Page 114 of Gunner

“Ignore it, baby. He’s got a mind of his own.”

I dropped my eyes again. I didn’t want to ignore it. I wanted to take him in my hands. I wanted to kneel at his feet and feel him slide between my lips.

Gunner put his hands on my shoulders and turned me around so he could focus on my back. The rush of the waterover my chest was warm. Reaching my hand out, I turned up the temperature. I wanted to feel the burn. I needed to feel the heat of the water as it scalded my body.

Leaning back against Gunner, he wrapped his arms around me, pausing his ministrations.

“Talk to me, Haizley. I need to know you’re ok.”

I wanted to scream at him that I wasn’t ok. I wanted to rage against the notion that I was supposed to be upset that I ended the life of a dangerous criminal. I refused to call him a man. He wasn’t a man. He was a monster.

Monsters deserved to be slayed.

That’s what I did tonight.

I slayed the fucking monster.

“I’m ok.” My words came out a mere whisper. It was all I was capable of.

“Ok, baby. Let’s finish getting you washed up, and we can go to the clubhouse and get some rest.”

“No,” I croaked. Clearing my throat, I repeated myself to be sure he heard me. “No.”

“Baby, you can’t stay here.”

“I’m staying, Gunner. I won’t let that monster chase me from my home.”

My breath became rapid as my anger grew. Gunner must have noticed because he pulled me back against his chest and murmured in my ear, “Ok, baby. We’ll stay.”

When we were finished in the shower, Gunner turned off the water and we both stepped out. He ran a towel over my wet skin when I heard someone knock on the door.

Wrapping a towel around me, he fastened it over my breasts and opened the door. He peered through the crack and spoke to someone.

“I need to check her over.”

Downstairs, I hadn’t been paying attention to who had arrived with him. Though the voice sounded familiar.

“No,” Gunner growled.

“Brother.”

“You ain’t seeing her fuckin’ naked,” he growled again.

Whoever was on the other side of the door sighed before explaining, “I don’t need to see her naked. I need to check her fingernails and hair.”

“Give us a second.”

He closed the door and turned back to me. There was a stack of clothing on the vanity counter and Gunner helped me dress. He pulled on the clothes left for him and then opened the door again.

Zero stood in the hallway, and I stepped out, standing in front of him as he examined my hair and fingernails.

“Ok, she’s good. Are you taking her to the clubhouse?” he asked.

Pulling away from them both, I walked to my room. I wasn’t part of their discussion; I had made up my mind, and no one would change it.

As soon as I entered, I removed the clothes I had on. They weren’t mine. Opening the top drawer of my dresser, I pulled out a pair of panties, sliding them up my legs. I grabbed a T-shirt from the next drawer down and slipped it over my head.

Crawling into my bed, I pulled the covers up to my chin. I wanted to cry. I willed the tears to come for the life I took. My entire life I was taught every life was sacred.

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