Page 121 of Gunner

I threw my head back and laughed. “How did Hash know I had a craving for pancakes?”

Gunner leaned down, his mouth close to my ear, and warned, “Not a fucking word unless you want me to spank that ass until it’s red.”

I sobered up, and a shudder racked through my body, shocking me.

“Yea, you fucking like that idea, don’t you?”

I kept my mouth closed and my eyes on my plate. Why would I want that? Why would anyone want that? Then I remembered how it felt when he had me over his shoulder and he smacked my ass.

Maybe I did like it.

Gunner filled my plate with more food than I could eat, and we sat together at a table. As I ate, I wondered how Aspen would feel about knowing Greg was dead. Would it ease her mind? Was it better for her to not know?

I knew immediately that wasn’t an option. Without knowing, she would continue to live in fear. Her life would be spent always looking over her shoulder. She needed that closure so she could resume her life.

When breakfast was over, Gunner and I met King and the other officers in church. It felt a little like standing before a firing squad as they all watched me walk in. I hesitated to choose a seat, not sure what exactly the rules were. Last time I was in here it was just Aspen, Amber, Corbin and I and then Gunner while Aspen described Greg. This seemed more formal.

Gunner led me over to the side of the long table and sat down, pulling me into his lap.

“She might want her own chair, Gun,” Cash advised.

“No.”

That was all he said. No asking me. No explanation. I looked down at him with one brow raised in question.

“Fuck, no,” he reiterated, pulling me in tighter.

Rolling my eyes, I turned to King.

“I need to tell Aspen what happened. She deserves to know that she’s safe.”

King leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin. For a brief moment, I thought he would tell me no. Instead, he agreed.

“Ok. Let her know she doesn’t have to leave right away. I don’t want her backsliding from being forced to move back home too soon.”

“Thank you. That will be helpful for her.” I had to respect the way he considered what she had been through.

“Maybe her first step could be doing sessions at your house, like Amber does?” King suggested.

“That would be a good idea. She hasn’t left the clubhouse since she got here. Other than to walk the grounds with Diesel.”

“She’ll have an escort, same as Amber, until she feels she can drive herself.”

“Why is Amber not allowed to leave the clubhouse?”

Amber had explained to me that she was on lockdown, but King had acquiesced to her appointments outside the gate as long as a brother was with her.

“That’s club business.”

“Is Amber allowed to tell me?”

The men were all quiet as King and I faced off. I waited while King decided how much he would tell me.

“Amber doesn’t know.”

Standing up from Gunner’s lap, I glared down at King. “What do you mean, she doesn’t know?”

“Did I stutter? You’re smart, Doc, you know what those words mean.”

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