Page 20 of Gunner

My stomach grumbled, and I stared at the cup and bag. I didn’t have the time to go back out and get anything to eat.

Fuck him.

I readjusted my chair and shifted the items he’d moved around on my desk. Cashew nuts were scattered on the floor. I picked them up and threw them into the bin. The paper cup still had some soda in it despite Gunner’s long slurps. He probably thought I would be so disgusted by him I would throw it all out. Did he really think I was that simple?

I ate the bit of burger he had left, but it didn’t satisfy my hunger. I settled my lips around the straw and took a long drink. As the liquid cooled my throat, an image flashed through my mind of Gunner’s lips on the straw, sucking and sucking.

Disgusted, I pushed the cup away, hit a button on my computer to turn it on, and opened my email. My anger burned once more as I typed out a memo and sent it to everyonein the department that we had an emergency meeting in fifteen minutes. What they’d done today was irresponsible and dangerous, and I would make an example of those who were directly involved.

6

GUNNER

Tonight Gunner smelled Ben's cologne on my shirt. It was the opening I needed to tell him the truth, but still I lied.

The sky had already darkened to a deep indigo when I pulled up in a spot behind the clubhouse. Music, laughter, and the scent of smoke filtered from the inside. After the strain of the past weeks, the brothers were finding comfort in the club again. Maybe I hadn’t fucked up beyond repair yet.

Normally, I would use the front entrance, but tonight, I was looking for a discreet means of sneaking back inside. I killed the engine and took off my helmet, shaking my hair free. My boots hit the asphalt with a satisfying thud as I walked toward the back door, my keys jingling in my pocket.

The door creaked open, and I let myself inside. The tension in my shoulders eased. I hurried down the dimly lit hall and turned right—into Crowe.

“Gunner? Where the hell have you been?”

I straightened to my full height. “Did something happen?”

“You missed church at the Grimm Reapers’ tonight.”

“Oh, that? Thought it was something important.”

Crowe’s nostrils flared. “Itisimportant. As a part of the alliance, you sit in on these meetings.”

“They didn’t send anyone to our last meeting.”

“Because you didn’t invite them.”

I shrugged. “So I’ll invite them next time.”

“You’re not getting it, Gunner. If you stop attending these meetings and sending invitations, you leave people wondering if you’re changing your mind about the alliance. This is new for all of us, and everyone has to play their part.”

“Yeah, well, it already happened. I didn’t want them at our last meeting where we were discussing our membership status.”

“I’m taxing you, Gunner. I looked past it when you didn’t invite them, but you not showing up when they invited you is unacceptable.”

Son of a bitch. Everything I owned was tied up in the club. I never needed much money, but with all these sanctions he was imposing, I’d soon be penniless. Well, not really, but still…

“Fine. Let me know how much. Don’t have time to sit around and chat.”

“You’re not wearing your cut.”

Fucking hell. I was hoping he wouldn’t notice.

“You never go anywhere without your cut. Just what the fuck have you been up to?”

A hot spark ignited within me, and I doubled my fists. “Listen, Crowe, I watched you ride into town and take over this club. That’s fine. It falls under your jurisdiction, since you’re the chairman of the board, but don’t for a minute think I report my personal time to you. It’s none of your fucking business what I do with my time, or do I need to document every time I ride out for a fuck?”

“Just watch yourself, Gunner. You’ve got cops crawling around the club since some of our members were found to be involved inthat baby farm business. It’d be a shame if you ruined everything you’ve been rebuilding.”

Crowe walked off, leaving me alone in the hall. Having someone looking over my shoulder every minute was new to me, and I couldn’t stand it. I’d been running this club for over a decade. Crowe might have good intentions, but the more he crowded me, the more I would push back.

---