by Jamie Begley
“You are?”
“I am.”
Her heat melted. It was the nicest thing he had ever said to her.
She lifted her hand from her lap, about to unbuckle her seat belt. “It’s going to be embarrassing for me to tell Silas I’m going to be staying with you at the clubhouse.”
Gavin looked as if she struck him. “You’re embarrassed to tell him you’re going to be living with me?”
From his expression, Gavin had taken what she had said the wrong way.
“My brothers might not act like Greer, but they’re just as old-fashioned. Freddy would turn over in his grave if he knew I was thinking about living with you.”
“Are we talking about the same man who fathered half the town with how many women?”
“But that’s beside the point. I’m his daughter; a different rule applies to me. Besides that, he was searching for his soul mate. I found mine; he never did. Freddy would consider it a sin if I lived with you.”
Gavin’s expression went from hurt to incredulous. “Are you serious?”
Hurt that he didn’t see the difference, Ginny bit her lip and stared back down at her lap. “Yes. I know it’s old-fashioned. My brothers will think the same way.”
“Would they? Or are we discussing your feelings?” His voice had turned gentle again, making it hard for her to concentrate when her stomach started flipping again.
“My brothers, of course.” Lying to herself as well as Gavin, she raised her eyes to see him staring at her as if he didn’t believe her before his expression went impassive, hiding his own thoughts from her.
“Then they’ll be ecstatic after I inform them of our marriage. All you have to say when they ask why we’re not living with them is that it’s a wife’s place to live with her husband.”
“This is the last time I’m telling you we are not married.” Ginny folded her arms over her chest stubbornly, turning to face forward. “I don’t care how you managed to fake a marriage license or a certificate, we are not married.”
“Legally, we are.”
“By you attained the certificate illegally.”
“How we got there may be illegal, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t legal.”
Ginny rubbed her forehead. “Gavin, I’m not asking you to marry me, or even become engaged, before you’re ready. Hiding behind an illegal doc—”
“We’re married, and that’s what I’m telling you. If I were hiding from having a commitment to you, then I would be denying we are married. We’re married, and that’s that.”
Ginny gaped at his reasoning and his attitude. “I don’t know what century you’re living in, but you need to come back to the one I’m living in.”
“We’re living in the same century,” Gavin said unabashedly. “You ready to go in? I’m starved.”
Her mouth dropped opened farther when he just got out the car, then came across the front to open the door for her.
“I’m not go—”
Before she could stop him, Gavin unbuckled her seat belt and lifted her out the car, using his hip to slam the door shut.
Ginny started to struggle to get away from him.
“Careful, you’ll hurt yourself,” Gavin warned her.
Waiting for the rush of pain to hit her, Ginny realized she felt almost normal, other than being a little sore. What happened to the pain?
Ginny stopped struggling against Gavin, letting him carry her up the long flight of steps, afraid her anger at his idiotic reasoning had her overexerting herself and the pain would come back when her anger dimmed.
Reaching the top of the steps, Nickel moved to open the door for them. “Glad to see you back, brother. You, too, Ginny.” He grinned, turning the door handle.
Ginny returned his smile. “Thank-you, Nickel. It’s go—”
Ginny wasn’t given the opportunity to finish what she was saying as Gavin rudely carried her through the door, then used his foot to slam the door on Nickel’s face. At least she managed to give Nickel an apologetic moue of her lips over Gavin’s shoulder at his ill-mannered behavior before the door was shut.
Turning her head face forward, intending to give him a lecture that he would never forget, she was struck speechless at seeing a naked backside going up and down on a woman underneath him on the stairwell.
Before squishing her eyes closed, Ginny noticed the clothes that were scattered around the steps and a shirt hanging from the handrail before it clicked in her mind what she was witnessing.
Swinging her head back around, Ginny buried her face in Gavin’s shirt. Then she cringed in embarrassment when Gavin started moving and she could tell he was climbing the steps.
“Move your ass, Moon,” Gavin grunted as he shifted her into a more comfortable position in his arms.
Ginny plastered her face tighter against Gavin at the sounds of scrambled movements before they thankfully started moving again.
She wanted to wail at Gavin for giving her a name to the naked ass she had seen. Now it would be engraved in her memory what his ass looked like every time she saw him. Ginny didn’t lift her face until she heard the sound of a door being closed. Opening her eyes, she was prepared for the first words to come out for him to take her Silas’s house.
“Well”—Gavin shrugged as he gently set her down on her feet—“I proved you wrong about one thing you said.”
Frowning, she forgot what she was going to say. “About what?”
“You didn’t die.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Please tell me I didn’t see Moon’s ass,” Ginny begged.
Reaper turned to lock the door, fighting the overpowering urge to break into laughter. Ginny looked as if she’d been hit by a lightning bolt. The thunderstruck expression on her face after witnessing Moon and Jade fucking on the steps was hilarious, but that it happened right after he promised her he would make the brothers behave doomed the likelihood of him being able to convince her to stay—especially if he gave into his mirth the way he was dying to.
Making sure the door was securely locked so he’d have a fighting chance of catching her if she tried to escape, he told her, “Okay, then I won’t.”
He moved next to her and began slowly raising her top so he could see the damage Allerton had inflicted on her.
“Gavin, I’m not in the mood to have sex right now.”
He stopped, her top rolled under her breasts, and gaped down at her. “You’re kidding, right?”
The last thing on his mind was sex. She was a hot mess, with her hair disheveled, hanging loosely around a face covered in bruises, highlighted by lips that were puffy and split. Ginny looked like the feminine version of Edward Scissorhands.
Perplexed at what he was doing, she frowned at him. “Then why are you taking my top off?”
“I want to make sure we don’t need to take you to the doctor.”
“I look that bad?”
“Let’s see how much damage we’re dealing with.”
“I don’t feel as sore.” Ginny experimentally raised her arms in the air, acquiescing for him to continue removing her clothes.
Making sure he kept his body blocking the mirror above the dresser, Reaper slowly rolled her shirt over her breasts, then helped her slip each arm out. Casting the top aside, Reaper had a full view of the bruises marring her body.
“Can you turn around? I want to see your back.”
Gradually turning, Ginny exposed her back and shoulders. Bruises covered her skin. However, expecting them to be black and purple he was relieved to see they were already turning a muted brown and yellow. Either Ginny was an extremely fast healer, or Greer’s touchy-feely behavior saved her a couple of weeks of recuperating.
“Greer healed me, didn’t he?” Ginny prodded him when he remained silent and unhooked her bra. Going to the bed, she sat down to remove her shoes.
“I was so aggravated with his craziness that I didn’t realize what he was doing until after we left.” Lifting up off the bed, she started pulling her
jeans down, grimacing when she bent down to get them over her knees.
“Greer makes it a habit of irritating everyone.” Reaper knelt down and helped peel her jeans off. Then, lifting Ginny back in his arms, he carried her into his bathroom.
Setting her down, he filled the tub with warm water, then grabbed Epson salt, towels, and washcloths from the closet.
“He does it to make people keep their distance from him, or that they won’t notice what he’s doing.”
Generously pouring the salt into the tub, Reaper shot a quick text to Nickel before removing his own clothing. He swirled his hand in the water to check the temperature before lifting Ginny back into his arms and depositing her into the tub.
Ginny gave a moan of pleasure, luxuriating in the warmth.
Stepping into the tub behind her, he sat down and grabbed the washcloth he had hung over the side. “If Greer’s only pretending to be an asshole, he’s got it down pat.” Reaper gave his own sigh, relaxing back in the tub. “He isn’t the only one good at pretending.”
Reaper watched the line of Ginny’s spine go straight. “Do you mean me?”
His lips twitched as he gently wet the two cloths in the water, then laid them over her shoulders. “You could have given me an inkling that Agent Collins wasn’t as shady as he was pretending to be, or that your plan was to incriminate Allerton and it was never about helping him find the artifact to get him off your back.”
“I wanted to. A couple of times, I almost did.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I’m sorry, but you kind of suck at pretending,” she said apologetically. “You don’t hide when you dislike someone, and in front of Allerton you made it plain that you disliked and distrusted Agent Collins.”
“In other words, I helped the plan by being kept in the dark?”
“Yes. Are you mad at me?”
“No. You did what you felt you had to do to stop Allerton, regardless of your feelings for me. You trusted me that I could handle my own shit, while you took care of what you needed to.”
“I thought you would be angry with me.”
“Nymph.” Reaper took one of the cloths, dipping it into the warm water before replacing it back over her shoulder, then did the same to the other one. “How am I supposed to be mad at you when you’re covered in bruises?” Reaper leaned forward to place a feather-light kiss over one particularly yellow bruise. “I’ve been in your position when I was in the service; most of us in the club have been. You share what you can when you’re on a mission. You went in, determined to beat Allerton. You did. Don’t apologize for that, not to me or anyone else.”
“I love you, Gavin.”
Reaper squeezed his eyes shut, throwing himself in front of the steel door in his heart where the last part of Gavin’s soul lay entombed, barricaded inside.
“You want me to wash your hair?” he asked thickly.
“Yes, please.”
Wetting her hair with the sprayer, Reaper lathered her hair with shampoo. Massaging her scalp as he worked the shampoo through her hair, he saw goosebumps rising along her skin. Leaning forward, he pointing the nozzle down to gently spray the warm water over her before he resumed washing her hair.
Finishing washing them both up, he got out of the tub and grabbed the towels from the towel warmer. Helping Ginny to her feet, he wrapped the towel around her before lifting her up and out of the tub. Ginny stood quietly and let him dry her off.
Sweeping her back into his arms, he carried her to the chair in his bedroom.
“Gavin, I’m not helpless. I can walk.”
“I like taking care of you.” Picking up his brush, he started brushing the tangles out of her hair.
“I’m going to need some clothes if we’re staying here. After my hair is dry, we can drive to Silas’s house and get them.”
“Silas is packing your things. He and Moses are going to drop them off in the morning along with Suki.”
Ginny looked at him from over her shoulder. “When was that decided?”
“When we were waiting for Viper,” he told her unapologetically.
“What’s wrong with me going there?”
“Safer for your brothers if we make it plain where we’ll be living.” Reaper hid his anxiety that she wouldn’t want to stay if he gave Ginny the opportunity. “We were just saving you the trouble. I didn’t know if you wanted him or any of your other brothers to see you in the condition you’re in.”
“Aw … that was sweet of you. Thank you.” Ginny looked toward the mirror, which was across the room, but she wasn’t able to see her reflection. “I look that bad?”
“Not now.”
“What about Trudy? I want to see her and explain—”
“She and Dalton are coming in the morning for breakfast. I told her you needed to rest tonight. I’ll be right back. I’m going to get my blow dryer.”
Striding into the bathroom, he took the blow dryer out from under the sink and when he came back into the bedroom, he found Ginny standing in front of the mirror.
“Thank you for thinking about my brothers and them seeing me this way. I’ll ask Jewell if I can borrow some makeup before they come over tomorrow.”
“They’re going to be glad you’re home.”
Taking her hand, he led her back to the chair, then plugged the dryer in and began blowing her hair out. He had just finished when there was a knock at the door.
“Give me a minute,” Reaper yelled out.
Going to his dresser, he took out a clean T-shirt and a pair of shorts. He gave Ginny the oversized T-shirt as she was about to go hide in the bathroom. “Don’t bother. Just stay where you are.”
Pulling the shorts on, Reaper went to the side of the door first, then opened it.
“Here you go.” Nickel held out a large paper bag and two plastic cups with straws.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime. Later.”
Reaper closed the door with his shoulder.
“Do you want to eat on the bed or the couch?”
Ginny sniffed the air appreciatively. “The couch is fine.”
Setting the food and drinks on the table in front of the couch, he sat down next to Ginny and started unpacking the bag.
“The food smells amazing. How did you know I was craving burgers?”
Unwrapping one of the burgers, he placed it and an order of fries front of her. “Either I’m psychic or it was how you practically climbed over me when we passed the bar,” he teased, setting his own food out. “You see that?” He waved a hand over his food.
Ginny looked up, about to eat a fry. “What?”
“These big boys burgers aren’t the size of a postage stamps, and we have the same amount of fries.”
Ginny rolled her eyes at him. “You’re exaggerating.”
“Maybe about the burgers, but not the fries.” Reaper picked up his monster burger, using two hands, giving a moan of satisfaction before he bit down.
He was almost done before he realized Ginny was silently eating her food without her normal banter. As he took a sip of his soda, he watched her; she seemed to be ruminating as she picked at her food. Now familiar with the way her mind worked, Reaper knew it spelled trouble.
“Something wrong with the food?”
“No. I’m just tired, I guess.” She shrugged.
Reaper started on his second burger, not buying her tired excuse for a second. Something was bothering her, but she wasn’t ready to tell him what it was.
“Then go to sleep,” he encouraged. “I’ll take care of the cleanup when I’m done. I need to do some work on the computer, then I’ll come to bed.”
When she got up off the couch, he grabbed her hand before she could move away. “Are you sure you’re okay? No pain anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.” Pressing a kiss to his forehead, she slipped her hand from his to climb in bed.
Reaper didn’t want to press her, assuming she needed some time to process what Allerton had done to her. After
he finished eating and disposed the trash, he looked at the bed, seeing she was pretending to be asleep.
Turning on the light beside his desk, he flicked off the overhead light. He settled down at the computer and went to work tracking the history of hurricanes near Sherguevil and Clindale area over the past twenty years.
Two hours later, his aching eyes had him calling it quits for the night. Before getting ready for bed, he sent several texts to the brothers, then sent a mass text to everyone in the club.
He put his hands on his thighs, about to rise, when he looked over at Ginny as she lay sleeping. Laying on her side, facing his direction, she had kicked the covers off, and he could see a bruise on her thigh.
This morning, when he told Viper that Ginny was pregnant, his brother had known that, if the heavens had suddenly rained down fireballs, nothing was going to keep him from getting to Ginny first.
Viper had been running alongside of him, ordering the others to find the FBI agents, when they saw a Moke speeding toward them. Every man raised his weapon at the vehicle as it pulled up alongside of them.
“Don’t fire,” Reaper commanded as Agent Clark jumped out of the Moke.
“Allerton’s security just tried to take us out in my bungalow. I have them contained. Agent Collins hasn’t checked in this morning. We’re going to the resort.”
“Allerton has Collins and Ginny.”
Viper and Reaper followed Agent Clark back into the Moke.
“Go!” Reaper yelled loud enough for Cash to take off in the first Moke.
The two vehicles sped away, leaving Stud, Calder, and Knox behind on foot, heading in another direction.
“Where are they going?” Agent Clark shouted.
“To the security building. They’re going to stop Allerton’s additional security at the resort and the air field,” Viper told him.
Reaper saw Cash stop his Moke at the side door of the resort.
“Park next to him,” Reaper told Agent Garcia, who was driving.
Springing out of the vehicle with his gun at the ready, Reaper ran toward the side door where the other brothers were nearly mowing down Hammer when Desmond Beck opened the door.
