Chapter 14
14
GAVIN
T he Iron Spur buzzed with its usual energy, the dim lighting and throbbing music masking the desire and need coursing through Gavin. He stood near the edge of the bar, dressed casually but with a sharp eye on every corner of the room. Roxie was at the heart of the plan, and every instinct in him screamed to pull her out of harm’s way. But this was the only way to draw out her in-laws and end the nightmare once and for all.
Roxie stood by the bar, her posture relaxed despite the storm he knew had to be brewing inside her. She looked confident, poised—but Gavin knew her well enough by now to catch the flicker of nerves in her eyes.
“You good?” he asked, stepping closer.
Roxie nodded, her fingers gripping the edge of her glass a little too tightly. “As good as I can be, considering I’m the bait.”
Gavin’s lips twitched into a faint smile, though his eyes remained serious. “You’ve always been the bait/target, but now we’re in control. You’re not alone. We’ve got eyes everywhere.”
She glanced at him, her lips curving into a wry smile. “I trust you, cowboy. Just don’t screw this up.”
“I don’t screw up,” Gavin said, his tone lighter, though his gaze remained locked on her. “And I’ve got no plans to start tonight.”
The charged atmosphere ratcheted higher as the night wore on. Gavin’s team was stationed strategically throughout the club, blending into the crowd but ready to act at a moment’s notice. The fact that the team owned the club and was usually in attendance when it was opened made their presence seem like nothing out of the ordinary. Reed was near the entrance, keeping an eye on every new arrival, while Hawke and Jesse were scattered among the patrons, their sharp gazes scanning for trouble. Dawson was hidden up in the rafters with a sniper rifle. If things all went to rat shit, he would drop any assailant before they could harm Roxie.
When the Albrights entered with one of the club’s wealthier patrons and flanked by three men who looked more like hired muscle than escorts, Gavin’s pulse quickened. Margaret and William Albright were dressed impeccably, their expressions calm but their eyes calculating as they scanned the room.
“They’re here,” Reed’s voice came through the earpiece Gavin wore, the words clipped and precise.
“I see them,” Gavin murmured, his focus narrowing as he watched the pair approach the bar.
Margaret’s gaze landed on Roxie, and her lips curled into a sharp smile that didn’t even come close to reaching her eyes. She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the polished floor. “Roxanne,” she said smoothly, her voice dripping with feigned warmth. “What a surprise to see you here.”
Roxie turned, her expression carefully neutral. “Margaret. William. I wasn’t expecting to see you in San Antonio, much less the Iron Spur. Are you enjoying your night?”
“Always,” Margaret said, her gaze flicking to the glass in Roxie’s hand. “I must say, you’ve managed to land on your feet quite well. Impressive, considering the circumstances.”
“Some of us don’t have the luxury of running away when things get hard,” Roxie replied, her tone even but laced with steel.
Margaret’s smile tightened, and William stepped forward, his bulk looming slightly. “You’ve caused quite a bit of trouble, Roxanne. It would’ve been easier if you’d just stayed quiet.”
“Quiet isn’t really my style,” Roxie said, tilting her head.
Margaret’s expression darkened, and she nodded subtly to one of the men behind her. The thug moved forward, but before he could reach Roxie, Gavin stepped out of the shadows, his presence sudden and commanding.
“That’s far enough,” Gavin said, his voice low and deadly. Looking at the member who’d brought them in as his guest, Gavin continued, “I don’t care much for your guests. Your guest pass privileges are hereby revoked until further notice.”
Gavin turned back to glare at the thug who stopped moving, his hand twitching toward his jacket, but Gavin’s icy glare froze him in place. “You don’t want to do that,” Gavin warned, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Margaret’s eyes flicked to Gavin, annoyance flashing across her face. “Who’s this?” she asked, her voice sharp.
“Someone who doesn’t take kindly to someone threatening one of my employees in my club,” Gavin said, his body shifting slightly to place himself between Roxie and the Albrights.
William sneered, his bravado faltering as Reed and Hawke appeared from either side of the room, their movements smooth and purposeful. “Looks like you brought friends,” William muttered.
“Not necessarily. Roxie works for us as well. We own this club,” Reed said, his tone casual as he leaned against the bar.
“You aren’t welcome here,” snarled Hawke.
“Leave now and leave Roxie alone and we’ll call it square. But if you or your goons so much as blink in her direction, we will rain hellfire down on your heads.”
In the blink of an eye, Hawke launched himself forward with the precision and speed of a raptor hunting its prey. The sickening sound of bones breaking echoed in the air as he twisted the goon's wrist at an unnatural angle, snatching the gun from his hand before it could hit the ground.
Chaos erupted in the dimly-lit lounge. One of the other thugs charged at Gavin, his movements clumsy compared to Hawke's grace and agility. But Gavin was just as skilled, effortlessly dodging the swing and delivering a powerful blow to the man's ribs. He followed up with a calculated strike to the jaw, sending the thug crashing to the floor.
Meanwhile, Reed threw himself into a tumultuous tangle with the remaining thug. Their bodies collided with a nearby table, sending it toppling over with a loud crash. Despite the chaos around them, Reed remained focused and fearless as he took down his opponent with swift, efficient movements.
Margaret and William tried to retreat, but Jesse intercepted them, his imposing frame blocking their path. “Going somewhere?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Margaret’s composure cracked, and she glared at Gavin, who was already securing the first thug with zip ties. “You think this changes anything?” she hissed. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
“No, but I know exactly who you are,” Gavin said, his tone cold as he stepped closer. “And so will the authorities.”
Roxie stepped forward, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. “It’s over, Margaret. You tried to destroy me, but you didn’t win. You never will. Can you just say why?”
Margaret’s eyes narrowed, but her silence spoke volumes. “Because you lived and he didn’t,” she hissed vehemently.
As the dust settled, the thugs subdued and the Albrights detained, Gavin turned to Roxie. “You okay?” he asked, his voice softening.
Roxie nodded, though her breath came in shallow bursts. “Yeah.” She nodded, “I think I am.”
“You did good,” Gavin said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“So did all of you,” Roxie replied, her gaze holding his. “But where’s Dawson?” Gavin tilted her head and pointed toward Dawson. Roxie laughed. “A sniper? Really?”
“There was no way anyone was going to get to you. Dawson is arguably the best sniper in the universe.” As the chaos began to fade, the lounge seemed to quiet down to just the two of them. Gavin reached out, his hand brushing against hers. “It is over,” he said quietly. “You don’t have to feel obligated…”
“Are you kidding me? I’ve already signed my contract, and I want my collar.” Roxie’s lips curved into a small, grateful smile.
Gavin laughed. “Good because I gave them notice at your apartment. We can go back and you can take what you want.”
Roxie smiled. “I’m standing next to the only thing I want. Well, you and my collar.”
“I gotta tell you, that collar comes with a ring chaser.”
“Does it now,” she said, her eyes glistening with unshed happy tears.
As the team detained the thugs and the Albrights, Gavin stood by Roxie’s side, his resolve stronger than ever. They’d faced the worst together—and come out on the other side.
The flashing red and blue lights cast jagged shadows across the front of the Iron Spur, their strobing intensity matching the chaos that had unfolded moments ago. Uniformed officers swarmed the area, moving with purpose as Margaret and William Albright were led out in handcuffs.
Margaret’s sharp voice cut through the night like a whip. “This is a mistake! Do you have any idea who I am?” she demanded, her heels clicking loudly against the pavement as two officers flanked her.
One of the officers, unimpressed, replied evenly, “You can explain it to the judge.”
“This is ridiculous,” William snarled, his face flushed with anger as he struggled against the cuffs. “You’ve got nothing on us. Nothing!”
“Oh, we’ve got plenty,” Reed said, stepping forward, a satisfied grin on his face. “Bank records, forged documents, and more witnesses than you can count. You’re finished.”
Margaret’s icy glare shifted to Roxie, who stood beside Gavin, her posture steady but her hands trembling slightly. “You think this changes anything, Roxanne?” Margaret hissed. “You’ll still never be more than...”
“That’s enough,” Gavin growled, stepping in front of Roxie with a protective edge. His eyes bore into Margaret’s, silencing her. “You don’t get to say another word to her. Not now, not ever.”
Margaret’s lips pressed into a thin line, her fury palpable, but the officers didn’t pause. She and William were loaded into separate squad cars, their protests muffled by the slamming of the doors.
As the vehicles pulled away, a hush fell over the scene. Roxie exhaled a shaky breath, her shoulders sagging as the weight of the past weeks began to lift.
The rest of the team gave them space, packing up equipment and coordinating with law enforcement. It felt like the world narrowed to just the two of them, standing in the soft glow of the club’s exterior lights.
“Freedom feels... strange,” Roxie said with a small laugh, wiping at the corner of her eye.
“It suits you,” Gavin replied, his voice warm.
She tilted her head. “You know, I spent so long thinking I had to do everything on my own. That letting someone help me meant I was weak.”
“You’re the farthest thing from weak,” Gavin said firmly.
“I know that now,” Roxie said softly. “Because you showed me.”
Her words hit him square in the chest, and he couldn’t speak. The connection between them felt tangible, electric, and undeniable. Slowly, he reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“I didn’t do this for thanks,” he said quietly. “I did it because I...”
Roxie closed the distance between them, her lips brushing his in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened. Gavin pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her as the world seemed to fade. She tasted like hope and resilience, and he poured everything he couldn’t put into words into that kiss.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, their breath mingling in the cool night air.
“What happens now?” Roxie whispered.
Gavin smiled, his hand still cradling her face. “You signed the contract, we go through a collaring ceremony…”
“We don’t have to have a ceremony…”
“Oh yes we do. After that, we figure it out. Together.”
It seemed as though, for the first time in years, Roxie felt truly free—free from her past, her fears, and the chains that had held her back for so long. But as her eyes met Gavin’s, something seemed to stir deeper within her. It was as if she understood this wasn’t just freedom—it was a beginning.
Together, they hadn’t just survived the worst; they’d forged a bond in the fire. And as the future stretched wide open before them, one thing was clear: their story was just getting started.