Page 25 of Gunner

We both knew that wouldn’t happen. Freeway was nothing without the club. He barely had a ninth-grade education. And the club was all he knew. Well, that and prison.

By the time King finished, Freeway knew exactly what was expected of him. And watching his expression, I knew exactly what to expect.

Trouble.

Chapter Seven

Haizley

A few days after getting my piercing, on my kitchen table don’t forget, I was feeling pretty good. I knew it would take time to heal, but it wasn’t as painful. Just a few twinges here and there.

It was a rare warm day.

By warm, I meant it was in the lower fifties as opposed to the lower twenties. For Nebraska in winter, that was warm.

I had decided I needed some new books and, being the person I was, I didn’t order them online.

I supported our local bookstore.

Our resident author Ellie Thomas, aka Rayne Perry, ran the bookstore now that her husband Ryder had joined the MC. I enjoyed going to the bookstore and talking with Ellie and the girls.

Chrissy and Tabby were adorable. I often thought of Missy when I saw them. I knew Tabby didn’t speak and the closest child therapist was two hours away.

If I could convince Missy to move here, maybe she could help the quiet little girl.

As I walked in, the bell over the door signaled my arrival and Ellie called out, “Be right with you.”

“Take your time. I’m just looking around.”

I walked through the stacks of books, running my fingers over the spines. I loved books. There weren’t enough hours in the day to read all the books I wanted to read.

It wasn’t just dirty romance books, either. I mean don’t get me wrong, I loved those, but I also loved history and self-help books. I had dozens of cookbooks. Not that I used them much.

I would never get anything done if I worked at a bookstore. I would spend all my time just staring at the books, imagining all the information contained in them.

Love stories, murders and mysteries, true life stories of people overcoming adversaries. Fiction or non-fiction, there was so much you could learn from a book.

“Good morning, Haizley.” Ellie floated through the store, landing behind the counter that held the register. Her little baby bump was showing more and more each time I saw her.

“Morning, Ellie.”

“Have you finished all those books already?” she asked, leaning her elbows against the counter.

I bit my lip, and tipping my chin down, I looked at her through my lashes. “Not exactly.”

She released an enthusiastic laugh at my shyness.

“No shame here. I have dozens of books upstairs that I haven’t read yet, and every time we get a shipment in, I grab at least five more.”

“Finally, someone who understands me.”

“Definitely. Looking for anything specific?”

“I was hoping you had the new L.M. Terry book.”

“That should be in today’s shipment. I am so excited to read it. You want me to put one aside for you?”

“I would love that, thank you. For now, I’ll just take these.”

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