Page 57 of Gunner

The room was silent for a beat, and then Pax took her hand, forcing Lacey to look up. “Lacey nobody in this room is against you, and even those who are wary were only that way because they doubted Gunner could find it in him to care if he lived or died. I don’t need to tell you the toll this entire situation has taken on him both physically and mentally. Decker admitted to Blake that he wasn’t sure if Gunner would survive it because he’d given up wanting to live. But since he met you all that changed. Gunner is different, he has a purpose and a different outlook. Deck says he’s never seen anything like it in all his years of profiling.”

“So, you all don’t harbour ill-feelings towards him?”

Pax patted her hand. “Of course not, he’s a good man, and finally he’s beginning to see it for himself.”

“Oh, in that case, I’m sorry I overacted.”

The rest of the evening was relaxed as everyone ate the delicious calorie-laden food and drank the sugary drinks until Evelyn, Pax, Callie, and Taamira got a text at the same time she did.

Roz and Bebe looked at each other as if by some telepathic link they knew what was happening and she looked down in dread at the text from Gunner.

Gunner: Takedown will be tonight. Will be going radio silent in two hours and back online as soon as I can. Stay with Roz or Bebe until this is done and I know you are safe.

Lacey: Stay safe and don’t worry about me. Love you x

Gunner: Love you more. X

“Well, that put a downer on the night,” Pax said with a frown.

“Yes, I hate the thought of Liam in danger.”

“This is a big takedown, it’s been years in the making and has so many moving parts. A lot could go wrong,” Evelyn admitted.

“Nate left for London earlier this evening with the rest of the Fortis Team. They’re going to provide security for the Royal Family until they can get something else in place.” Lacey grabbed Skye’s hand and squeezed. Nobody liked the idea of the men they loved in danger, but the truth was they wouldn’t be the men they were without the risk that surrounded them, and those were the men they loved.

“I should get home. K is manning the fort, but I know he’ll want to be at Fortis to provide support if they should need it.”

Roz stood, and that seemed to be everyone’s cue to leave. Lacey kissed and hugged her friends, feeling the tighter bond had been forged tonight and especially in the last few minutes. She didn’t know the details only what Gunner had told her might happen, but she knew it was a big job.

“You should come to stay with me tonight. Gunner won’t want you alone with that asshole ex of yours on the lose.” Roz stood on her doorstep looking every inch the badass she was, her body already losing the soft look of post-pregnancy.

“I will. Let me clean up, and I’ll be over in an hour or so. Is that okay?”

“Yes, I’ll leave the door open.”

“Okay.”

Lacey closed and locked the door and sighed. She was tired but tonight had been just what she needed. Looking at the plates on the coffee table she decided to get it all in the dishwasher now, so the food didn’t stick. She pottered around thinking about what Gunner and the others faced, not really able to fathom the danger. A flash of headlights lit the kitchen, and she watched as K backed out and drove away to do his bit.

It was strange how this big family had come to be with no less than three different private agencies linked by marriage and friendship, and now they were collaborating to keep the most important woman in the world safe.

Happy that her home was restored to its former order, she went upstairs to grab her toothbrush and pyjamas and shoved them in an overnight bag. Sliding her feet into her comfy Ugg boots, the only ones that felt nice on her delicate feet, she switched off the lights and walked next door to Roz.

The door was open, but she still knocked out of habit. “Hello, Roz?”

Hearing no reply, she went further and closed the door behind her. She didn’t call out again for fear of waking the children. The layout was similar to the one next door, so she walked past the entryway and into the living room and seeing nobody, headed for the stairs.

Roz must be feeding Deacon in the nursery, which she’d seen the day after they arrived and was at the end of the hall next to Roz and Kanan’s room, although the baby was in with them for the foreseeable future.

Passing Natalia and Katarina’s room, she saw the girls were both sleeping and smiled. It was sweet to see them so relaxed and happy after the start they’d had. Hearing a slight noise which sounded like baby’s mew, she continued to the nursery and pushed through the door, seeing Roz on the far side of the room on the floor.

Frowning Lacey moved to help her up and jumped as the door closed behind her. Spinning, she saw her worst nightmare. Carmine Russo was holding baby Deacon in his arms and had a wicked-looking gun next to the child’s head.

“Hello, beautiful, did you miss me?”

“Carmine, what… what are you doing here?” Lacey was aware that Roz was injured. She had no idea how badly, but she was moving slightly.

“I came for you beautiful. We have unfinished business, remember?”