Page 33 of Gunner

“I don’t keep tabs on my man. And, of course, he cares. That’s why he brought me here.” Then something occurs to me. “How did you know we were dating?”

“General assumption since he brought you in.” The officer shrugs.

“My guess is that James is out looking for my son. He’s doing your job while you stand here asking me asinine questions, instead of going out there and doing real police work.” My head begins to throb and I cross my arms over my chest, but wince in pain from my injured ribs.

Officer Johnson looks at me pointedly. “And how does he plan to find him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe when you find James, you can ask him,” I deadpan.

Sienna snickers beside me, causing him to glare in her direction. “Ms. Carter, I just need to know where Mr. Black is. I need to ask him some questions,” the officer explains, his tone sounding annoyed with our conversation.

That makes two of us.

“And I want my son back.” I level him with a scowl.

“And just what would you do to get him? What lengths would you go to?”

I ignore the barrage of questions, turning my head toward the window.

“If you know something, you need to tell me. You don’t want him doing something he might… regret,” he threatens.

“I can’t help you with James, or any other member of Satan’s Disciples. Now, my son was taken from me and I was brutally attacked in my home. So if your questions aren’t going to be focused on that, then I have nothing else to say.”

Even if I didn’t feel my blood pressure rising, the rapid beeping from the machine monitoring my heart rate tells me it is. Emma stands from her chair too, my friends acting as shields between me and Officer Johnson.

He’s about to piss me off further with another useless question when the kind, older nurse from earlier hustles into the room. She’s gentle and sweet, but no nonsense when it comes to her patients. She reminds me of those ladies in the neighborhood who look out for everyone, loving and compassionate, but will give you a firm swat if you get out of line.

“Now, what is going on here?” Her gaze ping-pongs back and forth between me and the officer before she pierces him with a stare. “Sir, you need to leave. I already gave you the preliminary information and warned you to not bother my patient. You’ll have to come back later.” She plants her tight fists on her curvy hips with a stern expression on her face. This mama bear means business, and if I were Officer Johnson, I’d listen to her. She’s the type to throw you on your ass if you make her mad.

“Ma’am, I just have a few more questions for?—“

“And I said no. You got a problem with that, you can take it up with my attending.”

He mutters something I can’t hear and snaps his pad shut, not having taken a single note. I knew he wasn’t here to help me. “When you hear from him, you need to call me.” He plucks his business card from his pocket and tosses it on my bedside table before leaving.

As if I’d call this man for anything.

I release a loud breath, slumping back against the bed while the girls close in on me. Sarah, my nurse, adjusts the machines and briefly lectures me about getting more rest before she swiftly exits the room.

“I gotta hand it to you. You did pretty well.” Emma laughs.

Sienna reclaims her seat and gets comfortable. “I was ready to step in, but you didn’t need me. You handled that like an ol’ lady who’s been doing this for years.”

I’ll always put Caleb and James first. Do anything to protect them. And I wish I could be out there right now, looking for my little boy. But I know he’s coming home; James will make sure of it. I am a little worried he hasn’t called to check in, but I trust him completely. He promised to bring Caleb back to me, and he won’t rest until he does.

I close my eyes, sending up a silent prayer. Please let them both be safe. I couldn’t survive if I lost either of them.

14

GUNNER

After those assholes blew up our truck, killed an innocent girl, and fucked with my family, we knew retribution was imminent. Venom called church and the animosity in the room is palpable, all hatred pointing directly at the Hell's Outlaws. They’ve been pains in our asses for years, but they’re really out-of-pocket now. We won’t waste time putting them in their place, not with others lurking around, waiting to start shit with us too. No, we need to send a message. Take these fuckers out and reiterate that fucking with the Disciples results in your death. No exceptions. And they can thank Striker for bringing this shitstorm down on their club.

“I’ve been waiting to kill these bastards,” I hear from the back of the room.

“It’s been a long time coming for those sorry motherfuckers.”

“You fuck with us, we fuck with you. That damn simple.”

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