Page 163 of Gunner

“Go to your family. No one needs to know about this.”

Glen turned to me. “If you’re truly not responsible for her death, I’m sorry.”

Pity moved through me, and with it, the urge to kill him reduced. I would have been the same had I lost Ben.

“Let’s go,” I said.

Ben rode pillion behind me, clutching my leather jacket as we sped from the restaurant. The wind whipped around us as we flew past trees and buildings. Finally, we arrived at the clubhouse. As soon as we dismounted, Ben wrapped his arms around me. He’d seemed so confident when he’d confronted that man. Feeling the tremors running through his body hit me in the gut. His instinct might have kicked in for him to calmly talk down that man, but he’d been worried.

“This is what I’m worried about,” he said. “It’s not good enough to get you out of jail, Gun. We need to clear your name so other people don’t get any ideas.”

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. “All right. I’ll listen to your plan this time and give it some thought, but I’m not keen on putting you in harm’s way.”

“I’m volunteering.”

“I’m not going to get you to change your mind, am I?”

“No.”

If I continued to withhold my support, he might confront Thoms anyway. “All right, let’s go in and think about it.”

Loud chatter came from the mess hall. Zeus, who must have heard us, met us at the entrance. I scratched behind his ear.

“There’s a good boy.”

“Prez!” Mouse rushed up to us.

“I’ll be in your room waiting.” Ben squeezed my biceps. “Don’t go changing your mind now.”

“I won’t.” I watched Ben walk off, murmuring to Zeus, then turned to Mouse. “What’s up? Did something go wrong?”

“Not wrong, but you wanted to know if any nonmember came to the clubhouse.”

“Someone showed up?”

“Candace did. She insisted she was here to clean your room, but we didn’t let her. She created a scene before she left.”

“Candace?” My heart skipped a beat.

Fuck. How had I missed it before? It had to have been her. She was the one who had sold me out.

42

BEN

It's done. I pushed Ben until he cracked and walked away from me. I hope he finds a better man than I ever was to him.

The night cloaked everything in shades of gray and blue as I drove my truck down the quiet streets, the dashboard’s soft glow the only light inside. It was nearing eleven o’clock, but the late hour did nothing to diminish the urgency thrumming through my veins. Beside me, Gunner sat silently, his profile illuminated intermittently by passing streetlights. His jaw was clenched, and his hands rested in his lap, doubled in fists.

Since we got in the car, he hadn’t spoken once. What was going through his mind? Did he have some affection for this woman after all? I’d always thought he’d used her that day to force me to admit my jealousy. Could I have been wrong?

“It might not be her,” I said, breaking the silence between us. “Let’s wait to hear what she says to defend herself.”

“It’s her, all right,” he spat. “Soon as Mouse said it, I knew. I should’ve figured it out sooner.”

Why hadn’t he? I’d asked so many times who had access to his room, but he’d never once mentioned her. But then again, I’d known about her too and hadn’t thought of her either.

“You trusted her. Have you known her long?”

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