Page 79 of Gunner

One more client tonight and then I could go home. It was time for Haizley to learn the rules. Fuck King and his orders. She was mine, and I was gonna make sure every fucker in town knew it.

Chapter Twenty-One

Haizley

Aspen made huge strides this morning. She spent the entire hour that we would have been in session, outside with Diesel just walking around the compound.

My conversation with King surprised me. It definitely gave me something to think about. In the week I had been at the clubhouse, I’d gained two new possible clients, in addition to Aspen and Amber.

Lunch in the main room was different than it had been. Aspen seemed not happier, but lighter. Diesel helped tremendously, giving Aspen a sense of security she didn’t have yesterday. It allowed her to open up and talk with the other girls about superficial things.

Superficial conversations were important to the healing process. It meant Aspen was able to think about things other than her attack.

I listened to their conversations, adding to them when appropriate, but wanting Aspen to take the lead. The front door opened, and a very handsome man entered. He wasn’t wearing a cut, so I assumed he wasn’t part of the club. I watched with abject curiosity as he walked to the bar and spoke to the prospect standing behind it. There was always someone behind the bar.

Day or night.

The prospect lifted his chin in the direction of the table the girls and I were sitting at, and the man turned his focus on us.

More importantly on me.

As he got close, Diesel lifted his head and focused on the man. His ears flattened to his head, and he emitted a low growl, but didn’t move. The man faltered when he heard the dog and stopped in his tracks. Choosing not to get any closer.

“Miss Walker?”

“That’s me,” I answered, holding my hand up. “Haizley is fine.”

“Derek Reynolds,” he said as he shook my hand.

“Oh, Jack’s brother?”

“Yea.” The dog growled again, though he didn’t move away from Aspen.

“Um, is he friendly?” Derek asked.

“Yes and no,” was the only answer I had. “Let’s go upstairs and we can talk.”

He nodded, never taking his eyes off the dog. Walking backward, Derek didn’t turn to follow me until the dog stopped growling.

“We can talk in my room.” Derek followed me upstairs to my room. Unlocking the door, I led him inside, closing it behind us. This was not an ideal place to meet a potential patient.

“Have a seat, Derek,” I said, motioning to the bed. “I apologize for the less than professional setting. Things are a bit up in the air at the moment.” I, myself, hopped up onto the dresser. Sitting on the bed with my patient would have definitely taken things beyond unprofessional. I needed to ask King for a chair. Or I needed to meet with patients somewhere else.

“No problem. Jack explained you were staying here for a patient.”

I opened my mouth to say—well, I wasn’t sure what to say, but I needn’t have worried because Derek allayed my fears.

“He didn’t tell me who the patient was or why, just that they needed you here for a bit.”

Nodding, I was relieved Jack hadn’t shared Aspen’s story. “So, tell me why you’re here, Derek.”

Derek rubbed the back of his neck before beginning with his story. Over the next hour he told me about his parents, Luther and Delilah Reynolds. About the abuse he and his mother both suffered, and his mother’s death.

He told me about Martha and the daughter he never met. He shared details about his marriage to Samantha and what he had done to her.

The remorse in not only his words but his body language was evident. He was ashamed of the life he had lived.

When he told me about meeting Jack and Charlie for the first time, there was a brightness that showed in his eyes. When he looked up and confessed that he would do it all again if it meant it was the only way he would meet his brother, my heart broke for him.

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