Page 16 of Gunner

Lacey nodded and turned for the stairs.

“Lacey?”

She turned on the first step. “Yes?”

“If you want me on the couch, that’s fine. I don’t want to push you into anything you’re not ready for or don’t want. I already did that once.”

“First, I don’t offer my bed to any man, so take it as read that I want you there, and second, you didn’t push me into anything. If I remember rightly, I was the one who made the first move and jumped your bones when you were vulnerable. So, if there’s any blame, it’s mine.”

Gunner snorted. “You can jump me any time, Cosmo.”

Lacey smiled at the confident man self-assuredness he showed in that comment.

“See you upstairs.”

Lacey turned and walked upstairs a smile curving her lips. She walked into her bedroom and stopped dead. Fear like a block of ice running up her spine as she saw the familiar nightwear laid out on the bed. Her vision began to tunnel, her body frozen as if paralysed, sweat beading on her chest.

The same nightwear Carmine Russo had made her wear was laid out exactly as he’d done every night. Except this time there was a bloody knife lying in the middle of it. The sight of the blood on the white, silk nightgown snapped her out of her fog, and she let out a terrified scream. Every memory of the things Carmine had done to her coming at her like blows, each one was cutting her deeper and making her feel weaker and more afraid than the last.

Moments later, she felt strong arms come around her, and Gunner turned her into his chest.

“It’s okay, Lacey. I have you.”

Lacey burrowed closer, wanting to absorb the safety of his arms around her. She let Gunner guide her from the room and back down the stairs and sit her on the couch as he pulled a blanket from the back over her shoulders. Lacey didn’t realise it until then, but she was shivering so hard she was shaking.

Gunner sat beside her, one arm holding on to her, the other using his phone. It was hard to focus on the now; all she could feel was fear and terror that she was being pulled back into the hell she thought she’d escaped.

She’d thought moving here would give her the safety and home she craved, but now it was being tainted by her past, one she thought she could escape.

“Waggs, it’s Gunner. I need you to come to Lacey’s place now and bring a few of the team, please. We have a situation.”

Lacey felt Gunner place the phone down and wrapped his other arm around her, and that was when she noticed he had his gun drawn by his side. She knew he would protect her and the comfort it offered eased her fears just enough that she stopped shaking, but she didn’t pull away from Gunner’s arms, and he didn’t ease his hold in the least.

“I should have known he’d never give me up.” Her words sounded hollow even to her own ears.

“I won’t let him or any of his people hurt you, Lacey.”

“He already did.”

Gunner kissed her head and held on tight as if he could keep her together with just his will alone. Lacey knew that if anyone could, it would be him.

“I know he did, Cosmo, and I’m so sorry he hurt you, but I promise you he won’t hurt you again. On my life, I’ll protect you and give you a chance at the life you want.”

“Thank you, Gunner.”

“Anything for you, Lacey. You’ve given me more reason to live in the last four days than I have had my entire adult life. There is nothing I won’t do for you.”

Lacey believed him, and that spoke volumes about the man who was edging his way deeper into her heart with every word and action.

“Why, Ramberg?”

Gunner started, and she looked up as he pulled slightly away. “What?”

“Well, you’re Ramberg, but your sister is Eivinsdóttir.”

“Oh, that. No mystery really. I was born Gunner Eivinsson. As the male in the family, the name has ‘son’ at the end and a daughter will have ‘dottir’. My father’s name was Eivin and then either son or dottir depending on if it’s a boy or girl. The reason I went by Ramberg was that I wanted to protect my sister and grandmother from my job and keep that part of my life private. So, I changed it when I joined the forces, and now it’s more a part of me than my original name.”

“It’s very complex.”

Gunner shrugged. “I guess it is if you don’t grow up with it as I did.”

Lacey liked talking to Gunner. He was intelligent and interesting and made her feel calm when she’d been about to have a meltdown. His presence in her life was unexpected to say the least, but it was so very welcome, and she hoped it continued because she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this man and had the frightening feeling she may never want to.