Addictive (The Houston Defiance MC Series Book 2)

near me? Or is it just from Wraith’s own stupidity? Either way, Wraith’s getting me offside. Again.
I take another sip of my whiskey, the burn not doing anything to numb the pain I’m feeling.
“Trying to drown your sorrows?” Phantom’s studying me from the doorway. He’s leaning against the frame, arms folded with that famous smirk he’s known for.
I shrug taking another sip. “Nothing else to do.”
Phantom moves in next to me, pulling out a seat. “Hear the guys are talking about how the meeting went with Zero. You feeling left out?”
I raise my brow at him. “Are you?”
He sits back in his seat bringing his ankle to rest on his knee. “I gotta earn my way into the chapel, I’m not long out of a prospect patch. I haven’t earned the right to sit at that table.”
“I’m Zero’s sister, blood of the president and the president before him. I’ve earned the damn right.”
“Yeah, maybe, but some things are better left to the club to deal with, princess.”
I roll my eyes dramatically. “Still, I should know what’s going on. So should Cherry, for that matter.”
“If you’re so gung-ho about it, then speak with Wraith when they get out. But Prinie, he’s got a lot on his mind. The man’s carrying this club now while trying to get his best friend out of jail, and trying to take on the Baron. You should cut him some slack.”
“You’re his champion now?”
“No, but he is my VP, and I need to let people know when they’re stepping out of line.”
“You think I’m stepping out of line?”
Phantom raises his hands in surrender. “No, fuck! I’m saying this all wrong. I just… you need to let Wraith handle this the way he needs to, let him have the time to do it his way.”
I take another sip of my whiskey, then exhale. “You know, I came out here to get away, to clear my head. This isn’t helping, Phantom.”
“You wanna know something?”
My eyes flick to his, widening in curiosity. “Tell me.” If he knows something about Zero, I want to as well.
“You’re cute when you’re angry.”
I scoff. “Asshole.”
He chuckles, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. I let him as I exhale. The raindrops are coming down a little harder now, they splash with force against the concrete making little dancing puddles on the ground.
“Honestly, though, if Wraith has something to tell you, he will. I know how bad this is, Prinie. We all want Zero back. We are Defiance, and we will find a way to bring him home.”
“I sure hope you’re right. I came back here to Houston to be with Zero. Now he’s gone, and everything’s gone to hell in a basket. It’s like there’s no reason for me to be here.”
Phantom turns facing me, grabbing my hand in his. His eyes turn intense. “When you left last time you took a piece of this club with you. Everyone felt it. You belong here, Prinie. Don’t you believe otherwise.” He’s being sincere, it’s seeping from his pores, and I can’t help but be overwhelmed by that fact.
Sniffling, my eyes move back to the storm raging in front of me, feeling like it’s replicating the emotion inside of me right now. “I just don’t know why this club has to constantly take from me. My parents, Zero… all it does is take my happiness.”
Phantom’s grip on my hand tightens, and I gaze up at him. “For all the happiness it’s taken, there are so many good memories here, too, Prinie. You’re so blinded by the bad, you fail to see the good.”
I shrug. “Maybe—”
“No maybes about it. Here, I’ll prove it to you!” He stands, stepping out into the middle of the rain, his arms out wide with the biggest, goofiest grin on his face. His hair sticks to his face as the water runs down his skin and clothing leaving him like a drowned rat.
“Phantom… Jesus… what are you doing?” I practically yell, standing from my chair, under the verandah urging him to come back under the shelter.
He laughs loudly, then starts spinning around. “Making fun memories with you, princess. Now get out here and have some fun.”
My eyes widen. “Huh? Come out… into the rain? Are you high?”
Phantom turns to me, dropping his smile. “Quite probably… stop being a pussy and get out here.” He rushes forward, grabbing my hands, then he yanks me out into the rain with him.
I let out a shriek as the water pummels over me, but the warm spring rain doesn’t chill me like I thought it would. In fact, it’s refreshing and liberating. We rush out into the middle of the cookout area. I giggle as I spin around in a circle, mouth open wide, taking in the rain droplets.
Phantom grabs me, pulling me to him as we laugh hysterically. “See, I told you we could make fun memories.”
I grip onto his cut stabilizing myself as the water rushes down my face. “You’re crazy.”
Grabbing my hand, he pushes me off him, twirling me around as though we’re dancing. I laugh so hard I stumble in the slippery wetness.
“Prinie!” a booming voice calls from the doorway.
I stop. Turn. Wraith’s standing, arms crossed, angry as hell but sexy as sin.
The second I see him, all broody and worked up, my skin prickles in goosebumps. My breathing quickens as I stare at him with water running into places it has no business being right now. My heart rate spikes as we stare each other down.
His nostrils flare. “What do you think you’re doing? You’re gonna catch damn pneumonia!”
I stand taller, folding my arms over my chest. “I’m making fun memories.”
Wraith’s eyes dart from me to Phantom, then back to me. “I don’t care if you’re doing a haka to