Breaking Free (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Grae McTavish

  After telling his dad he was taking off for a few days, he packed his saddlebags with some food and a few changes of clothes and took off for the mountains, turning off his cell phone, so he wouldn’t be tempted to answer if she called.

  He’d been neglecting the house he was building since he’d taken up with Danny. Now it was time to get back to work. He told himself it was because he didn’t want the lumber and other supplies he’d had delivered to get ruined by his neglect, but he knew the truth.

  Cutting, sawing, nailing, and lifting had the desired physical effect, and at the end of the day, he was finally able to sleep, but his dreams were filled with nightmares, torturous images of his sweet, beautiful Danny doing all sorts of perverted things with her spineless ferret-faced ex.

  * * * *

  Danny called in sick the next morning, feeling broken and bruised inside. She’d tried several more times to call Gabe, but his phone went right to voicemail, so eventually she gave up. The final capper for her day came just after noon with a knock on her door.

  Hoping against hope that it was Gabe, she flew to the door only to have her heart plummet into her feet at the sight of two uniformed police officers.

  “Can I help you?” she asked the tall, handsome, older officer. His wide smile and salt-and-pepper hair would normally have put her at ease, but she was strung so tight she was beyond that point.

  “Yes, ma’am, I’m Officer Douglas, and this is my partner, Officer Kline. I’m afraid you’re going to have to come with us down to the station.”

  Shaking her head in disbelief, Danny tried to make sense of what he’d said, but her mind just couldn’t grasp it.

  “It’ll be okay, I’m sure this is a misunderstanding, but we have a warrant for your arrest, so if you’d please come with us, we can take care of this as quickly as possible.” Officer Douglas gave her a reassuring smile as he let her process what he’d said.

  “Arrest? I don’t understand,” Danny whispered. It was like she was in a nightmare and couldn’t seem to wake up. Things just kept getting worse and worse.

  Opening the warrant, he skimmed it before saying, “Apparently an individual by the name of Wesley Dandridge has filed assault charges against you. If you’d please come with us, I’m sure we can get this straightened out.”

  Danny felt her mouth fall open. “The little prick actually filed charges against me?” Her voice rose, and she was close to losing it. “But he attacked me. I was just defending myself.” This couldn’t be happening!

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, but like I said, come along with us, and we’ll see if we can figure out what’s going on. In the mean time I have to read you your rights. If you promise not to make a fuss we can forgo the cuffs.”

  Danny could only stare at him in shock as he began to read from a small, tattered card he pulled from his uniform pocket. This can’t be happening, her mind screamed again, but she was too numb to do anything more than nod when he finished. In a shocked stupor, she followed them down the stairs and crawled into the back of their squad car.

  * * * *

  The finger printing and picture taking were all a blur, and the next conscious thought Danny had was getting into Gloria’s car after her faithful friend had come to bail her out. She hadn’t even bothered to call Gabe. She’d given up on him. She’d given up on everyone.

  She’d ended the day by crawling into bed with a bottle of wine and a box of Kleenex.

  * * * *

  The next few days passed in a blur for Danny. The University had put her on administrative leave until things with Wesley could be “sorted out.” The students seemed supportive of her, but the faculty was split, with the majority favoring Wesley. Many had seen her new look and figured she deserved whatever she got.

  She’d met with her court-appointed attorney, who advised her to plead guilty since it was going to be a matter of who the judge believed, and Wesley certainly seemed the more believable witness, with all his bruises.

  Arraignment was short and the trial set for 10:00 a.m. the following Monday morning.

  Chapter Nine

  Gloria was desperate. She knew her friend had all but given up, and the trial was just around the corner. Danny wasn’t even fighting the charges against Wesley. She’d given her attorney the bare facts and told him to do what he could. She simply didn’t care anymore. It was so uncharacteristic for her once-bubbly friend, and she knew if something didn’t happen soon, Danny was going to simply melt away. She’d stopped eating, started drinking, and spent her sober time off riding in the countryside on her bike.

  For lack of anything else to do, Gloria had showed up on the door step of Smokey’s Cycles & Choppers. Not sure what to expect, she’d tentatively set foot over the worn threshold.

  “Well, howdy. Can I help you?” boomed a deep voice from behind the counter. Startled, Gloria turned in the direction the voice had come from, and for some reason, she was instantly at ease. Maybe it was all the sweet stories Danny had told her about the teddy bear of a man.

  “Hi, uhm…” How did you go about saying that your best friend had been hauled to the slammer and had decided to cease living? “I’m a friend of Danny’s. I was wondering if Gabe was available.”

  “Humph!” Smokey grumbled, strolling out from behind the counter. “That good for nothing son of mine’s been MIA for nearly a week. Won’t talk to no one, won’t answer his phone, nothing. I don’t know what’s going on between the two of them, but they need to get their shit together, ’cause he’s driving me nuts.”

  Gloria chuckled mirthlessly. “You don’t know the half of it. And I guarantee he’s not as bad off as she is. I’m actually starting to really worry about her.” She went on to explain in quick, succinct words what she knew about the situation. The look on the old man’s face went from dark to darker.

  “You mean the bastard just left her there!” Smokey growled, his face contorting with anger. “His mama must be rolling over in her grave.”

  “Well, call him what you will, she still loves him, ’cause let me tell you she sure as hell didn’t act like this when she spilt from that spineless little twerp, Wesley. So that’s why I was hoping I could find him and maybe talk him into giving her a chance to explain. Not that it will get her out of the charges, but it has to help to at least know he’s in her corner.” Sighing, she rubbed her forehead in frustration. “But since you don’t know where he is, I guess I’ll try something else.” Though God knew she’d tried everything she could think of.

  “Oh, I have a good idea where he’s gone. Just give me a minute to lock the place up, and I’ll take you.”

  Gloria was all for that until he pulled around to the front of the shop on a huge, red motorcycle. She’d thought Gabe’s was big, but he was the mack daddy of bikes. He had to be kidding.

  Hesitantly she took the helmet he handed her. “You know maybe, you could just have him call me.” Taking a step back, she gulped in apprehension.

  She thought he might have laughed if the situation hadn’t been so serious. “Come on, gal, I’ve been riding longer than you been alive. I think I can handle a skinny little squirt like you on the back of my bike.”

  Gloria did laugh now. Danny was right. Smokey was a big, lovable teddy bear. Taking a deep breath and reminding herself she was doing this for her friend, she climbed on.

  However, as they started climbing the steep dirt road leading to Gabe’s retreat, Gloria was ready to kill both of them. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she silently prayed that Smokey was as good a rider as he claimed. The bike bounced over a deep rut in the road and, swallowing a squeal, she clung to him for dear life. Then suddenly the path seemed to smooth.

  Popping her eyes open, she realized they were in a large clearing on the edge of a bubbling river. The beauty of the place took her breath away, but what really surprised her was the huge house on a grassy hill overlooking the river. She could tell it was only partly finished, but with its roof and frame in place it was clearly going to be a gra
nd house.

  A tall, lean figure stepped out onto the makeshift front porch, and Gloria wanted to start cursing all over again.

  As Smokey brought the bike to a halt, she jumped off, ready to give him a good case of what-for, but the big teddy bear of a biker turned into a grizzly right before her eyes.

  * * * *

  “Dad, what are…?” Gabe began, but was stopped cold as his father hauled back and landed a hard right hook to his jaw, sending him reeling. Landing on his butt in the dirt, he rubbed his jaw, and stared up at his father in shock. Even when he’d been a hellion teenager, his father had never hit him, and Lord knew he’d deserved it on more than a few occasions.

  Ignoring his son’s stunned expression, Smokey barreled on. “Never did I think the day would come when I’d be ashamed to call you my son, but I’ll be damned if it ain’t here,” he said, spitting at the ground at Gabe’s feet in disgust. “I’m just glad your poor mother ain’t alive to see her son acting like such a jackass.”

  “What the hell’s going on?” Gabe scrambled to his feet and his gaze darted between Gloria and his father in confusion. Suddenly, a horrible thought came to him, and it didn’t matter how mad he was at Danny, or that he thought she’d betrayed him, because suddenly his heart was in his throat and it was all he could do to breathe. “What’s happened to Danny? Is she hurt?”

  Gloria shot him a dirty look before explaining, “Not like you’re thinking, but she’s in a world of trouble and needs you, and you’re off playing pioneer builder.” Gabe could hear the frustration in her words.

  Scrubbing his face and doing his best to ignore his throbbing jaw, he forced himself to take a deep breath. She wasn’t hurt, so that was something. “Start at the beginning, and tell me what’s going on.”

  “You were at the beginning, only you were too big of an ass to know what was going on,” Smokey grumbled, flexing his hand. “Damn hard-headed boy,” he added in a low grumble.

  Sighing, Gloria explained. “What you thought you saw the other day wasn’t what it seemed. Danny was not making out with the creep. He came to lecture her on her conduct, you know, dressing differently and keeping company with a rough crowd. When she told him to go to hell, he threw himself at her, refusing to take no for an answer.”

  Gabe was going to be sick. Oh God! His sweet little Danny had needed him, and he’d just abandoned her. Self-loathing roared up within him, and he stumbled a few feet away, falling to his knees in the dirt and losing his lunch. You don’t deserve to live. You’re a worthless piece of shit. You don’t deserve her, you never did, and now look what you’ve gone and done.

  It was his father who finally came to him, drawing him back, handing him a bottle of water he’d pulled from the saddlebag on his bike.

  His tormented gaze met Gloria’s, and he forced the words past his lips. “You said she wasn’t hurt?”

  Gloria must have taken pity on him, because she was quick to clarify. “No, she’s strong and smart.” Smiling despite everything, she chuckled. “She actually beat his ass. Broke his nose and cracked a rib if his claims are correct.”

  Gabe’s heart started beating again. She was okay. Through no help from him, but she was okay. He might have a chance to make it up to her, though how, he couldn’t possibly imagine. He wouldn’t blame her if she never spoke to him again. Lord knew that’s what he deserved.

  “Don’t breathe too quick a sigh. The little creep filed assault charges, and she’s not even fighting him. She’s not fighting anything. She’s just given up.”

  The idea of his vibrant Danny just giving up nearly made him sick all over again, but he’d fucked things up royally and now he was going to have to fix them. “Let’s go,” he said, heading for his bike.

  “Son, one thing,” Smokey began, drawing their gazes.

  “Yeah, Dad?”

  “Take a bath, you stink to high heaven.”

  “Only if you promise not to hit me again. Damn, old man, you pack one hell of a punch.”

  Gloria smiled as the two exchanged warm hugs and mounted their bikes. Her laugh died when she realized she was going to have to ride back down that damn mountain. Danny was going to owe her big time when all of this was said and done.

  * * * *

  The ride back to town gave Gabe time to form a plan. He stopped at his dad’s house long enough to shower and shave before he set out looking for Danny. Gloria had said she spent her days riding through the country. It might be like looking for a needle in a haystack, but he prayed he’d get lucky.

  Chapter Ten

  Danny heard the rumble of a bike pull in behind her as she rounded the curve of one of the mountain’s many twisting roads. Pulling to the outside of the lane, she moved to let the rider pass. From the sounds of the bike’s deep, rumbling engine and loud pipes, she knew it could easily pass hers on these hills, and she wasn’t in the mood to race.

  When the other biker pulled up beside her, though, she nearly ran off the side of the road. Gabe! What was he doing here?

  He motioned for her to pull over, but something in her snapped back to life. Who the hell did he think he was? He’d made it blatantly obvious what he thought of her, so he could just go pack sand someplace! Shooting him a dirty look she desperately hoped he could see through the face mask of her helmet, she flipped him the bird and gunned the bike, leaving him behind as she rounded another switchback. The tires squealed in protest at the sharp turn, and she fought to keep from going down. The chrome forks that extended out from the bike’s side, scraped the pavement, sending a shower of sparks out behind her.

  * * * *

  Gabe wasn’t sure if he was going to spank her or kiss her when he finally caught her, most likely both. She was being way too reckless, driving at such a high speed on the narrow, winding road. Dogging her heels, he was certain she’d managed to take more than a few years off his life as she came dangerously close to the steep embankment several times. Looking around, he recognized where they were from riding here as a kid, and he suddenly had an idea.

  Easing up next to her, he carefully forced her off the main road onto a narrow, dirt lane. This dipped into a low, lush valley and abruptly ended at an abandoned mining camp.

  Danny was cursing as she skidded to a halt, sending up a cloud of dust. Spinning the bike, he sensed she was considering trying to go around him. Giving her a sharp look, he shook his head. “You know you’ll never outride me, baby, so don’t even try.”

  Hitting the engine’s kill switch, she jumped off, flinging her helmet into the grass as she turned to glare at him. “What the hell do you want?” she demanded, as he nonchalantly climbed from his bike and slowly removed his helmet and gloves.

  Gabe drank in the sight of her. She looked pale, and large dark circles surrounded her whiskey-gold eyes. Despite this she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. She was love, beauty, and femininity personified. And damn it, he wasn’t going to lose her. She was his.

  Setting his helmet aside, he walked purposefully toward her, hoping against hope that it wasn’t too late for them. He had a speech all planned out. He’d rehearsed it a dozen times in his head, but then, when only inches separated them, he couldn’t make his logical mind work. His emotions took over as he gazed down into her eyes for a long moment.

  His heart in his eyes, Gabe dropped to his knees in front of her and wrapped his arms around her lush thighs, burying his face in her lap, his emotions almost overwhelming him.

  Danny stared down at him in shocked silence for a long moment. “Gabe?” The confusion was obvious in her voice.

  Looking up, he forced himself to breathe past the lump in his throat. “I’m sorry, oh God, Danny, I’m so sorry.”

  Gabe felt the wetness slide down his face and realized it was tears. Damn it, he silently screamed at himself. Don’t be such a pussy! Get your shit together, idiot. But it didn’t work. “I’m weak and useless, and God knows I don’t deserve you, but I love you with everything that’s in me, and if you would
please give me a chance, give us a chance, I promise, I’ll do better.” Finally he managed to clamp his pathetic mouth shut, but it was too late.

  * * * *

  Of all the things she’d expected to hear in her lifetime, Gabe begging was not one of them, yet here he was, on his knees before her, pleading for her to take him back. As if there was any question.

  She reached out to catch a single tear that escaped his eye, and then fell to her knees before him. “There’s nothing to forgive sweetheart. It was a misunderstanding, but if you’ll let me explain.” Maybe now he would listen.

  Shaking his head, he managed a weak smile. “You don’t have to. I was a fool.”

  “Yes you were, but I still need to explain. I don’t ever want there to be a misunderstanding like this between us. If you can’t trust me, then there’s no point in even trying.”

  “I do trust you!” He protested, but she covered his mouth with her hand.

  “No, you want to trust me. I understand, believe me. After walking in on Wesley in bed with another woman, I can understand how it would be so easy to jump to the wrong conclusion. I would have done the same.”

  “No, I know you’re nothing like her,” he protested harshly.

  “I know that, but it only took a moment for your faith to waiver.”

  “And I said I’m sorry.” Standing, he began to pace. His hand scrubbed his face, and she could sense his frustration.

  “Words are all well and good, but it’s actions that really speak.”

  He turned and she could see he seemed to be struggling with a decision. He tugged at his goatee for a second and then as if he’d made a decision, he moved to stand in front of her. “Do you remember our conversation about tattoos?” he asked.

  Danny nodded. “I asked why you didn’t have a ton like most bikers and you said that something that permanent should mean something.” She recalled the moment. He only had one small tattoo, a small breast cancer symbol with his mother’s name wound through it.