly anticipated final book in the Houston Defiance MC Series.
To Bek.
You have loved this series the entire way through, and your love for Koda and River has always made me excited that a reader can enjoy my characters this much.
So I hope you enjoy River’s journey in this final installment of the Houston Defiance.
This one’s for you. xoxo
For your convenience, below is a list of terms used in this book.
Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the author.
1% — When a 1% patch is worn, it represents the one percent of bikers who are outlaw clubs.
Chapel – The room where Defiance members congregate to have their “Church” meetings.
Cut — A vest with club colors.
Original Seven – The original or founding members of Defiance.
Road Name — A road name is earned, given, and bestowed upon a biker. They usually have a story behind them.
Six — Watch your back.
Wise One – The brother everyone turns to for advice.
Blurb
Dedication
A Note to the Reader
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Connect With Me Online
About the Author — K E Osborn
KODA
My life has been filled with turmoil, devastation, heartbreak, and more sadness than anyone should have to go through. My parents were killed in front of me, rocking the very foundation this club sits on. It changed the path I was destined to travel.
It hasn’t been easy, but every step I have taken has been with purpose and has led me to this.
The woman I’m head over heels in love with has a damn target on her head. And I will stop at nothing to make sure the bitch who’s after her is taken out—before the asshole comes after what’s mine.
I’d do anything for Thayleah. I proved that when I almost lost my life while trying to protect her from an evil so vile, I knew it was time to deal with the shit that brought with it. So, to ensure she was safe, I voluntarily took a scorpion bite—twice—to prove I am worthy of being the man she needs me to be.
I will not fail her this time.
Not when she needs me the most.
Though, the problem—I’m a damn prospect.
A nothing.
Well, less than nothing.
Patching into the club is everything I have ever wanted.
Everything I need.
To prove to my family and the club, I belong—that I’m not just some kid they seem to see me as—as a brother who is willing to fight and die for this club.
Defiance means everything to me.
But if I have to go into this mission alone, sacrificing my position at the club to make sure Thayleah stays safe, then I’m willing to do just that.
KODA
Zero bangs his gavel, making my head snap up. My thoughts run rampant as I stand by the door. Being the lowest rank within the club, I shouldn’t even be in here. I guess being a Walker and the president’s younger brother has its perks.
“Neon… tell me what we know about this Jadis woman? What the hell does she want?” Zero asks.
Neon types something into his laptop then cranes his neck to the side and draws his brows together. “Apparently, she’s into the acquisition of women… she doesn’t sell them, she buys them. But no one knows what for. Why she wants Thayleah… whatever the fucking reason, it can’t be good.”
I’m not supposed to talk, but I can’t hold back. This is, after all, my woman they’re discussing, so I take a step forward. “We need to find Jadis and put the bitch down. Now!” I grunt out through gritted teeth. The venom in my words pushes out in waves of hatred.
Zero snaps his head to me, his hard eyes glare. “Prospect, you get no say in here. Keep your mouth shut while patched members are talking!”
Heat washes over me, one I can’t extinguish, the same time as I take another step forward. “If this patch is gonna cause me not to be able to fight for the woman I love, then I will turn it in right fucking now!”
“That’s not how it works…” Zero scoffs out a laugh. “You need to remember you’re a fucking prospect, and there are rules. In this Chapel, the patched members discuss plans. You have no say and no decision in the process.”
Gritting my teeth, I ball my hands into fists as I turn for the door. Before I get to it, Blake, another prospect, pushes it open and rushes into the room.
“What the fuck is it with you prospects today?” Zero grunts.
Blake grimaces with panting for breath like he’s run a marathon, side-eyes me, but then focuses back on Zero. “Thayleah went upstairs to use the ladies’ room for her, um… female issues. Now, I can’t find her.”
I scrunch my brow. “What the fuck? She doesn’t have her period.”
Zero bangs his gavel abruptly and stands. “Enough said in here. Let’s find Thayleah.”
As I cuss internally, I push past my incompetent counterpart, then rush out into the clubhouse followed by my brothers in search of my woman.
There’s a threat, and she’s missing.
This is not good!
She knows better than to go anywhere right now. The clubhouse isn’t breached—alarms would have sounded if it were—so before I start to panic, we need to check every fucking inch of this place.
As I race into the kitchen, I spot Nessie, and she smiles at me. “Everything okay?”
“Have you seen Thay?”
“Not for a while. Thought she was with Blake?”
I grunt. “Yeah… me too. You see her, tell her we’re all looking for her.”
“Sure thing,” Ness replies. “I’ll go search upstairs if you like.”
“Thanks.” I turn, heading out to find my other brothers wandering around obviously coming up short too.
“Any luck?” Phantom asks.
“Nothing. Let me check the lot.” Sprinting to the parking lot, Zero’s hot on my tail. As I exit,
Zero steps up to my side, resting his hand on my shoulder. “This shit doesn’t add up.”
The first thing I do is pull out my cell, then press her name. It rings and rings, only heightening my anxiety. “Dammit, Thay! Pick up!” It rings out.
My head frantically snaps back to the clubhouse. “Maybe she’s left me something.” I take off faster than my feet can carry me while racing back inside, taking the stairs three at a time. The door to our room practically breaks off its hinges with the force I use to push it open as I enter. I have no idea what I’m looking for, but I know Thayleah, and she doesn’t do anything without cause. If she took off without telling us, there’s a reason behind it. She wouldn’t have gone without giving me something. I just have to find it.
With force, I yank out drawers, raiding them one by one, pulling out papers, throwing everything on the floor but find nothing. So I move to the bed, snatching back the duvet.
Still nothing.
I even pull the pillowcases off the pillows.
Nada.
Not a damn thing!
I’m panting and puffing, trying, searching for anything, something of a hint of where Thayleah has gone.
But again, nothing.
I pull out my cell, trying her one more time as Zero watches me falling apart from the door. His concerned stare doesn’t help while her cell fades to voicemail again. “Fuck!”
Picking up a lamp, I hurtle it across the room, the glass shattering on the floor. I don’t waste any time and keep moving. Zero goes to reach out for me, but I shove him aside, making my way for the stairs.
“Koda!”
I ignore him.
“Koda!” Zero growls louder this time.
“What!” I snap back at him as he keeps pace with my hurried steps.
“Is there a reason she would leave on her own? Is there something we’re missing?”
“Do you think I would be this frantic if I knew why she was gone, asshole?” I yell, instantly regretting it.
He raises his hands in surrender while I shake my head. “Sorry! It’s just—”
“We’ll find her.”
Letting out a staggered breath, I nod once, somehow not gaining any relief from his words.
Making my way over to Neon, he’s frantically typing shit into his laptop. As I step up to him, he glances up at me. “I’m on it, Koda, I’m tracking her cell.” My eyes light up, hope flooding my veins. “But it’s already gone dark.”
A wave of adrenaline hits me so fucking hard everything covers me in a world of darkened shadows. All light has been vanquished, and any hope I had of trying to find her is quickly diminishing.
Prinie steps over, pulling me to her. My protective older sister, who’s always trying to look out for me, starts to talk. “Let’s not panic. I’m sure there’s a perfectly plausible explanation for all of this.”
Curling up my lip, I pull back from her. “No. It feels off. Something’s not right. She wouldn’t just take off without telling us… without telling me.”
Zero turns around, sending a whistle through the clubhouse. “I need to know if anyone saw Thayleah leave? Did anyone see anything suspicious?”
Everyone shakes their heads or shrugs, leaving me with no more answers than I came up with. Clenching my fists, I let out a long breath.
I’m missing something.
I know her.
She wouldn’t go anywhere without telling me, without giving me something.
So I take off again—a man on a mission.
“Koda? Where are you going?” Prinie calls out.
“I must have missed something,” I reply, heading for the stairs again with Zero hot on my tail once more. Upon entering the room, the chaos and destruction I left last time, scattered across the small space make my insides churn. Scanning the room, I check around. Is there anything I missed? My eyes fall to the laptop sitting on the desk. I pick it up, and underneath is a picture of Gage—Thayleah’s nephew. Reaching for it, I study the picture. I haven’t seen this one before, and that confuses me, so I stare closer, then a chill sweeps over me.
I hesitate for a brief second.
Turn the picture over.
My eyes widen at the handwritten information on the back.
Ballester Fishing Area
Three days
7 p.m.
Come alone.
Tell no one!
Or Gage will suffer in the vilest of ways.
Three days’ time.
My mind focuses on the days.
Then it hits me.
Three days ago is when the box arrived threatening Thayleah with the picture of Vance, the price list, and the scorpion. When this whole shitshow with Jadis first came to my attention.
When Thayleah opened the box, she must have found this picture of Gage but hid it from me. A spark of electricity rattles through me and not in a good way. Thayleah kept this meeting from me for one reason only, and that is to protect her nephew. She’s out there, putting her life on the line for her family.
But she’s my family.
I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to her.
With a racing pulse and frantic breaths, I hand the picture to Zero. He takes it while I grit my teeth.
“We have to ride. We have to ride now. She could already be gone.” I run my hand through my hair. “Fucking stubborn, independent, stupid woman.”
“Ballester is just over half an hour from here. We can’t be sure how long she’s been gone, but if we ride fast, we might catch her on the way to the fishing area,” Zero instructs.
Dipping my chin, I walk with him out of my bedroom, down the stairs, and into the main room.
Zero sends a whistle into the air. “Brothers mount up. We’re heading to the Ballester Fishing Area. We think she’s headed there. We don’t know what we’ll find when we get there so lock and load.”
My eyes meet Prinie’s as she weakly smiles at me. She hates me riding out with the guys, but at some point, she will have to let go of the idea that I am her little brother who needs saving and face the fact I’m a biker who the assholes out there need protection from.
Making my way to my ride, my thoughts are focused solely on Thayleah. What the hell is she going through right now? And what the hell possessed her to do this on her own? She should have come to me. She should have trusted we would have found a way to keep Gage and her safe.
Now, I have to fight to keep her alive.
Revving my engine, I take off at the back of the pack. The vibration of the engine does nothing to stem the nerves rolling through me at warp speed. I simply want to find her, make sure she’s okay. That Jadis hasn’t done anything to her. Hasn’t hurt her in any way, shape, or form.
It feels like the ride to the fishing area takes a fucking century, but in reality, it’s not long. As we pull into the docking area, the fresh tire tracks etched deep into the mud send a chill through my bones. Pulling my bike to a stop, there’s a smashed cell on the ground in front of me. I park my ride, taking off before anyone else has time to do anything. Grabbing Thayleah’s telltale purple cover, my heart sinks.
She was definitely here.
My head snaps around, trying to garner anything else, something that will give me a clue, but there’s nothing.
No boats.
No cars.
No-fucking-nothing.
“Fuuuck!” I scream out as Zero steps up to my side.
“Morgan’s Point is just up there.” He points. “The workers might have noticed something. We’ll go talk to them. You stay here—”
“The fuck are you talking about? Me stay here? No fucking way! I’m coming too. If they know what happened to Thayleah, I need to find out.”
Zero exhales. “Koda, you’re too close to this—”
“And if this was Cherry’s phone, and she was taken by some fucked-up bitch who buys women for God only knows what, would you be taking a back seat?”
