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I’m not a good guy.I’ve never claimed to be.
Even among 1%ers, there’s more darkness in me than most.
The Tampa Chapter of Defiance are outcasts because of the way I run my club.
But being MC President means something. You follow a code, adhere to the rules.

Taking her wasn’t part of the plan.
I was supposed to transport her, that’s all.
Though something about this feisty woman caught my attention.
Made me want to help her.
The problem is, she fights me every step of the way.
But I am keeping a secret from her.
One that could either make her fall for me… or despise me forever.

From USA Today Bestselling Author K E Osborn comes the first book in the Tampa Defiance MC Series.
Darkness is a forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, captive romance.
Previously published as Defining Darkness in the Royal Bastards MC, Tampa FL Chapter, Darkness has been re-edited and reworked before publication.

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2024

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About the author

K.E. Osborn

119 books1,692 followers
With a flair for all things creative, USA Today Bestselling Author K E Osborn, is drawn to the written word. Exciting worlds and characters flow through her veins, coming to life on the page as she laughs, cries, and becomes enveloped in the storyline right along with you. She's entirely at home when writing sassy heroines and alpha males that rise from the ashes of their pasts.

K E Osborn comforts herself with tea and Netflix, after all, who doesn't love a good binge?

Explosive. Addictive. Romance. www.keosbornauthor.com

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5 stars
46 (52%)
4 stars
23 (26%)
3 stars
12 (13%)
2 stars
4 (4%)
1 star
2 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Paige Wuerdemann.
646 reviews25 followers
April 3, 2025
I’ve read this book before when it was called Defining Darkness and in the world of the Royal Bastards MC and loved it then. I enjoy the fact that KE Osborn revamped the series with new covers, new titles and a new round of edits. The fact that they’ve now joined the Defiance MC world is the best!

As KE Osborn says this is definitely the darker side of Defiance. Nycto is the president of the Tampa chapter of Defiance and he finds himself doing the unthinkable putting his club at risk when he steals merchandise he's supposed to deliver.

He steals not only Eva but her sister Ivy. There's something about Eva that draws Nycto in and he cannot get enough of it. In doing so Nycto must pay back the men he stole Eva and Ivy from, leading to other issues.

Eva becomes the light to his darkness and his perfect balance.

I love the Defiance men and I cannot get enough of them- even the darker side of Defiance. I cannot wait for the next one!

And can I just take a minute to say how beautiful these editions from the author are? I'm totally obsessed!!
Profile Image for Ally.
159 reviews
September 24, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ - DNF

SPOILERS -

Basically, the MMC is the Pres of an MC and they transport people who have been kidnapped by human traffickers. They show up to collect 6 “packages” from a boat that’s come from Cuba and deliver these poor women, I mean “packages” to the human trafficker who has sold them to various men. He has no problem with this job. They do it all the time and have no moral concerns about what’s going to happen to these women. One of the 6 “packages” captures his attention and so he keeps her for himself. He also keeps her sister because he knows she won’t even forgive him if he sent the sister on to be sold. That the ONLY reason for keeping the sister - otherwise he would have been fine with her being sold.

Then we get to the FMC. She and her sister have been kidnapped from a nightclub in Cuba, shoved in a shipping container with 4 other women, shipped to America to be delivered to the men who have purchased them. The MMC keeps her, locks her in his room and tells her that her sister was delivered to the man who purchased her. The MMC doesn’t give her any other real consideration. Food is given to her occasionally, he gets a club girl to give her some books for entertainment, but he doesn’t get her clothes or toiletries, or told she can shower, etc. He also continues to let her think her sister is being 🍇 by whoever purchased her, even though he knows how devastated she is by the thought of what her sister is going through. He’s reasoning is vague and doesn’t make much sense.

Meanwhile the FMC can’t seem to resist him and seems to easily forget the situation he’s got her in, the fact she’s been human trafficked and that as far as she know her sister is suffering somewhere.

Honestly, I was ready to not read any further than the first page when I realised the MMC was involved in human trafficking willingly and happily. I kept reading to give it a go, but it was a struggle because I just don’t see the MMC as being redeemable. Human trafficking isn’t redeemable to me. The MMC internal thoughts were also annoying and childish. The FMC was weak and just didn’t act like a real woman would in her position. I finally gave up at 55% because I just wasn’t enjoying the story and had no desire for the main characters to end up together.

The writing itself was good and I’d be willing to read more from this author if it didn’t have the MMC involved in human trafficking.
Profile Image for Joy Whiteside.
5,106 reviews123 followers
September 17, 2024
OMG, this book grabbed me and kept me reading till the end. Once I started I could not put it down, no matter what I needed to do, I had to keep reading. It moves along at a pace that is perfect for the flow of this story, which made for an enjoyable read that was easy to follow. The characters are amazing and you will love them. This book will not disappoint you, it is a must read and needs to be on your TBR, no doubt about it.
Profile Image for Kristi Lange.
608 reviews10 followers
February 13, 2026
I have a love/hate relationship with MC romances and this is a prime example of why 🥴 I love dark romances and there’s not much a MC can do for me to think they’re irredeemable but for the MC to be voluntarily be working with traffickers? yeah that’s a bit much for me.

He doesn’t “save” Eva and her sister because he suddenly grows a conscience and realizes transporting women being sold into trafficking against their will is a horrendous thing to do. No, he takes them because he’s intrigued by her sass and finds her attractive.

in the end, his club stops working with the traffickers (not that they really had much choice) but i don’t think that makes him redeemable 🤷🏻‍♀️ he ruined the lives of countless women for money

was the writing good? yeah. i’ve read other MC books by the same author and loved them. I think the Tampa chapter is just not for me

-MC romance
-captive
-enemies to lovers
-forced proximity
-MC Prez MMC
-traumatic past
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
156 reviews2 followers
October 4, 2024
"I am his guiding light. Just like he is my darkness."

This is the first book in the Tampa Defiance MC series and the main characters are the definition of darkness and light. While this chapter of Defiance is a little darker than the other chapters, readers get all the good things they have come to expect from a K.E. Osborn story. Nycto is a strong alpha male who is a little bit broken, hence the darkness and Eva is the feisty female main character that is his light. Nycto and Eva are surrounded by a cast of familiar characters that readers have come to know and love. The story line is intense, intriguing, well developed and unexpected.
Profile Image for Kelchickbooklover.
2,227 reviews67 followers
October 3, 2024
A dark and gripping MC romance that pulls you in right from the start. The Prez, Nycto, of the Tampa Defiance MC, does the unthinkable and puts his club, his family members at risk, all for a woman he decided to keep as part of a shipment he was supposed to deliver. Not only one woman but her sister as well. Eva and her sister Ivy were taken from Cuba and shipped to America, but they did not match the typical women that were usually taken. The banter, the angst and the pull between the two cause so much sexual tension that they can't fight the attraction.
I can't wait for the next installment in this series.
Profile Image for Ann L.
5,080 reviews39 followers
October 3, 2024
Tampa Defiance MC: Book 1
The Tampa Defiance MC may not be heroes, but they run the streets on their own terms, transporting packages for suppliers. On one such run, Nycto—the hardened president of the MC—crosses paths with Eva. He saves her without fully understanding the pull she has on him. Haunted by the trauma of his past, Nycto has long hidden in the shadows, but Eva’s fiery spirit ignites something in him. Could she be the light that breaks through his darkness?
2,742 reviews24 followers
October 3, 2024
4*
Nycto has been helping move shipments of women for Andrés Until Eva takes his eye, always determined to help her sister Ivy she's adamant she won't go without her.
Unfortunately we don't always get what we want and when the club could face throwback he keeps the sisters apart but realises its not the right thing to do.
Profile Image for Mikaela Mallia.
150 reviews4 followers
May 28, 2025
3.75⭐️

This book grabbed me from the beginning, it moved along at a good pace and I was invested.

Based on the MC president of a biker club that transports packages (girls for sex trafficking) but the FMC Eva put up a fight during transit and he had heart eyes instantly.

He will do ANYTHING to protect her. 🔥

It’s a vibe
Profile Image for Mrs Cross.
696 reviews2 followers
September 29, 2024
Addiction

I have an addiction to all KE Osborn books. I am an unofficial member of the Defiance MC fan club. And this book was a fantastic addition to the collection. I’m beyond eager to read what’s next.
Profile Image for Amanda.
416 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2024
Nycto is definitely a morally grey almost black MMC. KE wasn’t joking when she said this is the darker side of Defiance but I loved it. I was hooked from start to finish with Nycto and Eva’s story. Their story moves at a good pace and will keep you engaged. I love this series revamp so far.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews