Page 169 of Gunner

“I’m ok, baby!”

Hands pulled at me, lifting me from the floor. I pushed against whoever it was that held me immobile.

“Haizley, baby. Open your eyes. Open your eyes, little lamb.”

I could hear him talking to me. Trying to console me. His voice would haunt me forever. There would never be another man who could take his place.

“Give me your fucking eyes, Haizley.”

My body froze, and my eyes snapped open. He was ok. He was standing in front of me, holding me. He wasn’t on the floor bleeding out. My hands roamed over his body, looking for the bullet hole.

“Where are you hurt?”

“I’m ok, baby. I didn’t get shot.”

“But I heard...” I looked back, and Deputy Reed, AKA Benjamin Williams, was lying on the floor. A bullet between his eyes. Looking around the room, I locked eyes with Deputy Jackie Stilton.

I would learn later on that Deputy Stilton had walked into the station just before Reed pulled his gun. She didn’t know the situation, but she didn’t hesitate once she realized he was the only one who had pulled a weapon.

I would forever be in her debt. Now, I just wanted to go home and forget this day ever happened. Between the weight of what Aspen told me and Archie almost...Wait!

Turning to Gunner, I asked, “Is Archie ok?”

“Archie is fine. Though he has been blowing up my phone, and I don’t think he will stop until he has eyes on you.”

“He tried to protect me. He told me to stay in my car, but Reed pulled his gun and shot the tire on his bike. Then he threatened to shoot Archie, so I let him arrest me. I knew you would come.”

“Damn right I would come. I will always come for you.”

Epilogue

Haizley

It had been two days since my arrest and the death of Deputy Beckett Reed. The town had been in an uproar when the news came out about his connection to the man who had been raping women in all the surrounding towns.

Gunner forced me to reschedule my patients, including those connected to the club. He wanted me to take a week.

I gave him three days.

Today was day two, and I was already getting antsy wondering how my patients were doing. I was at the clubhouse sitting with the girls. Gunner had explained that the officers had church every Saturday night. And the whole club only had church once a month.

Tonight was that night. So, I sat with the girls and drank. Well, me and the club girls were drinking. The other old ladies were all still pregnant.

“How are you doing not working?” Sam asked.

“Gunner is driving me crazy. I need to check on my patients.”

“Jack made me stop working at the diner when that shit happened with us. It took some getting used to. But I circumvented his bossy ass by going to the bookstore. If I hadn’t been there the day Ellie came in, Ryder would have scared her away.”

Ellie laughed. “You’re not wrong.”

“That man has gotten ornery in his old age,” Beck shared. “He was always so laid back when we were growing up.”

“Having children does that. They make you anxious about everything,” Sam said.

“Ain’t that the truth. This guy isn’t even here yet and already I’m constantly afraid I’m screwing up.” Beck rubbed her belly. “I didn’t have the best role model in the mom department.”

“You had Grams,” Amber pointed out.

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