Sage's Surrender

by Joy Blood

  The moon is out, almost full, and lights my way down the cracked black top road. Each step I take is longer than the last until I reach my front step and walk up to my door. It’s unlocked—as always. No reason to lock your doors around here. Not even enough people in town to steal your shit and be able to get away with it. So, when I stop inside and instantly feel the presence of someone in my house, I pause and reach back for the knife sheathed at my side. “You aren’t going to need that.” Her sweet voice floats to my ears, and for a second, I don’t believe what I’m hearing.

  “Brook?”

  “Yeah. Guess I couldn’t stay away from you after all.” She flicks on the light next to the chair she is sitting in, stands, then starts walking my way. “How have you been?”

  “How have I been?” I almost laugh at her. “How have I been. Well, let’s see, I get kicked out of my club and my best friend now fucking hates me. I’ve been trying to call the mother of my kid for two months and she hasn’t answered. Hell, I don’t even know if there is a kid anymore.” The last part comes out, and I can’t take it back. It makes her flinch slightly, but she holds steady.

  “There is,” she assures me, crossing her arms over her stomach protectively. I hate myself in that moment, knowing I caused her to do that, making her think she needs to protect our child from me. “I just. I’m sorry. I couldn’t just leave with you. I needed…time…” she pauses, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I had to make a new relationship with Gin—my dad—before coming. We got a second chance, and I had to take it. I knew talking to you would only make me want to drop everything and come. So, I didn’t.” I nod, forcing myself to understand her reasoning. She did get a second chance, and to not take it would have been a mistake.

  “Sorry. I’ve just been going a little crazy.” She gives a slight smile, most likely unsure of where to go from here. But I do. “Goddamn, I missed you, kid,” I say, stepping forward enough to reach her, but still I don’t touch. “Please tell me you’re here to stay, baby. I don’t think I could handle leaving you again.” I look down at her big blue eyes staring up at me.

  “I don’t think I could either.”

  That’s when I let my hands go where they want, threading through her long, beautiful blonde hair and pulling it tight in my fingers to direct her ready mouth to mine.

  Epilogue

  Brook

  One year and six months later

  The sing-song voices call out happy birthday to Halley, our daughter, who turns one today as I bring the cake Eagle’s wife, Iris, made to the table. One candle lit in the center of the frilly pink princess cake with a pink Harley motorcycle figure sitting on the top. Our daughter plays and laughs happily as I place the cake in front of her and quickly blow out her candle before she reaches for it, but instead, she grabs right for the Harley. “Just like her mama,” Gin—Dad—says from my left, chuckling as Halley starts to suck off the pink frosting from the tire. “Kept trying to get you a pink pony, all you ever wanted was a pink Harley.”

  “Then that changed to the biker on the Harley. Well, not a pink one.” I smirk and shoot a smile at Sage who is sitting to my right, far enough away from Gin just in case he has the urge to land a punch. My comment might not have helped in that effort.

  “Are you trying to get him to pull out his piece and shoot me on our daughter’s birthday?” Sage whisper-yells at me when I go to sit back on his lap as Grace shoos me away from cutting and serving the cake. This club has become something I never let Cental be for me: a family. I was stubborn and didn’t feel as if I was meant to be there, but here, in Rhino, with the people I have met, I can honestly say I’m home. I know I wouldn’t have been able to stay in Cental, especially since Sage still wasn’t allowed back, but now I wouldn’t let him go back even if he wanted to.

  “It’s fine. Look at him, he took the joke in good spirit.” I give my man a kiss on his stubbled cheek and glance over to Gin who is shooting daggers at Sage.

  “Yep, he sure did.” When Halley was born neither of them could be in the same room, Gin was sure to give Sage two good punches to his face so in every picture of our new little family Sage sports a shiner. I can’t wait to explain that one to Halley when she gets older.

  “Our daughter is one and we live together. I think he’s had plenty of time to come to terms with it.”

  “Maybe, but I think I need to do a little more.” Sage stands from his seat and places me on my feet.

  “A little more?”

  “Yeah. I think I need to marry you. That might make things a little more bearable. For Gin,” he clarifies, glancing over to where Gin and Grace have settled at the table with their cake while they chat to the other club members.

  “Marry me?” I almost choke on the word. “What?”

  Sage doesn’t answer me, only drops to his knee and takes my now shaking hands in his. “Sage, he is going to kill you for sure,” I whisper, and he chuckles.

  “I asked him already, kid. He said I had better hurry up and make you my wife before he put a bullet in me.”

  “Oh my god,” I laugh and cover my face, feeling it heat with embarrassment.

  “So, what do you say? Marry me?” he asks, reaching into his cut to pull out a shiny silver ring with a solitaire diamond glittering in the afternoon sunlight.

  “Well, if it will save you from getting shot, I guess I can do that.” I smile down at him and laugh when he stands up to bring me into his grip and spins me around.

  “Little shit. I’m counting five for that little comment,” he says into my ear. I shiver, and goosebumps break out all over my body. “Got your leather back at the house. I want to be the first to see it on you,” he tells me with the promise of a heated night.

  “All right. That’s enough. I may have called a truce on shit, but don’t think for a second I’m good with seeing you grope my daughter in front of me,” Gin snaps, bringing an end to our little intimate conversation.

  “Oh, quit it, Dad. How many times did I tell you to quit rubbing up on Grace in front of me, Jason, and Tanya?” I roll my eyes at him and go in for another kiss from Sage…my fiancé. Holy shit.

  “Yeah, Dad. She does have a point.” My brother laughs with a big grin on his face, his girlfriend in his arms. Cute little thing and completely out of her depth when it comes to the club. I’m surprised he even brought her here.

  “Hey, I don’t see Brood anywhere. How is he?” I ask Sage.

  “Talked to him last night. He said he’s good, but you know him.” Sage shrugs, and I nod, because I do. The man could be drowning and still wouldn’t reach out for an extended arm, determined to deal with everything on his shoulders without any help, even the club’s.

  “Well. Maybe we can stop by, see if he needs—”

  “Nah, we better sit this one out. I know how much you want to help the guy, but the only way you can is if he lets you. And that, baby, isn’t going to happen.”

  “Yeah. I know,” I say in defeat, but my chin starts tipping with his hand, bringing my face to meet his.

  “I ever tell you how much I love you?”

  “Maybe a time or two,” I say with a smirk.

  “I do. So fuckin’ much.”

  Sneak Peek

  Hell’s Riders

  Rhino Chapter

  Coming soon!

  Brood

  I’m staring down at the blue blanket wrapped around the tiny red baby who won’t stop crying. It’s like he’s competing with the silence as to who can go the furthest without taking a breath. The kid is winning. Phone to my ear yet again, I pace the room, trying to reach Cora, the boy’s mom, but I still get nothing but “This is Cora leave me a message.” I’m going to kill the bitch when I find her.

  When I stepped up to my door, I could already hear the crying. She brought the kid to my house and dropped him off. Then fucking left. At least she had the decency to leave him inside. I still want to kill her. Tossing my phone aside I look back at the screaming baby, ready to blow his top a
t any minute. “Shit, kid.” I let out a breath and reach out to pick him up. I have not even an ounce of experience when it comes to kids. I get him out easy enough and realize the poor kid is completely soaked through. “Fucking bitch,” I hiss though my teeth trying to calm my nerves as I kneel down to get him sorted out. There is a black bag sitting on the floor packed full of everything I guess I will need to take care of him. Everything has a stamp on it, fresh from the hospital. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had stolen most of it. I get rid of his soiled clothes and find a fresh diaper. After putting it on backwards and him peeing on me and the floor, I finally figure the shit out and grab out another blanket stored away in the bottom of the bag. Not sure if there is a proper way to wrap him, I bundle the kid best I can and just hold him. He has calmed down somewhat now, but is sucking to beat all hell on his hand. He is fucking hungry. I’m about to call Sage’s old lady for backup when I catch sight of a shopping bag stacked full of that powdered shit and pack of bottles. Guess Cora isn’t planning on being gone for only a weekend.

  As best I can, I read the directions, get a bottle fixed, then situate myself and the kid onto my chair I had planned on falling asleep in before I came in to see this mess. “The hell am I going to do with you? Shit do you even have a name?” He eagerly sucks at the nipple, making me smile just a bit. “Like that, huh?” I chuckle and watch his hand reach out and land on top of mine. Right in that moment, something tugs at me—something I can’t place, but know deep down I have a responsibility to this kid. “Not sure if I’m the best choice, but I’ll do what I can. You at least have that to hold on to. I promise.”

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank my beta readers for taking the time to read through Sage’s story and give the advice and criticism I needed to add to the story. Ellie, Kerry, Ashley, and Vikki Thank you all so much! And a special thank you to Kerry who actually came up with the title Sage’s Surrender. I was stumped on the title and you hit it right on the head with your suggestion. Thank you!

  And as always thank you to Monica. (nerd word editing) Once again you have taken my mess and combed it down to resemble a book!

  My readers I cannot express how much it means to me that you actually read my stuff!! The very first time I hit publish there were no expectations and, well, hardly any sales, but it was fun. I found that writing was so much more than just sitting down and typing, it’s exciting and even therapeutic to put my thoughts into a story. Thank you all so much for taking a chance on me and reading this series. There will be more to come all because of you!

  More To Come

  For those asking now what? The Riders’ stories are far from over. I’m only taking a trip over to Montana and telling the Rhino chapter’s stories. Brood will be the first to get his book, then we will just see who speaks to me.

  As for them Siberians that everyone has been asking about. Particularity Premo. He will get his HEA after Ari. The Siberian crew will get a series all their own. Expected winter 2019.

  Also by Joy Blood

  Riotous Side of Hell

  Wraith

  Reckoning

  Hell’s Riders Series

  Jake’s Silence

  Gin’s Longing

  Rico’s Way

  Trio Series

  My Anchor

  My Libertine

  My Mean Boy

  Keep in touch

  Follow Joy for updates and new releases.

  amazon.com/author/briannablood

  joyblood2016@outlook.com