Reckless Abandon (Black Horsemen MC Book 3)

by Sophia Hampton

  “I wasn’t talking to you, though I do have an offer you may be interested in, as well. I am talking to her.” He looked at Gloria straight in the eye as she slumped downward into a royal blue lounge chair. “We found your notebook when we cleaned up the mess at headquarters. It had some information that has turned out to be more valuable than we could have ever hoped.”

  “I don’t blackmail no more. I’m out of that after everything that’s happened.” Gloria was secure in this. She had no earthly desire to put herself back in danger like this.

  “Not blackmail—I want you to scout for us. Men are always more eager to talk when there’s a woman around, and I want you to be that girl for us. I know you got some mad skills in this area.”

  “Why would I ever agree to this?” Gloria was repulsed by Benni but intrigued by the offer. There were no women members of the Horsemen, or any other motorcycle club she had known. Most were just old ladies, whores, or groupies. It wasn’t anything Gloria ever aspired to be.

  “Money, protection—and a chance to go home.”

  Gloria’s eyebrows lifted in interest. While she had loved riding backseat with Vinny at the helm, she had still missed the comforts of her home and the thrill of singing on stage for a captive audience. She had wanted all of that once more, but she wanted it with Vinny. And there was no life outside of running left for the two of them to share together.

  Benni continued, “You come back, and I offer you a few men to guard you. I’ll give you the assignments, you complete them, and I’ll pay you whatever you would have made with the blackmail. That seem fair?”

  “What about Vinny? I’m not going anywhere unless he’s part of the deal.” She looked to where her partner stood against the bathroom wall. He was watching Benni like a hawk, waiting to pounce.

  “I have an offer for you.” Benni turned his attention to Vinny, “Despite everything that has happened, you have proven yourself more loyal than my own men. While I’d like to offer you back your old job of enforcer, I think there is a better place for you at the Horsemen. I want you to ride number two—be the Vice.”

  “What? Why would I want that?” Vinny thought of how the men had rallied to mutiny under Benni’s control. If Benni were a target once, Vinny would be shortly.

  “It would settle the club down. More than half the men are more loyal to you than they ever were to me. They listen to you and want you as the leader. This way, they get the best of both worlds, and you get to be sure that Gloria is safe and out of harm’s way.”

  There was a long pause as Gloria and Vinny looked at one another, each searching for the other person’s answer. Vinny walked slowly over to where Gloria sat and kneeled before her. Benni watched carefully as he whispered, “What do you think?”

  Gloria had never had to make a choice like this before. Her gut told her to run, to break free from all of it once more. But her heart longed to find some kind of finality with her man.

  She wordlessly nodded her answer as Vinny turned to face Benni. His hand was outstretched to shake, “We’ll be home in two days. I expect you can let us alone until then.”

  EPILOGUE

  “I’m headin’ out!” Gloria called toward the bedroom where Vinny was resting.

  “Like hell you’re leavin’ without Matthew. He’s on his way.”

  “I’m already runnin’ late. The band’s waitin’ on me. Text Matthew and tell him to meet me there. Same booth as last time.” Gloria pinned the last of the two earrings in her ear and reapplied the coral colored lipstick in her bathroom mirror.

  As she looked up, she caught Vinny in the reflection of her mirror. His dark features were transformed since they had arrived back in town – they were lighter, almost weightless. A playful smile danced upon his face as he leaned down to kiss her bare shoulder.

  “That dress…” He played with the backless back with his cold hand. He could feel the curve of her spine through the thin red fabric.

  “…is stayin’ on…” Gloria finished, “I’m already runnin’ late.” She pushed back towards him, her body catching the warmth of his naked chest. “Plus you’ve already taken this dress off once. You can wait a couple of hours to take it off again.”

  “I’m not a patient man, Gloria.” He gave her a deathly serious look from the reflection in the mirror.

  “And I’m not a patient woman.” She broke free as she headed out the door, “So I guess we’ll both have to suffer.”

  She walked out the door of the apartment and hopped into her car. Jackman’s Tavern was only a few minutes drive from her new home, but she still loved the car ride over. It was winter now. The fields around the road were barren and gray. But the stars above her shone brighter than ever.

  That Tavern also glowed in the night. The bar had been revitalized as of late, with the Horsemen and the Devils claiming it as their own. After the Horsemen had found Junior—with the help of Gloria’s information—new turf boundaries had been drawn, and a small moment of peace had been settled while each club licked their wounds.

  There was just enough time for Gloria to retake her spot as the Tavern’s resident singer. She was up on that pine stage three nights a week, just like she had before—the crowd demanded it, and the influx of Horsemen only made her a hotter commodity.

  The band was already on stage setting up when she walked through the door. Gerald, her drummer, lifted his hands in protest as he saw her stride through the room. “Put your hands down, Gerald,” she sassed him, “I can tell time as well as you keep it.”

  The boys laughed as they finished setting up the instruments and wires. Matthew walked in soon after, acknowledging Gloria as she stood on the stage. Vinny joined him in the booth shortly after. The two men whispered low as they watched the room fill up with friendly and hostile faces.

  But Gloria paid them or the crowd no mind. Tonight, she was focused on her performance. The music started, a quick jazz piece, as she scatted and crooned her way through. It was a love song—a simple one, at that—but she sang it with such passion that the rest of the room had to take notice.

  When her set finished, she planted herself at the bar. A new bartender had joined the Tavern’s crew and had his hands full filling mug after mug of beer to the thirsty men at the stools. He still took his time out to walk over to her, an envelope in his hands. “That’s from Warren,” he said, shoving the envelope towards her. “Payment for tonight’s show.”

  Gloria smiled as she opened the envelope and surveyed the cash inside. She had gotten paid from the bar for her performances before, but every bit of honest earned money meant more to her now. She leaned in over the bar and whispered into his ear, “And what about Packer? What do we know about him this week?”

  The bartender’s eyes grew wider as he looked towards where Vinny and Matthew were sitting. Their eyes bore holes in him, forcing him to remember their threat. His voice shook as he answered, “He’s working the quarry tonight with Devin and Marty. Something about a shipment from down south.”

  Gloria sat back and smiled at her new partner. He was proving his worth almost every day. She went through the envelope and pulled out a couple of twenties. “For you, kid. Keep up the good work.” He pocketed the cash and poured her out a couple of shots of her favorite drink. One by one, she threw them back as quickly as possible.

  Suddenly, Gloria sensed something: opportunity. She looked towards the door; a haggard-looking man walked in looking like he had just seen hell. His face was new to her, and he was looking more and more like dollar signs. She glanced over to Vinny and pointed to the guy. With a wink, she got up from her barstool and strode over to where the man was sitting. “Bad night?” she asked, sidling up to him and biting her bottom lip. “Tell me all about it.”

  THE END

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