Gavin's Song (Road to Salvation A Last Rider's Trilogy 1)

“Other than Memphis deciding to raise the bet, no.”

Gavin stared at his cards before giving Memphis a smirk. “You’re going to regret that.”

“You’re not getting me this time. You don’t have shit.”

“Wanna bet?”

Memphis lit the stub of a joint. Taking a hit, he blew the smoke at him. “Fuck you.”

Five minutes later, Gavin smoothly slid Memphis’s money to join his growing pile.

“You’ve been bluffing all night, and when I bet my paycheck, you have a full house?” Taking another hit, he took the cards from Rider to shuffle them. “I’ll deal the cards this time.”

When Memphis readied to toss a card to him, Gavin shook his head. “I’m out. I need to talk to Viper, and Taylor will be waiting for me.”

“You getting pussy-whipped by the cunt you asked to marry you?”

Gavin lowered the beer bottle he was raising to his lips. “What did you say?”

“You heard me.” Memphis’s bloodshot eyes didn’t flinch from his.

“If I hear you call my woman a cunt again, it’ll be the last word out of your mouth.”

Memphis took another hit before passing what was left to Crash. As he opened his mouth, Gavin was ready for another nasty comment. Poised to go over the table and break his fucking neck, he jerked his arm away from Rider’s restraining hand.

“Memphis, take a walk. You’re high as fuck. It wouldn’t be a fair fight between you and Reaper.”

“Shit, Rider. Your taste in women isn’t any better than his.”

“For the last time, I suggest you take a walk. I won’t tell you again.”

Memphis flung the cards down on the table, then pushed his chair away so hard that it tipped over when he stood. “Fuck.” Shoving what little remained of his cash into his pocket, he glared at them both. “Why don’t you tell him the truth? If you’re such best buds, at least be straight with him.”

Gavin turned his rapier gaze toward his best friend. “What’s he talking about?”

Rider picked up the cards and started dealing them to the three other men at the table as Memphis’s expression dared Rider to explain what he was talking about. “Nothing.”

“It doesn’t sound like nothing. Are you talking about my relationship behind my back?”

“Want me to tell him?” Memphis goaded. “Rider and I were at the bar and saw Moon hitting on Taylor—”

“You should really go take that walk,” Rider’s low voice interrupted Memphis.

“Keep going.”

Memphis might have been high, but from Rider’s stiff posture, he didn’t want Memphis repeating what had been said.

“When was this?” Gavin asked.

“I forgot to mark it on my calendar,” Memphis smarted off to him.

Gavin didn’t have an issue with Moon hitting on Taylor before he had claimed her. Several of the brothers tried to get in her bed.

“What’s that got to do with Rider?”

Rider threw the cards down on the table. “Why don’t you ask me instead of him?”

“So, tell me.”

“There’s nothing to tell that I haven’t already said to you before,” Rider gritted out.

“Go ahead, Memphis. Finish your story.”

Memphis righted the chair, shoving it under the table. “Rider laughed and said that Moon didn’t stand a chance at getting within sniffing distance of that tag chaser.”

“That it?”

“Yeah, that’s it.” Memphis smirked. “I think I’ll take that walk now, Rider.”

Gavin let him go, his anger now directed at the man next to him. “You called Taylor a tag chaser?”

Rider set his jaw stubbornly. “I didn’t say anything to Memphis that I haven’t said to your face.”

“Why do you think she’s a tag chaser? If that were true, Taylor would have chased after all the brothers here. She didn’t. None of them were given the time of day except me.”

Rider narrowed his eyes at him in warning. “Brother, I’ve said my peace about Taylor before. You’re just as delusional over her as I was Delara.” Rider’s eyes darkened in sympathy.

“No, I’m not.”

“Fine, I’m wrong.” Rider threw a twenty into the growing pile.

“Don’t placate me,” Gavin snapped.

Rider threw his cards down again. “I need another beer. You ready for another one?”

“She’s not a tag chaser!” Gavin insisted, despite Rider trying to walk away from the burgeoning argument.

Standing, Rider rested his hand on the table and lowered his voice so the other brothers couldn’t hear what he said, making his opinion of Taylor clear. “You’re right; she’s not a tag chaser. She’s a medal hoe.”

What Rider was saying went through him as deeply as if he rode his bike over tire spikes.

Gavin stood, confronting Rider before moving away from the table. “Is that what you tell yourself to explain why Taylor picked me over you?”

“No, I’m telling you because it’s the truth. None of the others are willing to man up and tell you to open your fucking eyes and see that bitch is taking you for a fucking ride.”

Gavin struck out before he could pull it back, punching Rider across the cheek. As soon as his fist connected, he regretted it. They had sworn a long time ago never to let a woman come between their friendship.