Page 116 of Gunnar

“Then he spoke. That Russian sentence—I’ll find you.”

“Goddammit,” he snarls. His knuckles have gone white and he looks like he’s not a million miles from bursting out of his skin.

“He could have shot me,” I say.

My voice sounds strange.

Neither of them answers.

I shake my head, the thought taking hold, spreading fast.

“But he didn’t.”

An icy chill runs down my spine.

“He wanted me.”

“Yup,” Gunnar says through gritted teeth.

Then something else clicks into place.

If that’s true⁠—

I swallow.

“He’s not going to risk killing me,” I say.

Gunnar doesn’t move.

“If I’m there with you, he won’t let them open fire,” I go on. “He’ll come for me first.”

I look at Gunnar.

“That gives you an opening.”

“No.” Gunnar cuts me off. “You’re not facing them, Alexandria. It’s way too dangerous.”

I crook an eyebrow. “Why did you give me the gun, then?”

“As a last resort.”

I hold his gaze. “That’s what this is.”

His jaw tightens. “No.”

“You know I’m right. He’s going to come for me first,” I say.

“That doesn’t make it safe.”

“I know.” I lean forward slightly. “But it changes things.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not putting you in front of them.”

“You think I’m going to sit in the truck while you walk into that?” I say. “After everything that’s happened?”

He exhales roughly. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I know,” I say. “That’s exactly why I’m not staying behind.”