“What about Gonzalo?”
He snorts, his expression turning hard and angry
“Pissed himself. He’s waiting for you. Second to the last room on this side.”
Angel rounds the corner and comes to join us. “You got her?” he asks when he sees Eden.
“Yeah.” I look down at Alix’s sister, who’s barely conscious beside me. “Take her to the truck,” I tell Lug Nut. “We need to get her out of here.”
“Will do.” Lug Nut carefully takes Eden from me, putting his arm one arm under her and lifting her. She looks almost like a child in his arms. Eden rests her head on his chest as he carries her toward the truck. Angel and I watch them go.
“The other girls will need some help,” I say to him.
“I’ve got an extra burner phone,” Angel says. “When we’re out of range, I’ll make a call to the police and tell them to come get the girls and arrest the others.”
“Tell Thorn to take my bike back,” I say to Angel. “I’m gonna ride in the truck with Eden.”
Beast emerges from the last room and heads toward us. “We better get out of here. Too many gun shots. People will be getting curious.”
“Yeah. Better get going.” Angel starts back toward the main room of the building to round everyone up.
“Yup.” I turn toward the second to the last room on this side. The door is shut. “Be along in a second. I gotta pay Gonzalo a visit first.”
Gonzalo remembered me right away. He shit himself when he saw me.
I’ll never tell Alix what I did to Gonzalo. Or Eden, for that matter. All they’ll ever know is that he’s gone, and that he’ll never hurt either one of them, or any woman, again. And that’s all they need to know.
Alix doesn’t need to hear that shit. She’s good. She’s a breath of fresh air in a dingy dive bar. A ray of light in a dark, ugly world. It’s my job to protect her from the ugliness.
Felt good, though.
When I get to the truck, I see that it’s Lug Nut and not Bullet behind the wheel.
“Bullet’s takin’ my bike back for me,” he says. I don’t ask, and he doesn’t elaborate.
On the way back to Tanner Springs, Eden nods out in the back seat of the truck’s super cab. As Lug Nut drives, he looks back at her from time to time in the rear view mirror.
“She’s pretty young to be going through this,” he says at one point.
“Yeah, she is.”
“Your ma gonna help her through it?” he asks me.
“Yeah.”
He waits a beat before answering. “My brother was hooked on that shit,” he eventually murmurs. “Worst thing about addiction’s the psychological pull.” He glances at me. “She’s gonna need all the help she can get.”
“She’ll get it,” I assure him.
“Let me know if you need me,” Lug Nut continues. “I can come over. Keep an eye on her, if you need.”
“I appreciate that brother.” I clap a hand on his shoulder, then pull out my phone and place a call.
“Smiley?” I say when he picks up. “She’s in pretty rough shape, but we got her. Hooked on junk. You’re gonna have to patch up Tank’s shoulder when we get back, too. Grab Alix and my ma and meet us at the clubhouse.”
28
Alix
Smiley takes a single phone call in the middle of the afternoon. About an hour later, I see him and Lucy talking in the kitchen for a few minutes in hushed tones.
“What?” I demand as soon as Lucy walks back out into the living room. “Tell me what’s going on?”
“They’ve got Eden,” Lucy says, coming to sit down on the couch beside me. “They just got back into town. They’re at the clubhouse now.”
“Oh my God!” I cry, my hand covering my mouth, dizzy with relief. “Is she okay?”
“She will be,” Lucy says vaguely.
“What? Is she hurt?” My voice comes out high-pitched, desperate.
“No,” she says, her voice gentle. She puts a calming hand on mine. “No, honey. She’s gonna be just fine.”
The three of us take Lucy’s car to the clubhouse. My fists are clenched so tight in anticipation that the nails bite into my palms. “We’ll be there soon,” Lucy comforts, reading my thoughts, looking back at me with a kind smile.
When Smiley turns into the lot, I’m out of the car before he’s even thrown it into park. Gunner’s outside leaning against the wall, waiting for me.
I race toward him and fling myself into his arms. “Thank you!” I start to cry, my face pressed against his chest.
“Shh, babe, it’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.” He holds me close, rocking me a little back and forth.
“Is she inside?” I ask after a few seconds. “I need to see her!” I pull away and start to take a step toward the door, but Gunner stops me.
“Yeah, babe. She’s inside,” he nods. His face is grave. “But I want to talk to you a little first.”
By now, Smiley and Lucy have come up beside us.
“Is Tank inside?” Smiley asks Gunner, who nods.
“He’s waiting for you. Says he ain’t too bad. He rode back no problem, so he must be right.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Smiley murmurs, and continues inside.
“Gun,” Lucy murmurs, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I’m gonna head into town for some supplies. I’ll be back soon.”
He seems to know what she means. “Okay. Thanks, Ma. Grab some clothes, too. About Alix’s size.”
She nods. “Got it.”
“What?” I demand as Lucy walks away. I’m sick of not knowing what’s going on. “Gunner! What is it?”
Gunner pauses a beat. “When we found your sister,” he begins, “she was locked in a room, on a bed. There were track marks on her arms. They’ve been shooting her up with heroin, Alix. She’s gonna have to go through detox.”
“Oh my God!” My skin feels like it’s gone instantly cold. “But we don’t have any money to do that!” I look up at Gunner in horror. “We don’t have any insurance, either!”
“I know,” he says. I open my mouth to say more, but Gunner stops me. “Don’t worry, Alix. It’s handled. Ma will take care of her. I’ve already talked to her about it.” He watches Lucy’s car as it drives away. “Eden can stay at her place until she gets better. Your sister is gonna need twenty-four hour care from someone who knows what she’s doing until the junk is out of her system.”
“But…” I start to argue, but the words die in my throat. I can’t do this alone. I don’t have anywhere to take Eden, I don’t have any money, and I wouldn’t know what the hell to do anyway. This is something I can’t refuse. Eden’s life depends on it.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Shhh.” He pulls me to him. “It’s okay. We got you.”
I start to cry again, leaning against his chest weakly as I let him hold me up. After a minute or so, I take a deep breath and let it out. Pulling away from him, I wipe my eyes with the heels of my hands and look up at him. “Can I see her now?”
“Sure.” He takes my hand in his. “She was sleeping when I came out here. If she still is, we shouldn’t wake her up. She needs to rest while she can. These next few days, sleep’s gonna be hard to come by.”
Gunner leads me inside, up the stairs to his apartment. Eden is lying on the bed, mouth open and eyes closed. The one they call Lug Nut is there with her, standing watch over her like a sentinel.
“She’s so skinny,” I marvel, my voice cracking with emotion. I move closer. Her chest is rising and falling rapidly. She’s wearing a tight mini skirt and a tiny top that barely covers her chest, showing her ribs. Her feet are bare, dirty.
“Do you think…” I begin, looking up at the two men. I can’t stop myself from asking the question. “Do you think they used her?”
Lug Nut’s face contorts into a mask of rage, but he doesn’t say anything. Gunner takes a deep breath and exhales. “Yeah. I do.” He looks over at my sister’s sleeping form. “Hard to say
how much of it she’ll remember, though.” He pulls me closer. “Let’s concentrate on getting her off the smack first, babe,” he murmurs. “We’ll worry about everything else later. Okay?”
I nod, and bury my face in his chest. Right now, having Gunner tell me what to do is exactly what I need.
“Okay,” I say.
Lucy comes back from her trip to pick up supplies, and brings Eden a pair of soft sweatpants and a loose T-shirt to put on. “I got some other stuff for her in the car, too,” she says, and orders Gunner and Lug Nut out of the room. “Let’s get her changed,” she tells me, “and then we’ll take her home.”
“Thank you for doing this, Lucy,” I choke, overcome. She gives me a quick hug.
“Don’t mention it, honey. It’s the least I can do for Gunner’s woman.” I don’t bother to correct her, because it feels good to hear her call me that. Lucy leans down and gently shakes Eden’s shoulder. “Eden, honey, it’s time to wake up. Come on, girl.”
Eden opens her eyes with difficulty, almost like she’s having to pry them open. She stares unfocused at Lucy, then looks over at me. When she realizes who she’s seeing, her eyes widen and dart around the room.
“Am I…” she begins, and then stops. “Where? Where am I?”
“You’re safe, Eden,” I say, sitting down on the bed. I give her a tremulous smile. “You’re here with us.”
“Where’s… Gonzalo?”
“He’s gone,” I tell her. Eden looks at me searchingly. “I promise.”
“I feel a little sick,” Eden moans.
“I know, honey,” Lucy croons. “We’ll get you well again.”
Eden’s voice grows agitated. “Help me!”
“We will. I promise,” I tell her. I’m trying to keep my voice as calm as possible, but my heart is breaking for my sister.
“Who’re you?” Eden asks Lucy with a confused frown.
“This is Lucy,” I say. “She’s a nurse. We’re taking you to her place so she can help you. But first, we need to get you changed.”
“Gunner’s the one who saved you. He’s my son,” Lucy tells her gently. “And Alix’s man.”
Eden lets us help her into the T-shirt and sweats. The two of us help her down the stairs to the main floor, where Smiley, Lug Nut, and Gunner are waiting with a group of other men.
“You’re the men from the pickup truck,” Eden murmurs.
“I’m Gunner,” he replies to her. “This is Lug Nut.”
“Thank you… for saving me.” Eden’s eyes flit from one man to the other.
Lug Nut looks down at her. His jaw clenches, his hands curling into tight fists.
“You get better,” he says simply. “That’s the best thanks you can give us.”
Shyly, she meets his gaze. “Okay,” she whispers.
Lucy’s gentle voice breaks in. “My car’s outside. Smiley can drive us.”
Gunner pulls me close and kisses the top of my head. He turns to his mother. “I’ll follow you on my bike.”
Lucy nods. “Come on, darlin’,” she says to Eden. “Let’s get you home.”
29
Gunner
Ma sets Eden up in the guest room, which is my old bedroom. Smiley and I unload the car. I come back in just as Ma is bringing Alix’s sister some toast and Advil.
“This will settle your stomach,” she says. Eden tells her she isn’t hungry, but Ma’s not taking no for an answer.
“You don’t think you’re hungry, but you need to eat anyway,” she admonishes. “You’ll feel better, I promise.”
Eden more or less obediently takes the pill and picks up a piece of toast from the plate. Ma nods approvingly and leads Alix and me back out into the living room.
“Okay. We’re good here. I’m gonna have Gunner take you home for now,” she tells Alix, glancing up at me.
“What? No!” Alix shakes her head stubbornly. “Lucy, I can’t go anywhere now. Eden needs me!”
“Your sister’s gonna need you even more in the coming days,” Ma says, her voice firm. “It’s better for right now that you not be here. She needs someone to talk her through what’s going to happen next, and it’s better if it’s not family. Smiley will stay here with me tonight, just in case. Go get some rest, and come back tomorrow. We’ll take shifts with her until she’s better.”
“Come on, babe,” I murmur, holding out my hand for Alix to take. “Ma’s right. I know patience isn’t your strong suit, but you’re gonna need a lot of it for the next few days.”
Alix allows herself to be led out to my bike and gets on behind me. From the front stoop, Ma waves to us both, then goes back inside.
I take Alix back to my place instead of the clubhouse. Once we’re inside, I pick her up and carry her wordlessly into my bedroom. I think she’s gonna be too emotionally exhausted to do anything but sleep. But when I set her down on the bed, she looks at me with those light brown doe eyes of hers, and I instantly know what she wants.
Alix reaches to cup the rising bulge in my pants. “Please, Gunner,” she half-whimpers. “I just need to forget for a while.”
Groaning, I pull her into my arms and look down into her fucking gorgeous, fawn-colored eyes. “I can make you forget, babe.”
I kiss her, soft at first, but she responds with an urgent need that matches the one I’m trying to hold back. She clutches at the fabric of my T-shirt, and I let her yank it off me. Her hands roam over the muscles in my chest and arms, almost like she’s checking to make sure I’m real. I’m real, all right. I’m here, and I’m hard as hell, and I’m all for her.
Growling with an aching need that I know she feels, too, I strip her down and kick off my jeans. When we’re both naked, instinct takes over. We move like our bodies were made for each other. We kiss and bite and lick like it’s the last time we’ll ever be together. I fuck her like our lives depend on it.
When Alix clings to me and flies over the edge, her channel clutching hard at my aching cock, I finally let myself let go. I come so hard it’s like I’m emptying every ounce of myself inside her, joining myself to her until it’s impossible to tell where one of us ends and the other begins. And it’s still not enough. I still want her. Need her. I know it will never be enough.
Afterward, we lie together, my arms holding her tightly to me.
How bad is it going to be?” she asks me in a small voice.
“The first three to four days will probably be the worst,” I tell her. She’ll find out soon enough anyway. It makes sense to be honest with her, so she knows what’s coming. “I’m assuming Eden wasn’t using junk until Gonzalo started shooting her up. So she won’t have been addicted for very long. She should be detoxed in a week or so.”
Saying Gonzalo’s name makes bile rise in my throat. Even though he’s already dead, I wish I could kill him a second time. Gonzalo Medina and the disgusting trash he ran with will never hurt any woman again, though. The Lords have seen to that.
I shake those thoughts from my head. I need to stay present, for Alix. “Eden will need some help to stay off, though,” I continue, reaching up to stroke her hair. “Heroin’s a powerful drug. It creates a pull in you that’s hard to resist, once you know what it’s like. We’re gonna need to be strong for her. Until she can be strong for herself.”
“Thank you for helping me get her back, Gunner,” she says in a small voice. “I know I keep saying it. But thank you.”
“Of course, babe.” I kiss the top of her head. The familiar scent of her shampoo fills my nostrils.
I’d do anything for you.
I can’t imagine not smelling that shampoo scent anymore. I don’t even fucking know why, but it gets me every time. It’s Alix’s smell. I’ll have to throw out the fucking pillow she uses after she leaves. If she leaves.
“Alix,” I say.
“Can I ask you a favor, Gunner? You’ve done so much for me already, but… Can I stay with you just a little longer? Just until Eden’s better.” Her tone turns apologetic. “Your mom offered,
but she really doesn’t have the room, with Eden already there.”
I’m feeling kind of choked up. I need to say something, but I’m trying to think of the words.
“Yeah. Of course,” I say instead. “I just assumed you were gonna stay here.”
“Thank you.” She reaches over and gently kisses my cheek. “After Eden’s… okay,” she continues, almost to herself, “I don’t know what she’ll want to do.”
“Patience. Remember?” I tell her. “That’s a long way off. A week, at least. And it’s gonna be a long week. It’s eons away.”
“I know.”
“Alix.”
“Yeah?”
“You saved her. You know that, right?” I turn my head to look at her. “No matter what happens now. What she does. You saved her, from something serious. Whatever happens between you now as sisters, know that. You don’t have to feel bad, or guilty, for anything that’s happened in the past between you.”
“I do.” She says it, but I know she doesn’t quite believe it. “I just wonder if she’ll want to come back to Lynchburg with me.”
Back to Lynchburg. The words feel like a knife going through me.
“What’s back in Lynchburg for you, Alix?” I ask gently.
“Nothing, really,” she admits with a sigh. “Mom’s house is already foreclosed on. I couldn’t stop the process if I wanted to, and frankly, I wouldn’t have the money to do it anyway. And I lost my job, such as it was, by coming here and taking more time off than my boss let me have. So…” I feel her shrug. “I’ll have to start over.”
“Then, if there’s nothing for you in Virginia,” I say, lifting her chin with my finger, “why don’t you think about starting over here, instead?”
“You mean, here in Tanner Springs?” she asks uncertainly.
GUNNER: Lords of Carnage MC Page 17