Page 44 of Gunner

“You make me happy.”

“I’m glad. You make me happy too, Nat.”

Chapter 19

Gunner

Everything feels right having her back here. She’s settling back in over the last few weeks. She has nightmares, though. Thoughts of him coming back for her. She knows I wouldn’t let him near her. I would kill everyone in my path to keep her safe. But I know the fear is real to her. I know she worries, and I do everything I can to help ease that worry.

“We have no new leads on Clark. He hasn’t been back home,” Locke tells me. I nod my head. I didn’t figure he’d be that stupid. Not when Nat can tell us where he lives, and we’ve checked there multiple times.

“He’ll show up. He wasn’t done with her,” I say as I sit back and bring my beer to my lips.

“You think he’s that stupid?” Hodge asks.

“Yeah, I think he is. I think he thinks she really belongs to him, and he’ll do anything in his power to get her back.”

“Even come after us?”

“Even that,” I answer as I take a long pull. We don’t have much to go on. Nat has told me all she can, and I still have nothing. I hate feeling like this. I’m not feeling helpless because I’m far from that. Maybe it’s just the unknown. He’s out there somewhere and I’ll bring hell on this city to find him.

“I want someone on twenty-four-hour watch out front. They can work in shifts,” I tell the guys.

“Sounds like a good idea,” Remy adds.

“Yeah, I like that idea, too.” Locke inserts his agreement. I am glad they all agree with me. I end our meeting and stand from my chair before heading back out into the main room where everyone else is. Kiki and a few of the girls are sitting with Nat as they look at baby clothes. Nat was impressed when I showed her what I got, but she also laughed when it was all boy stuff.

“She looks happy,” Rick says as he comes to stand next to me.

“I sure as hell hope she is.”

“You really care about her, don’t you?” I look over at him and nod my head.

“In many ways, it’s wrong. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. I feel what I feel.”

“It’s not wrong, Gunner. You can’t control your heart. You’re not supposed to. Just know that you got a good girl right there. Nat has lived a hard life, but I think she is falling into place here.”

“I think so too. Thanks, Rick.”

“I should be thanking you for everything you’ve done for us.”

“No need. I wanted to do it.” He smiles and nods his head when I hear Nat laugh. I pull my attention back to her and smile. I do have something good right there. Something I never thought I’d have again in my life.

I walk over and sit down next to her, grabbing her hand in mine.

“You’re laughin’ a lot,” I tell her.

“I didn’t know Kiki was this funny.”

“Oh, get used to it. I’m fucking hilarious.”

“Kiki is somethin’ else,” I add.

“Is everything okay?” Nat asks me. The girls take that as their cue to leave and walk away.

“Everything is good. Just talkin’ with the guys. We don’t have any new leads on Clark.”

“I don’t know what to say about that.”

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