Page 107 of Gunner

“You took off early this morning,” he said once we were outside.

“Had some business to take care of.”

“You went to the store, didn’t you?”

“Just wanted to take a look around.”

“Did you notice anything out of place?”

“Besides all the blood on the floor and wall? Not a damn thing.”

Ben insisted we take his truck instead of my motorcycle. Since I’d already taken my bike out earlier, I gave in without a fuss. “You don’t mind if I smoke, do you?”

“Roll the window down.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

Ben drove off, buckling his seat belt along the way. “A little. It makes everything stink.”

I scowled at the cigarette I’d taken out. “Are you trying to tell me I reek? Because I recall taking a shower with you this morning.”

“No, of course not. Just that I’d rather taste and smell you.”

Dammit. So I needed to quit smoking too? Being off alcohol was bad enough. Smoking was the only self-destructive habit I had left. Fuck knows everyone needed at least one.

Unless your name was motherfucking Benjamin, apparently.

“How do you do it?” I slipped the cigarette back into the box.

“Do what?”

“Be so good all the time. Isn’t it exhausting?”

“No more than it’s exhausting being who you are. What are you getting at?”

“Just that I feel like I’m the one making all the adjustments in this relationship. You got me popping pills like a junkie, my room’s been clean all week because god forbid I throw a shirt on the floor, and you even got me eating your ass, which is something I thought I’d never do.”

“Excuse me?” He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, and his body went rigid. “I asked you to do it once. Now you do it all the time. Sounds to me like someone enjoys doing it, and I’m not going to turn you down. You’re the one making all the adjustments? Whose job is on the line here? I lied for you. Twice. And they were important matters, by the way. After I close this case, I’ll be giving up my job. Tell me again how I’m not making any adjustments?”

I stared at Ben’s profile, stunned. He’d never mentioned quitting his job. Was he doing that for me? My stomach felt queasy as the seriousness of what we were both involved inbecame clear. Was this really what I wanted? One man to commit to me for the rest of our lives. No more variety. No more women. Just Benjamin.

Why isn’t the thought making me break out in a sweat?

The streets passed by in a blur of buildings, street signs, and greenery as we drove in silence to meet the Reaper tech guy, Alan. Ben’s words kept replaying in my mind as I considered the implications of what he’d said. Him giving up his job would solve our problems, but for all the shots I’d taken at his career, he was a decent cop, one who couldn’t be bought. More men like him were needed on the force to keep scumbags like me off the streets.

“We’re here,” he announced as he stopped in front of a familiar two-story house I’d always been curious about. Shit. I hadn’t even considered we would be meeting Alan at Mason’s place.

Ben opened his door, but I grabbed his hand to stop him from getting out. “Ben, we should talk.”

“There’s no need. I know what you’re thinking, that I’m quitting for you. I am not, so relax. Truth is, I should have quit a long time ago, so just drop it, and let’s get this done.”

The situation wasn’t so simple, but the front door opened, and a blond guy came out. Zak. He was legendary in the biker circle for being the Reapers’ best shooter. I’d tried recruiting him when the Reapers kicked him out, but the vote had been unanimously no once everyone discovered why he’d been let go—for supposedly working with the FBI. He was back to prospecting for the Reapers, though, so I’d been right about him. If they had agreed to take him back, it meant he was an even bigger asset than I’d thought. Even with the missing fingers.

“Hey.” Zak greeted us with a smile that flashed his dimples. With his blond curls and blue eyes, he had a deceptively angelic face. He was way too pretty, and I didn’t appreciate how Ben was staring at him.

I moved closer, slipping my hand into his and linking our fingers. Ben frowned at me, but I kept my attention on Zak.

“What’s up?”

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