Addictive (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 2)

she thought I wasn’t. Up until that fucking night.
The night we were attacked.
The night her parents were murdered in front of her, it broke what was left of her fighting soul.
I wasn’t there to help pick up her pieces. So, she took Koda and bailed.
That was the hardest day of my life.
I lost my president.
My club was attacked, but more crucial, I lost the only thing keeping me level. Prinie left, and with her, all hope of me ever being any kind of normal man went with along with her. She abandoned me.
I gave her no choice, but I wanted her to fight harder for me. To give me a chance.
How fucked up is that?
Prinie left, breaking me, but it also broke Zero more than he ever let on. He didn’t show it, but I knew it. So, I put all my energy into him by being the best VP I could.
He chose me without a club vote, without a second thought. He wanted me by his side as his second.
So, from that day on, I restricted my sexual contact. If I had any, it was a blow job, rarely having sex. That way my urges couldn’t come out. I needed to prove to Zero that I wasn’t worthless, that I am worthy of his friendship and loyalty.
And that’s why right now I need to get him out of there, return the favor, and get these trumped-up charges dismissed. Or at the very least, let him know I’m working on it.
Picking up my cell, I dial the number I need.
It rings, far too long for me not to be annoyed, before a woman answers, “Houston Police Department, Corporal Daykin speaking.”
Going by her tone, she’s young like she’s new at this. I might be able to manipulate my way if I need to. “Corporal, what a lovely night we’re having.”
“This isn’t a line for chit-chat, sir. If you would like to report a crime or need assistance, then please continue. If not, kindly free the line for calls of a serious nature.”
Wow. Seems I had Daykin all wrong. Sometimes a pretty voice can be deceiving.
“Okay, to the point then. You have a man in custody… I would like to talk to him. Check-in and make sure he’s doing okay while being wrongfully arrested.”
She inhales, then lets out a long exhale. “Innocent or not, is of no consequence to whether he can receive special-privileged phone calls, sir. If he’s here, for processing, which I am assuming he is, then you will have to wait until he either phones you or has visitation with his attorney, if he has one. Or, if he’s innocent as you suggest, then you will see him when he’s released. Until such time, I cannot help you—”
“Can you just tell me how he’s doing? Give me something, Daykin… please?” I put on my best begging voice which goes against every fucking grain of my being.
She exhales like she’s considering my proposal. “Fine! Who are you asking after?”
“Krew Walker.”
Silence.
The pause is a little too long. Immediately, I know it’s because she’s aware Zero’s in there due to the Baron, and that shit can’t be a good sign.
“Look, your friend is fine. He’s okay while he’s in here. There’s no one else currently in the cells with him. But after his arraignment, if the judge doesn’t grant bail, he won’t be as alone in his cell like he will be when he’s taken into remand. Do you hear what I’m telling you?”
Hell yes, I do. I guess Daykin’s not a fan of the Baron.
A cold sweat invades my skin. Zero’s going to have a cellmate, and he’s already been chosen. This means there’s no hope of getting bail at the arraignment.
Zero’s going inside.
My job now is to figure out who the hell his cellmate is going to be. Because if Daykin is right, it’s not going to be anyone good.
I’m running out of time.
Zero is running out of time.

WRAITH
A Week Later
As suspected, the arraignment didn’t go in Zero’s favor. Zero pleaded not guilty, then the judge set the court date for twenty-six months. Which, of course, we all know is exorbitant. The prosecutor asked for a continuance, so Zero wouldn’t have a swift trial. The Baron wanted Zero to know he was going away for a long-ass time, and that he held all the power where the judiciary was concerned. When I found out who the judge was, it didn’t surprise me as he’d been seen lunching with the Baron many times in the past. We should have guessed.
Zero was stoic on that day, but adamant he didn’t want Cherry or Prinie there. It was fucking hard to tell them they couldn’t go, but eventually they understood it wasn’t safe.
Since then, the clubhouse has been in fight-back mode.
Zero was taken back to Harris County Jail when he was, of course, refused bail, and now, I’ve been doing every-fucking-thing I can think of to find someone, anyone, to help him on the inside. But to no avail.
Finley has been keeping us up to date on his health on the inside, but no one is able to gain access to the details about who the fuck Zero’s cellmate is. Zero’s apparently keeping tightlipped. Seems shit is already strained inside the system with him in there. But with Kevlar’s help, and a lot of convincing from me, we talked Ethan into pulling a few strings at the jail where Zero’s incarcerated.
When a new prisoner enters the system, they go into what’s called reception. No one but their attorney and official clergymen are allowed to visit for a period of one hundred and twenty days. It’s not a plausible position for Zero to be in because we need to