CHAPTER SIX

SIX

Two Days Later

Neon was tasked with finding Bradley, and he has been hard at work. Amber gave us the address where they lived together, but he’s moved out with no forwarding information. With not much else to go on, Neon is having difficulty tracking him down. Eventually, he will get there, he always does.

However, right now, the club is having some shipping consignments packaged up in the yard, as there is an overflow from the Slavers’ compound. It’s not a huge amount, so I suggested we get it done fast here at the clubhouse. The kids are all inside, and Amber is looking after them while the club and the Slavers are in the lot dealing with the Snow White being crated into shipping containers. Then, it will be forklifted onto trucks to go to the cargo train.

Wraith and Zero are overseeing the process with me when Neon steps over. “Pres, I’ve managed to lock in an apartment for Amber, and I’ve located Bradley.”

My eyes light up. “You’re a fucking genius, Neon. Good work. First things first, I’m gonna talk to Amber about her apartment, then we deal with Bradley. Wraith, Zero, you good to stay here and keep an eye on shit?”

“Yeah, brother, we got this. You deal with Amber,” Zero states, giving me a head bob.

I walk into the room, my eyes immediately catching sight of Amber sitting with Kenna and Kinzley in the craft zone. The sight of my girls so happy tugs at something deep inside me, a warmth I don’t often let myself feel. Kinzley is giggling wildly when Amber tickles her, her little hands flailing in delight. And I can’t deny it—Amber is the reason for their smiles. She’s been good to them. But the problem is, she’s been too good to them, and it’s starting to cloud my judgment. I need to push her out. She’s a goddamn thorn in my side, and it’s time to finally take action.

I step toward her, and she looks up, her face lighting up with that same damn smile she’s been throwing at me for weeks. That wide grin, the kind that could melt anyone, even me, but I can’t let myself be softened by it anymore. Not now. Not when the club’s future depends on cutting the ties that bind us to her.

“I’m loving my job at the center, Six,” she says, her voice light and bright, as if she hasn’t noticed the tension building in the air. “Thank you so much for getting me a position there. The staff is friendly, and the kids are great. And it’s even better that I get to come home to these two funbags,” she adds, tickling Kinzley, who giggles so hard she almost chokes on the air she’s gasping for.

It should make me smile—hell, it does. Seeing my daughter so happy makes me feel like I’m doing something right. But it’s overshadowed by the storm in my chest, the one that’s been brewing since I realized just how deep Amber’s roots have gotten in this clubhouse, in our lives.

It’s time.

I need to handle this now, or I’m sure I’ll regret it.

“That’s great,” I reply, trying to keep my tone neutral, even though inside, I’m steeling myself for what comes next. “Amber, I want to have a chat with you. Now that you’re working and enjoying the position, we also want you to have a taste of what your independence could look like.”

Her smile instantly falters, and the shift is so sudden I almost don’t catch it. Her face goes pale, and she stares at me as if I just dropped a bomb in front of her. She stands, her body stiff with unease, her breathing picking up as if she’s already anticipating the worst.

“What d-do you mean?” she asks, her voice wavering, but she’s trying to hold it together. I see it in the way her fingers tighten at her sides.

I exhale, knowing the next words out of my mouth are going to set everything into motion. “I asked Neon to rent an apartment for you so you can have your own place—”

“What?” she blurts, the shock in her voice clear as day. Her eyes widen, and I see the betrayal flash behind them—fucking hell, I’m doing what I have to, but it doesn’t make this shit any easier.

“Don’t worry,” I push on, my voice steady, even though my heart rate picks up. “We’re furnishing it for you and paying the first few months’ rent to get you started until you can cover it with the money you make from the center. But we feel like this is the right move for you to take back your life.”

Her arms fold across her chest, her expression hardening. “So that’s it?” she spits out, thick with emotion. “After everything we’ve shared, you’re just tossing me out?”

The words hit me like a slap to the face. It’s not that simple, but it feels like a goddamn punch. I fight the wave of guilt that tries to creep in, reminding myself of why I’m doing this.

But I can’t let that guilt cloud my judgment.

I won’t.

“We’re not tossing you out,” I say, my voice softer but still firm. “The apartment isn’t ready yet, so of course, you can still stay here. But we want to see you become independent, Amber. Not be so… dependent.”

“On you, you mean?” Her eyes flash with something sharp, almost angry now. The walls are up, and she’s ready to throw down.

I tilt my head slightly, meeting her gaze without flinching. “You do rely on me.”

She folds her arms across her chest in defiance. “I-I thought we had a friendship, Six. Being a friend is relying on s-someone,” she says, her voice cracking, and I feel the tug of emotion underneath.

She’s not just hurt.

She’s pissed.

And she has every right to be.

But this has to happen.

Be the hard president you’re meant to be, Six.

Don’t let her make you feel guilty.

“There’s a difference between relying on someone as a friend and being dependent on them for too much,” I snap, the words cold, sharp—exactly what she needs to hear.

“So, you think I’m using you?” she shoots back, her voice trembling with the weight of the question, and fuck, it hits me right in the gut.

“Amber, this type of conversation isn’t going to go anywhere.” I hold her gaze. Tears shimmer in her eyes, and my chest tightens in response, but I keep pushing through. “I see you’re upset. I understand you don’t want to leave, but I think this is best for you, and for the club, in the long run. We’re doing everything we can for you. But, if you don’t want this offer of the apartment, the only alternative is for you to pack your shit and leave… now!”

Her eyes widen with my clear and unveiled threat. The silence hangs heavy, suffocating, before she finally blinks and nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’ll take the apartment,” her voice barely a whisper now.

I nod, trying to hide the relief that flutters in my chest. “Good. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.” I turn to walk away, feeling the weight of the conversation lift, but just as I’m about to make my exit, her hand clutches my arm, fingers tight around my forearm, like she’s trying to keep me here—trying to make me listen.

Hesitating, I turn slowly, glancing down at her grip on my arm. She’s quick to pull it away, the gesture almost apologetic as she swallows a lump down her throat. “I’m sorry, Six,” she whimpers, but there’s something raw in it. “I didn’t mean to step out of line like that. I just… I love living here. But… I’ll go start packing.”

And just like that, the final nail is in the coffin.

It’s done.

Exhaling, I dip my chin, saying nothing more. I turn, walking off toward Rebel, who is standing, watching the interaction with bated breath. Striding up to my Old Lady, I pull her into a tight embrace. Her arms wrap around me fully, and I inhale her fruity scent, holding onto her with all I have.

“You okay? That seemed intense,” she asks, clearly concerned.

Huffing out a breath, I pull back and look into her beautiful eyes. “That whole conversation was a fucking shit show, but I told Amber she’s moving out into an apartment we’re renting for her, so she won’t be at the clubhouse anymore. We’re gonna furnish it for her and pay the rent until she can get on her feet with the new job, then, we’re cutting ties completely. In the meantime, to make me feel better about her being out there on her own, Neon traced Bradley’s location, and we’re gonna go find him. Make it so she doesn’t have to worry about him anymore.”

Rebel widens her eyes like she’s impressed by these new developments. “Well, from the sounds of it, this can only be a good thing all around. I’m proud of you, baby.”

Exhaling, I place my hand on her stomach and lean in, kissing her. “How’s he doing in there?”

Rebel smiles. “He’s doing just fine. You do whatever you have to do. We’ll be here… eating all the gingerbread.”

Smirking, I press my lips to hers again and then pull back. “Okay, gotta go… we need to find this Bradley fucker, deal with him, so I can come back home to you… and your gingerbread.”

She grins, her fingers gently caressing the back of my scalp. “Go get ’em, Six.”

I press my lips to hers briefly one more time before pulling back and winking at her.

Turning on my heel, I stalk over to Neon, Phantom, Texas, and Chains. I don’t need to say much—just tilt my head toward the front door of the clubhouse and mutter, “Mount up, brothers… we’re going hunting.”

Their chuckles echo like the low growl of a pack ready for blood. The tension crackles as we stride outside, passing Zero, Wraith, and Scout. They’re moving product, handling club business, but my business is different tonight— darker.

“Hey, Zero,” I call, my voice hard as steel. “We’re heading out to get Bradley. You good here?”

Zero nods, never missing a beat. “I got this. You take care of business .” His tone leaves no room for misunderstanding—he knows exactly what kind of business I’m handling tonight.

I grip his shoulder, a silent exchange of trust between us, then I turn and head for my bike. Throwing my leg over the leather seat, the familiar weight of the machine grounds me as the engine roars to life. The sound rattles in my chest. A call to arms. Neon takes the lead, and I follow, the wind whipping through my hair as we ride hard for over half an hour.

There’s something so freeing about the open road. Knowing that you’re riding into a storm. With the men at my back to support me no matter what will come with Bradley, I know that whatever chaos is about to unfold, these men, these brothers, have my six.

They always do because that is what Defiance is all about.

The house we pull up to is tucked away, its long driveway hidden from prying eyes.

Perfect for what we need to do—no witnesses, no interference.

We park at the end and dismount, walking the rest of the way, guns drawn, eyes sharp.

The gate comes into view, and with it, a sign. ‘ Beware of the Dog. ’ It’s a laughable attempt at security because there’s no sign of a dog anywhere. No water bowl, no chew toys. Just empty threats. I signal for the guys to be cautious, but I know this is quite simply a scare tactic.

“Eyes sharp,” I whisper, hopping the waist-high fence and landing softly in the dusty yard. The others follow, our movements in sync like we’ve done this a hundred times before.

The screen door is wide open. No cameras, no alarms. The whole place feels like a setup like we’re walking straight into a trap, but fuck it—we’re here now, and I need to get this shit with Amber dealt with.

I glance at Texas, who grips the door, pulling it open with a slow, deliberate squeak. The sound grates against my every nerve, but I rush inside, my gun raised as we step into a goddamn disaster zone. Pizza boxes, beer cans, trash piled up like this guy hasn’t cleaned in months.

Neon and Phantom fall in behind me as we make our way down the hall. Every creak of the floorboards feels like a scream in the silence, but we keep moving, guns drawn high. Ready for anything that might come our way.

Then, I hear it—a loud, obnoxious snore.

We all freeze, guns snapping toward the sound. Slowly, I creep around the sofa, and there he is—Bradley, passed out under a Baby Yoda blanket, a couple of Cheetos stuck haphazardly to his chest.

The sight of him sprawled out like that… what the fuck!

This idiot is no damn threat to us!

But that doesn’t change the fact he definitely was threatening Amber.

And if Amber’s afraid, then I’ve got to deal with him.

I raise my gun, the cold metal aimed right between his eyes. He might not look like much, but he’s caused enough damage. My finger hovers over the trigger, and just as I’m about to make my move, Texas shifts his boot, the floorboard groaning beneath his hefty weight.

Bradley’s eyes snap open, panic instantly flooding his face as he scrambles back, launching himself over the sofa in some ridiculous attempt to defend himself.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa… what the fuck, man?” he stammers, wide-eyed, like a cornered animal.

The guys raise their guns, ready to fire. But I raise my hand, my finger still itching on the trigger. “Hold your fire… I wanna ask Bradley some questions before we pump him full of lead.”

Bradley nods frantically, his eyes wide as saucers, clutching his Baby Yoda blanket like it’s a shield. “Yeah, sure, man, whatever you want. Just don’t fucking shoot me, okay?”

Stepping closer, I lower my voice, my tone dangerous and threatening. “Why were you trying to hurt Amber? Do you get off on hurting women?”

His face twists in confusion, and he scoffs. “ Hurt her? Man, I was trying to get away from her crazy ass! She’s been breaking into my house, poisoned my dog, stole my grandma’s jewelry. She’s a fucking psycho! You have no idea what that woman is capable of. She spins her web, uses you, then spits you out. She’s goddamn poison.”

My gut clenches, anger swirling as my eyes shift to Neon. “You did that fucking background check, right?” I ask Neon, still holding Bradley in my sights.

Neon glares at me. “Yeah, Pres. And nothing like that came back on her. But it did for you, Bradley. Domestic abuse charges, trafficking, stalking, identity theft… the list goes on and on.”

Bradley snorts, shaking his head, smug as hell. “Of course it did! She fucked with my records. She’s got you all fooled, man. You guys are so in over your heads. That bitch has probably already got her plan in motion for your club.”

The arrogance in his voice lights a fire in my gut. My hand tightens around the grip of my gun, but I keep my control.

Barely.

I step forward, closing the distance between us, my voice dropping to a lethal calm. “You’re telling me Amber hacked into your records, doctored them, and somehow added in a bunch of false charges into the system against you?”

Bradley shrugs, an arrogant smirk plastered across his face like he’s won some twisted game. “Yeah, wouldn’t be the first time. She’s a pro at manipulation. I wouldn’t trust a damn word that comes out of her mouth if I were you.”

The air between us crackles with tension, and the guys bristle behind me, guns still trained on this idiot.

Phantom steps forward, his voice low and dripping with threat. “Sounds to me like you’re just spinning more bullshit to save your ass, Bradley.”

Bradley’s eyes flicker with fear for a second, but he covers it quickly with a sneer. “Believe what you want. I’m just trying to save your ass from making the biggest mistake of your life. You let Amber stay around? She’ll tear your club apart from the inside out. She’s poison, man. Toxic.”

That word—poison—hits a nerve, but I don’t let it show. I can’t let him get to me. But damn, there’s that seed of doubt crawling around in the back of my mind, whispering that maybe, just maybe, he’s not lying. I glance at Neon, who looks as torn as I feel.

He did the background checks.

He knows Amber’s record came back clean.

But Bradley is not letting up.

“You think you’re the first guy she’s burned?” Bradley continues, his voice oozing contempt. “You’re just the latest sucker in her web. I bet she’s got you all thinking she’s some innocent victim. That I am this horrible ex of hers who was abusing her, hurting her, stalking and threatening her every which way from Sunday, right? But let me tell you… she’s the spider. She’ll suck you dry, then move on to the next fool. Why? Because she sold me the exact same story when I tried to rescue her from her dangerous ex. Now look at me basically living on a dime because no one will hire me because of my fraudulent criminal record. Can’t get any bank loans. I’m fucked because I fell under that bitch’s spell. And if she’s attached herself to you, then I understand what it’s like because her pussy is pretty fucking magical, so I know what it’s like to not be able to resist—”

Anger surges through me, and I can’t help but snap. I lunge forward, grabbing Bradley by the front of his shirt and slamming him against the wall. The drywall cracks with the impact, and his smirk falters while my gun presses hard into his throat. “Shut your mouth before I shut it for you,” I snarl, my voice deadly quiet. My blood pounds in my ears, and for a split second, I consider pulling the trigger and ending this piece of shit right here.

His eyes widen, and now I see the real fear setting in.

But I don’t pull the trigger.

Not yet.

I lean in close, my face inches from his. “You almost had me believing you until you started mouthing off. You think you’re gonna stand here and throw dirt on Amber’s name, try to make me doubt her? You’re scared, Bradley. And scared men lie.”

Bradley swallows hard, his eyes darting to the others.

Neon steps up next to me, his gun pointed at Bradley’s temple. “If you’re so sure she’s the problem, where’s your proof? You got solid evidence? Or are you just running your mouth?”

Bradley’s breathing becomes erratic, his bravado crumbling under the weight of the situation. “I-I don’t need proof. I know what she did to me. She’ll do it to you too.”

I slam him harder against the wall, his head bouncing back with a dull thud. “You’re trying to save your skin. But all you’re doing is digging your own damn grave.”

He winces, his face paling. “Okay, okay… maybe I don’t have proof. But she’s bad news, I swear! I have nothing against you guys. Honestly, I don’t give a shit what you do. Keep her at the club, don’t keep her, that’s up to you. I’m just telling you my side of things.”

Phantom moves in closer, his voice a quiet growl. “Funny how you keep shifting your story, Bradley . First, she’s a hacker, then she’s a psycho. Now it just looks like you’re desperate for us not to kill you.”

Bradley looks from Phantom to me, panic finally setting in. “I’m telling you the truth, man. I’m not lying! Just… just let me go, and you’ll see. Seriously, you need to get her away from your club. The longer she is there, the more she learns about whatever it is you do there.”

I lower my gun just an inch, but my grip on his shirt stays firm. I stare him down, searching his eyes for even a hint of sincerity.

All I see is a coward.

A desperate, cornered rat.

“Let me make this crystal clear,” I snarl, pulling him closer. “If I find out you’re lying, if you so much as try to make contact with Amber again, I’ll come back here and finish this.”

Bradley nods frantically, sweat beading on his forehead. “Okay, okay, man. I hear you. But if I ever see Amber again, trust me, I’ll be the one running in the other direction.”

I shove him back, releasing him, and step away. The guys stay on high alert, guns still drawn, while Bradley sags against the wall, clutching his chest and gasping for breath.

Without taking my eyes off him, I signal to the others. “We’re done here. Let’s go.”

We turn to leave, but as we head for the door, Bradley’s voice cuts through the air, shaky and desperate. “You’ll regret this. She’s gonna ruin you. Just wait!”

I pause for a second, my hand resting on the doorknob, and glance back over my shoulder. “The only one getting ruined here is you if you don’t keep your goddamn mouth shut.”

My pulse is still racing, and doubt swirls in my gut like a storm I can’t shake. But one thing’s for sure, if Amber is lying, I’m going to find out. And when I do, all hell’s going to break loose.

Lowering my gun, I don’t know what to believe.

My instincts scream that Bradley is full of shit.

He is trying to weasel his way out of a bullet.

But a small part of me—deep down—wonders if there is more to this.

Has Amber been playing me?

“Okay, boys, let’s go,” I mutter, feeling the weight of doubt creep in. “I need to get back and kick Amber the fuck out of our house.”

“And what about him?” Texas asks, gesturing toward Bradley with the barrel of his gun.

I glare at Bradley. “You gonna tell anyone we were here?”

Bradley chuckles darkly. “Nah, man. You got bigger problems headed your way. Amber’s gonna eat you alive.”

Before I can respond, my cell rings. Glancing down to the screen, Rebel’s name flashes. A cold knot forms in my gut as I swipe the screen. “Hey babe, we’re just leavi—”

“Six, we can’t find them!” Rebel’s voice trembles, sending a wave of panic crashing over me. “Kenna and Kinzley… they’re missing!”

The world drops out from under me, and I grip the wall to keep myself upright.

My girls.

My daughters.

My whole fucking world.

“Where were they last seen?” My voice is a low, dangerous growl.

Rebel’s frantic voice continues down the line. “Inside. But no one remembers seeing them leave. Koda, you need to come home . Now!”

“Where’s Amber?” I grit out, barely holding back my rage.

“She’s here… searching with us,” Rebel replies, her panic making my heart race.

“And so it begins…” Bradley mutters under his breath, a smug smirk on his face.

I glare at him, every muscle in my body tensing with the urge to destroy him right here, right now. “I’m coming. Keep looking. I’ll be home soon,” I snap before ending the call.

My rage explodes, and I slam my fist into the wall, the sheetrock cracking under the force.

“Hey!” Bradley yells out, but I don’t care.

Blood trickles down my knuckles, but the pain is drowned out by the fury boiling inside me.

My girls have gone missing while I have been here dealing with this idiot.

Pulling out my wallet, I toss a wad of cash at Bradley’s feet. “For the damages,” I snap.

“What about the blood on the carpet?” he calls after me, smug as ever.

“Don’t push your fucking luck,” I growl out, storming out of the house.

My kids need me.

My woman needs me.

And I’m about to unleash Hell on Earth to get them back.