Tartlet (Turf Wars #4) Read online

  Remy chuckles. “Can’t imagine you’d ever stoop that low.”

  “You’d be right.”

  “Tell me why we’re still talkin’ and you’re not in my bath right now, with my cock deep in you?”

  His voice is husky, and I shiver.

  “Because I’m in my pajamas and I don’t feel like driving.”

  “Go wait outside, leave the pajamas, I’ll be there in five.”

  He hangs up.

  Ah.

  Not giving me the chance to say no.

  Clever.

  I exhale, run a brush through my hair, leave the pajamas on, and walk out the front of our massive house and wait outside the gates. A few minutes later, the rumble of a motorcycle can be heard. I’m wearing flip flops. I can’t get on a damned motorcycle. I stare as he pulls up, looking so god damned good it makes me really want to take him right here on the bike.

  “I’m wearing flip flops,” I tell him. “And shorts.”

  “It’s up the road, put a helmet on, you’ll be fine.”

  “I’m not sure that’s safe.”

  “Babe, get on.”

  He hands me a helmet, and I stare at the big, rumbling bike. It does look fun. Fuck it, if I lose a toe, I lose a toe. I get on the bike, sitting behind him and wrapping my arms around his massive body. It feels nice, the rumbling beneath me, his hard frame against mine. I lean in a little, breathing in the scent of him. No jacket, just a shirt that hugs his muscles, he looks incredible and he smells even better.

  He takes off, and I squeak, not expecting the surge that pulls me backward. I cry out, clutching him harder, and then I’m laughing. God, I’m laughing. It’s the best feeling in the world, flying through the cool night air, knowing at any moment something could happen and I could literally end up dead. It’s a terrifying feeling, and yet equally as exhilarating. I love everything about it.

  By the time we arrive at his place, I honestly don’t want to get off the bike. I could go all night long, just like that.

  Remy parks it and climbs off too, staring at me with a light expression. “You liked that, huh?”

  “Was it the screaming that gave it away?”

  He chuckles. “Somethin’ like that. Come on.”

  We walk into his house and he turns to me. “Get naked.”

  “Wow, no warm up? No offer of a beer? A snack?”

  He grins. “You want a beer?”

  “Nope.”

  “A snack?”

  I grin. “Yep.”

  The snack that’s standing right in front of me.

  His eyes flash. “You’re a bad girl, Gabby. I fuckin’ like that about you.”

  “Are we at least going to warm up with a kiss? Surely we’re past the whole no kissing thing by now?”

  “Nope,” he murmurs. “I’ll kiss you, though. Right here.”

  He presses his hand between my legs.

  Well, I’ll take that.

  Oh. I’ll take it alright.

  I SPEND THE ENTIRE night getting fucked by Remy, again.

  In the bath, in the shower, on his bed, and then on the bike right before he rides me home at six am. I’m exhausted, and I really have to stop these all-nighters, but man, the dude knows how to please a lady, and being with him, having him do all kind of wicked things to my body, it feels good.

  It must feel good for him, too, because he told me I can come in at lunchtime today as it’s quiet. He also told me they’re officially employing me.

  That makes me feel all kinds of ways, because I love that job, and I’m starting to really like the people that come with it. I came in to do a job and get out, but now I’m enjoying where I am and wondering if I should back out of my father’s little plan. If they find out I’m passing off information, I’m out of there, and there is no other work in this town for me. None that I want anyway.

  There’s also the whole fact that they’re a biker club and they’ll likely throw me in a big gaping hole if I double cross them.

  I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this without causing chaos somewhere.

  Once I’ve slept the night off, I make myself some lunch and then head into the garage. The moment I arrive, Riggs is onto me. He comes out of the office like he’s been waiting for me to show up. Great, I guess he’s heard the wonderful news.

  “You ever goin’ to tell us who your family is?” he asks me, not even letting me put my bag down.

  “Good morning to you, too, Riggs. Nice day out.”

  He narrows his eyes. “Don’t fuck with me, Gabby. Were you going to tell us?”

  “Why would I tell you?” I shrug, even though my heart is racing. “Do you ask all employees about their families? What’s the big deal?”

  “You know exactly what the big deal is,” he grinds out.

  “No, actually, I don’t. I have a rich, powerful family who, quite frankly, can’t stand me. I don’t go around town bragging about them because honestly, Riggs, I can’t stand them either. So, I wasn’t about to roll in here and tell you about them. Sorry if that was the wrong thing, but it wasn’t done with bad intentions.”

  God, I feel like shit.

  I need to go and see my father and end this.

  Riggs studies me, and then nods sharply. “Fair enough. Next time, you be more open. Gotta tell you, I don’t like your dad, and I don’t want anything to do with him, so don’t bring that shit around here.”

  I snort. “Trust me, I don’t like him either. We’re fine.”

  He looks skeptical, but he turns and walks off. Remy and his big ass mouth. Does he text them all when he’s done fucking me and tell them how great it was, too? God, do they keep any secrets from each other? Any at all?

  I walk into the garage and see Hugh, Adan, and Beckett all trying really fucking hard to get an engine out. I should help, but man, the sight in front of me right now is one you stop and admire. Gorgeous bikers grunting and groaning as they try to lift something, come on, I’m not going to offer help.

  “Becky’s sister,” Beckett grunts, when they finally get the engine out with a sling and it hovers above the car. “Wouldn’t have picked it.”

  “Remy has a big mouth,” I mutter. “And I don’t go around telling people about my sister, I’m sure you can understand why. We’re complete opposites.”

  Beckett nods. “No shit. How is she, though?”

  “Oh, you mean you two haven’t been catching up lately?”

  He glares at me.

  “She’s the same stuck-up, spoiled bitch she has always been.”

  He crosses his arms. “You know, I saw a different side to her. Maybe you ought to look harder, she’s stuck in the same world you are.”

  “You wouldn’t be saying that if you saw how much she hates you.”

  His jaw ticks. “Did what I had to do, it was never goin’ to work.”

  “Funny that,” I mutter. “Where is Remy? I need to see him.”

  “He’s busy.”

  “Busy where?”

  “At the club. Business.”

  “When is he going to be back?”

  “When he’s done.”

  I shake my head. “I can really see what my sister liked about you.”

  Beckett grins.

  I roll my eyes and get to work.

  Bloody bikers, honestly.

  You can’t live with them, but my lord, you can’t live without them either.

  I’m midway through tightening some bolts on a car when I hear Eve’s cheerful voice behind me. “I brought you a coffee.”

  I squeal and launch up, spinning around to see her standing with a coffee and a brown paper bag in her hand, a big smile on her face. “Eve, shit, you can’t sneak up on people like that.”

  She laughs. “Sorry, I didn’t realize how much you were concentrating. I thought you might need this, I heard you had a big night.”

  I shake my head. “Seriously, Remy is such a fucking big mouth. He tells everyone everything.”

  “Girl, he’s got bite
marks on his neck. It didn’t take much to figure out. You’re a savage, by the way.”

  I tremble remembering how good it felt to bite down on Remy’s skin as he was fucking me hard against that bike. God, it was wild.

  “Well, he’s equally as savage and I had to keep him under control somehow.”

  Eve smirks. “I like your style. Here, I bought you my famous chocolate muffin, you can thank me later.”

  I take it off her. “You’re amazing, thank you. I haven’t eaten since lunch time.”

  I glance at the clock, it’s now four in the afternoon. That flew by.

  Remy still isn’t back.

  I sit down and take Eve’s offerings, she sits down beside me and exhales. “So, I heard about your family.”

  “My god, I might as well pin a sign to my head today. Everyone is obsessed with me.”

  She laughs. “It’s all good, I figured your last name wasn’t Smith.”

  I chuckle. “Yeah, well, I don’t exactly go around bragging about who I am. In case you didn’t know, my family are a bunch of jackasses who basically wish I didn’t exist.”

  “Sorry to hear that,” Eve says, her voice gentle.

  “God, don’t be. I’m my own person, they’re neither here nor there for me.”

  “You certainly are. How are things going over here?”

  “I love working here,” I tell her, sipping the coffee. “Oh my god, this coffee is amazing. Why haven’t I come over and gotten one earlier?”

  “Girl, beats me. I make the best coffee in town. Also, we’re having an open mic night tonight, you should come. The girls will all be there.”

  “Count me in, although, if I fall asleep at the table, just pretend you don’t notice. I was up all night.”

  “I bet Remy was up all night, too.” She wiggles her brows.

  I snort a bit of coffee out of my nose. “Jesus, woman, you’re quick.”

  She stands, a big smile on her face. “Anyway, I wanted to come by and invite you and give you a break. Come around anytime, you’re part of the family now.”

  Part of the family.

  Me?

  Gabriella?

  Oh boy.

  I’ve really messed this one up.

  10

  “GABRIELLA.”

  I turn, wiping my hands on my pants at the sound of a familiar voice.

  Standing at the garage entrance is Reggie, my ex-boyfriend and toxic lover. The man who got me into a lot of shit, and if he hadn’t gone to prison for a year and a bit, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I have been ignoring him since his release, but, apparently, he wasn’t taking no for an answer because here he is.

  “Jesus, Reggie,” I mutter. “What the hell?”

  “You wouldn’t answer my calls,” he tells me, arms crossed. “So, I came to you.”

  “I don’t know if you know this, but when someone doesn’t answer a call, it’s because they don’t want to talk to you.”

  He narrows his eyes. “You didn’t visit me once in prison, you just disappeared, and you think I was just going to leave it at that?”

  “Yes, that was the general idea.”

  I study him. He looks the same as he did before he went away, other than a few new tattoos on his forearms. Reggie was the good-looking bad boy who messed with your broken soul. Covered in tattoos, short dark hair, piercing blue eyes, rings on his fingers, and a body that you would go crazy for.

  But he was also clingy, controlling, and really, really bad for me.

  The best thing I ever did was get him out of my life. I mean, fate did that for me, but I chose to stick with it.

  “I’m not done, Gabby,” he murmurs, stepping forward. “You were all I thought about in there. You owe me, I took the fucking fall for you and you can’t even give me five minutes?”

  I knew that would come back and bite me in the ass eventually.

  “I didn’t ask you to take the fall, and I appreciate that you did, but we were over long before that. You know that. We both do.”

  “Well, you might have thought that but that’s not what I was feeling ...”

  Great.

  Here we go again.

  “Look, Reggie, I’m glad you’re out and doing well, but I’m not interested anymore. You have to understand ... I don’t have feelings for you. This will be a waste of time for us both. You should move on.”

  He narrows his eyes, glaring at me. “After everything, you’re just done?”

  “Yes, I’m just done.”

  “All good here?”

  I turn to see Hank and Remy walking toward me, Remy’s eyes are on Reggie who takes a small step back, his face going blank.

  “Yep, everything is fine,” I say. “Reggie here was just leaving.”

  “I’m not done here, Gabby. I’ll call you later, we’ll discuss it further.”

  “I won’t answer, I’ve made up my mind. Please, just move on with your life,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm.

  “Gabriella ...”

  “You heard her, pal,” Remy says, stepping forward. “She said she’s done. You can leave now.”

  “Who the fuck are you?” Reggie growls.

  “The man who has been fucking her. She’s done with you. Turn around and leave.”

  Oh god. Talk about a pissing contest. That’s only adding gas to the damned fire. Reggie is going to lose his shit even more now. I close my eyes, waiting for the explosion. It doesn’t let me down.

  “What the fuck?” Reggie barks.

  There it is.

  “You didn’t break up with me, Gabriella!”

  I open my eyes and glare at him. “Bullshit, Reggie. We broke up a few weeks before that break in and you didn’t want to let it go. I haven’t called you or visited you in well over a year. If I were still your girlfriend, don’t you think I might have made a little effort?”

  He shakes his head. “So you’re just fucking someone else?”

  “Yes, Reggie. I told you, we’re done.”

  “This isn’t over,” he growls, pointing his finger at me. “I took the fall for you, you god damned slut.”

  There he is.

  The real Reggie.

  It always comes out.

  “Get out,” Remy barks. “Now, before I take you out myself.”

  Reggie shoots him a glare but reluctantly turns and walks away, storming back to a car parked on the side of the road. He gets in and speeds off.

  Well.

  This is going to be another drama I don’t need.

  I turn and face Remy.

  “You really had to throw in the fucking part? You could have left that out, Remy.”

  “Why, it’s the truth. You’re not with him anymore, don’t see why it matters.”

  “Ugh,” I mutter, throwing my hands up. “I’m not playing these games with you. I’m going home.”

  “We’ve got to get this car out before end of day,” Hank tells me, his voice careful.

  “Then you two can do it. I’ve been at it all afternoon, he hasn’t even been here,” I point to Remy. “I’m sure it won’t hurt him to get his hands dirty.”

  “What’s with the attitude?” Remy asks, when Hank mumbles something and turns, walking away.

  “What attitude? Oh, you mean the one I’m giving you because you just told my ex we were fucking which only added to his rage, a rage that I’m going to have to deal with. Is that the attitude you’re talking about?”

  Remy’s jaw tightens. “He comes here again, he’ll have me to deal with.”

  “Oh, well, I feel better now. How wonderful.”

  “What the fuck is your problem, Gabby?”

  “Ugh, nothing. I have to go.”

  I get the hell out of there before he can say anything else. I need a god damned break because, honestly, there is too much shit going on right now and I’m flat out dealing with it. Between my father, Constance, Remy, and now Reggie, there is just too much going on, and my brain is not coping.

  I’m going to go home, ge
t ready for tonight, and relax.

  I need it.

  God knows I need it.

  Surely something can go right?

  “HAVE YOU EVER HEARD of a girl called Constance Hayes?” I ask Ramona as we sit at a booth, listening to some pretty great music later that night.

  Poppy is beside us, drinking lemonade with a displeased look on her face. Eve is rushing around service with a few of her employees. The place is packed, the food is great, and the music is even better.

  “Oh, that does sound familiar,” Ramona nods. “Didn’t she go missing or something?”

  “Yeah, just over a year ago. A few towns over, though it was said she was around this area before she disappeared. Her phone pinged.”

  “Mmmm,” Poppy says, crunching on a chip. “I remember that. Yeah, everyone was talking about it. Apparently, she left a party super drunk and nobody saw her. There are rumors she was a hit and flick accident.”

  “Hit and flick?” I ask.

  “You know, someone hit her with their car, freaked out, and flicked her when she died. It makes sense. Nobody else knows much about it.”

  “Did she have a boyfriend or anything?” I ask.

  Poppy shrugs. “I don’t know much about it, just those rumors I used to hear.”

  Hmmm.

  Interesting.

  “Did you know her?” Ramona asks.

  “Oh, no, I didn’t. I just heard someone talking about her and looked into it. It’s pretty interesting.”

  “Yeah, mysteries always are,” Poppy agrees.

  “Oh, would you look at that, the big boys rolled in.”

  Ramona nods to the door and I look over to see Riggs, Remy, Hank, Hugh, Adan, and Beckett all walking into Wildflowers. With their leather jackets and gorgeous hard faces, they turn a lot of heads. We shuffle over on the booth, making room for them as they come in and sit down. Adan throws his arm around Ramona’s shoulder, leaning in to kiss her neck. Beckett sits beside Poppy, whispering something in her ear that makes her grin.

  Remy gives me a look.

  I pretend I don’t notice.

  “I’m getting another round,” I say, standing. “Everyone up for a drink?”