Ride Hard (9 page)

CHAPTER NINE

Gabby hated lying to Nick. She abhorred the idea of deserting him, but it was the only way she could keep him out of harm’s way. Perhaps one day, he would understand. Or most likely, he would curse her till his last breath. She could leave him a note to explain things, but she knew that if she did so, he would try to come after her and attempt to bring her back.

It was important to sever all ties so that he could remain happy in his world. Joseph would track her to the end of the world, and she didn’t want even his shadow to fall on Nick. Soon, after she was gone, Nick would get over the heartbreak. He would find someone else and be happy forever. The mere idea sent a lance of pain through her heart. She couldn’t bear seeing him with another woman, and the thought that she would never see him again was devastating. She would never be able to get over him. Never. He was the love she’d never imagined she would get, and yet, now she didn’t have a choice but to leave him.

After she dressed, Gabby carried her bags to the pantry where she left them for the time being. Once the party was over, she would slip out of the backdoor. She couldn’t risk carrying the bags down the stairs at that time. This was the perfect plan. It didn’t give her much time. A few hours, at most. She checked her watch. It was already six in the evening. Soon, people would start trickling in. Once she finished her preparations, she went into the kitchen.

“Hey, you look fabulous,” said Tasha as she cast an appreciative glance at Gabby. “But what are you doing here? Your dress will get spoilt. Go out, shoo!”

“I just came to see if you need help.”

“I’ve got everything covered,” said Tasha as she tugged Gabby’s hand and led her out of the kitchen. “You don’t need to worry over a thing. It’s your party and I want you to have fun. Tomorrow, you can be back in this kitchen and do all the work and I will sit and relax in a corner.”

Gabby’s heart swelled with pain. She would never see her friend again. Would Tasha wonder what made Gabby do such a miserable thing? Would they all sit and speculate over her reasons? She would never find such good friends ever again. She clasped Tasha’s hand in hers. “Tasha, you’re amazing. Don’t ever change.”

Her grin split her lips. “And you’re amazing too, girl.”

“What is this? A mutual admiration club?” said Willow as she sashayed towards them. She wore a black shirt, a while off-the-shoulder blouse, and wore a bandana from which a feather jutted upward. “How do I look?”

Tasha clapped. “Fantastic. I love it. Guess I should go and change.”

“You think? Yeah, go run, girl. People would start coming in. This party is happening, and don’t worry about anything in the kitchen, I will handle it.” Willow cast her gaze over Gabby’s outfit. Reaching with her hand, she fiddled with the necklaces until she was satisfied. “You do look beautiful, like an angel who has come in the guise of gypsy. When Nick sees you, he will be floored.”

Her heart squeezed with the pain of the knowledge that only she was privy to. Gabby fought the tears that sprang to her life. “Your dress will get spoilt if you work here. Let me help you.”

“Oh no, you don’t.” Willow put her arm around Gabby’s waist and led her to the main room, away from the kitchen. “Tonight, you relax and enjoy. We want you to have fun.”

“I’ve had nothing but fun ever since I came here, and you’ve been a delight, Willow. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Willow caressed Gabby’s cheek. “You would’ve managed just fine, girl. It’s you who have made this life. It’s all your doing, and I am so proud of you. Nick is a great guy, and I just know that you guys will be happy together.”

She swallowed the lump that rose in her throat. No way was she making a fool of herself. Gabby couldn’t afford to raise any suspicion. If these girls even suspected that she was contemplating such a move, they would run to Nick and tell him everything. No one would let her go easily. That was their love, the extent of their loyalty. For their sakes, she would’ve to be stealthy and cunning.

Even as she was thinking all these thoughts, Nick strode in. She stiffened, suddenly scared that she might have spoken aloud. For a moment, his gaze was cold, icily so, as if he knew but then his expression softened.

“You look absolutely gorgeous.”

She moistened her lips with her tongue as her gaze feasted on his handsome face. She would never see the devilish twinkle in his eyes, never ever be able to curl into his arms, and she would never know the gentle love he showered on her so unselfishly. “Thank you, kind sir. You clean up pretty good, too.”

“Ah!” He kissed her cheek, drew her in his arms, and rested his chin on her head. “Nothing compared to you, babe! You look hot!”

She laughed at the obvious honesty in his words, but before she could say anything, Willow marched out from the kitchen. “You two love birds better break it up before the guests start pouring in. Nick, I want you to bring the plates that I have set in the kitchen. Put them on the bar.”

“Slave labor,” he muttered in her ear as he walked off. “Anything else, ma’am?”

Willow winked at Gabby who was still staring at Nick. “Oh yeah, you can also serve behind the bar tonight until someone else takes over. Although, I think, they will all be having too much fun to help you much tonight.”

Muttering under his breath, Nick went into the kitchen. After he came out and set the plates, he began setting the chairs according to Willow’s firm instructions. Gabby had to admit that the girls did a fabulous job with the decorations. Festive balloons and ribbons hung down. Flowers, fresh and colorful, were put in round jars on the tables that were covered with red tablecloths. Soon, people began to come in, and rather than sit and talk, Gabby began to serve the drinks along with Nick. It was a fabulous party, made even more so because everyone knew each other. The atmosphere was relaxed and genial. In comparison, she felt as if she strung as tight as a bow. Soon, she would be out of this place, away from these people, and in some other city where she wouldn’t know anyone. She would miss them all, but her life would be barren because Nick wouldn’t be in it.

The music blared out of the speakers, and soon people began to dance. Nick tugged her hand. “Let’s take a breather.”

“The bar?”

“Hey, Peter, you mind the bar for a few minutes, man. I’m going to dance with my lady love.”

Peter took over without protest. Their last dance! Their last party! Gabby moved willingly in Nick’s arms as he led her to the floor. The music pounded inside her head, took over every thought and worry. For just a few minutes, she wanted to enjoy herself. She wanted to have fun and carry the memory of this glorious day with her forever. Tilting her head up, she glanced at him. His green eyes sparkled in the dim light. The long column of his throat was smooth and enticing. She resisted the urge to swipe her tongue over his creamy skin. Desire licked her insides as she danced with him. The whiff of his strong cologne hit her nostrils and she inhaled the familiar scent, relishing it, cherishing it. As the music shifted beats, he swung her around. People around them clapped as they began swaying to a fast, salsa number.

With Nick, it was always easy to match steps. Turning and swaying, they moved in unison. She’d always loved to dance. It was so heady and intoxicating to give over to the music that pumped in the room. Soon, he began to guide her by giving claves. She followed the little tugs and pushes that told her when he wanted her to turn or dip. She was perfectly in tune with him, and he with her. Together, they were liquid, molten dynamite on the dance floor. When the song came to an end, she took a moment to rest her head on his shoulders. Their bodies fit together, almost perfectly. She could feel the bulge under his trousers through the thin material of her dress.

He was hot for her.

There was nothing more that she wanted than to pull him away from the crowd, take him to her room, and make wild love to her. But this wasn’t the time or place.

She would never again get the opportunity to run her fingers over his warm skin, to run her hips on his, and to feel him pound into her. They would never lie down together or take a stroll down by the harbor. She would never sit across a table and have a nice conversation with him again. Nothing in her life would ever be right. 

Nick guided her back to the bar. “Duty calls, babe!”

As they reached the bar, Peter threw an empty carton of juice in the bin. “Hey, we are out of orange juice.”

“I’ll get some from the pantry next to the kitchen,” said Nick.

She clutched his arm so hard that her fingernails might have left marks on it. “No, wait, I will get it. I know where it is.”

She left before he could say a word. If Nick went inside and saw her bags, he would know in an instant as to what she planned, and then she would have to explain everything. She would have to disclose the phone calls she received and the threats that Joseph planned, and he wouldn’t let her go.

Marching into the tiny pantry, she took a deep breath. Her bags were right under the bottom shelf, but they were clearly visible. Maybe she should put them outside in the alley. No one ever came to this place, so there was hardly any chance that they would be stolen, but perhaps someone might step outside to smoke and see them. As she debated over the next move, Gabby took out two cartons of orange juice. The sound of the ringing cell phone was loud and insistent. She’d put it in her bag.

Who could be calling her at this time?

Everyone she knew was at the party, except perhaps one person.

She didn’t want to pick up the phone, but Gabby took it out of the bag. She glanced at the number. He always called her from a different number, perhaps to confuse her, or maybe because he was cautious by nature. Even though she didn’t want to talk to him, Gabby picked up the call.

“Hello?”

“A party, is it?” said his mocking, hard voice. “Enjoy because it might be your last.”

The knowledge that he knew exactly what she was doing filled her with such a dread that the cartons of orange juice slipped from her hands. They fell on the floor. One of them sprang a leak. She couldn’t bend to pick them. Her breath hitched in her throat and there was a sharp ringing noise in her ears.

“You? How do you know?” With an effort, she wrenched the words out of her mouth. “Where are you?”

As she tried to get back her breath, his manic laughter filled her ears. Gabby felt dizzy. Someone opened the door and stepped inside. Vaguely, she was aware that it was Nick. She wanted to cut the call and shove the phone back in the bag. The spilled juice ran under her shoes, and she couldn’t even muster the courage to step away. Nick took the phone out of her hand and pressed it to his ear. Gabby collapsed against the shelf, barely holding on as she tried to stay upright. She was going to faint. Dizziness overcame her.

All she could see were Nick’s glittering eyes that gleamed with rage. Slowly, the emotions that swirled in their clear depths solidified and the rage turned to molten, hot wrath. His shoulders stiffened and his hand clutched around the phone so hard that she thought he might break it.

On some level, she was aware of all this, but her body was frozen in place. She couldn’t move, couldn’t shift. “You’ll never get your dirty hands on her. Never. Don’t ever call her again, you bastard. If I ever see you, I will break apart all your limbs one by one. Do you hear me?”

Joseph must have cut the line after hearing the unfamiliar voice because Nick shoved the phone in his pocket. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I…” She opened her mouth to say something but then Gabby actually fell in his arms. She fainted. Blissful oblivion took over. When she opened her eyes again, she was in her room. Nick was sitting in a chair by her bed and Willow, Ronald, and Tasha stood against the wall. Her small crowd never hosted so many people before. It was crowded, but for some reason, she took comfort in their presence.

If they were there, Joseph wouldn’t be able to touch her. He wouldn’t be able to get it. She was safe for now. Safe. Safe. The word was a mantra that she repeated over and over again as she tried to get a hold on her emotions.

Nick smoothed a hand down her hair. “Are you alright?”