Page 17 of Gunner

Chapter 9

Gunner walkedinto the building that housed the Eidolon operation and felt a familiar melancholy assail him. This place, the buildings, the fitness course outside the kitchen where Alex cooked, held such good memories for him. He’d spent the best days of his life in this place, and the thought that he was only here as a guest now damn near broke him.

Last night it had been instinctual to call Waggs and ask for his help, but when the entire Eidolon team showed up, he’d been shocked. He shouldn’t have. These men were a team, and they played together and worked together, and when one was in trouble, they all came running.

He knew they had only come because it was Lacey and she was close to Nate and Skye, but it had still felt good for just a minute. His proudest moments had been serving with these men, working to rid the world of evil and protect the monarchy.

Alex had brought Evelyn, his partner who was as deadly as any of the men, and she’d sat with Lacey while she explained what she’d found. He’d then explained what he’d seen in the woods. It had been agreed that he would stay overnight with Lacey and he’d seen a few raised eyebrows but ignored it.

Alex and Blake had also stayed to keep watch from outside. Now he was here so he could tell the team about what he knew, but he owed it to Jack to tell him and Will first. It was something he’d desperately hoped to avoid, but the time had come where he could no longer deny the truth.

He paused at the door to the gym, seeing the sparring ring in the middle where he’d kicked ass and had his ass kicked so many times and then followed it up with a drink down the pub.

“Been a while since we got in the ring together.”

Gunner glanced sideways at Waggs, noting his words held no anger just cold hard facts. “Yeah, it has.”

“Do you regret it?”

Gunner didn’t have to ask what he was talking about, they had been close once, as close as brothers before he blew it all up.

“Every day and yet every day, I don’t see how I could have made a different choice. You saw Milla, she was so vulnerable, and I’d already taken enough from her.”

Waggs nodded, staying silent as if absorbing what Gunner had admitted. It was hard to tell people you had hurt and betrayed that you would do it again, but Gunner had lied enough, and he owed these men nothing but the truth now.

“I never saw it before, but I see it now.”

Gunner cocked his head as he faced Waggs who was studying him intently.

“Saw what?”

“You blame yourself for her being the way she is.”

Gunner snorted and looked away. “Good reason for that, I fucking am.”

“Tell me something. If this was the other way around and Milla was healthy, and you were in her place, would you want her to blame herself as you do?”

“Of course not, but regardless of that, I still betrayed this team.”

“Yes, you did.”

Gunner hadn’t expected Waggs’ agreement to hurt so much.

“But I can’t say in all honesty I wouldn’t have done the same thing in your place. If I could go back and save my twin, I don’t think there would be any price I wasn’t willing to pay. And if anyone says different, I think they’re lying.”

Gunner felt the emotion like a punch to the gut. He knew Waggs grieved the loss of his twin but didn’t know the full story and had never asked, preferring to let the man keep his secrets so he could keep his.

Waggs held out his hand and Gunner looked at it for a moment not sure if he was reading things correctly, but Waggs kept it there until Gunner shook it.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me, and I’m sorry I never gave you the benefit of the doubt. I know the man you are, and I should’ve looked for a reason instead of acting all hurt and betrayed. I let you down, and I regret it. But for what it’s worth, I have your back now and if you need anything, just ask.” With that, Waggs walked away, leaving Gunner feeling shocked to his core.

“Ready to get this meeting started?”

Gunner hadn’t heard him come up behind him. Jack was like a panther unseen, silent, deadly. He in no way wanted to have this conversation, but it was time, so he nodded his head.

He followed Jack back to his pristine office that had the Monarch’s seal in a frame on the wall. It was uncluttered and organised like the man himself. Gunner nodded at Will, who was the polar opposite of Jack—covered in tattoos, a wild child who skirted the rules to achieve what he needed, even had a short stint in juvey which had caused a rift between the brothers for a long time.

“Gunner.”