GRIT: A Spartan Riders Novel (24 page)

“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?”

“Again, I thought that was clear.” He chuckled and stood up. “Let me help you put it on.”

“Do I get a say?” she asked, even as she positioned herself to accept the gift.

“Only if it’s yes.”

She zipped her lips, and Blake broke into a knowing smile as he helped her into the vest. The leather felt like butter against her skin as she slid it on, careful not to pull the stitches lining most of her chest. Closing her eyes, Gabby brought one side up to her nose and inhaled deep. “God, I love that smell.”

“Is that why you’re always sniffing my pillow?”

Gabby’s eyes shot open and she scowled. “I don’t do that.”

Blake’s expression said he knew otherwise…and he liked it. “My name looks good on ya, teach.”

“You know, I didn’t agree to anything. I could run out that door right now with my new present, and then what would you do?”

Moving in, Blake bent down, placing his hands on the edge of the bar on either side of her, crowding her space. His voice husky, he said, “The instant you put my name on your back, you belonged to me. Body, mind, soul. Everything. You’re my property, teach, and that means anywhere you go, I follow. Now tell me you love me.”

Gabby grinned, and told him exactly what he wanted to hear and what her heart screamed to say. “I love you.”

To a round of cheers and shout for someone to break out the booze, Blake leaned in and kissed the breath right out of her.

As they celebrated their union, Gabby reflected on where she’d come from and where she was headed. Meeting Blake had changed her life. Before she’d met him, she had been living life by the minute, and now she was looking ahead, years down the road, and the future was bright. She wasn’t kidding herself anymore. One day, Ricky Cruiz was going to come back, and when that day came, Blake and his men would be ready for him.
She
would be ready for him, because she had a family now, people who cared enough about her to weather the storm by her side and shield her from it if necessary.

As someone who prided herself on her independence, never had she imagined the idea of being someone’s property would sound so good, but when it came to Blake Mahone, she couldn’t think of anything better than belonging to this man. Their relationship may not be perfect, and her life may still be endangered, but despite all the grit, or maybe because of it, they loved each other, and at the end of the day, Blake had her back and she had his, and that was all that really mattered, wasn’t it?

Read more books by J.C. VALENTINE

The Spartan Riders are just beginning! Be sure to
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Mettle: A Spartan Riders Novel

COMING SOON!

Talia McKinnon said goodbye to love the day she signed the divorce papers and moved across the country looking for a fresh start. With work occupying her days and nights, a relationship is the last thing on her mind, until a run-in with a hot-as-Hades, leather clad biker changes her mind. He’s everything she shouldn’t want but has to have. The problem is, he’s not that easy to catch.
Tucker “Country” Abrams believes in two things: brotherhood and women. He takes his job seriously and his women hard, but at the end of the day, the only loyalty he has is to his club. So when a night with a beautiful stranger threatens to change everything, he’s quick to apply the brakes. But when a little detective work reveals that Talia may be much more than a one-night stand, Tucker is tasked with an impossible decision. Will he push her away, or go against every instinct he has and pull her closer?

Note from the Author

If you’re reading this, thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed Gabby and Blake’s story. For me, these two were a departure from what I am used to writing, and the journey wasn’t easy. Not by a longshot. Men like Blake have a way with testing your patience, and Blake definitely did that for me. I struggled to uncover his story from the very start.

Gabby was no exception. She was supposed to be the easy one, but it turned out that she had more darkness in her past than Blake, which surprised me. That’s just one of the many reasons I enjoyed writing GRIT so much, and also why I continue down this career path. Never knowing how things will turn out is such a thrill, and it gives me the opportunity to view it from the same perspective as you, dear reader. If you love books as much as I do, then you’ll  probably agree that it’s a true dream job to have, and you make it all possible. There will never be enough words to express my thanks for that.

I’m sure you’re wondering if there will be more to this series, and I am happy to say yes. I have plans for several characters who stood out to me throughout writing GRIT. Who they are…well, you’ll have to wait and see *wink* Until then, please check out my other available titles!

Much love,

JC

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Trilogy. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn't sorry.

J.C. earned her own happily ever after when she married her high school sweetheart. Living in the Northwest, they have three amazing children and far too many pets and spend much of their free time together enjoying movies or the outdoors. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor's in English and when she isn't writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors.

Acknowledgements

I usually don’t make many changes to these things because, well, why mess with perfection? But I do have one person that I have to give a special shout out to: Fellow author AF Crowell. You’re a special lady and someone I am proud to call friend. Thank you so much for your insight into this story for which, without your brainstorming, would not have a title, not to mention Blake “Quick” Mahone would not have such a colorful backstory lol Also, I’m sorry I broke my promise and failed to kill off your character (Ginger, for those who are curious). I guess my heart is softer than I thought. Maybe next time ;)

I can’t forget my usual suspects:

My sister from another mother, Kim- You are the best! It’s been years now, wow. I never could have imagined that I would be friends with such an amazing woman as you. I will be forever grateful for the Internet for bringing us together You read everything I throw at you, you’re my sounding board, and you help keep me sane. I am truly blessed to call you my friend, and I can’t wait for you to write that story we’ve been talking about. Get on it, woman!

Mitzi- What can I say, except you’re such a wonderful woman who is also an unexpected friend and gift in my life. I’ve said it before, and the same is true now: I love our talks, and I love your passion for books, especially mine *grins*. You rock!

Valentine’s Wicked Vixens! You ladies rock my socks off. I love our little family and as always, I am confident in saying that you’re the best team a girl could ask for. You all pimp so hard! Thank you!

To all the people that take the time to connect with me: Every message, every comment truly means the world to me. I read every one, so keep ‘em coming!

To all the amazing bloggers who help spread the word about my books, I wouldn’t be where I am without you either! I am always humbled by your kind and generous words <3

To my readers: You’re the best. You’ve stuck by me from the beginning, when I wasn’t even sure anyone was paying attention. I am continually blown away by your enthusiasm for my stories and your endless support.

I could never forget my darling hubby. You’re my inspiration behind all of these delectable men. You’re my rock, my one true love. I love you!!