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“I’ve been where you are, and I couldn’t be happier that I never have to go back.”
Gunner proceeded to tell him what he’d been thinking right before Razor called.
“Did you ever worry about Ava thinking it was just the op?”
“To be honest, I don’t remember. I’ve welcomed the selective amnesia that prevents me from thinking about my life before she was in it. Although I do remember us
arguing an awful lot. Wait, that isn’t right. I remember her being mad at me. I doubt I ever had the balls to argue back.”
“I remember. Every so often you grew a pair.”
Razor laughed. “Listen, if you really want my advice, I’d say not to fight it. If the feelings you’re having for her are that strong then set your old grumpy, ornery self aside and do what your heart is telling you to.”
“My heart? Seriously? What the fuck, Raze?”
“I can’t help it. We’re all rainbows and sunshine over here on the West Coast.”
“Sunshine? In Oregon? Now I know you’re lying.”
Gunner heard his friend take a deep breath.
“Why’d you call?” he asked.
“I have a theory I want to run by you.”
7
Raketa peered out the window before she climbed in the tub, but Gunner wasn’t where she’d seen him before. She knew he’d gone outside; she’d heard the door close and then only silence followed.
As the water fell on her body, she closed her eyes and imagined that Gunner was here with her. She ran her hands over her body like she remembered him doing. She almost reached out her hand to steady herself, but then remembered she was surrounded by windows. Instead, she turned off the shower, turned on the bath, and sat down.
She had to stop thinking about being with Gunner and figure out how to get away from him. They were obviously on an island with no immediately visible way to get off. They’d gotten on, there had to be a way off; she just needed to figure out what it was and how to do it before Gunner realized she was gone.
What other option did she have? She couldn’t tell him why she really wanted to leave, about her connection to Petrov or to the woman being held captive on his compound. She couldn’t tell anyone. The risk was too great.
—:—
If the tractor tire had been sitting in front of him, Gunner likely could have thrown it two or three times the distance he had earlier. That’s how angry he was.
He wasn’t mad at Razor. It was his friend’s theory that had him tied up in knots. If he was right, then Gunner knew whatever relationship he might’ve thought possible with Raketa would never happen. Just like with Lena.
However, this was worse. Lena had been mentally deranged. Raketa was flat out lying to him about her true motives. He went so far as to wonder if, by having her here, his life would be at risk.
He walked back toward the house and continued the workout he’d begun earlier, only this time with a vigor driven by his temper.
—:—
Raketa sat up and saw Gunner stalk back to the tire he’d been hurling earlier. He looked angry, almost enraged. What could’ve happened for him to look as though he wanted to rip the rubber in two?
She waited to see if he’d look her way, but gave up after several minutes, emptied the tub, climbed out, and got dressed.
Instead of going outside, Raketa went back into the room she’d slept in and sat on the bed. Maybe he was like this all the time. How would she know? They’d spent so little time together she really knew nothing about him, as much as it often felt the opposite.
Had she spun the fantasy of him so intricately that now she had to reconcile it with the man who was outside, punishing his body?
She peered through the window again, like she had when she first woke up, and saw him stalking toward the front door. Not knowing what to do, she stayed where she was and waited.
Within moments he stormed through the bedroom door.
