Page 96 of Gunner

“Nobody’s saying shit.”

I hadn’t heard anything.

“Because they don’t say it when you’re around. All I’m saying is Witter’s a really good guy, and as much as they interfere with our business, we still need cops around.”

“I see.” Gritting my teeth, I glared at Grimm. “It’s none of your business.”

“For fuck’s sake, there’s no reason to catch a tone. All I’m saying is—”

“You’re fucking Mason’s son. You don’t have any grounds to say these things to me.”

“And you’re fucking Mason’s ex.”

I sucked in a deep breath and took a step back. “So you knew all along what he was to Mason?”

“Yes. Why do you think he and Jamie are so close? Because they were partners on the force? It goes much deeper than that. The guy was in love with Mason, and Jamie sees him as an uncle. What you’re doing is wrong.”

“Just what do you think I’m doing?”

“Using Witter to get back at Mason for whatever you think he did to you. That was fucking decades ago, Gunner. You don’t fuck around with someone’s feelings just to make yourself feel better.”

“You don’t know shit about it.” None of them did, which only made the situation worse. He thought Mason and I had finished in the past. I’d even led him to believe that, but would I havegrieved a man I’d lost over twenty years ago the way I had when Mason died?

“Are you saying you have genuine feelings for him?”

I crushed the Solo cup in my hand. “I don’t know how you run things in your club, Grimm. All these years, I’ve known you were going soft, but I’m not going to stand here discussing my sex life with you.”

“How is it any different from bragging about your sex life with the other men? Because we’re doing it in a serious and civilized manner?”

“Exactly. Whatever I choose to do with Ben is my business. He’s a grown-ass man who can decide for himself where he gets his rocks off. He’s for sure a damn lot older than the one you settled on.”

Scowling, I turned on my heel, one goal in mind: getting the hell away from Grimm. He clamped a hand down on my shoulder. “Gunner, stop. It’s a good day, and I don’t want it to be ruined. I’m fucking tired of the anger between us. Jamie means a lot to me. Both you and Witter mean a lot to him. I also know you’ve gotten closer to Jamie and you want it to stay that way. I’m just cautioning you that if you hurt Witter, that might ruin the relationship you want to build with Jamie. Since losing his dad, he’s been looking for a father figure, and he’s found that in his mentor, Witter, and you. Just think about it.”

Grimm squeezed my shoulder, then walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. He’d hit a nerve—the way my relationship with Ben started. If Ben ever found out about Mason and me and that I’d agreed to help him only to get close enough to him to hurt him, that would mark the end of what we had. He was also right about Jamie. He was a great kid, smart as a whip but also tough. I’d enjoyed all the times we’d met up together. I would tell him stories about his father when we wereyounger, and just talking about it with him had helped me to move on after Mason’s death.

“Hey, Gunner!” The subject of my thoughts hurried toward me, a big, infectious grin on his face. “Did I just see you talking to Daddy Grimm?”

“Yeah, but I pissed him off, so he left.”

Jamie sighed. “At least you’re talking.” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I’ve got a print of the rest of the tests you wanted done, since you didn’t give us an email address.”

He handed me an envelope. I glanced around me to ensure no one was hanging over my shoulder, then ripped the seal and shook out the paper.

“It’s all negative,” Jamie said. “But like I told you when you came to the hospital, this doesn’t mean you can go barebacking every man, woman, or whomever you meet.”

Jesus. This boy. I’d forgotten how inappropriate he could be at times. “Don’t worry. I got those pills you recommended.”

“You’ve started taking them?”

“Yes,” I muttered. I didn’t get why I needed to take them. I wasn’t going to fuck anyone else besides Ben, but if this was the only way he would be comfortable having sex without a condom, I would do it.

“Don’t forget your routine checkup. It doesn’t have to be lasting if you and your partner become exclusive.”

“I guess you and Grimm aren’t on this stuff?”

“Don’t need it. I’d carve his heart out if he touched anyone else.”

I chuckled. Mason’s boy was full of surprises, but I was sure he would do exactly that if Grimm betrayed him.

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