Page 94 of Gunner

“But that’s the last of the women, right?”

My stomach clenched. “Yeah.”

He didn’t need to know my sister had been undercover and had signed up to sell her baby to these people. The fewer people who knew about that, the better for us.

“Listen, I still think there might be a Blood Hound or two involved,” I said. “Will you look into it?”

Gunner frowned. “I think we got them all last time, but sure.”

“And you’re not just saying that? You will actually do it? Because the sooner we wrap up this case, the sooner it’ll take a load off my shoulders. The mayor’s been breathing down my neck to have everything solved, wanting regular updates.”

“Still nothing from your tech team to decipher what Paddy has recorded?”

“Not yet.”

“I’m not sure how good your team is, but the Reapers have a tech guy who knows his shit. You should let him take a look.”

“I don’t know. This is official police business.”

“Think about it.”

“All right, I will. I guess I better get going now.”

But I didn’t move. Walking away felt incomplete.

“Ben—”

“Hmm?”

“We have a BBQ this weekend—a recruitment drive.”

Woof! Zeus barked, impatient to be off.

“I’m not sure if I should be at a recruitment drive for bikers, Gunner. Conflict of interest.”

Like what we had done earlier wasn’t a conflict of interest. Damm, this wasn’t going to be easy. “See you tomorrow.”

As he turned, it hit me what felt incomplete.

“Gunner—”

He spun around, and I cupped the back of his head and kissed him. Why did it feel like I’d been with him forever? I poured myapology into the kiss, promising things would get better one day. Maybe sooner than he thought.

Gunner groaned into my mouth and cupped my ass. “Fuck you,” he murmured.

“What?”

“For kissing me like that and still leaving.”

Maybe one day I wouldn’t have to leave at all, but I had a case to solve before I could promise him anything.

25

GUNNER

The lies are taking a hold on me. Tonight Ben and I argued and it feels as if I was just picking a fight to give him a reason to dump me.

As the rumble of engines announced the arrival of cars and bikes, my heart skipped a beat. I turned away from Saint and Dove, who I was barely listening to anyway, and craned my neck, scanning faces, secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of Ben. But as the newcomers exited their cars and parked their motorcycles, disappointment settled in my chest.

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