by Maddie Wade
Gunner helped her inside by lifting her into his arms and carrying her and she wanted to say she minded, but the truth was there was nowhere else she’d rather be. He set her on the sofa, went back outside and brought her bag of pain pills.
“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.
Chapter 20
Gunner was surprised to have got a call from Jack early this morning. He’d been lying awake in bed with Lacey draped over him like a blanket, her naked flesh making his body ache to be inside her again. It had been three days since the fire that almost took her from him, and he knew it would be a long time before he got the picture of her unconscious body out of his head.
They’d made love, and he’d shown her with his touch and his body how much he cherished her loving him and what she meant to him. He wasn’t sure he’d ever have the words to make her understand just how she’d saved him.
He’d gone from a man almost begging for death, so tired with the world, to one who woke up every morning feeling blessed beyond what he could comprehend.
His phone had vibrated on the nightstand, and he’d seen it was Jack wanting him to meet him an Eidolon. Slipping from the bed and leaving Lacey spread out like a feast was hard but making her safe was more important than anything.
Dressing quickly, he’d sent a text to Kanan next door and told him Lacey was alone and he had to go out for a meeting with Jack and would be back as soon as he could. He’d no intention of stealing into the new father’s time with his wife and family if he could help it.
He wrote a note to Lacey and left it by the bed and then filled the kettle for her and laid out her favourite tea mug. He got a text back from K, saying Roz was sending one of her girls over and he relaxed even more.
Gunner locked the door and sat in his vehicle until he saw Bebe, drive into the spot beside him and give him a jaunty salute. He lifted his chin in greeting and pulled out, glad that he was only a few minutes down the road now, instead of miles away. This place had been a godsend, and he was very tempted to make Zack an offer on the place.
Lacey hadn’t said much, but he got the feeling she wasn’t all that keen on going back to her old place. Which was a shame because it was a wonderful home, and perhaps when it was gutted and decorated, she would feel differently.
They hadn’t discussed the future, but he knew for a fact his lay with her, he just hoped she felt the same when all this was over, and she didn’t decide he was more hassle than he was worth.
Jack’s black Audi Q8 was parked in his spot, and so was Lopez’s Ford and Decker’s Ducati Black Star. Gunner left the Volvo he’d been driving beside Jack’s car and entered the building. It was barely seven in the morning, but he could already feel the hum of life from the place—familiar smells of cooking mixed with the sweat from the gym and the cleaning solution.
It was almost surreal to be there and the feeling of belonging restored to his psyche. So many times he would’ve done anything to be back here, and now he was, he knew why it’d had such an impact on him.
He headed to Jack’s office and knocked on the open door, seeing Decker seated in front of
the desk and Jack behind it.
Jack sat forward and Decker turned toward him. “Gunner, come in and take a seat.”
“Everything okay?”
Jack nodded. “Yes, we just wanted to run something by you and see how you felt about it.”
Gunner rested his arms on the arms of the chair and leaned back. “Yeah, what’s that?”
“Well, as you know, Lopez connected the men from the attack on Lacey to Carmine Russo, but I confirmed Osbourne signed the papers for his release. Has he contacted you at all?”
“Bás has, says Osbourne is impatient to get his hands on the details of the tour. I think I’ve probably strung him out as long as I can now.”
“Okay, that works into our plan.”
“Your plan?”
“Yes, I have a meeting with the Queen and James Fitzgerald in two days. I want to meet her away from Buckingham Palace. There are too many eyes and ears there but I want you to be with me for the meeting as well as Decker and Blake. Afterwards, I’m going to have James leak it so it gets back to Osbourne that you were there.”
“He’ll think you trust me completely again, so when I give him the tour, he won’t question it.”
“Exactly.” Decker looked at Jack and then back to Gunner with a cunning smile. The man was a shark in a suit, and probably more deadly than anyone else. He may not be the quickest on the assault course, although he was probably faster than most Marines, but he could get in your head and have you turning a gun on yourself before you’d even realised what he’d done.
“What’s the plan for Osbourne?”
“That’s what we’re going to meet with HRH about. This is something she needs to make the call on, but I’m going to suggest she eliminates the threat at the source and brings in a new Deputy Director and cleans house of all the men Osbourne put in place.”
“I think that’s the only way to ensure her safety.”
Gunner didn’t want to ask, but he knew things unsaid did more harm than those spoken of. “What about your father?”
“As soon as I have the evidence I need, he’ll be arrested and charged with treason among other things.”
“I’m sorry, Jack. That’s tough.”
Jack shrugged, but Gunner knew it cost him. “What he did to you was worse. Talking of which, how’s Milla getting on?”
“I haven’t seen her, but from what I understand from Waggs, she’s doing well.”
“Haven’t you been to see her yet?”
“I haven’t had a chance yet with everything.”
“You should go and take Lacey before it gets so big you can’t get over it.” Decker was right, he knew that but seeing his sister was always hard, and since the rescue, it had been worse. Seeing his grandmother almost gutted him.
“Yeah, I’ll think about it.” Decker stood and clapped him on the shoulder.
“The things we avoid only become more powerful with time and avoidance, Viking.”
Gunner remained silent but watched him go. “You reckon he ever takes his own advice?”
Jack was watching where Decker had gone. “I think his demons make ours look like child’s play, and that’s why he keeps them locked away so tight.”
“Hmm, maybe.”
“So, you down with this plan?”
Gunner assessed Jack and considered the plan. Osbourne was more likely to buy it if he’d been accepted completely.
“His men are still watching me, or at least they were before I whisked Lacey into hiding. They know I was in an out of here a lot and Bás is playing his part too, so yeah, I think it is a good plan. Do you think the Queen will have us pull the trigger?”
“It’s what we do, so most likely. She isn’t afraid to do what’s needed to ensure the safety of the Crown.”
“True. Then, yes, I think it will work. Where are you thinking for the meet?”
“Blake is coming in shortly so we can iron that out. Can you stick around for that?”
“Yeah, Bebe is with Lacey, but I left her sleeping.”
Jack sat back and rested his hands on his belly. “Things good between you two now?”
One thing about Jack he may be a perpetual bachelor, but he cared about his men and their happiness. “Yeah, they are. Better than good actually.”
Jack cocked his head, a smirk on his face. “Am I hearing wedding bells?”
Gunner chuckled. “Maybe but not yet.”
“Fucking hell, I’m gonna look like a penguin if you assholes keep making me wear the suit.”
“Might be you one day, Jack.”
“No chance. I see what marriage did to my mum. I’d never risk pushing this life on some poor unsuspecting woman.”
“Best find a suspecting one then, boss man.”
“Yeah, like those are everywhere I look. What I need is a strong independent woman who is also willing to accept my job comes first.”
“Yeah, good luck with that.”
“All joking aside, I’m glad things are working with you and Lacey. I hate the shit that happened to you and that we didn’t know about Milla so we could protect you. Will beat himself up over that failing on his part.”
“I should’ve been honest, but it was good old-fashioned pride that brought me low. If I’d admitted what happened with my sister, then it wouldn’t have happened, but I was ashamed for my part in what happened to her and hid her away. That’s on me.”
“I guess we all learned some big lessons.”
“Yeah, pride comes before a fall. I’m gonna go grab some grub while we wait for Blake. Want anything?”
“Coffee if any is going.”
Gunner stood and made it to the door before he turned to Jack, who already had his head buried in paperwork. “For the record, when you find the right one, she’ll never come in second to anything, not work, not your men, nothing at all. She’ll consume your every waking and sleeping thought.”
Gunner watched as a funny look passed over Jack’s face that looked surprisingly like fear before he blanked his expression.
“As I said, this one might be a unicorn.”
Gunner laughed and made his way to the kitchen. Finding the coffee grounds, he was making himself toast when Blake walked in with a massive smile on his face.
He walked over to Gunner and slung his arm around his shoulder. “Not sure what you said to Pax, but I’m officially forgiven.”
Gunner shrugged his arm off with a grin and buttered his toast. “Not a lot, just the truth. Want some toast?”
“Sure, I need my energy this morning.”
“Blake, I do not, repeat do not, want to know.”
“Calm down, I never kiss and tell. Especially with the love of my life.”
“Thank fuck.”
Gunner made them both more toast, and they ate in companionable silence, the tension and anxiety gone between the two men. Once he was done, Gunner took the plates and rinsed them before pouring coffee for Jack.
“Let’s get this show on the road.”
Gunner and Blake headed for Jack’s office, heard him on the phone and stopped. He waved them in and motioned for them to take a seat.
“Love you too, Mum, talk later.”
Jack hung up without a shred of embarrassment that they’d caught him telling his mum how much he loved her, and Gunner respected that.
They spent the next hour talking over different options before finally deciding on Sandringham Palace. It would be easier to get her there with minimal fuss, and it was quicker than using Highgrove.
“What about her personal protection officer? Isn’t he one of Osbourne’s men?” Gunner knew the Deputy Director had penned them in to a degree.
“What if we put a woman into her circle as a lady’s maid or lady in waiting?” Gunner suggested, his thoughts going to Zenobi.
“One of Roz’s girls?” Jack asked.
“That would work. It means we could still keep the Queen safe and if we allow her PPO to travel with her, we won’t need to leak it. Keep it on the down-low
as if we want it kept secret, but he plays into our hands.”
Jack crossed his arms and scratched his chin. “You think Roz would go for it?”
Gunner pushed the phone across to Jack. “Only one way to find out, boss man.”
Jack sighed and picked up his phone. The fact that Roz was on speed dial spoke volumes. When she answered Jack flicked it to speakerphone
. “Hi, Roz. Sorry to bother you when you’re just out of the hospital, but I need a favour.”
“Ah, Jacky boy, a call from you asking for a favour is practically a gift.”
The phone went silent for a few seconds, and Jack looked at them with murderous intent. “Roz, are you still there? You’re on speaker.”
“Yes, still here. Just savouring the moment.”
“Stop being a smartass, Roz. This is about national security.”
“Oh well, why didn’t you say so? That would have made… absolutely no difference at all.”
“Forget it.” Jack grabbed the phone to disconnect.
“Wait, wait, calm down. I’m the one with boobs ready to explode and a vagina that looks like a scene from a horror movie.”
Gunner looked at Jack with horror on his face as Blake closed his eyes as if trying to rid his mind of that particular image.
“Well, I think you just sorted out birth control for Eidolon for the next twenty years or so,” Jack said deadpan.
“Yeah, K is pretty much cured of wanting any more kids, too. Now, what is this favour because I need to go pump?”
Jack held up his hands when Blake mouthed “What?”
“I need to put someone inside the Palace that Osbourne won’t suspect, but they need to be close to the Queen to protect her and not an obvious security plant.”
“You thinking lady in waiting or lady’s maid?”
“Exactly.”
“OK, let me give it some thought. I’ll help you, but I need to decide who will be best placed for it.”
“Thank you, Roz.”
“Oh, don’t thank me, it’s going to cost you.”
Jack sighed. “What now? A kidney for the school fete?”
“Ha-ha, no, but the girls’ dance school does need new sound equipment and maybe some kit for the circus hoops.”
