Page 79 of Gunner

“Beats me.” Grimm shrugged. “I only know the basics. When they release Bay from questioning, I figure we’ll learn more.”

“Why aren’t you down there?” I asked.

“That’d be a big mistake. I don’t want them digging into my club, thinking I have anything to do with this.”

“Well, my club is. Bay is a Blood Hound, and I’m going down there to find out what the fuck’s going on.”

“That’s not a good idea, Gunner. The police will release him, eventually.”

“I’m not sitting around waiting for news.”

Grimm disagreed with me going to the casino, but he followed me anyway—to prevent me from making the situation worse. I’d contemplated taking Zeus with me, but if the police officers spotted him, they might put two and two together. Witter would never let me anywhere near him or Zeus again if I ruined his career that way. And I hadn’t had enough of him yet.

People who were gawking to see what was happening, and several news vans were parked a few feet from the casino. The casino was a hive of activity from journalists, police officers, to people across the street attempting to get video footage of what was happening.

“You there!” A woman with a microphone rushed toward us. “Aren’t you the presidents of the motorcycle clubs in Smoky Vale? Do you think it’s strange the escaped convict was found on property that you own? Is there any connection—”

When I took my helmet off and glared at her, she fell silent. She took a step back and another until she was back with the hordes.

“There’s Bay in the back of that police car.” I pointed. Thank fuck Ben was the one talking to him. He was a fair cop and would release our brother when they had the information they needed from him.

I ducked under the yellow tape.

“Gunner, what the hell are you doing?” Grimm hissed.

Ignoring him, I hurried to the cruiser. Why hadn’t Ben told me about the murder this morning? Didn’t he trust me?

“Sir, I’m going to ask you to fall back behind the yellow tape.” A police officer strode over to me. “This is an official police investigation.”

Ben raised his head, his eyes going wide when he saw me.

“Sir, did you hear what I just said?” the cop said when I kept walking toward Ben. “Sir, if you don’t stop, I’m going to have to restrain you by any means necessary.”

The cop drew his weapon, and I turned my attention to him for the first time. Average height and a stocky frame. His red hair was combed over at the top in a failed attempt to hide his bald spot.

“I need to see the chief.” I deserved a pat on my back for how nicely I responded, all for Ben’s sake. “It’s important.”

“Yeah, well, you’ll have to see the chief from the other side of the yellow tape. We can’t allow you to be here.”

“He’s just a couple of feet away from me.”

The man cocked his gun. “I know who you are, and this is the last place you should be. Now for the last time, get behind the yellow line.”

Ben shook his head slightly. I uncurled my fist. I wanted nothing more than to turn the officer’s gun on him and make him eat his own bullet. I didn’t take crap from anyone, and it wasn’t easy to back down.

This caring about someone else wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

Dammit, was this what being with a man like him meant? Rolling over and playing dead too? Becoming neutered?

Shit. I cared about Ben? When the hell did that happen?

“Thoms, I’ll handle this.” Ben’s voice snapped me out of my daze. It was hardly the appropriate time to think about every single thing I’d done that showed I had some feelings for this man. At the very least, I didn’t want to make things difficult for him.

Ben approached us, his face unreadable. He was wearing his chief of police hat. Gone was the man who’d flirted with me and fisted his dick while I was deep inside him.

“What are you doing here?” Ben’s question came out cold and impersonal, as if we hadn’t woken up in the same bed this morning. This chameleon bullshit wasn’t me. It was Mason all over again.

“Do you have a minute?” I said through clenched teeth. The cop, Thoms, was still hanging around, making it impossible to speak openly to Ben. “It’s about the case.”

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