Page 5 of The Trail Boss

Gavin Briggs leaned against his truck, the late morning sun casting a golden glow over the parking lot of Silver Spur Security. The phone pressed to his ear crackled as his longtime friend and business partner, Reed Malone, spoke.

“I need a favor, Gavin. Keely’s at some pole fitness studio, and her instructor had an accident. Keely says it looks bad. Could you get over there?” Reed’s voice carried a note of urgency Gavin rarely heard.

Gavin straightened, his instincts kicking in. “Why not just call 9-1-1?”

“It’s Roxie…”

“From the club?”

“Yep. She’s a friend of Keely’s. You remember her, right? Petite brunette, spiky haircut?”

“I remember,” Gavin replied, an image of the woman flashing in his mind. He’d seen her a couple of times with Keely—short, curvy, and with a confidence that seemed to mask something deeper. “Where are they?”

Reed rattled off the address. “Keely’s pretty shaken. I’m tied up, so I need you to handle it. She’ll fill you in when you get there.”

“On my way,” Gavin said, already climbing into his truck. He ended the call and started the engine, his mind switching into operational mode.

The studio was quiet when Gavin pushed through the door, the faint smell of sweat and cleaning solution lingering in the air. A small group of women stood clustered near the back wall, their worried whispers filling the space. Keely broke from the group as soon as she spotted him, her face pale with relief.

“Gavin! Thank God you’re here,” she said, tugging him toward the center of the room. “She’s over there. She hit the wall hard, and she’s bleeding.”

His sharp eyes landed on the woman sprawled on the floor. Roxie’s petite frame was crumpled against the base of the pole, her head resting at an awkward angle. A streak of blood marred her temple, standing out starkly against her pale skin.

Gavin knelt beside her, assessing her condition with a practiced gaze. Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, but her eyes remained closed. “Roxie? Can you hear me?” His voice was calm but firm.

She didn’t stir. He glanced over his shoulder at the women hovering nearby. “Did anyone call an ambulance?”

“We called 9-1-1 but they put us on hold. Apparently, there’s been a fire…” said one of the women.

Gavin turned to Keely who shook her head, guilt flashing across her face. “I called Reed, but...”

“Let’s fix that.” Gavin pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed. Only Gavin didn’t call 9-1-1, he dialed the head of the ER at the hospital. As he spoke to the doctor, Roxie let out a faint groan, her eyelids fluttering. “Get someone here now.” Gavin gave the address, but didn’t wait for a response.

Roxie stirred, bringing her hand to her head and groaning.

“Hey,” he said, leaning closer as she blinked up at him, her blue eyes hazy and unfocused. “Stay still, Roxie. You took a bad fall.”

“I’m fine,” she mumbled, trying to push herself up.

“No. You’re not. Don’t move,” Gavin said, his voice leaving no room for argument. He pressed a steadying hand to her shoulder. “You’re not fine, and you’re going to the hospital.”

“No hospital,” she protested weakly, wincing as she shifted.

“Not negotiable.” His tone softened, but his grip stayed firm.

“No insurance,” she mumbled.

“You have insurance through the club. Anything that doesn’t cover, we will. Don’t worry about that.”

Her gaze flickered to him, narrowing slightly. “Bossy,” she muttered.

Gavin huffed a laugh despite himself. “Dom, remember? That’s the word you’re looking for.”

Roxie flashed him a brief grin.

The wail of approaching sirens cut through the fear and apprehension that seemed to have materialized due to Roxie’s fall. Moments later, paramedics burst through the door, their efficient movements easing some of the worry twisting in Gavin’s gut.

“She hit the wall and lost consciousness,” Gavin explained as they assessed her. “Looks like a cut to the temple and possible neck or back injury.”

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