GRIT: A Spartan Riders Novel

by J.C. Valentine

  “This is Blake’s room?”

  “Yep, it is. Wait…you mean you haven’t been here before?” Gabby shook her head no. Sable’s sculpted brows shot up. “Oh wow. You must be special.” Cocking her head to the side, she graced her with a pretty smile and winked. “But I bet you already knew that.”

  Gabby’s smile was genuine as she sat forward with Sable’s help and allowed her to perform a series of routine checks. Once she was satisfied that Gabby was doing well, she dropped down in the chair Blake had occupied earlier and fixed her with a kind smile.

  “So you’re the woman who stole Blake Mahone’s heart.”

  “Uh…” How to respond, especially since she was pretty sure they’d just broken up. If they’d ever really been together. They’d never actually made it official.

  “I can see why,” Sable said with an assessing tilt of her head. “You’re certainly beautiful, nice smile, kind eyes. And I hear you have a way with the kid, too.”

  “Ash? He’s a sweetheart.”

  “That he is.” She nodded once in agreement.

  “Where is he? Where’s Ash?” Gabby asked, fear tinging her voice. With Cruiz still out there, she had to know that he was okay.

  “Oh, he’s out back hanging with a couple of the guys. Blake wanted him nearby, but he didn’t want him to see you like this. Thought it might scare him.”

  A relieved breath stole from her lips, and Gabby felt some of the tension bleed from her shoulders. Thank God he was okay. She couldn’t live with herself if something happened to him because of her.

  “So I promised the girls I’d get the four-one-one on you two, how you won him over, how you got him to stick around, et cetera. I have twenty bucks that says you’re just sweet as apple pie. The other girls are an even split, throwin’ their money in the pot that says you either cast some kind of voodoo spell, or you spin a real good tale. So which is it? You win him with sugar, witchcraft, or good old-fashioned lies?”

  Taken aback, Gabby blinked, unsure what to make of the woman. She’d thought her nice before, but now she wasn’t so sure. But the longer she sat there, the more she began to realize that the woman in front of her—and the women she was referring to—were all part of Blake’s world, the biker world. They were harder, more abrasive, blunt, and wholly unapologetic. Even if she was no longer tied to Blake, that didn’t mean she didn’t want their acceptance. She might be a liar and a coward, but she was, first and foremost, still a human being.

  Sitting up straight, Gabby fought a grimace as she adjusted the pillows behind her back. “Well, I usually snag my men with a love potion or two, but it just happened to pass that I was fresh out the day I crossed Blake’s path. Since he was late to pick up Ash from school, I was too irritated to summon any good lies, so I had to rely on my God-given charm.”

  “Wow, sounds like a tough day.”

  “It was,” she said with a put-upon sigh. When she met Sable’s gaze, they both burst into laughter.

  “You just made me a hundred bucks richer, girl. I like you.”

  “Thanks.” Gabby’s good mood dissolved as fast as it arrived. “I wouldn’t go celebrating just yet though. I think Blake and I just broke up.”

  “That explains why he’s spent the last few hours gettin’ plastered instead of hanging back here with you.”

  “He’s drunk?”

  “If he isn’t there yet, he will be soon. What happened between y’all? After the way he came racin’ in here, shoutin’ and cussin’ at everyone and demanding me to save your life—which didn’t need savin’ by the way—I would have thought the deal was well and sealed between you two. You have a lover’s quarrel or somethin’?”

  Picking at her cuticles, Gabby avoided her stare. “I lied to him.”

  Sable made the sign of the cross over her chest. Gabby blanched, panic-stricken over what that could mean, before Sable threw her head back and cackled. “I’m just yanking your chain. I don’t know how much he’s told you about Ash’s mom, but she put him through some stuff. Since then, he’s been cautious. Maybe even a tad surly at times. But everyone who knows him will tell you the same thing: Blake’s a giant softie. He might talk hard and sometimes even act hard, but at the end of the day, he’s a big ol’ teddy bear in need of a hug. Don’t tell him I said that,” she commanded, pointing her finger at Gabby. “He’ll kill me. Not literally though, of course.”

  Gabby nodded, pretending she wasn’t terribly confused by the conversation. What she’d gathered, though, was that Blake wasn’t as scary as the picture he presented to the world.

  Hell, she’d known that though, hadn’t she? She’d seen the kind, caring, gentle man behind all that leather and coarse language. So why was she suddenly so willing to take his rejection and walk away without a fight?

  “You still want to be with him,” Sable observed. “It’s written all over your face. Do you love him?”

  Gabby didn’t have to think about it. When she was in that barn, tied to that chair, staring down the barrel of a gun, he was center in her mind. It was that moment the idea that she’d been running from solidified in her mind: she was in love with Blake Mahone.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “I know. Just had to hear it for myself.” Slapping her knee, Sable added, “Blake is the one that needs to hear it though, so you should get outta that bed and go tell him.”

  She should? Yes, Sable was right, she should. Even if he no longer wanted her, he should know how she felt. She owed them both that much. And this time, she would say goodbye before she left.

  “I think I’ll do that. Can you give me a hand?” Gabby was already swinging her legs over the side of the bed. That was the easy part, though. Her legs didn’t hurt. It was every other part of her body that felt as if it’d played speed bump to a bunch of motorcycles.

  Sable was at her side in a heartbeat, providing support as she helped hoist her to her feet. “I know your injuries are centered around your chest, but you still sustained a lot of damage. Like I told Blake, I’d feel more comfortable with you being in a real hospital, but hospitals invite questions, which invite social workers, which leads to police, and the guys aren’t willing to risk it. Still, when you get out of here, I recommend a follow up. I’ll give you the name of a colleague of mine that’s good with these types of situations. Until then, I want you to go easy. Fifteen minutes tops, and then back to bed with you.”

  Gabby was touched by Sable’s obvious concern. “I understand, and thank you. From what I can tell, you did a good job, and I’m willing to trust your judgment.”

  With measured steps, Sable assisted Gabby from the room. They were halfway down the long, narrow, wood-paneled hallway when she heard voices coming from ahead. “Damn, I forgot there would be other people here. I wish I had the foresight to put on some pants or something. I look like roadkill.” All she had on was an oversized t-shirt that ended mid-thigh. A quick mental assessment let her know she at least had panties on, but her boobs were definitely swinging free.

  Sable scoffed. “If you look like roadkill, then I’m a troll who should be living under a bridge instead of a two-story brick colonial on the upper east side. You look perfect. Now, before we get out there,” she said, her tone taking on a note of warning, “I feel I should warn you.”

  Gabby cursed to herself, wishing that she, too, had the foresight to issue the warning back in the room before she’d decided to brave what was fast beginning to feel like the Green Mile.

  “Some of the women here can be catty, and they might not take kindly to an outsider like yourself. Many of them have been working for years to get Blake to notice them. I don’t think I have to explain why being the president’s old lady is a very sought after title. But they’re easy to get around. If any of them try to take a tone with you, just remind yourself that they’re bitches and set ‘em straight.”

  Gabby nodded. “Bitches. Got it.”

  “The only one I would concern myself with is Ginger. They have history, and since Ash�
��s mom is out of the picture, she’s been keeping her eye on him.”

  “Well, I’m sure that won’t be a problem, since Blake’s done with me.”

  “Judging by the number of beers he’s had, I doubt that very much.”

  “I hope you’re right.” It was going to be hugely embarrassing if she laid her heart out only to have him shoot her down. But she was going in with her eyes wide open, so if he laughed in her face like she expected him to, at least she was ready for it.

  Or as ready as any person could be before having their heart ripped out and stomped on.

  At the mouth of the hallway, Gabby’s steps slowed to a stop and she peered out into the spacious, all-purpose entertainment room and all the people gathered there. There were beaten-up leather couches and battered-to-hell tables in one corner, a pool table, jukebox, and two old arcade style games in another, and a dozen round tables scattered between there and the bar. Each living space was occupied to some degree.

  “I should wait until we’re alone,” Gabby decided as a bout of nerves caught her and held, and turned to head back to her room.

  With a hand on both of her shoulders, Sable held her in place and forced her forward. “Not on your life, girl. If you want to be a part of his life, then you’re gonna have to learn to deal with having people in your business. That’s the way things work ‘round here, so get used to it.”

  Gabby groaned inwardly—or maybe outwardly, since Sable snickered under her breath—dragging her heels the whole way up to the bar. Once they reached it, and Blake still hadn’t lifted his head to notice them standing there, she held out a smidgen of hope that she still had a few seconds to tuck tail and run, but Sable smashed that notion to smithereens.

  “Hey, Prez, I got someone here who wants to talk to ya!” Giving her shoulder a jostle, Sable grinned at Gabby then ditched her completely, shouting, “I won the pot, bitches. Pay up!”

  Gabby swallowed, her gaze tracking around the room. Thanks to Sable’s big mouth, every eye in the house was on her. Which was, like, thirty eyeballs, at least. Her stomach rolled a little. At least she knew some of the faces. She lifted a hand to Cricket, who tipped his head in response. When she turned back, she found Blake’s penetrating silver, bloodshot gaze laser focused on her.

  Yep, he was definitely drunk.

  “Hey, um…hi. Can we talk?”

  He grunted, then went back to nursing his beer.

  Gabby frowned. It seemed he’d given her an answer, and it was the one she didn’t want. “Alone?” she asked softly.

  “Anything you got to say to me, you can say in front of my family.”

  A drop-dead gorgeous redhead stood behind the bar—the same one who’d been hanging around him at the barbeque, she realized—eying their exchange openly. “Another beer, Quick?”

  He nodded. “You want somethin’?” he asked, and it took Gabby a second to realize he was talking to her.

  “Um, no. I shouldn’t…with the pain meds and all…” This was the most awkward moment she’d ever been a part of. Her nerves were getting worse, making her head feel light. Little black dots swam in her vision, and she felt her skin grow clammy. Seconds from passing out, she climbed up onto a barstool and, holding her head in her hands, closed her eyes for a moment.

  “You okay?”

  Blake’s concern warmed her a little. Maybe it would be enough to win him back, but with her luck, she wouldn’t hold her breath. “I’m fine. Just a little woozy.”

  “It’s probably the meds,” Sable said, suddenly at her side. She ran a soothing hand over Gabby’s back and called out, “Hey, Ginger, can you bring over a glass of ice water and a cool cloth please?”

  Ah, so the redhead was Ginger. Gabby groaned, wishing she’d just stayed in bed where it was safe and warm and, most importantly, devoid of bombshells with huge boobs named Ginger.

  “Are you going to throw up, sweetie?”

  “No, no, I’m fine,” she assured Sable.

  “Are you sure?” Blake asked, and she felt his hand join Sable’s.

  “I’m sure. I just need to sit down for a minute. I must have hit my quota for energy use for the day.” She tried to laugh it off, but no one joined her. “I’m fine, really.”

  A glass of ice water slapped the counter, splashing on her forearms. Gabby looked up, finding Ginger’s cold–as-ice stare on her. Blake’s equally hard voice quickly followed.

  “Why don’t you take a break, Ginger.” It wasn’t a suggestion.

  Instantly, her expression softened. “Sure. I’ll stay close, so if you need anything, just give me a shout.”

  “Thanks, but there won’t be a need.”

  Gabby wanted to be happy at seeing her crestfallen expression, but when Ginger threw down her towel like someone might throw down the gauntlet and sneered in her direction on her way out, Gabby revised that particular urge. No sense being nice to someone who was determined to hate her. Bitches, she reminded herself. Holding her gaze, Gabby lifted the glass to her lips. She’d have to keep her eye on that one. Something told her she might be the kind of trouble Sable was talking about, but if the redhead thought for a second that she was going to let her move in on her man without Gabby putting up a fight, she was about to get a rude awakening.

  Her man. Gabby smiled to herself, liking the sound of that. Hopefully, after she was through explaining herself, she’d be able to put that in writing. Or leather.

  Beside her, Blake’s head swiveled her way and he watched her sip her water, waiting until she’d drained half the glass before engaging. “What are you doing out here anyway? You’re supposed to be in bed, resting.” His gaze skated over her, taking in her lack of clothing. “Let me revise. What are you doing out here in that? Are you even wearing a bra? Jesus, Gabby, my brothers are out here.”

  Thanks for the reminder, she thought. “I didn’t come out here to discuss my clothing,” she said, trying for assertive rather than the frazzled, nervous-nelly she seemed to have morphed into. “Sable said you’ve been out here drinking for hours.”

  His eyes narrowing, Blake said, “I didn’t come out here to discuss my drinking habits.”

  All right then. This was going to be difficult. Blowing out a breath, Gabby tried again. “I know I hurt you, and I’m sorry. I should have been upfront about everything, and my only defense is that I got too used to hiding and that’s what I continued to do.”

  Blake just stared, his face devoid of emotion. That couldn’t be good. Rolling the glass between her palms, Gabby decided to be blunt and hope she was able to drive the point home.

  “I didn’t set out to lie to you, Blake. I would never do that. If I could do it all over again, I’d like to say I’d do things different, but I can’t know that for sure. The only thing I do know for sure is that…” Oh, God. Was she really going to declare herself to this man, knowing all it could entail?

  “What do you know?” Blake asked, his tone bored, but his eyes more than interested. He had a shitty poker face, Gabby thought with a laugh. If this worked out, she’d be sure to tell him that.

  Gabby swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat, and turned so that she was facing him head-on. Sensing the gravity of what she was about to say, Blake mirrored her, their knees touching as they stared into each other’s eyes.

  “Blake…I’m so in love with you, and I…” Gulp. “I…want to be your…old lady…if you still want me.” Her voice faded, her gaze downcast, as she waited for his judgment. Each second that passed sounded like a death knell in her head, and she felt the beat of her heart throbbing in all the spots Cruiz had cut her. Sickness swam in her gut and the longer she sat there, the more she regretted leaving that bed. How could she have been so stupid to think that a lame apology and a declaration of love would earn his forgiveness? How could she—

  Blake’s finger slid beneath her chin, lifting her head up. His silver eyes studied hers, searching for truth, and Gabby opened herself up to the scrutiny. On tenterhooks she waited for his decree, the
one that would invariably shatter her beyond repair.

  “It’s like I told you before, teach,” he said softly, his thumb sweeping over her bottom lip, “You’re already my old lady.”

  “I-I am?” Disbelief colored her voice.

  “I thought that I made that pretty clear.”

  “But I thought…” She swallowed down her confusion. “Are you sure? What about the money? What about Cruiz? He’s not going to give up that easily. He’s going to come back.”

  “I’m counting on it,” Blake growled fiercely. “As for the money, I’m pissed as hell that you didn’t tell me sooner, but I guess I can understand why you didn’t. Kind of,” he said with a bit of a glare. “At any rate, I have my best man already on it. If Cruiz wants that money, he’s going to have to go through me and my men to get it.”

  “I can’t let you do that. It’s not your fight,” Gabby argued.

  “You’re wrong again. It is my fight. It became my fight the second he decided to touch what’s mine.”

  Gabby swallowed, the weight of his words sinking deep. “So you still want me? After everything, the lies, just…everything?”

  “I love you, Gabby. You screwed up, but that doesn’t change how I feel. Of course I still want you.”

  “But are you sure?” She had to double check. She’d come in here prepared to be shut down, so this whole thing felt too good to be true, as if the rug was about to be pulled out from under her.

  “One of these days, you’re going to have to learn to trust me.” Stroking her bottom lip with his thumb, he added, “My words are my bond, teach.” Looking over her shoulder, he lifted his chin to someone. A moment later, a guy she didn’t recognize whose name tag read “Prospect” handed a leather vest over to Blake. He grinned as he took it, turned it around, and held it up for her to see.

  Gabby covered her mouth as she read the back. “Property of ‘Quick,’” she whispered, staring at the Old English lettering poised over the skull and wings Spartan Riders logo. God, the time it must have taken to make it. He’d been that sure of her for that long? The thought caused her eyes to sting with fresh tears. “This is mine?”