Page 23 of Sweet Revenge

He looked at Ritz. “Got any more sandwiches?”

“By the stove.”

Bear grabbed a plate with a sandwich and headed in our direction while Gunner sat down on the stool beside me. He leaned in close to my shoulder and pointed at my plate. “You gonna finish that?”

“No, I’m all done.” I answered softly.

Before I could say more, he grabbed it and took a large bite. My eyes widened in surprise. “I already ate off that.”

He swallowed and looked over his shoulder at me. “I know.”

Something deep in my belly fluttered at his expression, and I stared at his beautiful mouth when a small grin spread across his lips. I dropped my head when I realized I was staring and turned to face Bear and Ritz who sat across from us.

“You need to bring Maggie to my restaurant, brother.”

I felt Gunner sit up straighter beside me. “Can’t. It’s not safe.”

“After it is then.” Ritz’s stare held Gunner’s.

Gunner’s attention stayed on Ritz a moment longer. It seemed they had a silent conversation before his eyes finally slid to mine. “Would you wanna go to his restaurant?”

I jerked back slightly, not used to being asked what I wanted. “I don’t know.”

“Think about it,” Gunner said, his blue eyes watching me closely. “It’s your decision.”

My eyes dropped to my hands clasped tightly in my lap, and I whispered, “My decision.”

Gunner leaned in close, his warm breath fanning my ear when he spoke quietly. “Every decision about you is yours now, Maggie.”

I didn’t look up. So many emotions were running through me, and I thought if he was telling the truth, what would that feel like? What would it feel like to make decisions for myself? It had been so long since I’d been in control of my own life or had even been asked my opinion that the idea was exhilarating.

How could something feel so exhilarating and so terrifying at the same time?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

GUNNER

“How much did you hear?”

I finished off the last half of Maggie’s sandwich and aimed my stare in Ritz’s direction. Maggie hadn’t stayed more than a minute after I heard her whisper, “My decision,” like it was a fucking marvel. I had to clench my fists to keep from wrapping my arm around her and pulling her in tight against me. She wasn’t ready for that. Hell, I wasn’t ready for that. I was too angry, had too much bottled up energy, and I was afraid I couldn’t be as gentle with her as she needed and deserved.

“I’m guessing most of it.”

“So you know she was homeless at fucking fifteen?”

I clenched my jaw. “Yeah, I heard that shit.”

“How the fuck did Snake even find her?” Ritz wondered out loud.

“No clue,” I answered. “Becs may know.”

“She doesn’t.” Bear dropped half of his sandwich back on his plate and looked up. “I already asked. She said Maggie keeps her time with Snake locked up tight. Doesn’t talk about him at all.”

“Fuck, I don’t even want to know what he did to her.” Ritz said.

Bear’s eyes met mine across the wide counter. “She still seeing that therapist?”

I nodded. “Yep.”

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