Gunn

by Jayne Blue

  Family. He thought of me as his friend’s little sister still. The cold reality of that sank in and fostered a new kind of anger in me.

  “I’ll have the school refund the check,” I said. “I mean it. I can’t take this from you.”

  He made a low noise in the back of his throat that almost sounded like a growl. He was angry too. That’s not what I wanted either.

  “Look,” he said. “I’ve made a mess of this, I guess. I didn’t mean … Oh, fuck this shit. I don’t do anything I don’t want to do, Brenna. You should know that about me.”

  “Neither do I!” My words came out a little harder than I wanted. I was making a mess of this too.

  “I want to see you again.” His words were sharp, commanding. It took a moment for me to register them. When I did, that familiar heat coursed through me. This was an awful idea. A mistake. And yet, it was exactly what I wanted too.

  “We need to talk,” he said. “I mean ... really talk. Will you meet me? Dinner? Tomorrow night?”

  I had a thousand reasons to say no. They all fell away as I heard myself saying yes.

  Chapter Eight

  Gunn

  I thought I’d walked far enough away from the rest of the guys but Angel had a set of ears on him. He pretty much heard every damn word I said to Brenna. It took him a hot second to fill Switch in on what was going on. They took the empty stools on either side of me at the bar. I held up two fingers to Rita. She was working the bar solo until Ford got there in an hour. She gave Switch and Angel a conspiratorial wink as she set out three frosted beer mugs and filled them from the tap.

  “So, jailbait, huh?” Switch said. “That’s new.”

  I grabbed my beer and started drinking. I was going to need something a lot harder to get through this conversation. “Brenna’s not jailbait. She’s twenty.”

  Angel laughed. “You sure about that? I mean ... she’s got one fake ID, maybe the other one was fake too.”

  “Still,” Switch said. “Bad joujou, Gunn. She’s still Scotty Rose’s little sister, right?”

  I wanted to punch him. Right in the fucking face. “Shut it,” I said. “I didn’t say I was looking to fuck her. I’m just looking to help her out.”

  “Huh.” Angel turned on his stool so he could look out at the bar crowd. The dude was always on the make. “Well, I mean ... Scotty was cool and all, but he wasn’t my best friend. So, if you’re not looking to fuck her ... maybe …”

  I knocked him off his stool. I knew he was just busting my balls, but he’d said enough to make an image flash in my mind. An image of Angel with his hands all over Brenna.

  Fuck.

  This wasn’t just overprotective rage or some obligation I still felt to Scotty. This was straight-up lust and jealousy. I wanted her. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  Angel was laughing his damn head off as he slid back on the stool. I’d played right into it with him. To his credit, Switch just kept his face in his beer.

  Angel put a hand on my shoulder. “Peace, brother. You know I’m just fucking with you. And look, no one gives two shits if you want to spend some time with that girl. She’s young, yeah. But she seems like a good chick, ya know? And she could probably do a lot worse than you.”

  “Just ... shut up, man.” I took another swig of beer, wishing it would be enough to quell the burn rising in my gut. I wanted her. I wanted Brenna. There was no good reason why I’d need to meet with her again to talk about her tuition. Except the second she said she’d come, I couldn’t think about anything else.

  It was a betrayal. There was no other way to look at it. If Scotty were here, he’d knife me in the balls just for looking at Brenna. When she let me hug her the other day and I felt her sweet curves, I’d done a shit ton more than just look.

  “Ease up, man,” Switch said. He gestured to Rita, noticing I’d already finished my beer. Yeah. Tonight felt like a good night to get shitfaced. I could figure out what the hell I was going to do about Brenna tomorrow.

  Rita poured as a ruckus rose near the front of the bar. I did a quick scan. Marcus was working the door again. We’d hired two new bouncers and so far, they’d done a decent job at crowd control.

  “Sheeit,” Switch said. “I was hoping for a nice, quiet night.” He checked his piece and popped off his stool. The crowd near the door broke and a voice rose above the shouting that turned my blood cold.

  “Where is that fucker? I’ll kill him. Get the fuck out of my way!” One heartbeat and I was fifteen years old again. Adrenaline coursed through me as I saw Scotty’s bloodied face in my field of vision. I’d found him up in the treehouse we’d built in the woods behind his house. He puked all over my shoes when I turned him.

  “He’s gonna kill you one of these days,” I said to him back then.

  “Better me than her,” was his answer.

  Cam, one of the new bouncers, took a step back, holding his palms out, trying to placate the guy. Cam sidestepped and it put me in the direct line of sight of Tim Rose, Scotty’s piece-of-shit old man. He raised a gnarled finger and pointed it at me.

  “You,” he said. His voice dripped with hatred. The fucker wanted to kill me as much as I wanted to kill him.

  I slid off my stool, letting my fingers play near my hip holster. I didn’t think Tim would be stupid enough to walk into our club packing, but I wasn’t going to put it to the test.

  “The fuck you doing here?” I asked. I waved Switch off as I walked toward Tim. He stayed at my shoulder with Angel on the other side. Cam kept a hard grip on Tim’s arm but didn’t stop him from coming toward me when he saw me give the go-ahead.

  God, he’d gotten old. Tim Rose was in his mid-fifties, but he looked about twenty years past that with deep lines creasing his face. His nose was a misshapen, mottled purple mess after years of hard drinking. He’d probably broken it at least two more times since I last saw him.

  “You stay away from her!” Tim said. He could barely stay upright. Cam’s grip kept him on his feet as much as it kept him from coming any closer.

  There was movement behind him as Sly came out of his office. Dex and Tiny walked out from the back room. It was subtle, each man moving into position around the bar. If he tried anything stupid, Tim Rose would be dead before he hit the floor.

  “Or what?” I said. Maybe it wasn’t the most diplomatic thing to say, but I didn’t care.

  “You’re trash. You’ve always been trash. All of you!”

  “I think you need to rethink your plan here, Tim,” I said. “Wasn’t the wisest choice to come into my clubhouse.”

  The crowd parted near the bar, letting Sly through. He whispered commands to the bouncers and gestured to Rita.

  “You need to leave,” I said. “Look around, Tim. This isn’t going to end too good for you.”

  “You think I don’t know what happens in this town?” Tim said. “You think I don’t have just as many connections as you do? You were seen with her. My baby. With your hands all over her. Susie said you gave her money. Well, we don’t want it. And I’m not gonna let my girl whore herself out to you.”

  My fist landed square across Tim’s jaw. Cam kept his hands on Tim to keep him upright. Sly called out. Rage coursed through me. Tim spit blood, but I knew I hadn’t hit him that hard. Just enough to get his attention.

  Sly stepped between us. “You need to rethink your shit,” he said to Tim through gritted teeth. “No way this ends how you think, man. It’s over. Nobody here’s looking to hurt you or your family. But if you keep this up, I’m gonna let Gunn take another swing.”

  “Gunn,” Tim spat. “Perfect name for a piece-of-shit thug.”

  Cam let him go and Tim staggered sideways. His blood-red eyes blazed through me. He was drunker than I’d ever seen him and spoiling for a fight. I was good and ready to give him one but it would be too one-sided.

  “Get him out of here,” Sly said. “Switch, round up a couple of the probies and drive his sorry ass home.”

  “Do me a favor and sit on him un
til he sobers up,” I said. “I don’t want him getting any ideas and making his way over to his ex-wife’s place. It’s been a lot of years, but nothing has changed with this asshole. I don’t trust she won’t open the door for him.”

  “You got it,” Switch said. He let out a sharp whistle, calling out for Josh and Judd.

  Dex had a hand on my shoulder, steadying me. He seemed to know how badly I wanted to finish the job on Tim. He kept his grip on me until Switch and the probies got Tim out of my sight. Only then did I let my shoulders drop.

  “All right,” Sly yelled. “Show’s over!” The crowd instantly dispersed, leaving me still shaking with rage.

  Sly came to me. “You got this under control?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  He nodded but didn’t look convinced. “Hopefully that fuck will sober up and realize the error of his ways.”

  “I wouldn’t count on it.”

  “Me neither. I can put some eyes on his old lady’s place for a few days if that’ll make you feel better.”

  I wanted more than eyes. I wanted to snuff Tim Rose out. For every beating he’d given Susan. For every one Scotty took in her place. He hadn’t changed. He would never change. And if he knew about the money I’d given Brenna, it meant he was probably still in contact with Susan.

  “I need to cool my head,” I said to Sly. “You mind if I cut out for a little while?”

  Sly’s expression fell. He had enough of a clue where my thoughts might lead. To his credit, he didn’t try to stop me.

  “Just don’t do anything stupid, all right? We’ve had enough drama for one day and I still need everyone to stay sharp.”

  I shook off Dex’s grip. “I’ve got it,” I said. I didn’t wait for any more advice from my prez or veep. There was some shit I had to do.

  Chapter Nine

  Gunn

  It was good I hadn’t had time to drink more than I did. I didn’t want to charge over to Susan’s just as drunk as Tim. Maybe going at all was a bad idea, but I had to see for myself. I had to try and get her to understand.

  I pulled into Susan Rose’s driveway on Donnelly Street just before dusk. It was like walking into a fucking time capsule. Sure, I’d driven by here over the years but never gotten close. I could feel Scotty’s presence everywhere. Shit, I could almost still smell him.

  Sweat trickled down my back as I parked my bike and dismounted. My engine had made enough noise to draw notice from a couple of Susan’s neighbors. Curtains flapped shut in the window next door as I turned to look. Steeling myself for whatever I might find, I walked up the front porch and rang the doorbell.

  I should have changed. I shouldn’t have charged over here wearing my cut. Though I wasn’t ashamed, I also wasn’t a dick. This patch might still cause Susan pain and that’s the last thing I wanted.

  My heart flew into my throat as the door opened and Brenna stood there, cheeks flushed. She wore her hair back in a ponytail and shifted her weight as she leaned against the door. I took her in. She had on a tight pair of jeans and her tits filled out a little black tank top with gold lettering.

  “What are you doing here?” she whispered, looking over her shoulder. “You can’t be here.”

  She stepped out on the porch. I towered over her in my boots. She had on a pair of her own, blue suede cowboy boots.

  “Your old man stopped by the club,” I said. “He’s on a bender and he’s pissed. Your ma needs to know.”

  The color drained from Brenna’s face. “She must have told him,” she said.

  “Shit,” I muttered. “So she’s let him back in.”

  Brenna shrugged and I saw tears glisten in her eyes. More than anything, I wanted to take her in my arms and get her the hell away from all this. She didn’t deserve the old man she got. Neither of us did. She couldn’t save her mom, it seemed. But I’d be damned if I’d let either of them drag her down too.

  “He’s going to show up here,” I said. “You know that.”

  “I know.”

  “I don’t want you here when he does. Switch drove him back to his house and we’ve got some probies keeping an eye on him. She’ll be safe enough tonight, but if your mom really wants to see him, she will.”

  “Brenna?” Susan’s voice cut through me from inside the house. “Did I hear the doorbell?”

  “It’s okay, Ma!” Brenna yelled back. “Just some kids selling raffle tickets. I’ve got it.”

  “I just bought some from the girls’ softball team!” Susan said.

  Brenna grabbed my arm. She led me down the porch steps. “You’ve gotta go,” she said. “If she sees you here …”

  “I don’t want you here either! Brenna, I mean it. I know your old man. I know more things than you do.”

  She reared back as if my words physically struck her. I hated hurting her but it was true. Scotty had tried to protect Brenna while he was alive. The club stepped in after he died and made sure Tim stayed away. It had lasted for almost seven years. Now all bets were off.

  “She’s coming,” Brenna said. “Please, Gunn.”

  I put my hands on her upper arms. The urge to pull her close burned through me. I wanted her in my arms. I wanted to shield her with my body and protect her from all the ugly things swirling around her. More than anything, I just wanted her. Damn my soul for it all.

  “Come on,” I said. “I’m not taking no for an answer.” I led her away from the front steps. Brenna’s jaw dropped, but she didn’t pull away.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m getting you out of here,” I said. “For my own peace of mind. At least for a little while.”

  We stood in the middle of the driveway. I tossed her my helmet. Though her face turned white, Brenna didn’t say no. I put her on the bike and climbed on in front of her. My blood turned to fire as she wrapped her arms around me and pressed her breasts hard against my back.

  Chapter Ten

  Brenna

  Heat. Wind. Light. Gunn was all of it. I’d lived in Green Bluff my entire life, but I’d never seen it like this.

  As soon as we left the residential streets behind, Gunn took to the rural highway surrounding the town. Open fields whizzed by as my ponytail flew back beneath the helmet. Gunn let the throttle out and I gave a little shriek of joy. The ribbon I’d used to tie my hair flew off.

  Gunn hugged the curves and I kept a vice grip around his waist. He was hard muscle. Steel wrapped in leather. His scent filled me. Strong. Masculine. Virile.

  We were flying. I felt the power of the bike’s engine vibrate between my legs. This was sensual. Primal. Raw. I understood. My brother would never let me ride with him. I was too little. Too scared. He was always afraid of hurting me. But now ... this ... I’d never felt so free in my life. No wonder Scotty had taken so quickly to the biker life. Gunn rounded the next curve and we went straight up.

  My breath caught as I realized where he was taking me. This was sacred ground. Nobody ever came up here. Everyone knew this was club territory. No Man’s Land. I squeezed my thighs around him as hard as I could, holding on for dear life. And yet, I knew in my heart Gunn would never let me fall. He would never let anything happen to me.

  Gunn finally slowed when we reached the plateau. Unpaved, this was still a well-worn path. Gunn pulled off near a small outcropping of rocks. He cut the engine. I tried to throw one leg over the other and dismount, but my thigh muscles felt like wet noodles. Gunn caught me under the elbow and helped me down. I peeled off his helmet and set it on the seat.

  “Come on,” he said. “I want to show you something.”

  Still gasping for air from the thrill of the ride, I let Gunn take my hand. His was warm and so large my own hand disappeared in it. We walked up a little hill to the edge of the bluff.

  I was scared to look down. It was a deadly drop to the churning waters of the Great Wolf River below.

  “Green Bluff,” I said past a dry throat.

  “Yeah,” he said. “Though it’s more beige if you w
anna get technical.”

  It took me a beat, but I finally laughed at the joke. It grew instantly easy between us. “Why did you bring me here?”

  I recognized it for what it was without Gunn having to tell me. He’d let me in on a mystery. The town was named after this spot. The club was named after the river. But it was understood. You don’t come up here unless someone wearing Gunn’s patch brings you.

  “I haven’t been up here for a while, myself. We call it Church when the club meets, but this has always felt more like a sanctuary for me.”

  “I get that,” I said. “Gunn ... it’s beautiful. It feels like ... like it’s untouched.”

  “It’s where Scotty wanted to be,” he said. Gunn stood beside me, looking down at the water. “It’s where we all want to be. If he’d earned it, I would have spread his ashes down there myself.”

  “If he’d earned it?” I took a step back.

  Gunn turned to me. Pain filled his eyes and I had the urge to reach for him, to try and brush it away.

  “His patch,” he said. “It’s a privilege only patched members get. To be buried up here or have your ashes spread.”

  “Oh.” A lump formed in my throat as I took a step closer to the edge. It was beautiful down there. Serene. If I spread my arms, I could almost take flight. Gunn put a light hand on my arm and led me away from the ledge.

  “It’s the only thing that mattered to him,” I said. “Getting to wear that patch.” I turned to him, again hating the pain in his eyes. “Don’t say you’re sorry again, okay? I don’t blame you for Scotty. You forget. I knew my brother. Nobody ever forced him to do anything he didn’t want.”

  Gunn’s smile warmed me. God. He was so handsome. Rugged and dark. I shouldn’t feel this. I shouldn’t want him. But I did.

  “I seem to remember telling you the same thing just a little bit ago. Nobody forces me to do anything I don’t want, Brenna.”