“Your brother-in-law? He was here?”
“Yeah, he just left.”
“No, idiot! That guy from last night. The fine, sexy one.”
“Wait, who? The guy I was dancing with? I don’t even know his name.”
She slaps my arm hard. “Ouch!”
“Not him. The one who knocked that guy on his ass.”
“Gunner?”
“Gunner. Oh my God. Where did he come from and do they have more like him?”
I can’t help laughing. She’s freaking ridiculous. “You cannot be talking about Gunner. And if you are, something is wrong with you. The guy’s an asshole.”
“I don’t care about his personality. Did you look at him? My God, Chloe, open your eyes. I’m surprised I beat Stacee and Kim here. It’s all they could talk about last night.”
My nose scrunches with a disgusted look. “Are you serious? Wait, so no one is mad at me about last night?”
“Hell no. Did you see what he did to those guys? All for you. Do you know how many girls dream about having a strong, hot guy coming in, swooping us up over their shoulder, fending off all other men?”
Another laugh escapes out of my mouth. “Wrong guy.”
“No, right guy. You must be blind.”
“Look Hannah, Gunner is not some white knight in shining armor. He wasn’t fending other men off of me for the reasons you think. He was doing it for…”
Suddenly my door opens, yet again, saving me from explaining the situation. I don’t ever talk about what my brother-in-law does or who his family is. Not that some people don’t already know, it’s just, I don’t want them to know. They turn all funny and treat me differently. Some act scared to be around me. Hannah has seen Vin, but only knows him as my brother-in-law. I’ve never told her his last name. So far, it’s been enough for her, because she thinks he’s hot and that is all she cares to know and if I did, I doubt she would even know what I’m talking about anyway.
My professor yesterday, mentioning my connections threw me and pissed me off. It’s better if I keep my two worlds separated. Besides, I’m not stupid. I would never, ever, drag Vin’s name around for something to slip which could possibly be used against him. He might treat me like a little girl, but I know he loves me, and I love him.
Well, so much for not thinking about Gunner. Stacee and Kim hit me with every question imaginable.
6
Gunner
A few days later, I’m summoned to the gym of all places. It’s morning and my plans were to stay in bed until I had to meet Shane at his office. Instead, I’m waiting for him while talking to Ed.
“You ready for another match?” he asks.
Acting indifferent, I shrug. There’s only one match I want. I’m biding my time but it’s killing me. I came here and killed for Catherine, wanting to go up the ranks. However, the minute I saw him, there has been nothing else on my mind. That son of a bitch has been here the whole time. Caged. And nothing else matters. Not even my life.
One way or another, I will continue to play along. Fighting and going through all the shit they’re putting me through. It’s just buying him time. Time the bastard doesn’t deserve, making me restless for blood. Anyone’s blood. Until one day, ultimately his blood. Yeah, I’ll keep playing ignorant.
“Sure, why not? Just another couple of thousand in my pocket,” I tell Ed. When nothing is further from the truth. Money is not what I want. You can’t take it with you.
Shane walks up, obviously overhearing the conversation with Ed. “You’re getting awfully cocky, Gunner. It’s a surefire way to get your ass knocked down to the mat.”
He’s wrong. There’s no way I’m going down. It has nothing to do with cockiness, and everything to do with determination. Vengeance is my end, and until I get it, there is not one motherfucker who will stop me.
“Why am I here?” I ask, not replying to his words.
“I needed a workout and wanted the best. Aren’t you it?” he toys.
It’s going to be one of these kinds of mornings. He loves to antagonize me. But I know what he really wants, and it’s to dig for information he thinks he can get by pissing me off. In the ring, he doesn’t shut his mouth. Pushing and asking questions, hoping I will slip up and spill. Game on.
“Let’s go.”
He gives me a tiny upturn to his mouth as I turn, going to the back to change my clothes.
When I come out, I see Shane getting his hands wrapped by Ed. I wait because I do listen. Shane told me, trust no one with your prep work. Ed is the best and if he trusts him, I can too, with this at least. Nothing else because I don’t trust a single person.
Shane steps out of the way when Ed’s finished with him and stands near while I get taped up. He’s eyeing me like he always does, wanting to read my body language. I’m careful not to let him.
“Why the shirt, Gunner?” Shane asks while Ed looks up at me curious himself.
“Go fuck yourself, Shane.”
Ed laughs, giving me a little ego boost. Yeah, I’m mouthy but it’s not hard when you don’t care.
“I’ve seen the scars, brother. Ed has, too.”
“You’re not my brother,” I tell him.
“Is that who he is? The name, Christopher?”
Fucking, Shane.
He keeps taunting, “Every tattoo has a meaning behind them.”
“You think because you saw them, you know shit?”
“Then tell me.”
Ed finishes with my tape, and I walk away toward the ring, ignoring Shane as he follows on my ass. He stays silent as we both dance around each other, waiting for one of us to be the first to strike.
“See, this is the crazy thing, Gunner. You want the rank? You want to be close to the inner circle? Then we have to be brothers.”
He punches me quick with a jab before going on, “We have to be able to trust you.”
Another jab to my face. “Everyone has a tell. Weak people have the strongest tell.”
I land a body shot, making him groan. It doesn’t stop him though.
“A person who has no tells is hiding something. What are you hiding, Gunner?”
“Not a damn thing.” I punch him square in the jaw. He shakes it off and lands me with a one, two. I catch my balance, shifting my feet.
“You want me to say something? Prove something to you? Okay, then give me a caged man.” I’m extra careful not to mention which one of his incoming and outgoing caged men I’m referring to. “It’s what you’re wanting to do anyway, right? My so-called final test.”
My words pique his interest. He pauses and asks, “Which one?” He smiles knowing and adds, “Most of the men in those cages aren’t actually worth the effort. Ed can take them down at his age.”
“Screw you, Shane. At this age, I can take you down!” Ed yells making us both chuckle.
Shane’s eyes land back on me. This time, he asks, “You meant the one. Didn’t you? Why should I give him to you? You think you’re ready?” He laughs and says, “I saw your car out there. You can’t even handle a girl.”