Reaper's Salvation: A Last Riders Trilogy

by Jamie Begley

  Reaper gave her a pleading look. “You could get me the jelly on the table over there.” He nodded at the table Rider and Shade were sitting at.

  “Of course.” Ginny turned to see where he was nodding. Giving him a suspicious glance, she nevertheless went to get the jelly for him.

  “Jesus. Do you have to make it so obvious?” Viper snorted, buttering his biscuit.

  “Shut the fuck up,” Reaper snarled at him, then pasted a saccharine smile on as Ginny brought the jelly to him. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  When Ginny went to move away, Reaper caught her hand. “You haven’t given me my morning kiss,” he reminded her.

  Ginny blushed bright red. Darting a quick glance at Viper, she then bent and gave him a light kiss on his lips. “My biscuits will burn.”

  Reaper watched her with a calculating gaze as she made her escape.

  Viper reached out, taking the jelly away from him to unscrew the lid and smear a healthy dollop on his biscuit. “I think the only one who Ginny needs protecting from is you,” Viper said.

  “With all of us home”—Reaper took the jelly back—“you can send Puck and Jesus back to Ohio. I’ll even gas their bikes for them.”

  “Sorry, they won’t be leaving anytime soon.”

  “Why not?”

  “Did you forget that mass text you sent out last night?”

  “What in the fuck does that have …? Fuck.”

  “You told all The Last Riders that, in their free time, they can volunteer to help you build your and Ginny’s new house, and that you would pay them time and a half. Puck and Jesus checked with me last night, asking if they could stay and work with you instead of going back to Ohio. They said they needed the extra cash, so I gave them the go-ahead.”

  “I didn’t know they were here when I sent the text.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You’re going to need their help. The brothers here are tired of building. I don’t care how much you offer them. Killyama drove them nuts nitpicking them to death. And may I remind you that Train and Rider both asked for an extra hand from you when Train’s was being built and Rider wanted help when Jo remodeled her house?”

  “Fuck,” Reaper groused.

  “That’s the way it goes sometimes. Payback is a bitch.”

  Reaper looked down at his plate, irritated that Puck or Jesus wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. He frowned, then raised his head, remembering the plate of biscuits that Viper had carried to the table. All those fucking biscuits hadn’t been just for him. The plate was now empty with Viper placing the last biscuit in his mouth.

  “You ate my biscuits.”

  “Yes, I did. Sometimes payback isn’t a bitch; it’s the brother who you dragged out of bed when Winter was—”

  Reaper raised his hand, stopping him.

  “—sound asleep,” Viper continued, undeterred.

  Forking a bite of eggs in his mouth, he intended to go upstairs with Ginny and remind her who she belonged to. And to reinforce that thought, when Ginny was with T.A., he would take the opportunity to go shopping.

  Thinking of T.A., he wanted to ask Ginny if Sex Piston would be there—she had threatened … Then a thought dawned on him so urgently that he rose to his feet, horror stricken.

  “Text Train and tell him to keep Killyama home!”

  Viper immediately reached for his phone, his face equally as horror stricken.

  His ass wasn’t off his chair when he heard a loud crash and then a loud scream filled the air, which had the hair on his arms standing on his arms.

  “Who in the fuck hit my bitch!”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Setting the sheet of biscuits on the counter, Ginny grabbed the empty bowl to refill with more eggs when the back door opened. Excited at seeing Killyama coming through the door with Train, Ginny started toward her to say hello when Killyama spotted her.

  Ginny took another step forward, then started backing up seeing the expression on Killyama’s face, deciding it would be better to talk to the furious woman when she wasn’t so angry.

  Turning, she was unaware of Puck walking over, carrying an empty platter. She was trying to miss bumping into him when a loud scream reverberated off the walls.

  Puck jerked at the sound, dropping the platter to reach behind his back. Seeing the metal when the back of his shirt came up had Ginny dropping the bowl to grab his arm before he could pull the gun out.

  “Who in the fuck hit my bitch!” Killyama screamed .

  “Don’t shoot her!” Ginny shrieked, trying to be heard over Killyama.

  Seeing his wife was about to get shot, Train grabbed Killyama around the waist and, in one motion, turned around, protectively placing himself in front of his wife in case a bullet went off.

  Puck jerked his arm away. “Woman!” he roared. “Don’t you know better than to reach for a man’s gun when he’s rea—”

  Ginny opened her mouth to apologize when Gavin tore her away from Puck and began strangling him.

  “Don’t you ever raise your fucking voice to my wife!”

  “Gavin! Stop it! You’re hurting him.” Ginny hit at Gavin’s back when he didn’t release Puck. “Let him go!”

  “Reaper, let go!” Viper roared from the other side of the counter.

  Gavin slowly released Puck, who fell back, gasping for air.

  “Are you okay?” Ginny frantically tried to move around Gavin to see if Puck had been hurt.

  “He’s fine. I barely touched him.”

  Ginny placed her hands on her hips. “Tell him you’re sorry.”

  Attempting to see for herself that Puck was all right, Reaper pulled her away, but not before she saw Puck give Gavin a one handed “fuck you” behind his back, while his other hand was on the mark Gavin left on his neck.

  “He’s sorry,” Ginny told him.

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Move. I don’t need you taking a bullet for me,” Killyama yelled at her husband, moving around him. “Bitch, I want the name, and I want the fucking name now!”

  “Name?” Her mind was still on Gavin and Puck. She motioned to Gavin. “You know Gavin. Oh, you mean Puck. You haven’t been introduced to him yet?” she asked in confusion.

  Killyama lunged toward her, and Gavin blocked her protectively.

  Shocked at her reaction, Ginny stepped back, deciding once again it might be safer to talk to Killyama later when she wasn’t so emotional.

  “Little bitch, you take one step for that door, I’ll call Sex Piston.”

  Ginny felt the blood drain from her face. “Is she as mad at me as you are?”

  “What I’m feeling is going to be nothing compared to how Sex Piston is going to react when she sees you!”

  Ginny poked her head around Gavin’s arm to look at her friend. “I had to do it, Killy. You would have done the same for Train,” she pleaded for her friend’s understanding. “We got him. Allerton’s in jail.”

  “Who. Is. The. Son. Of. A. Bitch. Who. Hit. You!”

  “Oh …” That was what she was so upset about? “Allerton.” Ginny relaxed when Gavin became the focus of her fury.

  “You didn’t kill the son of a bitch?” Killyama ranted at him.

  “I tried.” Gavin folded his arms over his chest, not budging from standing in front of her. “Ginny wouldn’t let me.”

  Ginny gave Gavin a dirty look for throwing her under the bus.

  “If you calm down, I’ll explain to you why I couldn’t let Gavin kill him.”

  “Bitch, all I can say is it better be good.”

  Going down the hallway, Ginny gave Gavin the cold shoulder. Entering the bedroom, she went into the bathroom to change into the outfit that Killyama brought over for her to wear until Silas came over with her clothes. She had also loaned her some makeup to cover the bruises on her face.

  Shutting the bathroom door, Ginny removed her clothes, then stepped into the shower. Pointing the showerhead down so she wouldn’t get her hair wet, she was
lathering the washcloth with bodywash when Gavin stepped into the shower, shutting the door.

  “Go away. I’m still mad at you.”

  Gavin took the washcloth from her to soap her back. “What for?”

  “For strangling Puck and telling Killy I wouldn’t let you kill Allerton.”

  “Puck shouldn’t have yelled at you, and you should have let me kill Allerton.”

  “Puck was angry only because he was afraid I’d get accidentally shot when I wouldn’t let him grab his gun to shoot Killyama.” Ginny pulled her hair to the side so it wouldn’t get wet. “And we can’t let anything happen to Allerton until I find out what happened on Clindale.”

  “Puck wouldn’t have shot Killyama. He was right; you shouldn’t have touched him when he was going for his gun. My issue with him was him raising his voice at you. It was also a lesson for everyone in the club not to do the same. I’m pretty sure you’re going to get on their nerves before we can get our house built. And lastly”—Gavin moved closer to her, sliding the cloth around her hip to the front of her waist, the movement pressing her back against his chest. There wasn’t a time that his touch, however innocent or sensual, failed to bring back the excitement she had felt the first time she stroked his jaw—“when I’m done with Allerton, he’s going to pray for death.”

  Ginny turned in his arms to circle his neck. “Wild man, relax and let the FBI finish the job.” She ran her hand over his tattooed shoulders, luxuriating in the feel of Gavin’s skin under her palm. “We’re safe and sound at home.” She could feel the coiled tension in the muscles that rippled under his flesh as if he was holding himself back.

  “You haven’t told me you love me today.” Gavin jutted his jaw out like a three-year-old ready to have a hissy fit.

  Ginny feathered a kiss over his heart. “I love you.”

  He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t want you cooking and cleaning while you’re staying here.”

  Her lips trembled over his skin at his arrogance. “I will help out whenever I see the need. I thought that was the rule, and everyone has to help out if they live here?”

  Her head was tilted back as Gavin wound her ponytail around his fist.

  “You don’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I said you don’t.”

  “I’ll go insane without anything to do.”

  “Then use the opportunity to write songs.”

  “Then that’s what I’ll do,” she agreed, tracing his nipple with her tongue.

  Gavin stared down at her suspiciously.

  “You looked very handsome this morning. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you in anything other than black. The grey”—Ginny ran her hand down his slick arm—“shows off your tattoos.”

  “Puck has a lot of tattoos.”

  Ginny rubbed her breasts on his chest as she started to lick his other nipple. “Does he? I didn’t notice.”

  The washcloth hit the shower tiles as Gavin grabbed her waist to lift her up so her nipple was within reach of his mouth. “Tell me to suck your nipple.”

  If she wasn’t wet enough in the shower with the water spraying down on her, his demand had her insides clenching in want. “Suck my nipple.”

  She felt her nipple sucked into Gavin’s mouth, and goosebumps spread across her body when his tongue played with the tight bud.

  “Gavin, I’m only guessing …,” she managed to get out between the rapid beating of her heart, “that I’m higher than two inches off the ground.”

  His sensual mouth curled over her nipple. “I’m making an exception. I’ll catch you if you fall.”

  She couldn’t help but stare at his masculine beauty. Gavin was so beautiful that it sometimes hurt to freaking look at him. There was no way on God’s green earth that she would be able to hold onto him. He was a twenty on a scale of one to ten, and she was a solid five. This glorious man was meant for greater happiness than she would ever be able to give him, no matter how hard she tried.

  Last night, when he had taken such care of her by drawing her a bath, wrapping her gently in the towel, and blow-drying her hair, his efficient movements signaled he’d done it before. Many, many times. Gavin knew a woman’s body like the back of his hand.

  Switching breasts, Gavin caressed her nipple before drawing it inside his mouth. “Tell me you want me to fuck you,” he demanded.

  Ginny felt as if the water had gone ice-cold.

  Slightly withdrawing her breast from his mouth, she gave him a grin she didn’t mean. “Silas will be here in ten minutes. I don’t want to keep him waiting.” Wiggling herself down his body, she picked up the washcloth to finish washing herself. “You’re going to have to take a rain check.” Giving a slight laugh, she wrung out the cloth, then hung it over the metal bar to the side of the shower. Opening the door, she reached for the towel she had laid out and started to dry herself off.

  “Ginny … what’s bothering you?”

  Ginny put more effort into the smile she gave him. “Nothing.” Wrapping the towel around her, she dried her face before tucking it between her breasts.

  “You’re lying.”

  “I’m not.” Ginny sighed, realizing she was going to have to give him a partial truth. “There are just some things that are difficult to discuss with you because we haven’t been together long, and to tell you the truth, I find it embarrassing to talk about.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like us not using protection. I’m not on birth control, and we’ve never used condoms. I haven’t had the opportunity to take care of it with me leaving the day after our first time together, and I couldn’t bring myself to ask to see one of Allerton’s doctors or ask for condoms.”

  “Ginny, I—”

  “Don’t worry,” Ginny hurried on. “I got my period this morning, so we’re all good. I also made an appointment with Dr. Price tomorrow morning, so after that, we’ll be set to go once I’m off my period.”

  Seeing his poleaxed expression, she lowered her head to tuck the towel tighter around her. Damn, why was Gavin looking so shell-shocked? Was the possibility of her not being pregnant that big of a relief to him?

  “Was that what you were worried about last night?”

  “Yes.” Ginny gave a nod of her head. “Do you mind? I’d like to get dressed.”

  Gavin went to the bathroom closet to take out a towel, then wrapped it around his hips.

  Holding his stare, Ginny smiled at him. “I won’t be long.”

  Striding closer to her, he gave her an inflexible stare. “There’s something I should tell you.”

  Ginny looked at him questioningly.

  “But fair is fair. I’m going to be as honest with you as you were with me just now.”

  Walking past her, he left the room, closing the door behind him and leaving what he wanted to say unsaid.

  Damn … he was such big jerk.

  She pressed her hand to her stomach. She had known it was too early to tell if she was pregnant, but Ginny had imagined seeing their baby in Gavin’s arms. This morning when she went to the bathroom, she cried. Then she’d called Dr. Price’s office before she left the bathroom to go downstairs to keep herself from dwelling about the loss of a child who had never existed. She bet he was doing summersaults in the bedroom, out of her sight. She should have been the one doing summersaults, Ginny thought crankily. He was the one who was a big jerk.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Ginny jumped off the third step from the bottom of the stairs outside the clubhouse and into Moses’ waiting arms.

  “I missed you!” Ginny exclaimed cheerfully, turning to Silas when Moses set her back on her feet. Her good mood vanished once she got a good look at her brother.

  “You look terrible!” Ginny gasped.

  Silas gently lifted her chin to look at her accusingly. “Doesn’t seem as bad as I expected. Either Greer healed you more that he should have, or you’re getting better at putting makeup on.”

&nbs
p; Ginny hugged her big brother to her. “A little of both,” she confessed tearfully. “Is that what’s wrong with you, it’s because of me?”

  Silas hugged her back, lacking the strength he usually held her with. “I’ll be as good as new in a few days. Just do me a favor and keep out of trouble for a couple of weeks. Give me time to get my strength back before you do more skydiving off waterfalls.”

  “I’m sorry. I knew what I was doing. You shouldn’t have wasted your strength.”

  “Old habits die hard. I’ll always be there to catch you.”

  Tears brimmed her eyes. “You need someone in your life to look after so you’ll quit worrying over us.”

  “Doesn’t matter who enters my life; I’ll never stop watching over my family.”

  Ginny laughed, releasing him. “I’ll remind you of that when she comes.”

  A faraway look entered his eyes. “It won’t be this year, maybe next.”

  Ginny wanted to tell Silas whoever his soulmate was, she worth waiting for, but she didn’t have to tell him. He already knew. The waiting was torture, and Silas had been waiting longer than she had. When you were lonely and just wanted someone to cuddle with, each year seemed like an eternity.

  Moving to the side, Ginny realized she had been so focused on Moses and Silas that she hadn’t noticed Suki had made a beeline for Gavin. The excited dog was jumping up and down waiting to throw herself into Gavin’s arms. Bending down, Gavin rubbed her fur, smiling at the dog’s exuberant behavior.

  Moses went to his truck, reached over, and then placed a heavy bag down by the front wheel. “I brought you a bag of dog food to tide you over until you can get to the store.”

  “Give me five, and I’ll get you a check,” Gavin said, straightening.

  “Don’t worry about it. We’re just happy Ginny’s home.” Taking a bundled cord out his pocket, he gave it to Gavin. “It’s Suki’s leash and collar. I brought her over several times while you were gone to get her familiar with the surroundings and to show her the boundaries. She’ll stay in the backyard if you let her outside alone. Suki won’t go past Razer and Shade’s house, nor will she go past the front or the sides.”