by Jamie Begley
Breaking his gaze from hers, Gavin looked at the people surrounding them. “No matter how many lifetimes I’ve lived before, this will be the most special, because this is the one that I have all of you in my life. Not only did God bless me with Ginny, but He blessed me with each one of you.”
Gavin turned back to face her. “Ginny, I promise never to let you walk alone again, to be the shoulder that you can lean on in troubled times, and unconditionally love you despite how many times you’re angry enough to lock me out. You will never be invisible to me. You will be the reason I strive to be a better man and father. To be the man who deserves your love and the eternity that will be waiting when our time on earth is done.”
Ginny had to swallow back tears several times during Gavin’s speech.
“Ginny,” Paster Dean prompted her to give her vows.
“Gavin,” Ginny began shakily, “God never turned His back on me. It was me who turned my back on Him, I’m also ashamed to admit. Instead of punishing me, He gave me His greatest gift—you. I spent most of my life feeling as if I was expendable. With your love, I feel as if each beat of my heart and every breath I take is just as important to you as my last ones were. I don’t know how this lifetime will end, but I do know you’ve already given me enough love so that even if my heart doesn’t beat again, and I don’t take another breath, I won’t have to search in another lifetime. With you, I’ve already found eternity.
“Gavin, I promise, you’ll never walk alone again. I’ll be the shoulder to lean on in troubled times and love you unconditionally, especially when you’ve done something that makes me angry enough to lock you out. I will never take your love for granted and will strive to be the wife and mother you and our children deserve. I love you, and I promise to fill the glass with enough love for you that, when you try to pour yours, it will spill enough that everyone we love can share in our happiness with us.”
Paster Dean began speaking when she finished her vows. “Marriage is never an easy path to follow. Gavin, are you willing to make this commitment before God, and before those who have gathered here to provide witness?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You may place the token of your love on her finger.”
Ginny had to blink back tears at his firm resolution as he placed the ring on her finger.
“Ginny, are you willing to make this commitment before God, and before those who have gathered here to provide witness?”
“Yes, I am.” Her voice was just as firm as Gavin’s had been.
“You may place the token of your love on his finger.”
Ginny took the ring from Trudy, who had been holding it for safekeeping, to place the ring on his finger.
Paster Dean nodded as he continued to speak. “As your journey into your new lives begins, shed the pain of the journey of your search for each other.”
A soft song began playing from a cassette that Jewell must have set up to the side. Ginny began moving toward one side of the waterfall as Gavin began going to the other side. One at a time, Ginny removed her shoes as she walked toward the incline. At the base of the waterfall, she unbuttoned the full skirt of her wedding gown and lay her bouquet on the ground before climbing up the mountain in her white one piece swimsuit. Reaching the top of the waterfall, Gavin grabbed her hand, pulling her up the last step.
The music stopped, and Lucky began speaking again, his voice echoing over the sounds of the water cascading down. “As you jump, cast the fears and doubts aside to the wind as you, Ginny, and you, Gavin, dive into a future with all of our and God’s blessings.”
Holding hands, they took a flying leap into the air to splash down into the water in the middle of a circle of flowers. Laughing when her head surfaced, she circled her arms around Gavin’s neck.
“I pronounce you man and wife,” Paster Dean said loudly over the cheers and claps. “Gavin, you may kiss your bride.”
Ginny felt as if she was still falling when Gavin kissed her. Breaking the kiss, her hand went to his jaw. “You’ll always be mine now,” she said with her whole heart in her eyes.
“I didn’t need to marry you to know that.” Placing his hand over hers, Gavin linked their fingers together. “I knew that the first time I looked into your eyes.”
“You fooled me then, if that’s true,” she teased. “You see anything else?”
“I saw the road to salvation, which seemed like a never-ending ride ahead.”
Ginny grew serious. “Are you there yet?”
Gavin nodded. “The day I thought you were dying, and I thought it would take a miracle to save you. I didn’t realize then that I had already been blessed with a miracle.”
“You had?”
“I didn’t have to ride to search for my salvation; it was within reach the whole time. It was there any time you were near. You’ll always be my salvation, Ginny. A salvation I don’t deserve, but I’ll spend the last of my life making sure I do.”
If Gavin thought she was his salvation, she wasn’t going to try to dissuade him. Her gladiator had fought for his salvation, and even if she had been the one killed on that day instead of Leah, Gavin would have come out of the darkness he’d been thrust into. That’s what gladiators did—they fought to survive against all odds—and he won despite the insurmountable odds to be here with her in this moment in time. She wasn’t naïve enough not expect there wouldn’t be battles ahead in their future, but she was sure that when the battles came their way, he would never have to fight alone again. She was going to make sure of that.
Of course, she had no say if any future gladiators fighting alongside of him would be boys or girls.
Epilogue
ONE
Ten Years Later…
Gavin sat at the picnic table, feeding his new baby girl, who they’d brought to Viper’s house to show off. Winter and Viper had thrown a picnic just for little baby Leah.
Glancing over at the brothers and their wives playing football with their children on the huge lawn, his eyes then went to his other daughter who he was in charge of watching.
Keira was Ginny’s daughter, that was for sure. She was a two-and-a-half-year-old, walking, talking bundle of energy. Ginny and he had to always be within touching distance of her or she would slip away. They could barely keep track of her in the house, much less when they were out. He felt as if she was in the danger zone, and she was an accident just waiting to happen. He didn’t trust with all the children running around, he could keep a good eye on her. So, he came prepared, bringing a huge inflatable-like playpen that gave her plenty of space to play in with all her toys and a child’s leash wrapped around her waist.
Before he’d had children and had seen parents using them, he had given them condescending glances, thinking how terrible they were. That was before Keira. Now he knew better. She was a living, breathing accident waiting to happen, and he was exhausted. God had given them a son who acted like perfect angel, then He had slammed them with Keira.
When he loaded the playpen in the car, Ginny had shaken her head at him. “It’s not going to work.”
“It’s going to fucking work. You’ll see.”
The playpen and the leash would work, he had thought confidently. Both items would ensure Keira stayed within his eyesight the whole time they were at Viper’s. Ginny would be the one seeing who was right.
“Why is she in there?” one of Rider’s sons asked as he stood on the outside of the pen, staring down at Keira.
“She can be a handful, like her mom, that’s why,” he told the ten-year old boy. “Why aren’t you playing with the others, Crux?”
Crux’s bushy brows didn’t move from his hard little expression he kept on Keira. “I think she wants to be free.”
“She’s fine,” Gavin assured him, seeing Keira was perfectly content with her blocks and books. He didn’t care for the way Rider’s son was constantly staring at his daughter anytime she was around. “Now, go on and play with the rest of the kids.” Reaper shooed him off with
a wave of his hand.
“Whatever,” Crux grumbled, his eyes finally leaving Keira’s to give Gavin a look his father had given him many times before.
It took everything Gavin had to let that slide as he watched the boy drag his feet off.
Going back to Leah with her now empty bottle, he raised her onto his shoulder and began burping her. It was too late for him to realize his mistake, forgetting the burp bib on his shoulder to catch the spit up.
“Shit.” The white goo going down his shoulder had him grabbing some wipes.
“Need some help?” Ginny asked with a smile, taking Leah from him so he could clean himself up. “Gavin …” She suddenly paused. “Where’s Keira?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, wiping up the last of the spit. “She’s right ther—GODDAMMIT, KEIRA!”
The playpen was empty, and the leash that had been around her waist was now tied around the big bunny on the inside.
Instantly, his instincts kicked in. His eyes did a quick sweep of the area trying to find her. Viper and the brothers immediately started searching, while the women rounded the other children to keep them within sight. His heart was in his throat when he realized she wasn’t in Viper’s yard, and he started running down to the parking lot.
“God, please don’t do this to me. Please, God, don’t let her go to the road ….”
Seeing the road was empty, he looked up the side of the hill where the long flight of steps were, his eyes going wide when he saw Keira crawling up the top of the stone steps.
Keira went to stand. Seeing him below, she then started to squeal proudly. “I did it!” She jumped. “I did i—”
Even though Gavin had already taken off running the second his eyes saw her climbing, he held back his yell, not wanting to startle her into falling. Rider, at the end of the porch, came to the bannister and saw what was happening. He started running at the same time. Seeing Rider running startled Keira, and she started to tumble over.
Reaper heard Ginny scream behind him as he raced up the steps, expecting to see Keira come tumbling down the stone steps. Looking upward, he saw Crux take a flying leap off the porch to land on his feet, catching Keira as she fell forward. Reaper didn’t stop breathing, waiting for the two of them to come falling down at the force that Keira’s body hit the boy.
Crux planted his feet on the step as he managed to hold his balance, keeping the two of them from falling. Holding Keira tightly, Crux turned and started carrying her down the steps to meet him.
“Thank you,” he wheezed out, trying to get air back into his lungs, holding his arms out for Keira. Then he narrowed his eyes into slits when Crux didn’t appear to want to give him back his daughter.
“You’re welcome.” Crux shrugged after Gavin had to pry her out of his hands. “You should really keep a better eye on her next time.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he gritted through his teeth.
Rider’s son was clearly smart enough to start walking away.
Ginny tried her best not to laugh as she waited at the bottom of the steps with Leah. “I told you that wasn’t going to work.”
“No,” Gavin grumbled, this time to his wife, as he held Keira to him tightly, walking back down the steps that Viper should bulldoze. “The playpen and leash would work on a normal child. Just not yours.”
Ginny shook her head, still wearing a smile. “I wasn’t talking about the playpen.”
“Oh.” Gavin’s eyes went back to slits, watching Crux fist-bump the man who used to be the biggest manwhore in the club, understanding what Ginny meant. “I don’t give a flying flip”—he tried not to cuss around Keira, as she was starting to repeat words—“what your stars say. That boy is not ending up with my daughter. If I keep his as—butt away from her, he’ll get distracted by other girls, just like his father.”
“Gladiator”—Ginny reached up to touch his cheek softly, giving him a pitying look—“the stars don’t write themselves … destiny does. That’s one battle you’re not going to win.”
Epilogue
TWO
Six Months Later…
“Want another hit?”
Reaper took the tiny stub that Greer left for him, crossing one ankle over the other as he listened to Silas and Greer continue their arguing over Greer giving Silas his goat back that had escaped a week ago.
“I want her back, Greer. I drove to Tennessee to buy that goat two weeks ago. I’m not going back for another one. I’ll give you another one, but you can’t have Josie.”
“The kids are already attached to her. You should have made sure she was tied off good so she couldn’t take off.”
Silas narrowed his eyes on him. “Pretty damn convenient that she got loose when the boys and I went to town for lunch.”
“Are you accusing moi?”
“Yes!”
“That’s not a very cousining thing to say.”
“What should I say, then?”
“Cousin, since them youngin’s are attached, you should buy me another one.”
The sound of motorcycles could be heard in the night air. Turning in the canvas chair, Reaper saw a motorcycle pull up to Silas’s truck. When the light flicked off, he could see a shadowy figure coming toward them. He moved his hand away from his gun when Viper came within the glow of the campfire.
“I thought I would join you guys.” Viper’s voice was hesitant as he lifted what was in his hand. “I brought beer.”
The three men looked at Gavin for his reaction, leaving it to him whether Viper stayed or left.
Reaper held his hand out. “Give me one. I hope it’s colder than the ones Greer brought.”
“Why’s everyone busting my balls tonight?” Greer complained as he reached into his pocket to bring out his plastic baggie. Opening it, he took out another joint to light. “You sons of bitches don’t deserve the treat I’m going to give you tonight, but I’ll share anyway. It’s the cousin thing to do.” Lifting the joint, he took a hit before he started passing it around.
Reaper took a hit. “Damn, Greer, you’ve been holding out. This one is different.”
“Damn right. This is the one I only light on special occasions. We celebrating tonight, boys. I don’t have to bring the beers anymore, and I can tell the youngin’s they can keep Nan.”
“I didn’t say you could keep my goat!” Silas protested.
“The night’s still young. By the time this joint is finished, Nan will be the newest member of my family.”
One Month Later…
Reaper was setting up the chairs as Silas made the fire when Viper parked his SUV next to Silas’s truck. Looking toward the truck, he saw Viper get out the vehicle as the passenger door opened and Shade got out. Both men went to the back seat, Viper getting the beer and Shade carrying an extra chair.
Viper put the beer in the cooler, while Shade stayed on the outskirts of the camp.
“Lily and Penni are driving me nuts. I could use a break. You mind if I join you?”
Reaper reached out and took the chair from him to set it up. “Have a seat.” He motioned at the chair. “Greer you bring the good stuff?”
“You know it.”
Another Month Later…
Twisting the top of his beer, Reaper saw Viper’s SUV pulling off the road to park next to Silas’s truck. Taking a drink, he raised his eyebrow when not just the two front doors opened, but the back door opened as well. Viper and Shade got out of the driver’s and passenger’s, each man carrying something different.
Shade and Viper walked into the camp as Rider stopped; he was holding a gigantic bag Reaper recognized from the diner.
“It’s Jo’s time of the month. Save me.”
Twenty-Two Years Later…
Reaper remained standing at the rock as Silas poured water from a thermos to douse the fire as the line of vehicles pulled out, leaving Greer, Silas, and him alone.
Staring out at the dark sky, he let Greer put the last of the chairs in the back of the truck.
Staring down at the rock, he didn’t need a light to see how many marks had been carved into the surface. He had years of seeing it in the daylight to know the massive weight the stone carried.
All of the original Last Riders spent their Friday nights here. They no longer needed to make new marks on the stone, coming mainly now to have time together alone and let the young bloods have their fun without them being present. It was the next generation’s time to become the leaders, and the original group to fade into the background. Their kids had been raised with the values that counted the most, and if they needed help, the originals would still be around to lend a helping hand. That was what parents did, and Reaper was proud to say most of them didn’t need any guidance. They were making their own way in this world, and there wasn’t a one of them who wouldn’t give their life for the other.
“You comin’, boy?”
Reaper grinned at Greer still calling him boy. “You need my help getting in the truck?” he joked.
“Kiss my effin’ ass,” Greer snorted.
Laying his hand on the rock, Reaper then made his way to the truck.
The rock was still standing and so was he.
Reading Order
1. Razer's Ride (The Last Riders)
2. Viper's Run (The Last Riders)
3. Knox's Stand (The Last Riders)
4. Sex Piston (Biker Bitches)
5. Teased (The VIP Room)
6. Tainted (The VIP Room)
