“Then you better take advantage now.” She lays the flowers on the coffee table unable to tear her gaze from mine. I could stare into her eyes forever. Those wildfire orbs that see me for who I could be underneath the scars and tattoos.
I claim her lips not needing to be told twice. I lead her to the bedroom and kick off my boots. She’s already shedding her clothes and getting into bed. I stare at her, drinking her in. Her creamy skin and swollen belly, her gorgeous tits. Fuck. How did I ever get so lucky?
I rush to get my clothes off, the need to be inside her is my only thought.
**
Things between Red and me are going smoother now that she is back under my roof, if only I could get her to quit her job. I hate her being on her feet all damn day while she is carrying my child. But she loves having something to do away from the club and I don’t want to push too hard, she will be quitting soon enough when the baby comes. Time has been passing by so fast. It feels like we’ve been together forever. We are only a couple of weeks away from her due date. Foxie and some of the girls are throwing her a surprise baby shower tonight. We found out a month ago we are having a girl. I know Red is happy, but I also know a part of her is sad and longs to have Sarah back in her arms.
I would have given just about anything to put Sarah back in her arms.
Things with Hook have somehow worked out, not sure how or why, but I am not complaining. I don’t need that stress while getting the new distillery running and prepping for the birth of my daughter. Squirrel has my truck in the garage working on it for me. Damn thing has a cracked radiator. Don’t like the greasy little fucker but he is good with a wrench.
Walking into the Roadhouse and seeing it sprinkled with pink is just wrong, even if it is for my girls. Tucking my surprise for Red in my cut, a smile spreads across my face. I’m gonna ask her to marry me. I am ready to make our attachment a permanent one. Slim picked the ring up for me yesterday, it’s perfect, matches my brand on her arm. Reaper’s face with roses on the band. Can’t wait to put it on her finger. I know she is the only one for me. She is the only woman to boil my blood, set me on fire, take my shit, and still love me no matter what.
I never should have waited so long. I should have asked the moment I knew I wanted to keep her.
Red walks into the party and she is overwhelmed with emotion, she has tears of joy streaming down her face. Her cheeks are flushed, with excitement as she takes in all the hard work the girls put in to make her night perfect. Pink streamers hang from the ceiling. White and pink balloons are floating all around the damn place. They even got pink cupcakes with these little plastic babies on the tops of them. There is a table off to the side stacked full of gifts. Makes my heart swell up with emotion. I can’t keep my eyes off the love of my life as she licks the frosting off one of the cupcakes and smiles so damn big.
The women are all crowding around her making a big fuss over how pretty she looks and wondering if the baby will have her red hair and her eyes. I sure as fuck hope so.
My brothers make a toast to my family—our family. It’s like Red and this baby were always meant to be a part of me, a part of us. A part of the Black Rebel Riders’ MC. She belongs here with me and I don’t want to think about anything before she came into my life and changed it for the better. We’ve been through a lot together, but we’ve come this far. I stay back watching the baby shower take place.
Nothing funnier than seeing a group of bikers playing a bunch of girly games. Skull says he feels like a proud grandpa. The old man has always looked out for me. If it weren’t for him and Slim getting me out of the Rejects, I’d be dead or in prison. I always wished Skull would have been my father. He has always treated me like a son. My gazes moves back to Red and I catch her eye.
She blows me a kiss and I pretend to catch it. Not able to hold it in any longer, I whistle getting everyone’s attention. I ask Red to join me in the center of the room. “C’mere, baby.”
She walks to me, slowly, well more like waddling but she’s so damn beautiful I swear it hurts to look at her. I still can’t believe it when I wake up in the morning and she is next to me. It feels like a damn dream. Any minute now I am afraid I am going to wake up and she will be gone.
Taking her by her hand, I go down on one knee holding her ring in my other palm. “Red, I never thought I would meet someone who would be my match—someone who could fill this piece of me I never knew I was missing until you came into my life like a damn tornado. You took me by surprise. Rattled me to the core and tore down my walls. Now I am ready to build a new future with you, so what do you say…you gonna make it official and be my wife?”
A single teardrop slides down her face. I squeeze her hand eager to hear her say yes. “Well, when you put it so sweetly...I…I. Jack…”
Her pause is killing me. I need an answer not that I will accept anything other than a yes.
“Jack, I want nothing more than to be your wife. This gypsy has found her home.”
Sliding the ring onto her finger my heart finally feels whole. I think I even see Romeo shedding a tear. The brother has always been a sucker for love.
Stone speaks up, “Enough of this pussy shit, let’s party.”
Red laughs and kisses me. “I love you, Jack Grim Jones.”
I rub my fingers over her ring, loving the sight of her wearing it. “I love you too, baby. I swear I am going to make you so damn happy.”
“I know you will. You already do.”
Slim and the other brothers make their rounds congratulating Red and me. Foxie and Slim fixed up the boys’ old crib for the baby. Skull has already bought my little girl one of those pink battery-operated motorcycles. Says she is going to be a biker princess. The thought of raising a daughter amongst these hell raisers makes me cringe, but I have some damn good brothers. As the night wears on the party starts to heat up and get wild.
Red lays her head on my shoulder and caresses her belly. I can see that she’s getting tired and we should call it a night. “Babe, I’m so tired. I appreciate all of this the party, my ring, but I am beat. I’m going to go home and get some rest. You stay and enjoy the party.”
“You sure? I mean shit, I’ll come home with you.”
I should have gone with her. I should have never let her out of my sight. God what I wouldn’t have gave to change that night.
She lets out a yawn. “No, I’ll be fine. I want you to have a good time. Once our girl gets here you aren’t going to have a lot of these nights until she gets a little bigger.” Knowing there is no reason to argue, I let her go on to the trailer. I knock back a few beers with my brothers feeling like life can’t get any better. Blaze breaks out the fireworks left over from the fourth and we have us one hell of a celebration.
Red went home only about two hours ago, but I am already missing my woman and craving her touch and decide it is time I call it a night. I’m ready to crawl in bed and make love to my soon to be wife. Truth be told I can’t stand to be away from her. Slim offers to help me pack some of the gifts home with me.
“Never thought I’d see the day, man. I have to admit I had my doubts about the two of you working out, but I’m happy for ye, Grim. Fuck, man, a daughter. One day she might be my daughter-in-law.” He roars in laughter.
“Fuck you, man. Don’t be joking about that shit. Your little hellions ain’t getting near my kid. Shits not even remotely funny.” If it weren’t for carrying these gifts, I’d give him a good kick in his one nut.
We start walking up my steps when Squirrel comes running out the door nearly knocking me over. He has the fear of God in his eyes and there is blood on his hands, instinctively I drop the gifts on the porch, grab him by his cut, pull my gun out, and hold it to his head. “The fuck is going on?” And then that’s when it dawns on me, he isn’t the one who is bleeding. “Red, baby, you in there?” I shout into the quiet of the night. Everything is going in slow-mo. Time is standing still. I feel like my world is crashing down all around me.
; Letting him go I run into the house to find Red lying in a pool of blood on the couch holding pictures. Blood is oozing from a wound in her stomach.
Slim steps into the room with his own gun trained on Squirrel. “Get Skull now!” I demand. There isn’t enough time for an ambulance with the amount of blood she is losing. Her color isn’t good. Red is already pale by nature, but I’ve watched enough people bleed out that I know something is seriously wrong. Skull is a veteran, he served as a medvac in his days in the army. He is my only option and there is no one I trust more to take care of my woman.
“Red, answer me please, what happened? Did someone hurt you?” Pulling her shirt up, there is a gaping hole in her side, looks like she has been stabbed. Her lips move, but her teeth are chattering. Her skin is so cold to the touch. “Who did this?” My head is resting on her stomach, holding a towel from the kitchen. My hair is becoming matted in the blood-soaked pictures, but I don’t care. The only thing that matters right now is her and the baby. Tears are pouring so fast from my eyes I can’t see straight. I nearly take Skull out when he tries to make me move away from her.
“Come on, Jack. Let me see,” he coaxes in my ear gently, pulling my shoulders back.
It registers with me that he needs to get close to her, to help her.
“Fuck, she’s lost a lot of blood.” I can hear Slim and Skull talking and working on her. I punch my fist through the wall and all I know right now is I can’t lose her. I slide down to the floor, sitting with my back to the wall watching as the love of my life is slipping away from me. My gun is pointed at Squirrel, the motherfucker better not even fucking sneeze.
“Grim, you gotta make a choice. She’s lost too much blood, if I don’t act now, you are going to lose them both. I’ve got to take the baby.” I have never seen Skull or Slim cry and right now, we are all in tears. I don’t know what the fuck to do. I can’t lose Red, and I don’t want to lose the only piece I will ever have of our love either—our child.
Crouching in the floor behind her head, I place a kiss on her lips, they are still so warm, so full of life, but I know she is gone and not coming back. “I love you, baby. I love you so fucking much.” I kiss her once more knowing it is for the last time. Placing a finger over each of her eyes I look for that fire that burns so brightly for me, but it’s been snuffed out completely. My heart rips out of my chest and falls to the floor as I close her eyes forever. I look at Skull. “Do whatever you gotta do.”
I grab the blood-soaked pictures from the table. Gun in my hand, I take Squirrel out on the porch with me. All of my brothers are gathered on the porch.
“Start talking, motherfucker,” I growl in his face looking for any excuse to blow his brains out. My hands are stained with Red’s blood and I don’t think it will ever wash off. I don’t want it to.
“I...” he stammers.
Cocking my gun and aiming it at his temple, I repeat myself, “I said start talking, motherfucker.”
Little bitch pisses his damn pants.
I should have blown his brains out then and there and mine too while I was at it.
“I fixed your truck, came to tell ya, and I found her like that. I was coming to get help.” He sniffles and cries. I shove him over to Romeo.
“Lying piece of shit, do you all know he has been selling drugs for the fucking Devils Rejects?” No one denies it.
Fuck them all.
Looking through the bloody photos my heart sinks to the pits of hell. I didn’t think it was possible to feel any lower than I do now. However, seeing that motherfucker Benji is alive and breathing, raising Sarah, that shit don’t sit right with me. That son of a bitch is supposed to be in the ground—not raising Red’s daughter. These photos are stamped for one week ago. “Take him to the garage. Don’t take your eyes off of him. He fucking killed her I know he did.” I am interrupted by the crying of a baby, my baby girl.
Walking back inside, I meet my daughter and I can’t form the words to express the love that is in my heart for this little girl, but right now I am waging a war inside myself and I want to kill something or someone. “Give her to Foxie. I have some shit to take care of.” I can’t bear to look at her right now. It’s all too fresh. I need to fucking release my vengeance.
“Okay, brother. Whatever you want.” I watch Slim as he walks away holding the only thing keeping me from going completely off the rails wrapped in a bloody t-shirt.
I kneel down by my woman, my heart. “Baby, please come back to me. You can’t be gone. Don’t you fucking give up on me. You promised me...you fucking promised me.” I am holding onto her hand, looking at the ring I placed on it hours ago. Words are failing me, and I pray. I pray so motherfucking hard. “God, if you ever do one thing for me in this life, just give her back to me. Bring her back!” I scream as I caress her unmoving hand.
“Jack, she’s gone. Let me take care of this, go be with your daughter.”
Pushing Skull away I stand up and kick the couch, I start trashing the place. Sending my knuckles through the picture of her leaned against my bike with her hands on her stomach, I know nothing will ever be okay again.
I didn’t think I could survive without her. She was my world. I never had a love like hers before. I’d never have her again. I would never love like that again.
**
Today was the funeral for Red. We had brothers from three other clubs show up to ride in her honor. I just feel so motherfuckin’ numb. That woman…she changed me. Made me think I deserved something good. She left me with a piece of her, a piece of her that is so beautiful, it hurts to be near her. I named her Baby, didn’t know what else to call her. Never knew what Red’s real name was and I sure as hell wasn’t going to name her after my mother.
Still don’t know what happened. Squirrel disappeared after I walked back into my trailer the other night. My money would be on the Devils Rejects, but don’t see them getting in our compound unnoticed. Had to be that little shit Squirrel, but the only thing I can’t figure out is where the pictures of Benji came from. I will hunt both of those slimy little fuckers to the ends of the earth and stick a bullet between both of their eyes. I should have killed Squirrel when I had the chance, but I let him go out of respect for Slim and Foxie. Slim swears he wasn’t in on the deal between Squirrel and Hook, but right now, my heads not right, and I can’t trust anyone.
I made Red a promise to get Sarah away from the Devils Rejects and that’s exactly what I am going to do. I tried being a good man, but being that guy isn’t in my blood. Killing is in my nature. My name is Grim, and this is the beginning...
Keep reading for a bonus scene.
Bonus Scene
Gypsy Red
My man has been on the road for months. Not sure I can really call him mine, when we never really had a chance to get started. But there is just something about him. I feel as if we are somehow bound. Our paths were meant to cross. I get this feeling deep in the pit of my gut though that something ain’t right. His last phone call to me he seemed different. Like maybe he doesn’t quite miss me as much as he had.
I am probably just paranoid. It’s probably my hormones. I found out I was pregnant a few weeks ago. I haven’t told him yet. That isn’t news for a telephone call and Slim ordered me to keep my mouth shut. Said Grim would neglect his duties and cost them everything. I won’t bring anything else bad down him if I can help it but having to be silent hurts. I want to be excited, but I don’t even know if I want this baby. I didn’t have such good luck with my last one. I’ve not seen her in months. My sweet Sarah, the girl will never stand a chance being raised by Hook and his bitch of a wife. I have never hated someone so much in my life.
Those people were so damn mean to me. If I didn’t do what they wanted, when they wanted, they’d starve me, and beat the shit out of me. I got to where the beatings were welcomed. I wanted to die, but then I found out I was pregnant with Sarah and found the will to live. I survived for Sarah and Sarah alone. Nothing else mattered until I met Grim. He
changed that for me. He changed me.
I can’t believe I am so madly and deeply in love with the man. He isn’t much to look at to most I am sure, but in my eyes the man is heaven sent.
I don’t deserve him. If he knew the things I’ve done, he wouldn’t have stepped up for me. But I can’t dwell on that now that I am having his child. How will he feel about this? Will he want this baby? Will he still want me? I don’t know. Maybe I am just being a foolish woman setting her heart on things she can never have.
The phone rings. Right on time. Grim is calling as promised at seven on the dot.
“Hello.”
“Hey, baby,” he says weakly. He sounds exhausted. Defeated.
I stay silent waiting for him to say something. Anything. Waiting for him to tell me what I already know. He strayed on me. Damn him. Silent tears roll down my cheeks.
“Just say it, Jack,” I plead. It will make things so much easier. I knew he was too good to be true. No man will ever want me for me, and if I were to tell him about the baby, he’d want me for that, and that only. I can’t go through that. I’ve lost too much in my life. I can end this before it gets any further. Before I ache any deeper.
“I promised I’d try, Red. Baby, I tried so damn hard. But the wanting you has been more than I can bear. My cock aches to be deep inside ye, woman. I need ye and I want ye. But you aren’t here.”
“It’s okay, Grim. I understand. Things happen. You’re a man and a man does what he has to, to survive. I’m not new to the ways of this life, of your life.”
“So we’re okay.”
“We’re good. I just I need some time. I don’t think you should call me for a while. And maybe not come home either. I don’t think I want to see you anytime soon.”
Grim: The beginning (Black Rebel Riders' MC Book 1) Page 10