Under the Gun (CEP Book 3)

by Harper Bentley

  He turned to see Tilly smiling up at him, eyes filled with tears, but still giving him encouragement. He bent and hugged her whispering a rough thank you in her ear.

  Brock and Quaid came in shortly after followed by Gunner’s mom and dad, Chase and Julia, Quinn’s sister Jodi who told him her parents were catching the next flight out, and finally Boone with Quinn’s purse which Gunner told him to give to Jodi.

  Everyone came by to tell him she’d be fine which was all good and well, but he needed to hear it from someone official. And when he’d tried finding anything out, all the nurses could tell him was that she was still in surgery.

  Quinn’s parents arrived an hour and a half later, and Jodi introduced everyone, making sure to point out that Gunner was Quinn’s boyfriend at which they thanked him for taking care of their daughter, making him feel even worse for what he’d let happen.

  An hour later, the surgeon finally came into the waiting room letting them know he’d closed her wounds, that no major organs had been pierced, but he stated that she was lucky to have even survived with the amount of blood she’d lost. She was being placed in intensive care, her status listed as critical, but he felt confident that that would change in the next few hours.

  Her parents went in first to see her and when they came out, they motioned Jodi in who turned to Gunner and said, “You go first. I know my sister and she’s going to be okay.”

  He bent and gave her a hug letting her know it meant a lot to him that she’d do that.

  Walking inside her room, he hesitated for a moment to collect himself because seeing her lying there in her condition looking so pale and small, threw him for a few seconds, actually scared the shit out of him, and he once again cussed at himself for leaving her alone.

  He took a deep breath before going to the side of her bed where he took her delicate hand in his and bent to kiss her fingers. He then held the backs of her fingers against his forehead as his elbows hit the bed and his breath caught.

  He’d almost lost her.

  He’d just found her and she’d almost been gone from his life forever.

  Fuck!

  “Baby, I promise to make this right. I’m so sorry I left you alone. I’m sorry I wanted to leave. Sorry I was a coward. I hope you can forgive me,” he murmured, eyes closed and head bowed.

  He felt a small squeeze on his hand and jerked his head up to see her looking at him.

  “Hey, baby. You feeling okay?” his voice cracking as he spoke.

  She gave him a weak smile, blinking a time or two then she was out again.

  Just before midnight, Quinn’s status was raised to stable and everyone gave a communal sigh of relief. Afterward, they all said their goodbyes, going to their homes, the McDonnells going to Quinn’s apartment for the night, but Gunner alone stayed at the hospital wanting to make sure she was okay. He wasn’t risking leaving her again and having something bad happen.

  “Gunner,” he heard.

  Squinting his eyes and sitting up in the waiting room chair, he looked up to see Detective Jared holding out a cup of coffee to him. He took it and placed on the end table then rubbed his hands over his face trying to wake up. That’s when he noticed the sun was coming in the windows which instantly had him awake and he jumped up quickly.

  “Is she okay?” he asked alert as hell.

  Jared nodded. “She’s good. Said they’re moving her to a regular room in a few hours.”

  Gunner let out a breath. “Thank fuck.” He cupped his hands over his face, saying a silent prayer of thanksgiving before turning and picking up the coffee and taking a drink winced at the bitterness of it.

  “Thought you’d wanna know Elaine Vance didn’t survive,” Jared said.

  He looked at the detective. “Damn.” What else could he say? She’d tried to kill the woman he loved. The news of her death didn’t exactly make him sad.

  Jared nodded at the chairs for them to sit. “We found Rodman Vance dead in their house last night. Found a prescription bottle of sedatives on the counter in the kitchen. Thinking she drugged him then stabbed him to death. Bled out.” He looked at Gunner. “And missing an ear.” He shrugged.

  “Jesus.”

  Jared finished drinking and set the cup on the coffee table. “Might sound cruel, but it’s probably for the best that she didn’t make it. She would’ve been up for murder and attempted, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon. The list goes on. Your girl would’ve had to testify. So probably better this way.”

  Gunner nodded.

  Jared stood. “Just wanted to let you know.”

  Gunner stood and shook his hand. “Thanks.”

  “You bet.”

  After Jared left Gunner saw it was just after seven. He downed the coffee then went to use the facilities and splash water on his face. When he came out he asked at the nurses’ station if he could see Quinn, and going into her room, immediately saw that her color had returned and she looked much better.

  “Thank you, God,” he mumbled as he walked to her bedside.

  He kissed her forehead then sat in the chair by her bed, watching as she slept, frowning when her stubborn brow moved down a few times as she dreamed. He wished he could take all the bad from her head so she wouldn’t remember what’d happened. But knowing her, she’d want to know it all then face it, headstrong as ever.

  And that’s what made him love her even more. She was strong-willed, didn’t put up with a lot of shit and lived her life full-speed ahead.

  And he wouldn’t have wanted her any other way.

  Epilogue

  “You know, scars are the new black,” Quinn said as she looked at herself in the mirror.

  Tilly chuckled. “I think they are. Got a couple of my own.”

  It was two months later and they were at Quinn’s apartment where Tilly was helping her pack for the two-and-a-half-week long vacation she and Gunner were leaving on in the morning.

  Quinn turned away from her mirror to look at her friend who sat on the bed folding clothes. “I know you do,” she said softly, remembering Tilly had been shot by her own crazy stalker not too long ago.

  “Welcome to the sorority, honey,” Tilly said, rolling her eyes.

  Quinn turned back to the mirror adjusting the bikini top she was wearing, turning to her right away from the mirror to see the scar on the left side of her back. “I’ve been thinking.”

  “Now that’s a scary thought.” Quinn narrowed her eyes Tilly from the mirror which made Tilly her snort.

  “Is it me or are these CEP men just bad luck?” Quinn asked and Tilly burst out laughing as did Quinn. “I mean, first Julia gets kidnapped and punched in the face, then you get kidnapped and shot, and now me, kidnapped and stabbed. What’s up with these guys?” She winked at her friend’s reflection knowing full well that if it hadn’t been for the CEP guys, they’d probably not be there talking just then.

  “I’m just glad you’re okay,” Tilly stated. “Ooohh, how about this?” She held up a royal blue halter crop top with fringe hanging from the bottom, twisting the hanger to make the fringe “dance.”

  “I love that top! Yes, pack it! But make sure my white mini-skirt goes too.”

  Quinn heard the front door close then Gunner called, “Baby? Is it safe?”

  Tilly giggled as Quinn answered, “Unless you wanna help pack, I suggest you go golf another eighteen holes!”

  When he mumbled, “Jesus fucking Christ,” she looked at Tilly and they cracked up laughing.

  “I’ll blow your fucking head off!” Gunner yelled.

  Quinn sat up quickly and turned on the bedside lamp. This was fifth time in the past two months he’d awakened her with one of his bad dreams. The four previous times, she’d had to talk to him for a good ten minutes, helping to wake him and letting him know everything was okay, she was okay, then he’d been good.

  As she shook him lightly, she readied herself to help him come back from the bad, come back to her. “Gunner? Honey? Wake up!”

  �
�Not fuckin’ around. Drop the knife,” he mumbled gruffly, frowning as he said it.

  “Gunner!” she yelled.

  “What? What is it?” he asked, sitting up and reaching for his gun on the nightstand.

  “Hey, honey, it’s okay,” she said, reaching out and placing a hand on his arm, stopping him from grabbing his gun.

  He turned back to her still disoriented from his nightmare then looked around the room for an intruder.

  “You were dreaming, sweetheart,” she informed him putting her hand against his chest.

  He pulled in a deep breath and let it out then rubbed his hands over his face. “Yeah.”

  She watched as he blinked, trying to wake up, ready to talk him through it all. He leaned back against the headboard and let out another breath still on edge.

  “I need to tell you something,” he stated.

  She looked at him sitting there, eyes closed and wincing as if in pain. Maybe turmoil.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  He let out a breath and opened his eyes, looking at her. “I’m a fucking coward, Quinn.”

  She frowned, not understanding.

  “When everything went down with you, when I couldn’t find you, at one point I wanted to leave. Just go. Leave you to die and get away.”

  She held in the gasp that threatened to come out.

  “Yeah. I’m a fucking coward. All I could think was it was just like Nate. Exactly like it when he died right there in my arms and I couldn’t do a fucking thing about it.”

  Ah. Now she understood.

  “Baby, that’s only natural. You didn’t want to hurt anymore. It makes total sens—”

  “No!” he yelled scaring her to death. “I’m a fucking coward for thinking of leaving you to die!” He stood up off the bed, pacing in agitation.

  “Gunner, listen to me.” She got out of bed and went to him. “Listen. It’s perfectly normal for a person not to want any more pain. If you hadn’t reacted that way, I’d have been worried.”

  He looked at her like she was crazy and she nodded in assurance.

  “You had to face the fears you’d dealt with before. That doesn’t mean you’re a coward. It means you’re brave, honey. You overcame your fears and saved me.

  He gazed down at her for a moment letting that sink in.

  “Yeah, so, baby, you’re the hero here. That was a huge test and you passed with flying colors.”

  That seemed to appease him and he took her in his arms and held her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  “Nothing to be sorry for. You saved me. You overcame incredible odds and saved me. Thank you.”

  She tiptoed up and kissed him then taking his hand, led him to get back into bed.

  And that was when she decided to take another tactic with him hoping humor would help.

  “You know, when I was little, well, even now I do it, but right before I fall asleep, I think of something good like a trip to Disneyland or something,” she offered. “It keeps the nightmares away.” She raised her eyebrows at him hopefully.

  “Fuck,” he groaned.

  And that made her giggle. “What?”

  Cutting his eyes at her, he replied, “Not gonna think of fucking Disneyland as I fall asleep, baby. I’m a guy. I’ll think of a strip club or something but not Disneyland. Jesus.”

  Before she knew what she was doing, she quickly reached out and grabbed his nipple, twisting it.

  Swatting her hand away, he barked out, “Hey! What was that for?”

  Well, now she had to go with it, so she answered, “You, thinking of a strip club. Big jerk.” She turned to get out of bed but he threw an arm out wrapping her around the waist and pulling her back to him making her let out an “Mmph!” as she landed against his chest. Pulling her more fully onto his lap, he growled in her ear, “You’d be my stripper, baby.”

  “Uh huh. Sure.”

  He cupped her breast over the tight tank top she was wearing, sliding his other hand down between her legs, pulling her panties aside then gliding his fingers through her folds. “Mm hm. You would.”

  “Our vacation hasn’t started yet. We leave in,” she said breathily, glancing at the clock on the nightstand that said 3 a.m. “Four hours.”

  “Far as I’m concerned, it started the minute I got home last night,” he answered, still moving his hand, his finger and thumb pinching her nipple.

  “There’s so much we’ve got to do. I can’t wait to go snorkeling and shopping.”

  “There’ll be plenty of time for that, babe. But l need you right now,” he whispered in her ear, sliding a finger inside of her.

  She arched her back, her head hitting his shoulder as she let out a moan.

  And that was the thing with them. While he may have saved her from dying at the hands of a crazy woman, she saved him right back, helping him come back to her when the bad threatened to overtake him.

  And for them, it worked.

  Gable (The Powers That Be, Book 1)

  Summer, two weeks before class:

  You know that feeling you get when you meet someone and feel as if you’ve known them for a lifetime? As if you’re just connected in some way?

  Yeah, that didn’t happen the first time I met Gable Powers. Matter of fact, I didn’t like him one bit.

  Oh, I know about all the Powers boys now. I actually knew about them by the first day of school since it seemed as if every woman on campus couldn’t stop talking about how each brother was just as gorgeous as the next, and things like, “Omigod! The Powers brothers are so hot!” or “Aren’t they just the cutest you’ve ever seen?” were proclaimed almost everywhere I went the entire first week of school. From listening in on these chicks wax rhapsodic over these brothers, if they were anything less than Nick Bateman clones, well, then I’d be highly disappointed. But from their conversations, I learned the Powers were from Seattle, all of them went to Hallervan, Zeke was a senior who played on the football team, Lochlan was a freshman who was some kind of computer genius, Ryker was a sophomore wrestler and Gable was a junior. I had yet to figure out what his superpower was, but I can honestly say that when I first met him, I couldn’t have cared less.

  My up-close-and-personal with Gable Powers left me less than thrilled, and when I finally figured out who he was and said something later about it to my new roommate, I got a stare of disbelief which made me roll my eyes.

  So here’s how it all went down.

  I’d answered an ad in the Seattle Times for a roommate. On my way to meet Amy (fellow sophomore who’d eventually become my new roomie), I’d had a flat tire and had to pull over in an area of the city I was unfamiliar with—hell I was unfamiliar with the entire friggin’ place—and, of course, it’d been raining. As a farm girl, I knew how to change a tire, had no problem changing a tire, but per Dad’s instructions, I called AAA and stayed in my car waiting for someone to show up, kind of feeling like a wuss for doing so. I knew I could’ve done it and been on my way in no time but I decided to let Dad parent me for a change. Not that he wasn’t a good father; it’s just that I was majorly independent.

  Needless to say, I was a little surprised when a black pickup truck stopped behind me and a guy got out, almost immediately after I’d hung up with the auto service. I mean, I’d heard AAA was fast, but come on. The guy had come to the driver’s side and when he’d tapped on the window of my little Honda, I’d seen the full sleeve tattoo on his muscular arm and my eyes had bugged out.

  See, I’m from a small town in Idaho where everyone thinks tattoos are Satan’s markings, which I know is ridiculous and is one of the many reasons I couldn’t wait to leave that shitty little place, but I regret saying that when I’d seen his arm, I’d been a little on edge. The guy had stood there in the pouring rain while I contemplated what to do as I checked out the rest of him. He appeared to be over six feet tall and his entire body was ripped. Dang. I could see his abs all bumpy and defined through the wet white t-shirt that clung to him, and his rain-soaked jeans we
re stuck to what appeared to be muscular thighs. I’d then felt bad for ogling him as he stood there getting drenched, so I finally rolled my window down an inch and he’d bent to ask if I needed help.

  And, my God, was he beautiful.

  I stared at him as rain dripped from his straight nose to the ground. It drizzled down his high cheekbones where it met his strong, stubble-covered jaw, trickling to his chin before finally slipping off. The long curls of dark hair that framed his tanned face were dripping wet also, but it was his light brown eyes that held my attention, so expressive and soulful, lined in long, sooty lashes that were spiked from the rain. Damn. He was a total friggin’ hunk.

  “I’ve called Triple A, so no, thank you,” I’d yelled over the rain through the cracked window.

  He’d given me a sexy half grin, which made butterflies bounce off the walls of my stomach. “I could probably have it fixed before they even get their truck started.”

  I’d twisted my mouth to the side not really knowing what to do. I mean, if I agreed to let him fix it, I may as well just do it. “Uh, that’s okay.”

  “Seriously. You wouldn’t even have to get out, Rebecca. Just pop the trunk and I’ll take care of it. You won’t even have to lift one of your pretty, little fingers.” The smug look he’d given me made me frown. A lot.

  “Rebecca?” I asked wondering what he was talking about.

  “Of Sunnybrook Farm. You know, all clean and wholesome. Prissy,” he’d replied with a twinkle in his eye as he grinned fully now, his straight white teeth making him even more attractive.

  What the hell? I’d grown up with two older brothers and I was anything but prissy. I could drive a tractor for chrissakes! “No, really, it’s fine,” I said through gritted teeth.

  “Oh, c’mon. Can’t have a helpless little lady like yourself out here all alone, you know. What are you, like fifteen?”

  I blinked at how rude he was being which was when Kim Kardashian, Jr. had walked up holding an umbrella and wearing the shortest shorts I’d ever seen. The crop t-shirt she wore had so much cut off that I could see her braless boobs hanging out from under it and couldn’t help but gape at how provocatively she was dressed. Then she’d whined, “What’s going onnnnnn, Gable? God! These helpless little Daddy’s Girls are so annoying! I could’ve changed the tire by nooooow! Leave the rich bitch alone and come onnnnnn!”