He thought about sending her on her way, doing what was best for her, but then quickly squashed that logic. Ryder wasn’t in any hurry to repeat the last two weeks. He needed to hear her out, see what had brought her two thousand miles north.
“Were you expecting me to call?” Ryder raised a brow. “After everything that went down? Christ, Gabby, had I thought you could’ve forgiven me, I wouldn’t have left Mexico. As I recall, you asked me to let you go.”
Heartache and misery stared back at him. If he knew she wouldn’t push him away, he’d gather her into his arms and hold onto her forever. Noise from the living area reminded him of the celebration that had started. They weren’t alone and the last thing Ryder wanted was an audience.
“Did I come at a bad time? I can come back.”
Ryder gripped her by the wrist and pulled her into the clubhouse, shutting the door. He wasn’t about to lose her a second time, not before he heard what she came all this way to say.
The room quieted as his brothers became aware of their guest. Ryder gave Kane a quick nod, telling him it was okay to approach. Kane held out his hand to Gabriela, which she took. Ryder’s heart ached for their shared losses. Kane had been responsible for her uncle’s death, the man who had killed his son. One day, Ryder would explain the entire sordid tale to her, when she was ready to hear it. That is, if she wanted to keep him in her life.
“Gabriela? Welcome. I’m Kane Tepes,” Kane said. “I’m damn sorry about your uncle.”
Gabby’s expression gave nothing away. “Thank you.”
“Look, we were just about to clear out.” He turned to the Sons milling about. “Grab your shit, boys … the party is moving to my farmhouse. Call your mates, have them meet us there instead.”
It took little time for the men to file out as Kane had thankfully instructed, leaving Gabby and Ryder alone. There was much that needed to be said, to get out in the open so they could move beyond what had happened in Mexico. Ryder wanted her to know the truth, no more omissions.
Everything in good time.
First, he needed to know where he stood with her. Ryder led Gabby to one of the sofas, sitting next to her, but keeping enough distance so she would feel comfortable. He didn’t want to push or scare her, and risk sending her running for south of the border.
“How did you find me?”
“Your friend Gunner.”
“The one I buried.”
“Yes.” She pulled at the hem of her white tank, toying with the threads. “He had given Adriana his phone number the night at the club, just in case she wanted to see him should she leave her fiancé. Long story short, we thought maybe his death might have been staged if everything else had been a lie.”
Ryder ran a knuckle down her cheek. She didn’t shrink from his touch, giving him hope. “Not everything was a lie, ángel.”
“If I thought that, I wouldn’t be here.” Gabby tucked a leg beneath her, still not closing the gap between her and Ryder. “Anyway, she tried the number and Gunner answered. It took some convincing, but he finally told her where I could find you.”
“I’ll need to give Gunner my thanks.”
Her cheeks reddened. Glancing to her lap, she wrung her hands. Finally, she glanced up, moisture filling her chocolate gaze. “I can’t stop thinking about you, about us. I know you were partly responsible for my uncle’s death and that you used me. But I also know my uncle was a bad man. If it hadn’t been you and your friends who came after him, it would have been someone else.”
“I never wanted to hurt you, ángel. You have to believe that.”
“I know that now.” She took in a shaky breath. “You were trying to protect me from the inevitable.”
Ryder had never lied about his feelings. “Do you believe me now? How much I fucking love you?”
She looked down again before he brought up her chin. Her lower lip trembled. “I told you that if you loved me you would let me go … and that’s what you did. You let me go.”
“You gave me no choice.”
“I didn’t.” A tear slipped from her lashes. “Please tell me I didn’t come this far just to get rejected.”
“Fuck, Gabby. I never thought you’d forgive me.” He pulled her into his embrace, kissing the top of her head. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his hammering heart. “I love you so much it hurts.”
She glanced up, the sadness in her eyes abating. “I realized, when I got over being mad at you, that I never gave you a chance to explain. We have a lot to work through. I won’t pretend otherwise.”
“We do,” he agreed. Thank fuck she wanted to. “I’m not sure how to make that happen, though, since your life is in Mexico. I can’t live there, Gabby. This is my home.”
She glanced around. “It’s cozy.”
Ryder laughed. “Not even close to what you’re accustomed to.”
“I’m selling my uncle’s estates, Ryder. I’m using the money from the sales and his accounts to start over.”
He wasn’t sure what he expected to hear, but certainly not that. “Where?”
“I was thinking Oregon has a nice coast. Maybe I’ll find a nice little beach house overlooking the ocean. Nothing extravagant, of course. I kind of like cozy. You think Oregon has anything worth moving two thousand miles for?”
Ryder smiled. “There’s this guy, who might be a bit of a vampire at times, but he would do just about anything to make that happen.”
“Will you forgive me?”
His brow pinched. “For what? You didn’t do anything wrong. Fuck, Gabby, there is so much I need you to forgive me for.”
“As I said, I didn’t give you a chance to explain. I hated you for what you did. But what I couldn’t do was stop loving you and that’s what hurt so damn bad.” She placed a palm against his jaw. “Will you let me stay? Let me move to Oregon to be with you?”
“I’ll do better than that. I’ll take our box truck and drive you to Mexico. We’ll pack up your things—”
“There’s nothing in Mexico I want. Adriana is handling the sale and giving the things I didn’t fit in my Escalade to those in need.”
“And Adriana? What’s she going to do without you?”
“She and Mateo broke up. Apparently, he thinks he can step in where my uncle left off, take over the business. She wasn’t onboard with his plan. After everything sells, she’s moving to Oregon as well.”
“Moving in with you?”
Gabby shook her head. “She’ll get her own place. I’ll buy her a small cottage along the water, close to me, yet far enough away I’ll have my privacy. What I was really hoping for…there is this vampire I’ve taken a shining to. I was kind of hoping he’d give cohabitation a shot.”
Ryder tightened his hold. “You want me to live with you?”
“I do.”
“I’m not the easiest person to get along with.”
She laughed. “So you’ve proven. We’ll work it out, Ryder. What I’m sure of, though, is that I can’t keep mourning your loss. I lost my family. I can’t lose you, too.”
Ryder tilted his head, sealing his lips over hers and kissing her deeply. He’d prove to her that he wasn’t going anywhere, that she’d never have to mourn his loss again. This woman had claimed his heart, offering him another chance not to fuck up. Once all of the ugliness of their past was behind them, he’d ask her to be his forever. For as sure as shit, he wasn’t letting her go again.
Gabby needed to know more about vampirism and what it meant to be a mate. If she’d still have him, then he’d give her his blood and make that happen.
Breaking the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers. “I love you, Gabriela, so damn much.”
“Does that mean you’ll move in with me?”
He laughed. “Have you already purchased a place?”
Gabby’s smile warmed his heart. He’d make it his life’s mission never to see her frown again. “No.”
“Then you’ll be moving in here … with
me. Because I’m not spending another night without you in my bed.”
“Promise?”
He used his forefinger to make a cross over his heart. “And hope to die. How do you feel about makeup sex?”
Gabby swung her leg over his thighs and straddled him. “I happen to think it’s pretty hot.”
“Bedroom?”
She shook her head, situating herself more fully on his lap. There was no doubt she felt his reaction to makeup sex. She slid along his rigid length. “That would require us moving. I kind of like where I’m sitting.”
“Christ, you’ll be the death of me.”
“Death? No way, Ryder Kelley. You and me? We’re in this together … for all of eternity. That’s my promise to you. I’ll never ask you to leave me again.”
“Good,” he growled. “Because I’m not fucking going anywhere. Now, about that makeup sex…”
~ * ~
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Continue the adventure with the Sons of Sangue
Start the series at the beginning
VIPER
Book 1
Click here to purchase
Kane ‘Viper’ Tepes is one of the oldest living descendants of Vlad III. Vampirism is in his blood. So is being the President of the Sons of Sangue. Those who break motorcycle club rules that protect their coven are dealt swift punishment. No exceptions. Until one pretty little detective has him compromising his beliefs, and endangering his position as head of the MC.
Vampirism had Cara Brahnam turning tail and leaving behind her life in Pleasant. Now, ten years later, she’s back as lead detective and wants to see the person responsible for draining the women of Lane County brought to justice, no matter what deal the gang of miscreants has struck with the sheriff. Or the fact that her number one suspect is the sole reason she fled in the first place.
Now someone has targeted Cara as the next victim and Kane must join in the hunt to find the ancient vampire that wants her dead.
* * * * *
HAWK
Book 2
Click here to purchase
Kaleb “Hawk” Tepes, as president of the Sons of Sangue and descendant of Vlad III, needs to keep his head focused on club business. Trouble is someone wants to divest him of it for a crime he committed against his vampire predecessors. He can’t afford distractions, especially those that come in the form of a five-foot-two sprite named Suzi, who once belonged to his nephew. In a moment of weakness, he makes a snap decision that can only spell trouble. Now faced with the one person who wants him dead, Kaleb must make the ultimate sacrifice or chance losing the only woman he truly desired forever.
Suzi Stevens has tried hard to put her past behind her and move forward. The one man she yearns for over all others, believes her to be nothing but cold-hearted. Hearing that someone has tried to behead him, she shelves past prejudices and rushes to his side, needing to see for herself that he’s all right. What she doesn’t count on is Hawk’s demand to take her as his personal blood donor. Now forced to endure his company, she fears losing her heart for all eternity to the one person who has the power to crush her.
* * * * *
Gypsy
Book 3
Click here to purchase
Grayson “Gypsy” Gabor loves the ladies. As a matter of fact, the more the merrier. Life is good. That is until a mishap with a sexy-as-hell redhead leaves them mated. The eldest of vampires, Vlad Tepes, gives him a choice: Keep her or give her up for all eternity to his one-time best friend, Anton.
Tamera Cantrell sets her sights on the Vice President of the Sons of Sangue, Gypsy. But after a night gone wrong, she finds herself caught between one vampire who hates her and one who adores her. Now Tamera’s only got three short months to prove to the one who despises her that he can’t live without her.
Add in one Mexican Cartel, a vindictive primordial vampire, and a rival MC out for blood, and Gypsy has his hands full with club business. When Tamera’s life becomes endangered, Gypsy must act quick or chance losing her forever.
* * * * *
Rogue
Book 4
Click here to purchase
Vampire MC member Anton “Rogue” Balan, aka Blondy, has turned his back on the powerful Sons of Sangue, betraying the brotherhood he once considered his family. Or so his vampire brethren think. Changing his appearance, his persona, and signing up with rival gang, the Devils, Rogue has gone deep undercover to catch the La Paz Cartel’s kingpin. Having lost a woman he once thought he would spend eternity with, Rogue now feels he has nothing left to lose . . . that is until a temptation named Kimber James invades his dangerous world.
Strait-laced Kimber has a problem and his name is Anton Balan. After an impulsive night of passion with him more than a year ago, the small-town librarian still has the hots for the sexy biker next door. She can’t deny her desire for Anton, even though she suspects he’s hiding a secret even darker than his affiliation with an outlaw MC. As for Rogue, no matter how much he tries to refuse the scorching need he has for Kimber—as much as his duty depends on it—he’s powerless to deny his rising feelings for her. And when a blindside by an enemy he once trusted puts Kimber’s life at risk, Rogue’s tarnished honor is put to the ultimate test.
* * * * *
Draven
Book 4.5
Click here to purchase
Draven Smith thought he’d sealed his own coffin when he turned informant for the DEA against the deadly Devils MC. But that trouble is nothing compared to the mortal peril he’s courting when a sexy vampire female named Brea shows up at his bar to enlist his help. In hiding from Draven’s friends, the Sons of Sangue, Brea’s freedom depends on destroying the ruthless LaPaz Cartel and its infamous kingpin—her own godfather. Thrust together on a quest they can only hope to survive, Draven and Brea must find a way through the danger while trying to resist a forbidden desire that ignites the darkest passions of their hearts.
* * * * *
Preacher
Special Edition
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Foster child, ex-minister, MC member… Vampire. How the hell had his life gotten so jacked up?
His life irrevocably changed when he’s made a creature of the night, Preacher leaves behind his vampire MC brethren, the Sons of Sangue, hoping to shield the woman he desires most from discovering what he’s become. Problem is Tena isn’t about to let him walk out of her life. To protect her heart, Preacher can’t stay. To protect her life, he has no choice but to keep her close.
* * * * *
Xander
Book 5
Click here to purchase
Vampire biker Alexander “Xander” Dumitru has a problem on his hands, namely India Jackson. She’s alone, pregnant, and, worst of all, she belongs to a rival MC member whose recent death may or may not be a permanent condition. With rumors that India’s ex may now be turned and out to take her back, suddenly Xander’s vow to protect her becomes a matter of life or death. And it doesn’t help his mission when India’s sweet blood has him craving for far more than he has any right to claim.
When India asks for shelter with the Sons of Sangue, her primary concern is the protection of her unborn child. Yet as attracted as she is to dangerous, irascible Xander, India is unprepared for the tangle of emotions the handsome vampire awakens in her. But with her violent ex returned even deadlier than before, now India’s safety comes with a steep price—one that could pit the Sons in a war against their enemy MC, and force Xander to risk his immortal life to protect hers and that of her child.
* * * * *
Stay up to date on
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Other books by Patricia A. Rasey
Sons of Sangue
Viper (#1): Click here to purchase
Hawk (#2): Click here to purchase
Gypsy (#3): Click here to purchase
Rogue (#4): Click here to purchase
Draven (#4.5): Click here to purchase
Preacher (Special Edition):Click here to purchase
Xander (#5) Click here to purchase
Ryder (#6):
Wolf (#7) Coming 2018
Other Novels
Love You to Pieces: Click here to purchase
Deadly Obsession: Click here to purchase
The Hour Before Dawn: Click here to purchase
Kiss of Deceit: Click here to purchase
Eyes of Betrayal: Click here to purchase
Facade Click here to purchase
Novellas
Spirit Me Away: Click here to purchase
Heat Wave: Click here to purchase
Fear the Dark: Click here to purchase
Sanitarium: Click here to purchase
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Ryder (Sons of Sangue Book 6) Page 22