Addictive (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 2)

allegation case between him and his cleaning lady.”
My eyes widen. “Howard Goldbladt, the mining tycoon? The Goldbladt who’s now serving a life sentence because from that one allegation they found a shit-ton of other fraudulent activities and crap?”
“One and the same.”
“And you’re telling me she’s willing to work on Zero’s case?”
Neon sits taller. “She’s on her way here now.”
“Then you better tell me her name.”

WRAITH
We’ve had brothers taken into the police station before. Hell, we’ve had presidents taken before and even locked up, but I’ve never felt more anxious about it than I do right now, and it’s for a multitude of reasons.
One, Zero’s my best friend, and I want to make sure I do right by him. I’m also the VP, which means I need to step up in Zero’s absence.
Two, the most important factor, we’re going up against the Baron.
If I’m being honest with myself, I don’t know how we’ll win this fight, even with Finley Knight—attorney extraordinaire—on our side. I’m trying to keep my head in the game, but every time I think we have come up with a good plan, my mind wanders thinking about the what-ifs.
What if I can’t come through for Zero?
He was there for me when I didn’t even know I needed him.
So, if I can’t repay the favor now, what kind of fucking friend am I?
Four Years Ago
 
What the hell is my life coming to? I am barely getting by trying to outrun the cops all the time, especially when I leave a fucking mess behind that’s getting harder for me to clean up. I’m reckless, and it’s becoming obvious.
As I sit at this dive bar in the backwaters of Houston, I’m drowning in tequila, trying to keep my addiction in check.
The need to wrap my fingers around a woman’s neck while I fuck her is something that’s getting out of hand. The need to strangle the life out of one of them is starting to win out. I feel like I’m losing myself. Honestly, I don’t even know who I am anymore.
Throwing back another shot down my throat, a man with long hair slides on to the stool beside me. He’s wearing a Houston Defiance MC biker cut, and for some reason, that makes me snort out a laugh. “You’re a bit far from home, aren’t you?”
The biker turns to face me, his eyes haunted as he grabs my shot of tequila and downs it without a second’s hesitation. I widen my eyes and raise my eyebrow, impressed with his deliberate action.
“That’s the entire point.” He slams his large tattooed hand on the counter. “Bartender, another two shots, please. Keep ‘em comin’.”
The biker doesn’t say anything.
I don’t say anything.
The bartender slides our drinks over, we grab them, and the biker slams the shot glass to mine, making some of the clear liquid spill as he lifts it into the air. “Cheers,” he calls out, then swallows the whole thing faster than I can even react.
Maybe he’s more fucked-up than I am?
“You all right, man?”
He laughs, a harrowing, big, fat, belly laugh. “Am I all right? Am I all right! Pfft, that’s a loaded fuckin’ question. Bartender, give us the bottle. We’re gonna need it!” he yells.
I like this guy, he’s my kind of person.
“You look like the type of man who understands women…” I scrunch up my face.
“Not real—”
The biker doesn’t wait for me to fully answer before he starts again, “They’re intoxicating, right? They make you fall for them. They make you love them. Then fuckin’ bam!” He slams his fist on the bar loudly, making everyone turn to look at us. “They snap you in half like a fuckin’ twig.”
I raise my brow. “Sounds intense.”
He groans, running his hand through his long wavy hair. “She’s a fucking bitch.”
“They all fucking are.”
He nods emphatically. “Right? Fuck! See… you get me. A total damn stranger, why can’t Neon?”
“Neon?”
“My best friend. Fuck! My best man… or was going to be…”
For the first time, I see his eyes twinkle as this tough façade he’s putting on might just crack. Then in an instant, the wall comes back as he shakes his head.
“You were getting married?” I ask.
“To my best friend’s sister. Yeah, what a stupid idea that was. Now, I’m down a woman, and my best friend is siding with his sister over me.”
“Mmm… that’s tough, man.”
Maybe my life isn’t so fucked up. No, it so is.
“She cheated, the night before the fucking wedding.”
My eyes widen. “Shit! Well, that’s jacked.”
The biker picks up the tequila, tips it up, and takes it straight from the bottle.
“When did this happen?”
He swipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Two days ago.”
Well, fuck.
“I can always strangle her for you if you want?” I half-joke, half-think I might enjoy that experience.
The biker turns to me, raising his brow. He looks me over, taking in my tattoos. I don’t think he even knew who I was a second ago, but something in what I’ve just said has now piqued the biker’s interest. “You say that shit to everyone or just bikers?”
I shrug. “I don’t say that shit to any-fucking-one.”
He narrows his eyes on me. “But you’d do it, wouldn’t you? If I paid you, you’d take her out?”
Excitement bubbles up inside of me.
Could I do this?
Is that what I’m supposed to be doing with my life? Contract killing? Maybe this is who I’m supposed to be.
I glance around the room, trying to gauge if anyone is listening. “For a price, I guess we could arrange something.”
The biker shakes his head, letting out a small laugh. “You have a lot to learn if