Ride Hard (4 page)

CHAPTER FOUR

Gabby was miserable beyond measure.

As she tried on the fifth dress, she peered at her reflection in the mirror. “This looks good enough,” she muttered. The dark blue dress hugged her figure and brought out the glow in her eyes. “What do you think?”

“Good enough won’t do,” said Willow as she walked around Gabby, inspecting her from all angles. “When you wear the right dress, you will know.”

Gabby sighed as she went inside to change it. “I’ve already tried out everything here.”

“You should buy that red dress anyway. If you wear it on a date with Nick, his eyes are going to pop out,” suggested Tasha when Gabby emerged. “There is another cute little shop right down the block. We should go there.”

Gabby groaned. Her gaze fell on the red dress she wore first. Sure, it did look great on her, but she didn’t need it. Of course, she had enough money saved up. For the housekeeping and kitchen duty at the clubhouse, she was paid a decent amount. Some of it was spent on her books and fees for the home school high school program that she was enrolled in, but the rest of it was put in a savings account. She had not bought anything ever since she came to her new life. But then she didn’t need two new dresses.

It wasn’t a good idea to waste money.

“You want it,” whispered Willow in her ear. “I can see it in your eyes. Take it.”

Gabby laughed as she stepped away. “You’re evil.”

“Hey, let go, girl. Learn to have some fun.”

Gabby shook her head but she picked up the dress and brought it to the counter. “I’ll take this.”

“Atta girl,” said Willow. “Where did you say the shop was, Tasha?”

After she paid for the dress, Gabby followed them down the block to the new shop. Once more, the process started. Luckily enough, the second dress she wore was perfect. It was a full length gown with small flowers patterned in it. When she glanced at herself in the mirror, Gabby actually felt a thrill of excitement slide up her spine.

“I think this is it,” said Willow as she joined Gabby. “It’s perfect.”

“You can wear a belt with it and put on some beaded necklaces, and you’re the gypsy. Take them off and wear this dress alone, and you’re a goddess,” said Tasha as she stared at Gabby. “It’s the one.”

Now she could understand what it felt to wear something that felt just right for an occasion. In it, she would feel like a gypsy. “I would have to buy necklaces.”

“I have some,” said Willow. “You can borrow them.”

“And I have a bandana that would go with this. What you need are shoes?” said Tasha.

Gabby groaned. “Ah! This is never going to end.”

“Just the shoes, darling, and then we’re done,” muttered Willow as she patted Gabby on the shoulder. “We’re almost there. Be brave.”

Two hours later, Gabby staggered into the clubhouse. She was laden with packages. Two dresses, a pair of shoes, and a new handbag. She’d never bought so many things for herself in one shopping spree. Never again! She dumped stuff on the bed and sighed with relief. Wonderful as that experience was, she was exhausted. The girls drained the energy out of her, but sure as hell, it was one of the most exciting shopping trips of her life. More than the clothes and shoes, she enjoyed spending time with the two women. Willow was already close to her, and she respected and admired the woman for all that she’d made for her life after the hardships that she suffered. Willow was once incarcerated for the murder of her husband when she killed him in self-defense. But she didn’t let that ruin her life. She emerged stronger than ever – and Gabby intended to do the same. So what if she got sucked into prostitution at a young age? She was now a free and strong woman who was willing to carve out a new life with sweat and blood and Tasha was equally independent.

It was amazing for her to have friends who cared and did things purely for enjoyment. They were bound by love, and not by the rules of a pimp.

Her cell phone rang. The number was unknown. She picked it up, thinking that it could be Tasha who just purchased her first phone. “Hello?”

His laugh was wicked, malevolent. “Gabby, Gabby, Gabby! Haven’t you learnt by now that you can’t escape me? I’m going to get you, and once I am done with you, the rest of the girls are going to shudder with fear even if the thought of escape crosses their mind.”

She wanted to throw the phone against the wall and cut this link. She didn’t want to hear his voice or to talk to him, but Gabby held on the last reserves of strength. “Leave me alone, Joseph. I’ve left that life behind. That was my past. I don’t want it anymore.”

“It doesn’t matter what you want. The only thing that matters is what I want. And I need you back, Gabby. Not because my business is in ruins because of you, but because it’s important for you to learn a lesson. No one can leave this life behind. It’s a part of you, a part of me. And there is never any escape for a girl who comes under my protection,” his voice was cold, eerily so.

“I am not in your protection anymore.” Was that how he saw it? Was she protected when she sold her body to many men in one night so as to increase his profits?

It was slavery, plain and simple. And he wanted her back in it. “Come back, Gabby, and maybe it won’t be that bad. No promises, darling, but I would keep a lenient hand if you were to saunter back on your own.”

“I am not coming back.”

“You think all those punks can keep you safe. It’s not happening. They can’t do a thing if I walk in to claim you, and you can take my word for it.”

With a hand that trembled, she cut off the call, and switched off the phone. She flopped on the bed as rivers of ice flooded through her veins. She was cold, so cold. And she was scared. Fear careened through her nerves, unrelenting and strong. His words made her tremble. It was obvious that he knew where she was. How did he find her? She wasn’t sure. Maybe someone saw her and told him. Perhaps he followed her trail and finally succeeded against all odds.

Whatever his method, he had found her, and now he wasn’t willing to let go.

She could never escape from his clutches. To think that she could do so was foolishness on her part. Perhaps if she went back and apologized, he would spare her the pain and humiliation that he was sure to heap on her when he got his dirty hands on her. Maybe if she went back willingly, she would be killed quickly. For sure, he would make an example out of her if she didn’t comply with his wishes. 

No way was she ever going back.

Hell would freeze over before she went back to that sordid life. She’d left it behind and she wasn’t going back. Once, she escaped – and now, she could do it again. Only one option remained and that was for her to run away. Sure, she would have to leave this life behind. Everything would change, but she would be more cautious. It was stupid of her to maintain in contact with those she deserted. Next time, she wouldn’t call any girls. She wouldn’t even keep up with the Hell Brigade. Tasha, Willow, and Nick, she would forget about them all.

  Nick! How could she leave him?

Gabby never loved another man before, but Nick was her life. It was his confidence, his grace, and attitude that imbued a will to live and survive in her. She was who she was today because he accepted and loved her. She would never find another like him, and she didn’t want to even make the effort. The mere thought of never seeing his handsome face again sent waves of anguish coursing through her shattered nerves.

If she never saw him again, she wouldn’t be able to live. Sure, she might breathe and walk, but she wouldn’t be complete without Nick. He mattered. And he loved her too. How could she do this to him?

What if she told him what happened and asked him to accompany her? But doing so would put his life in danger. If Joseph chased her, he would know about Nick and he might harm her lover just because he was in her life. And she couldn’t even ask Nick to discard his life, his friends, his house, and come away with her. It wouldn’t be fair to him.

No! She needed to think of another solution. But for the life of her, Gabby couldn’t figure it out.

Nothing came to her mind as she struggled with her fears and apprehensions. On one hand was her life with Nick, her studies, and her friends, and on the other hand was her sole chance of survival. If she stayed, she might forfeit her life and independence.

What was the right decision?

She couldn’t move, couldn’t think, and could pull her thoughts in any comprehensive form. The knock on her door startled her. She jumped out of bed. Was it Joseph? Had he come here to take her away? How did he get inside?

Her mouth was dry. She moistened her lips with her tongue. “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Nick. What the hell is going on?”

With a leap, she opened the door and threw herself in his arms. “Oh, Nick!”

His arms tightened around her like bands. She could feel his body tense as he stared into her room as if he expected to find an intruder. “What happened? Are you alright?”

“It’s…I…” She wiped a hand over her brow. Of course, she couldn’t tell him about Joseph. He would want to confront the pimp, and she dared not risk that. What if something happened to him? “Yes, I am fine. I overslept.”

“Overslept? Shit! I was worried.”

She couldn’t shake away the cobwebs of confusion from her head fast enough. Thoughts of Joseph’s threat still clung to her mind. Would he actually come and take her away from the clubhouse? “Why?”

Nick held her arm. “Gabby, you were supposed to meet me for dinner? Don’t you remember?”

Shit! She forgot. Joseph’s call drove everything away. She spent all that time thinking and analyzing the situation. “Sorry.” She forced a smile on her smile. There was no way she could tell Nick about the phone calls. He would go berserk, and he might even go to confront Joseph. And she couldn’t let him do that. “I…got so tired shopping that I lay down. Didn’t realize that I fell asleep.”

Drawing her in his arms, he rested his chin on her head. “I tried to call you but your phone was coming off. Scared the shit out of me.”

She inhaled the strong, musky scent of his. Somehow it brought back some normalcy in her mind. “I guess the battery must have died. Sorry, Nick.”

“It’s ok, darling. You’re ok. That’s all matters. What did you buy?”

Eager to change the subject, she showed him the dresses she bought. After he admired them, she followed him out of the room. “We could eat something here,” she suggested.

“No, let’s just go out. There is a burger with my name on it,” he said.

Downstairs, they met Matt. He was drinking beer at the bar. Seeing her, his nostrils flared but he didn’t say anything. Instead, his fingers tapped the bottle that was held in his hand. “Going out?”

“Yeah!” said Nick as he tugged Gabby along. They stepped out in the fresh air and marched over to his bike. She loved to ride with him. He drove fast, but Nick was careful when she was with him.

She strapped on the helmet he offered. “Did you guys find the new warehouse?”

“Yeah, it’s a good location. We should be able to get back in the thick of things soon enough.”

“But the police might still be on to you guys.”

“For sure, they must be.” He sat. “But we’re going to keep the information to ourselves. The fewer people who know about the locations and timings, the better it would be.”

She didn’t ask anything else. Gabby didn’t care about their business. She was, of course, concerned about his safety but Nick was cautious. And he knew these things better than her. The drive was quick and smooth, and although she tried to keep her mind free from worrying thoughts, they still simmered inside her.

What the hell was she going to do about this situation?

Should she get away?