Page 42 of Gunner

“I don’t want to leave you,” Nat argues.

“Just to the van, baby girl. I’ll be right there.”

“Please, Gunner.” I turn to look at her over my shoulder and shake my head.

“I’ve gotta finish this.” She nods her head and lets Hodge lead her through the house. She looks at her parents one last time on her way out but doesn’t say a word. She leaves with Hodge out the back door, and then I pull the trigger.

Once her father is dead, I turn to her mother.

“You were supposed to protect her. You were supposed to love your child. You never deserved her.” I raise my hand and point the gun at her next. I don’t wait to hear her say anything. I don’t wait for her to realize what she did. Instead, I pull the trigger and send her straight to hell with her husband.

“We still have Clark to deal with,” Locke speaks up.

“I know, and we will.” I walk past them and head out the back door and straight to the van. When I climb in, Nat launches herself at me. She wraps her arms around my neck and nuzzles her face into my shoulder.

Chapter 18

Natasa

I don’t think I’ve ever had this many feelings or emotions inside of me all at once. I’m a complete mess as we arrive back at the clubhouse.

“Rick?” I ask, looking up at Gunner.

“Is waitin’ for you.”

“He’s okay?”

“He’s good. Misses you,” he tells me. I lean up and kiss him. I’ve missed his lips. I’ve missed his arms. I’ve missed him. How can that be? How can I miss someone so much in a matter of days?

Gunner pulls me in and holds me tighter. I don’t care either. I want him to hold me. I want him to keep me in his arms.

“Never lettin’ you go again, baby girl. Never.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re mine, Nat. I’m keepin’ you.” His words wrap around my heart and squeeze. We still don’t know each other that well, but I suppose we know enough.

“I hate that you know what he did to me,” I whisper.

“I don’t. I needed to hear it, Nat. I needed to know what I’m up against, and now that I do, I’ll be prepared.”

“For what?”

“What I do to him in return. He isn’t gettin’ out of this unscathed. He’s gonna pay for what he did to you,” he explains to me. I nod my head before resting it on his chest. I just need a minute. A minute to know he’s here and that he’s real.

“You wanna stay in here a while?”

“No. I need to see Rick.”

“You can see Rick but if you need a minute, we wait.”

“Why are you doing all this for me?” I ask, looking up at him.

“I think I’m fallin’ hard for you, Nat. I had good things in my life with the club and my kids, but you … you brought out somethin’ in me that I didn’t think I had anymore.”

“Which is?”

“Light. Love. I don’t know, Nat. I’m a better man with you around.” Tears run down my cheeks as Gunner reaches up and wipes them away. “I don’t know how to explain it to you. I don’t even know that I want to. Youjust make me feel different, Nat.”

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