Gunner (Ride Series Second Generation Book 4)

by Megan O'Brien

  “Are you even a nurse?” I figured the more information I could get, the more Gunner could use to find Castillo.

  Provided I somehow got out of having to meet the man myself.

  “I’m a nurse,” he confirmed. “Or, I was before I started working for Silas,” he explained. “I come in handy when someone gets hurt or when I need to lie in wait—in plain sight.” He shot me a smug smile.

  “Why?” I demanded.

  “Why?” He guffawed, as though my question amused him. “Why not? He pays me, and I don’t give a shit about you. I’ll be happy to hand you over and be done with this shit town. Silas owes me one for taking this job. How do you stand to live here? It’s so fucking boring,” he complained as he turned onto the access road that headed out of town.

  I knew I couldn’t allow him to reach our destination. My chances for survival would plummet. And I knew Max wouldn’t fire on the truck—not with me in it.

  I racked my brain for what to do without getting myself shot… just as more engines rumbled behind us. I wondered if one of them was Gunner, but I was too afraid to turn around and look.

  Peter pressed the gas to the floor, but my truck was already pushed to her limits. It was hardly the getaway vehicle of choice. Gunner had been on me about getting a new truck in recent weeks; he was worried she was going to break down on me. But maybe the fact that I’d avoided it would be a stroke of luck.

  “Piece of shit!” He swore as he punched the gas again with little change in speed. The steering wheel was shaking under his hands, a reason I rarely took her on the freeway.

  “She can’t go any faster,” I shared, my arms crossed over my chest.

  “Well, this won’t do,” he muttered to himself, glancing again at the growing cavalry we now had behind us. From the sound of it, there were at least five bikes following us now.

  Suddenly, he cranked the wheel hard, spinning the truck so it faced five very familiar motorcycles. Max, Cole, Cash, Tatum, and, heading up the front of the pack, Gunner sat with their engines idling, menace marking their expressions. Gunner’s gaze landed on me briefly, and he nodded ever so slightly, his way of telling me everything would be okay.

  Peter aimed his gun out the window, prepared to fire, and without thought I lunged at him, intent on protecting Gunner and my family.

  He got a wayward shot off as I jumped into his lap and punched him hard in the side of the head with one hand while the other slammed his arm on the doorframe, trying to force the gun free.

  Tears of fear and anger coursed down my cheeks as adrenaline made me nearly superhuman.

  I was still kicking and screaming as I was lifted bodily from the truck and held in strong, familiar arms. “Emmie, you’re okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you, baby,” Gunner growled as he struggled to control me. “Emmie, you’re safe,” he rumbled low in my ear as his familiar scent and the timbre of his voice broke through my hysteria.

  I sagged in his arms, watching distantly as Cole pulled the man I’d known as Peter from the truck and held him on the ground with his boot, his gun trained down at him.

  Gunner held me away from him slightly so he could peer down at me. “Are you alright?” he demanded harshly. “Did he hurt you?”

  I shook my head. “I’m okay.” My breath was choppy, and I knew my eyes must be wild.

  “You’ll never find him!” Peter screamed maniacally as Cole hauled him roughly to his feet. “And I’m not telling you shit!”

  “A minute, baby,” Gunner said gently, nodding to Max to step in close to me. Once Max had me, Gunner transformed before my eyes, losing all semblance of gentleness and becoming a lethal hunter. He stalked over to Peter, gripped him by the shirt, and hauled him toward him. “Guess what, asshole?” He glowered. “I already found your boss. I don’t need anything from you. So there’s no reason to leave you alive.”

  That was news to me, and my interest was immediately piqued despite the circumstances.

  Peter whimpered, his bravado lost. “Please. You may have thought you found him, but you’ll need help.”

  “Oh, I have help,” Gunner assured him darkly as he cocked his head to the side, assessing his victim. “I don’t know why you’d bother fighting it—you and I both know that even if I let you go, you failed. You’re as good as dead.”

  Peter sagged in defeat, no doubt knowing that was true.

  “Max, take Emmie home,” Gunner ordered, not bothering to take his eyes from Peter.

  “Gun, man, she’s….” Max trailed off as I distantly wondered what he meant.

  I’m what? What’s he talking about?

  Then I realized I was shaking so hard, Max was struggling to hold me upright. My teeth were chattering audibly in the warm night air.

  Gunner turned then, his eyes bright with concern as they landed on me. “Em.” His throaty murmur was full of too many emotions to name as he dropped Peter like a sack of flour and headed back to me, taking me in his arms. “Baby, promise, I’ll be right behind you,” he reassured me, stroking soothing circles on my back.

  I nodded, knowing he needed to do this.

  “Aw, fuck.” Cash groaned as I turned, shocked, to discover Peter lying still on the ground, his eyes staring lifelessly at the sky. “He had a fucking suicide pill.”

  “Shows the kind of motherfucker we’re dealin’ with that he even had that shit,” Cole put in.

  “Grab his phone.” Gunner tilted his chin toward Peter, seeming to accept the change of events with ease. “There’s one way this asshole can help us. I’ll text Castillo from his cell, buy us a little time.”

  When Cash dipped low to dig into the dead man’s pockets, it was more than I could take, and I leaned over and vomited.

  Gunner was there, holding my hair, stroking my back as I distantly heard him barking demands.

  “Sorry,” I rasped when I’d emptied my stomach and stood on shaking limbs.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m gonna get you home,” he assured me gently.

  “I can’t get back in that truck,” I gasped. The thought alone made my breathing accelerate and heart pound.

  He rubbed his hands up and down my arms reassuringly. “I’d never ask you to. Axel’s comin' with his SUV. There he is.” He gestured toward the familiar black Yukon pulling up to the scene.

  Gunner guided me gently toward the passenger side, and after a quick trade off with Axel, we were headed for home.

  His hand gripped mine over the console, warm and reassuring on my ice-cold skin. When his phone rang, he looked over at me quickly. “Gonna take this, Em.”

  I nodded, feeling numb as I returned my gaze out the window.

  “Cal,” he greeted solemnly. “She’s okay. Taking her home now.” He listened for a moment before replying. “Dead. Bloods are on their way. We’ll meet at the club first thing. Need to get Em sorted.” He paused, listening again. “I will.”

  He hung up, returning his palm to my thigh, squeezing gently. I could feel the undercurrent of tension in him that he was undoubtedly fighting for me.

  When we pulled into our garage, he turned to me. “Let me come around,” he rumbled, barely waiting for me to nod before he was out of the SUV and rounding it.

  “You don’t have to carry me.” I squeaked in surprise when he lifted me from the passenger side and carried me inside.

  “Yeah, baby. I do.”

  After his quiet affirmation, I gave up and let him take me into the house and back to our bedroom. He sat me gently on the bed, kneeling in front of me to remove my shoes and socks before standing me up again to remove the rest of my clothes. I didn’t ask what he was doing and instead simply entrusted myself to his care.

  He undressed and took my hand, guiding me gently toward the bathroom, where he started the shower. I quickly brushed my teeth, his hands on my shoulders as he stood behind me, as though he was reluctant to let me go even for a moment. When I was done, he stepped in first before holding a hand out to me.

  He pulled me c
lose and simply held me underneath the warm water, his hands running up and down my back as though assuring himself I was there.

  There was nothing sexual about his touch, and yet, after what I’d been through, the desire to be close quickly began to overshadow all other emotion.

  I kissed his chest, my hands beginning to roam as I felt him shudder in answer.

  “Em,” he rasped, and I wasn’t sure if he meant to stop me or spur me on.

  I looked up at him, finding him staring down at me with a storm of emotion on his handsome face.

  “Need you,” I murmured, watching in fascination as his nostrils flared in response. “I’m okay,” I added.

  “Doubt that. And even if you were, I’m not.” He shook his head. “Christ, Emmie.”

  I ran my hands up and down his muscular arms, relishing his strength as he gripped my hips. “I’m okay,” I repeated. I hadn’t been, but now, in our home with his arms around me, I felt nothing but safe. “I need you,” I murmured as my hand slid south, taking him in my grip.

  He threw back his head and moaned, the throaty rumble echoing off the shower walls. When his gaze came back to mine, full of hunger, I knew I’d get my wish.

  He shut the water off, toweling us both off quickly before towing me toward the bedroom. He laid me gently on the bed, and in the next breath, his face was in between my legs, his hands gripping my backside as he pulled me as close to him as I could get.

  There was nothing gentle about his touch now; this was a claiming, a reassurance that I was there and whole.

  When I shuddered moments later, gasping my release, he loomed up over me and, in one fluid thrust, planted himself inside me. He laid his body over mine, enveloping me completely as his mouth took mine in a demanding kiss.

  My fingers raked over his back, my legs wrapping over his delicious ass, pulling him closer, urging him to take what he needed.

  It was what I needed too.

  When his movements intensified, his rhythm becoming erratic, he lifted my hips higher, hitting just the spot I needed to hurtle once more over the edge with a loud cry. He followed moments later, his roar of passion raising goose bumps across my skin.

  When he collapsed on top of me, I held him there with my arms and legs, wanting to keep him close for as long as I could.

  After many long moments with us simply breathing the same air, he broke away, rolling off me and pulling me with him. He hitched my leg over his hip as we lay side by side and stared into each other’s eyes.

  “Did you really find Castillo?” I asked, reluctant to break the peaceful silence but needing to know.

  He stroked my hair back from my face. “I did,” he confirmed. “Right before we figured out who Peter actually was. Brent Larson. He’s worked for Castillo for years. Fuck.” He shook his head. “I was a minute too late. Had Max on the phone to get you when he took you.”

  I squeezed his arm. “I’m okay,” I repeated. “Won’t Castillo know Brent’s dead? Are you worried he’ll disappear again?”

  He shook his head. “Texted Castillo from Brent’s phone. Made it sound like there’s a delay in delivering you.” He grimaced at the last part. “He’ll wait,” he said resolutely. “Fucker’s been right under our nose just outside of town for the past week. No doubt waiting for Brent to deliver you.”

  “How did you find him?” I wanted to know.

  “I was able to finally hone in on some of his known associates and the kinds of deals they’ve been making. That’s when I discovered the male nurse he keeps on the payroll and put two and two together. I followed the money to this general area. Now that I have his number, I’ll be able to track his exact coordinates.”

  I shuddered in response.

  “Hey,” he rasped. “You’re safe. No one will ever fucking touch you again.”

  I looked up at him. “I know that, and I know you need to do this. But if anything happens to you….” I trailed off.

  He kissed me tenderly, his hand cupping the side of my face. “Nothing is gonna happen to me,” he promised. “Em, as much as I want to end him, I want my life with you more. That’s why I’m not heading off guns blazing. I’m waiting until I’m absolutely sure the time is right, and that includes waiting for Ruston.”

  I looked at him in surprise, now remembering vaguely that he’d mentioned the Bloods to my dad.

  “Bloods will be here tomorrow,” he shared. “Everything’s gonna be okay, baby,” he added quietly as my lids began to grow heavy. It was late, and it had been a hell of a day, to say the least. “Sleep, I’ve got you.”

  As I drifted off with his arms around me, I knew nothing but sweet dreams could penetrate his shield.

  Chapter 21

  EMMIE

  “Baby.” Gunner’s gentle voice had me rousing the next morning. “We gotta get to the club,” he shared as I felt his rough palm smooth down my side and over my hip. I cracked an eye open as he stared down at me appreciatively. “Wish we could stay in bed through,” he rumbled.

  I nodded sleepily, rolling to my back to stretch.

  “How are you?” he asked with concern as he sat on the edge of the bed, an arm braced on the other side of me.

  “I’m okay. I slept really well,” I told him honestly. “Just need to get dressed and grab some coffee and I’ll be good.”

  “You seem… okay,” he noted, his tone laden with skepticism.

  I laughed. “And that’s a bad thing?” I raised a brow.

  His brow pinched in consternation. “Yesterday was intense. You were in shock. Shit, Emmie, you were sick to your stomach—as most people would have been. You just seem to have gotten over it so quickly. I want to make sure you’re not burying shit or trying to hide anything from me,” he replied in frustration.

  I sat up, cupping his handsome face in my palm. “Yesterday was intense. I was scared to death,” I acknowledged. “But then you were there, and I knew I was taken care of. You brought me home, a home I now fully feel is mine after the time I spent with your mom, and in your arms, I knew I was safe. I’m not saying I won’t think about it. But it’s not going to haunt me. And even if it did, I know you’d be there to chase those demons away,” I explained softly.

  He pressed his forehead to mine. “I don’t deserve you,” he rasped.

  I shook my head, dispelling the thought as soon as it left his lips. “On the contrary, I think you’re well overdue in deserving the love I’m gonna give you for the rest of our lives.”

  His nostrils flared. “Well, we’d better make that official then. Marry me, Emmie.”

  My eyes popped wide as he lay over me, bracing his forearms on either side of me so he could peer down at me. “I was gonna wait to do this, but I can’t think of a better time than when you just swore to love me for the rest of our lives. I’ve spent nearly my entire life loving you, Emmie, and I can’t imagine living one day without you. I want to fill this house with kids. I want to grow old with you. Marry me, baby.”

  Tears blurred my vision, and I frantically blinked them back, not wanting to miss a single second. “Yes,” I managed.

  He grinned. “Yeah?”

  I nodded, laughing when he let out a whoop before taking my mouth in a passionate kiss. “One sec.” He pulled away to open his bedside drawer producing a beautiful diamond ring. “This is the ring my dad gave my mom. She gave it to me yesterday,” he explained, sliding the gorgeous diamond on my finger. It was nearly a perfect fit, only a tiny bit loose. “Do you like it? I know you said you wanted a tattoo. We can always do that too,” he assured me.

  “It’s perfect,” I was quick to convey, gazing in awe at the vintage-style oval diamond set on a delicate gold band.

  “Yeah,” he murmured, though his eyes were on mine. “It is.”

  “We’re going to be late getting to the club,” I confirmed as his mouth skated over mine in a gentle caress.

  “Oh, yeah,” he growled enthusiastically.

  * * *

  When we walked into the club an
hour later, it was full of members, their women, and a very pissed-off-looking Grace Jackson.

  She strode directly for me, her green eyes narrowed. “I can’t believe that asshole,” she ranted. “Are you okay? I can’t believe you didn’t call….” She drifted off as her gaze landed on my ring finger. “Holy shit,” she breathed.

  “Yep.” I grinned.

  She let out a shriek so loud, a few of the men groaned in protest.

  “I asked Emmie to marry me this morning,” Gunner confirmed, forced to let me go when I was immediately surrounded by the women in my life, all intent on offering their very enthusiastic congratulations.

  I distantly heard the men doing the same in a much more subdued fashion.

  “Let’s celebrate,” Ginnie prompted when the initial eruption of enthusiasm had quieted to a more manageable degree.

  “We need a meet,” I heard Cole tell Gunner.

  “You guys go.” I nodded to Gunner. “I’ll celebrate with my girls. Find me when you’re done.”

  He pulled me to him, kissing me firmly. “Won’t be long.” He looked up, locking eyes with Grace. “Take care of my fiancée.”

  “You know it.” She nodded, reaching out to take my hand as I was pulled bodily to the couches by a bunch of very eager females.

  We had just situated ourselves, Bloody Marys in hand, when female voices were heard just outside the entrance of the club.

  “This is fucking cool!” a familiar voice exclaimed.

  “And you were gonna leave us home, what the hell?” another chimed in.

  “Who’s that?” Wren asked in confusion a moment before the door

  swung open and in walked Lanie, Ava, Dallas, Tank, Cason, and finally, Ruston.

  I grinned, rising to my feet as Lanie, Ava, and Dallas hollered in welcome. “These are the Royal Bloods,” I introduced as I was wrapped in my second enthusiastic group hug of the morning.

  “Drinking already? I like it.” Dallas grinned with approval.

  “We’re celebrating. Em and Gunner just got engaged,” Liv shared with a grin.

  “No shit?” Dallas grinned. “Congratulations.”

  “Congratulations,” Lanie and Ava echoed.