Page 80 of Gunner

Ben waved at Thom’s. “It’s fine. You can leave.”

But Thoms didn’t budge, nor did he put away his gun. “Now what kind of deputy would I be if I left you to face this lowlife by yourself? What did you call him? That disgusting scourge of Smoky Vale? Yeah, that’s it.”

At least Ben had the grace to blush. I’d known he’d called me names, but having it confirmed, especially after the night we just had, was fucking rough on the ears.

“Now’s not the time, Thoms.”

Thoms is such a dead man, and he doesn’t even know it.

“Isn’t it?” Thoms asked. “I know he’s been cooperating in helping to solve the crime, but you must know he has an ulterior motive. First, we find a body on their property, and now he shows up out of the blue. Wouldn’t you say that’s more than a little suspect, or is there something more to why you’re working with him?”

Ben clenched his teeth, his jaw twitching. Slowly he turned to me. “You shouldn’t be here,” he spat. “If there’s anything you want to report, you know where the police station is.”

I should have known. He was a coward who couldn’t even stand up for himself. Why should I have expected him to do any better when it came to me? I’d restrained myself fromresponding to Thoms the way I would have liked because of Ben and his job. But what consideration did he show me?

He’s just like Mason.

No, his betrayal cut deeper than Mason’s. I always knew what Mason was like, but I’d been mistaken about Ben, thought he was somehow different. Better than both of us.

I was wrong.

Hands clenched into fists, I walked away instead of using malicious words that could ruin him.

That’s what you get for caring.

22

BEN

Last night I had a dream of a life where they both know, and it's okay. If only I didn't wake up.

The hurt in Gunner’s eyes when I’d given him the cold shoulder in front of Thoms made me sick for the whole day. So sick I worked into the late evening instead of leaving on time to pick up Zeus. The pileup of work on my desk had made for a convincing excuse when I texted him I would be late. His “Okay” was more daunting than if he had ignored my message.

What must he think of me?

Thoms had been out of line.

I should have said something.

After the day I’d had, dealing with the dead body of a woman who’d had the baby ripped crudely from her body before she was left to bleed out, I needed something strong to drink, followed by a hot bath and bed. Her mangled body had been so horrific I felt the need to wash my eyes out with bleach. The autopsy report would take a while to make its way to my desk, but thepreliminary findings were sickening. She’d likely been cut open without anesthetics, and she’d definitely been alive for hours before she died.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Come in.”

Thoms, the cocky motherfucker, entered my office sans the report the leading detective on the case had prepared for us so far. Before Grant left, he’d distinctly told me Thoms had collected the report, though it should have been handed directly to me.

“You wanted to see me?” he asked.

I nodded at the chair across from me. “Close the door and take a seat.”

“Can’t this wait until tomorrow? Not all of us are keen on wasting our bachelorhood.”

“You keep undermining me in front of others, and you’ll have all the time in the world to enjoy your bachelor life.”

Usually so quick with words, Thoms looked comical with his mouth hanging open, but nothing was funny about what he’d done today. I knew what he thought. Gunner probably thought the same thing. That I had rolled over once more and let someone else walk all over me.

“I beg your pardon.”

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