Page 38 of Gunner

“I’m gonna find her. You good, though?”

“She couldn’t move when she heard his voice. She froze. She had to have known him, Gunner. It all happened so fast. I turned around, and he stabbed me and grabbed her. Fuck, there wasn’t anything I could do,” he says as tears fall down his cheeks.

“It’s not your fault, Rick.”

“Feels like it is. I should have done something more.”

“You were stabbed, man. Not much you could have done.”

“How are we going to find her, Gunner?”

“We’ll find her. Don’t worry. I got guys pullin’ camera feeds as we speak. We’ll find her, Rick.” I don’t know who the hell I’m trying to reassure him or myself.

“She’s all I have, Gunner.”

“You have us too, you know? You’re family now, but I get what you’re sayin’. Do you think this has anything to do with her family?” Rick shrugs and sighs.

“I don’t know. She doesn’t like talking about that, about them. I know as much as you do.”

“I’m gonna look into them too. See what I can find out about them.”

“She’s going to be okay, right?” I see the fear in his eyes, and there’s nothing I can do to help it. I have the same fear inside me right now. I can’t lose her. I don’t want to.

“She’s gonna be fine. We’re gonna find her.”

Chapter 16

Natasa

I shiver as I lie here in the cold room. I don’t know why Clark likes to keep it so cold in here but he does. I sink under the blankets and rest my hand on my stomach.

“I won’t let him hurt you. I will die first,” I whisper to my unborn child. I’ve been thinking about it the last few days, what I would do to keep this baby safe. Anything. That’s the only answer I can come up with. I would do anything. I will fight, claw, kick, stab. I will do whatever I have to do to keep my child safe.

Clark has kept his distance for the last few days. I’m not sure what he’s planning or what he’s going to do. I just know I need to get out of here. I don’t know how, though. There’s no way I can run from him. There’s no way out, and the thought eats me alive.

I roll over on my side and curl into myself when the door opens. I don’t bother sitting up because fuck him. I won’t be a puppet for him anymore. On the one hand, I want to follow his rules so he doesn’t hurt the baby, but on the other hand, I want to act out and test his patience.

“Are you rested?”

“It’s cold in here.”

“It’s the perfect temperature, Natasa. Why must you always complain?”

“I’m going to get sick.”

“You didn’t get sick before. Don’t be so dramatic. Besides, I have a surprise for you.” My stomach turns over. His surprises are never good. “Get up.” I sit up slowly but keep the blanket tugged around me.

“Move the blanket, Natasa,” he demands. I swallow hard, knowing the only thing defying him will do is get me hurt. So I drop the blanket and reveal my naked body to him. He took my clothes last night. Left me with nothing but the blanket to keep me warm.

His eyes move over me, taking me in, but they stop on my stomach.

“That should have been mine in there. If things were different it would have been.”

“I’d never have a child with you,” I snap at him.

“You don’t think so? After this bastard is born, I plan on putting one of my own inside you. I wasn’t ready for that before, but I think I am now. You’d be a great mother, and I would make a great father.”

“You’re sick.”

---