Page 136 of Gunner

“You don’t think! Thinking gets you in fucking trouble.”

I took a deep breath, trying to control the need to knock this fucker out.

“What were you told to do?”

“Watch over Miss Walker.”

“How the fuck can you do that if you aren’t fucking here?”

Archie looked at Haizley’s door and then back at me. Swallowing loudly, the fear rolled off him in waves. He should be fucking scared.

“Miss Walker asked—”

“Do you take orders from Miss Walker?”

He straightened his back like he was about to stand up to me. I had to respect the foolish shit that was about to come out of his mouth. He was gearing himself up, confident he was right.

“Sir, King explained we were lower than the old ladies. That if they asked us to do something, we were to do it without question.”

This fucker just might make it after all.

“Have you seen a property cut on Miss Walker?”

Archie started blinking quickly as he tried to think about what I was asking.

“But I thought. You called her your old lady in the clubhouse.”

Shit. He was right.

I had claimed her in front of everyone. We tried to be fair. But sometimes these fuckers were too smart for their own good.

“You’re right, I did. She has not been voted on yet. So I understand why you felt the need to do what she asked. But”—I pushed my finger into his chest—“you don’t leave a protection detail without having someone here to release you. While you were gone, a deputy showed up and was harassing my woman.”

His eyes widened before narrowing. “Which deputy?”

“Does it fucking matter?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Deputy Reed.”

“Fuck.”

“What do you know, Prospect?” I crossed my arms over my chest. His reaction made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“He drove by a few times today. I assumed he was just patrolling. He must have been waiting for me to leave. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left.”

“What should you have done?”

“I’m not sure, sir. Miss Walker said there wasn’t anyone available to bring Amber here.” His brows furrowed as he thought about my question. “I had asked her about going to theclubhouse herself and she said no. That it was important for Amber to meet her here.”

Leaning back on my heels, I waited for him to work out the answer. We needed men who could think outside the box. Not just do what they’re told, but someone who could work out the problem without direction. Once they were patched in, they wouldn’t have the same oversight they’d had as prospects.

Archie closed his eyes, and his head dropped back between his shoulders.

“Well?”

“I should have suggested she pick up Amber herself and followed her there and back.”

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