Tartlet (Turf Wars #4) Read online

  TARTLET

  BELLA JEWEL 2021

  Also by Bella Jewel

  Jokers' Wrath MC

  Bestie

  Rumblin' Knights

  Knights Rising

  Knights Fury

  Knights Lady

  Knights Burden

  Turf Wars

  Tartlet (Coming Soon)

  Standalone

  Amore - Boxed Set

  Wild Child

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Also By Bella Jewel

  DEDICATION

  ~*TARTLET*~

  TARTLET | Copyright © 2021 Bella Jewel

  ~*ACKNOWLEDGMENTS*~

  PROLOGUE

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  THE END

  SNIPPET – UNTITLED AND UNEDITED – MAGGIE AND HUGH – COMING NOV 2021

  Also By Bella Jewel

  DEDICATION

  To Lance

  For believing in me and kicking my ass to keep writing even when I didn’t want to.

  For always making me laugh, even if I occasionally snort.

  For loving me harder than I’ve ever been loved.

  For being the best damn thing to ever happen to me.

  This is for you.

  It’s always for you.

  ~*TARTLET*~

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any form without prior written permission of the publisher, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution, circulation or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

  TARTLET

  Copyright © 2021 Bella Jewel

  TARTLET IS A WORK OF fiction. All names, characters, places and events portrayed in this book either are from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, establishments, events, or location is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ~*ACKNOWLEDGMENTS*~

  AS ALWAYS, MY HEARTFELT thanks to every single blogger, reader and author that has supported my journey. From reading my books, to sharing them, to raving about them, to being there for me. Thank you. My career would be nothing without any of you.

  A massive thanks to the team at Valentine PR for taking me on, especially to Kim and Nina for helping me with this release and this new series. I am looking forward to working with you all on this book and future books, and I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work you all do.

  A massive thanks to Ben Ellis from Tall Story Designs for this gorgeous cover. You’re the easiest, most efficient person I’ve ever worked with. You make my covers absolutely gorgeous every single time. I couldn’t do it without you.

  To my favorite editor Wendi from Ready, set, edit, for always coming through for me on my edits, whenever I need them. You’re amazing and I’m so thankful to you. You’re super easy to work with and so nice. I’m glad to team up with you for these things.

  And of course, to my admin, MJ, for ALWAYS keeping my page running beautifully. I couldn’t do it without you, girly. I love your teasers and your passion; thank you for taking the time out of your life to help this poor girl keep everything running.

  And, last but certainly not least, to my loyal readers. To each and every one of you that picks up my books and give me a chance. To the reviews you write, good or bad. To the time you take to make me a better person. You make this real for me; never stop giving such love and passion. You make our journey so amazing.

  PROLOGUE

  “YOU’RE MAKING A MISTAKE,” Becky cries, shaking her head as she charges out the door after my father, who, right now, couldn’t give a crap about her little performance.

  I’m not going to lie, I didn’t think he’d give me the job. After all, I’m the disappointment of the family and he doesn’t trust me, not one single bit. I think the problem here is, he has nobody else to do his dirty work in this case and he’s left with little options. I’m an unknown, someone who flies under the radar. Hell, most people don’t even know I exist. I’m the perfect girl for the job, even if sweet Becky doesn’t agree.

  My sister is as stuck up as they come, the spoiled little rich girl who has had everything her way her entire life. Nobody ever tells Becky no, and, usually, my father is one of them.

  Not today, though.

  Today, Gabby comes out on top.

  I’ll get the information he needs, merely to prove a point. I couldn’t give two shits about the biker club down the road; I only care about making my father see that I’m far better than the princess he puts up on his throne.

  I wonder sometimes if I’m even his child, though when I think of it, I figure if I wasn’t his child, he would have long since thrown me out. Especially after our mother passed. Since then, Daddy Dearest has done nothing but paint the town white with his sperm and become more and more powerful by the day. Did I mention the sperm? I’ve got plenty of siblings out there, I just know it.

  Either way, if I wasn’t his, I wouldn’t be here.

  So, I guess he’s stuck with me.

  “Enough, Becky,” Father growls, spinning on her as he reaches the door. “We aren’t discussing this any further. I have so much fucking going on, I can’t deal with your whining.”

  “Oh, burn.” I grin, crossing my arms.

  Becky looks to me. “You think this is funny, Gabriella?”

  I nod. “Yep.”

  “Well, it won’t be funny when you go in there and they charm you, you fall in love, and end up with nothing.”

  She throws her hands up, tears rolling down her cheeks.

  God, she really took it hard.

  I mean, that’ll happen when you fall in love with a biker. Also, when you’re married. Perhaps next time she might pick one or the other.

  “You’re wrong, sissy.” I grin. “I’m not stupid enough to fall in love, oh, and I’m not married. How is dear Magnus dealing with this news? Does he know you’ve been unfaithful yet?”

  “That’s enough,” my father orders, his voice booming. “Magnus doesn’t know, and he won’t be finding out. Becky, stop your sniffling,” he barks. “Gabby, you have twenty-four hours to show me you can get into that club. You do it, I’ll give you the job.”

  I grin. “Done.”

  “Dad!” Becky cries, but I turn and saunter off down the hall.

  This is going to be a blast.

  I just know it.

  Bikers, here I come.

  1

  I STROLL OVER TO THE garage that everyone in town now knows is run by the biker club that has only very recently shown their faces around here. Quite a stir they’ve caused with the cartel, my father, and every other powerful bag of dicks in this town. I have zero care about their trading and what they do illegally, I myself have enjoyed a few illegal things in my time.

  Who am I to judge?

  Still, the club is causing tension that the town folk don’t like.

  It’s my job to get in there
, and I have just the thing.

  I’m a mechanic, which is something nobody in my family talks about. When I decided that’s what I wanted to do with my life, my father lost his shit and refused to acknowledge me for months and months. He accepted me back, but he absolutely refuses to let me speak about my career choice. I’ve been out of work for six months, being unable to find a job around town, something to do with my wild reputation, I think. I was considering moving away, but now the garage has opened, I might just be able to get a foot in.

  I walk up to the first person I see, and when he turns around, ho boy I’m taken off guard. I knew these bikers were good looking—everyone in town talks about them, especially my friends who often try to get into their parties—but I didn’t realize just how good looking we were talking. The man in front of me looks like a god damned Indian Soldier. Short dark hair, the most olive skin I’ve ever seen, and the darkest eyes mother nature could have possibly blessed him with. He’s perfectly built, tall and muscled, his bulging biceps moving as he works. The man is something else.

  “Office is at the front,” he tells me, eyes scanning over my body.

  I’m used to that, after all, I am an attractive girl. I hold myself with confidence, why the hell wouldn’t I? I’ve got the goods and I know it. Long, curled dark hair, the same kind of olive skin, only my eyes are green, greener than an emerald. I’ve got a body that most women envy, curves, a booty, and some great breasts, but I’m not about flaunting it. I own it, but I’m not a show off.

  “I’m not here to talk to the office people,” I say, crossing my arms. “I’m here for a job.”

  “Once again,” Biker goes on. “Office is at the front.”

  “The mechanic job.”

  I saw it advertised last week and was going to make my way down here to inquire about it anyway, but when my father threw his little challenge at me, it just seemed meant to be.

  Biker grins.

  I’m used to it.

  Nobody believes a girl who looks like me can throw a wrench around.

  They’d be wrong.

  “You’re a mechanic?” he asks, still grinning.

  “Yep, I also have a vagina. Shocking, I know, but we’re in the twenty-first century now and I’m here to tell you, women are able to do pretty much everything a man can.”

  He gives me a look that makes my skin tingle. He’s looking at me like they all do, and that is with the expression that I’m not capable of doing the same job as them. You get used to it, working in a man’s world. Doesn’t mean I’m going to take it, though.

  Oh hell no.

  “Don’t care what you’ve got between your legs. Job’s filled.”

  Dammit.

  That’s not good.

  Think, Gabby.

  “I’m sure you could use a hand around here, are you telling me that there isn’t enough work for one more person?”

  “Not up to me,” he goes on. “My boss runs the place and he’s the one who hires.”

  I put my hands on my hips. “Then go and get him.”

  He grins at me again. Man really is something else. “What’s your name, kid?”

  “I’m not a kid, and my name is Gabriella. You can call me Gabby. What’s yours, biker?”

  His eyes dance with amusement. “Remy. You can call me Remy.”

  I grin. “Nice to meet you, Rem. Can you go and get your boss now?”

  He chuckles. “He ain’t goin’ to hire a woman.”

  “Why, because I can’t do the same job?”

  “Yep.”

  “What a load of crap, I can do the same job any of you can.”

  “You lift heavy shit? I doubt that.”

  “There are things to help with that.”

  He studies me. “Job’s filled.”

  “Well I’m not leaving until you go and get your boss. I have all day, believe me.”

  I lean against the car, and he stares at me for a minute or two, before grunting something and pulling out his phone. He speaks to someone on the other end for a minute, and then tells me, “He’s comin’.”

  I lean against the car and wait, watching as he gets back to work. “You’re going the long way around to put that radiator back in,” I say, watching him struggling to slide it in.

  “If I wanted your opinion, I’d ask for it,” he grunts, trying to undo a screw so it’ll slide in.

  “If you go in from the bottom, you’ll miss all that.”

  “How the fuck you want me to get it in from the bottom?”

  “The car hoist,” I say, pointing to the large hoists. “Obviously. I wasn’t expecting you to lift the car with one arm and put the radiator in with the other.”

  He glares at me.

  “What’s goin’ on?”

  I spin around to see yet another hot biker, this one is wearing his leathers and there is a patch that very clearly states he’s the President. Man is gorgeous.

  “Gabby here wants a job,” Remy grunts, lifting the radiator back out and placing it down so he can continue on the with the conversation.

  President looks at me. “Office chick?”

  “Oh for crying out loud,” I roll my eyes. “A mechanic.”

  He chuckles. “Yeah, okay.”

  “Are you all douchebags around here, or is just you two?” I ask, crossing my arms. “I’m fully qualified.”

  “Don’t need a mechanic,” President tells me.

  “I’m sure you could use an extra hand.”

  “Why would I hire you?”

  “Why wouldn’t you?” I challenge.

  “You’re a girl.”

  “And you’re a giant dick. Don’t see me singling you out for it.”

  He grins. “Got some fire, girl.”

  “Yeah, plenty. How about this, I put that radiator your boy here is struggling with back in, and you give me a try. One week, no pay, see how I go?”

  President crosses his arms and studies me. “Why would I want you?”

  “Well, I mean, imagine the business if you’ve got a girl on board. People love that shit, relate to it even. I’m sure you want to keep your good reputation around town.”

  He blinks slowly. “Fine, put the radiator in.”

  I put the radiator in. I do it so fucking well the two of them can do nothing but look impressed by the time I’m done. I didn’t even break a sweat, hell, I did it so well even I’m impressed. I’m dirty, I’m shaky, but I fucking did it and I did it well.

  Both of them look to me when I’m done. “What do you think, Remy?”

  “She’s got a big mouth, not sure I’ve got the patience for that,” Remy tells him.

  “I’ve got even better hands, I’m sure you’ve got the patience for that.” I grin.

  “You can do one week,” President tells me. “You piss my guys off, you’re gone. We’ll make the decision after.”

  I clap my hands together. “You won’t regret it!”

  “Five am start, hope you’re up for that.”

  Oh holy mother of god.

  No.

  “Can’t wait,” I grind out.

  Both of them grin at me.

  “Oh, I’m Riggs by the way.”

  I take President’s hand and shake it.

  Just like that ... I’m in.

  “I SAID GET IN THERE, I didn’t say take a fucking job,” my father growls, arms crossed, suit crisp as the hair slicked back on his head.

  He always looks good, in fact, I’m not even certain he wears pajamas. That would be way too casual. He probably wears a suit to bed. I’ve never seen him in anything else. He goes into his room with it on, and he comes out the same way. We don’t enter his room. Ever. There are plenty of places in this mansion we call a home we’re forbidden to enter. I have better things to do, anyway.

  “Actually, you didn’t specify how, so I used my own imagination. I’m in, what does it matter how I got there?”

  “You’re a girl, Gabriella. What sort of reputation are you going to give this family by w
orking at that garage?”

  “First of all, Daddy,” I mutter, “nobody knows about me, because you refuse to accept me as your actual child, so you don’t have to worry. And secondly, I’ve done far worse things than work in a garage to get my reputation flowing ...”

  He glares at me.

  I grin at him.

  “I see you’ve dragged the cat out of hell.”

  I turn to see my brother, Brad, walking into the room. Just like Dad, he’s dressed to the hills. His dark hair is slicked back, skin unblemished, eyes narrowed in on me. They’re the same color as mine, and out of both my siblings, I look the most like my brother.

  I can’t stand him, did I mention that already?

  Since I was a child, Brad has been a giant dick to me. I know how to handle him now, but for a long time I used to let his taunts bother me. He is dad’s little sidekick, but sometimes I wonder if deep down, he wants dad gone as much as the rest of us. He does everything he says, but occasionally, when dad isn’t looking, Brad looks like he’s going to just crumble. Like every word that comes from my father’s mouth hits him like a razor blade.

  Brad isn’t as up my father’s ass as he’d like everyone to believe.

  I can see right through him.

  “Good evening, Bradley.” I smirk at him. “Been out painting the town red again, have we?”

  He ignores me. “Can I have a word with you?”

  His eyes are on Dad.

  “Yes. Gabriella, we’re done. We’ll discuss this further, for now, you do what I ask.”

  “Yes, sir,” I salute him and then turn, walking out of his office.

  I run into Becky staring at a painting in the hall as if she wasn’t just listening to every single damned thing I was just saying. She’s actually acting like she’s studying the painting, her hands are crossed, and she has her head tipped to the side. So focused she pretends to be shocked when she notices me.

  “God, if you’re going to eavesdrop, Rebecca, just own it.” I roll my eyes. “Nobody looks at that painting, it looks like a toddler threw a can of paint on a canvas and called it art.”