Page 106 of Gunner

If not, it should be. With every kiss, every touch, every glance this man said more to me than he ever did with words. I leaned into him and exhaled softly.

“You’re so fucking tense,” he said.

“You would be too if you’d seen the things I did today.”

“Tell me about it?”

“I’m sure you saw the pictures floating around the internet.”

“I did.”

“Yeah, that, plus it’s more horrific when you’re standing there in person. I need to find out who’s responsible, Gunner.”

“Tell me what you want me to do. Whoever did it used my property to carry out the murder. No one’s found out who owns it, have they?”

Guilt filled my stomach. Was I hindering the investigation somehow by keeping this bit of information to myself?

“No.” I stroked his arm. “But I’m not sure how long I can cover it up.”

Not to mention, if anyone found out I knew about the property, I could lose everything.

28

GUNNER

Ben and I went camping over the weekend. It's probably the most fun we've ever had together. He's really a good guy.

“Are you sure he won’t be a bother?”

I overheard Ben asking. He was sitting with Crowe, Max, Saint, and Chris at one of the tables, his breakfast unfinished.

Last night, he’d barely touched the food I brought him too. I got that he was anxious about his case. I didn’t like the idea of having the shop I owned used as a human slaughterhouse either. Two years ago, I’d bought the place secretly, keeping the storefront the same so no one would assume it was anything but an old building. The basement we used as storage whenever our warehouses were full or as a temporary place to stash contraband for relocation.

“It’s no problem at all,” Chris said. “I’ve loved watching Zeus.”

At his name, the dog perked up his ears. Then he jerked his head in my direction. He yipped and trotted over to me. I patted his head. “I’ve scratched you all morning, Zeus. Go to Ben.”

Ben snapped his fingers, and Zeus shot off toward him. Ben fed the dog the pancake on his plate.

“You ready?” I asked him.

“Well, good morning to you too, Sunshine,” Saint said loudly. “Is Ben the only person you see at this table? Or did we all wake up in the same bed this morning?”

“Shoot, I knew I was forgetting something. Crowe, Max, Chris. How are y’all?”

Saint scowled. “When it’s midnight and you need a ride to sneak out of the chief’s house, let’s see who you’ll call.”

“You came late the last time anyway.”

Saint grunted. “I’m not pulling out again for your ungrateful ass.”

“From what I hear,” Max said, “Dove does all the pushing and pulling.”

Crowe erupted into laughter while Saint turned bright red. I caught Ben’s eyes. At least he didn’t look as tired as last night, and he even managed a chuckle as he rose to his feet.

“Be a good boy.” He scratched under Zeus’s chin.

When Ben walked over to me, Zeus whined, but Chris called his name softly, and he went to the boy. Ben grabbed my arm and hurried me from the room before Zeus could follow us.

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