Page 23 of Gunner

“Woah, you gonna let that bitch talk to you like that?”

At the sound of his voice, Indie stiffened.

“Watch your fuckin’ mouth when you’re talkin’ to a Shadow. Or maybe you need something to fill it up.”

Freeway sat up and leered at Indie. “How old are you darlin’? I like ‘em young and tight.”

I smacked him on the back of the head, hard.

“What the fuck, man?”

“Keep your goddamn mouth shut, or I’ll give you something to fill it with. Maybe you’ll like that.”

Freeway turned to growl at me and his eyes dropped to my patch. There was only one good thing about Freeway. He was loyal. He respected the patch on my chest and knew his place.

“Stuck in a goddamn pussy chapter,” he mumbled.

“Get the fuck out.”

“What? What about my tat?”

“When you can remember where the fuck you are, you can come back. You ain’t in the hole anymore. And it ain’t like Little Rock up here.”

He put his shirt and cut back on and grumbled under his breath the whole way out.

“I’m sorry about that. I wish I could say it was because he just got out of prison, but he’s always been an asshole.”

Indie stared at the door Freeway had walked out of.

“Why is he here?”

“Transfer from the Mother Chapter.”

“So, he’s staying?” She turned around, and I saw something in her eyes before the shades closed down over whatever she hadn’t wanted me to see.

“For now.” I didn’t want her to be uncomfortable at work. “I’ll make sure you’re not here next time he comes in.”

“No, it’s fine. He’s a brother. They all come in here.”

“They don’t all act like him.”

“Thank God.”

She walked over to the computer and sat down. Aside from being a tattoo artist and piercer, Indie had taken over the phone and appointments. She was smart and organized. Something that I’d been sorely lacking around here.

“How much was lunch?”

She waved me off.

“I’m not letting you buy me lunch.”

“I didn’t buy it. I made it and brought you the leftovers.”

Looking in the bag again and taking a deep inhale, my stomach groaned and my mouth watered.

“You fuckin’ made this?”

She shrugged like it was no big deal. “It’s just food, Gunner.”

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