Page 29 of Gunner

“Pregnant little whore.” Gunner releases a growl that thunders through the room before letting go of me. Before I know what’s happening, he has Val around the throat and slamming her against the wall.

“Gunner!” Remy yells as he tries to pry his hand off her neck.

“Oh my god,” I whisper.

“Gunner, come on Prez. She isn’t worth it. You gotta think about Nat and the baby,” Remy tells him as some of the other guys come over to help. Val’s face is red as she stares up at him in disbelief.

“Let her go, Prez. She’s out, brother. I’ll make sure she’s out,” Locke tells him as he peels his fingers from around her neck. Fire radiates off Gunner as he steps back and allows Locke to step in. Then he turns to me and walks closer, grabbing my face in his hands.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I don’t put my hands on women, Nat.”

“I know.”

“She doesn’t get to touch you like that. I’ll cut her fuckin’ hand off before I let that happen again,” he vows. I can tell just how serious he is. I see the look in his eyes.

“It’s okay. I’m okay.”

“She shouldn’t have touched you,” he repeats. I reach up and cup his cheek the way he’s doing mine and slowly pull his lips to meet mine.

“It’s okay.” Then I kiss him like he’s kissed me hundreds of times over the last few months. I kiss him like I need the air to breathe.

Val screams as Locke and the others take her out of the clubhouse.

“What the hell happened?” I pull away from him when I hear Kiki speaking. Gunner takes a deep breath and turns to face her.

“She isn’t allowed back here. She put her hands on Nat.”

“Mom did?” she asks, sounding confused.

“Yeah, she did. I’m sorry, Kiki. I know things were gettin’ better for the two of you, but that’s not gonna happen around here.”

“Are you okay?” she asks, looking at me now. I nod my head as Gunner pulls me into his side.

“I’m fine.”

“Good. He’s right. She shouldn’t touch you. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.”

“She hasn’t been around in months. I thought she took off again,” Kiki explains.

“It’s what she does,” Gunner adds.

“Was she always like this?” I ask, looking between the two of them.

“She was worse, actually. A lot worse,” Kiki confesses.

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop sayin’ sorry, Nat.”

“Well, I am. Gunner, I think it’s too much with me being here,” I admit to him. Although I have found some sense of peace here, I can always leave. I can figure out something else.

“The fuck did you say?” he asks, turning to look at me now.

---