Page 44 of Gunner

“When you feel better, and your pain relief kicks in, I can show you around but let me sort out some lunch first, so it doesn’t upset your tummy.”

“Sounds perfect. My feet are throbbing.”

Gunner lifted her legs and propped them on the couch and then handed her a new phone and MacBook. “The phone is new, but has your number transferred over. The Mac is the one from your office. Luckily that part of the house escaped the fire damage.”

“Wow, thanks.”

While Gunner made them a lunch of beef sandwiches which he cut small for her hands and some fruit, Lacey got on the phone to her insurance company and got the ball rolling about the house. Her pain pill kicked in, and she felt more comfortable but still tired.

Gunner had kept his distance since they got home, but with the plates cleared away, he lifted her feet as he sat on the other end of the couch.

“I need to tell you some things.”

“Okay.”

“The first one is something I don’t want to tell you, but I promised I wouldn’t keep anything from you again, so here goes.”

Lacey braced, knowing by his demeanour that she wasn’t going to like what he said next.

“I heard from Will that Carmine Russo got early parole.”

Lacey tasted bile in her mouth as the food she’d eaten tried to make a reappearance, and her heart began a terrifying gallop.

“No!”

She was in Gunner’s lap in the next second, his arms holding her safe against his chest.

“Lacey, I won’t let him get to you.”

Lacey shook her head as all her hard-won confidence fled, leaving the fearful shell from before.

“You don’t understand. He had contacts and he knows people, bad people.”

Gunner cupped her cheeks and made her look at him, his blue eyes clear and fierce. “Listen to me, Cosmo. I know people too, and they’re the best people. Last time you didn’t have Eidolon or Zenobi watching your back but this time you do, and you have me. I won’t let him hurt you, do you hear me?”

Lacey nodded, but she was still frightened that maybe Carmine was more cunning than Eidolon or Zenobi.

“I can tell I’ve got some work to do convincing you but trust me, Lacey. You’re safe here. He won’t even know where you are as this place is untraceable, Will has seen to that.”

Lacey tried to force her stomach muscles to relax and snuggled into Gunner.

“Tell me about Pax.”

“One night I got a call from the man I was working for, or rather, being blackmailed by. They had Milla as you already know, but I was pushing back against the things they wanted me to do.”

“Like what?”

“They wanted me to sabotage missions so that the Eidolon members got hurt, but I couldn’t do it and kept sabotaging the sabotage and making sure Eidolon got information to get them out of the shit in time. I was sent to the Zenobi Gallery and told to wait for a text. Pax was there alone, and I had a heavyweight of dread in my gut.”

Lacey felt Gunner squeeze her tight, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to offer him comfort.

“Anyway, I saw two men arrive and go in and followed. I was about to intervene when I got a text. It was a video of Milla in her bed and a man was standing beside her with a gun, his belt and zipper were undone, and I knew…” He shook his head, and she knew this was painful for him.

“The next text said if I interfered in what was about to happen to Pax, then the man would rape and torture Milla.”

“Oh, Gunner.”

“I know I should’ve found a way, but at the time I didn’t know what to do to save them both, so I saved my sister from something which would’ve terrified her. She’s been through enough already. I couldn’t let that happen to her.”

“Nobody should blame you for that. Any brother would’ve done the same thing.”

“I still see the men beating Pax in my sleep and it haunts me. Watching and doing nothing while a woman my friend cared about got hurt was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

“I’m so sorry I blamed you. You’ve been shoved into untenable positions and done your best to keep everyone safe with no thanks and no support. You’re a good man, Gunner Ramberg, and I truly hope you can forgive me because I love the bones of you. Every single part of you has won over my heart and it belongs to you now.”

Lacey saw the doubt followed by the hope flitter over his features and hated that he felt so alone that he couldn’t believe himself worthy of love. She vowed to protect this man’s heart from any further pain. He may be her protector physically, but she would stand between anyone who wanted to cause him pain.

“I love you, Lacey Cannon, and thank God every day that I met you.”

“Ditto. Now, how about you show me the bedroom? I’m feeling sleepy?”

Her arms around his neck, she felt the sexy smile against her lips as he stood and did just that.