Chapter 18
Natasa
I don’t think I’ve ever had this many feelings or emotions inside of me all at once. I’m a complete mess as we arrive back at the clubhouse.
“Rick?” I ask, looking up at Gunner.
“Is waitin’ for you.”
“He’s okay?”
“He’s good. Misses you,” he tells me. I lean up and kiss him. I’ve missed his lips. I’ve missed his arms. I’ve missed him. How can that be? How can I miss someone so much in a matter of days?
Gunner pulls me in and holds me tighter. I don’t care either. I want him to hold me. I want him to keep me in his arms.
“Never lettin’ you go again, baby girl. Never.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re mine, Nat. I’m keepin’ you.” His words wrap around my heart and squeeze. We still don’t know each other that well, but I suppose we know enough.
“I hate that you know what he did to me,” I whisper.
“I don’t. I needed to hear it, Nat. I needed to know what I’m up against, and now that I do, I’ll be prepared.”
“For what?”
“What I do to him in return. He isn’t gettin’ out of this unscathed. He’s gonna pay for what he did to you,” he explains to me. I nod my head before resting it on his chest. I just need a minute. A minute to know he’s here and that he’s real.
“You wanna stay in here a while?”
“No. I need to see Rick.”
“You can see Rick but if you need a minute, we wait.”
“Why are you doing all this for me?” I ask, looking up at him.
“I think I’m fallin’ hard for you, Nat. I had good things in my life with the club and my kids, but you … you brought out somethin’ in me that I didn’t think I had anymore.”
“Which is?”
“Light. Love. I don’t know, Nat. I’m a better man with you around.” Tears run down my cheeks as Gunner reaches up and wipes them away. “I don’t know how to explain it to you. I don’t even know that I want to. Youjust make me feel different, Nat.”
“Thank you. For everything, Gunner.” And then I lean up and kiss him. I press my lips to his and kiss the man like I can’t breathe without him.
When I finally pull away, he smiles at me and shifts me off his lap.
“He’s waitin’ on you,” he says, nodding toward the door where I see Rick pacing back and forth. A small smile crosses my face as I look at him. He’s alive. He’s here and he’s safe.
“You took care of him,” I state.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Most people don’t know how to take Rick.”
“He’s your friend; that’s all I need to know,” he says as he reaches for the door handle and pops the door open. He climbs out before offering me his hand and helping me out. As soon as my feet hit the pavement I take off toward Rick. He comes flying toward me and pulls me into him as soon as we’re close enough. I hug him, hold him, and pray I’m not hurting him.
“I was so scared, Rick. So fucking scared you didn’t make it.”
“I’m here, Nat. I’m not going anywhere. It’s going to take more than that to get rid of me.” I burst into tears. I cry because I watched my best friend get stabbed. I cry because I watched him lie there in pain. I watched him bleed out all over the concrete before I was taken away.
“Are you okay?”
“I will be. I’m just glad you’re here,” I whisper in his ear. He holds me tighter as Gunner walks around us and pats Rick’s back.
“Your girl is back,” he tells him. We pull apart and turn to face Gunner.
“Thanks to you. I can’t thank you enough, Gunner,” Rick tells him.
“No need to. I’d do just about anything for that girl,” he says before his gaze comes to meet mine.
“I’m starting to see that.”
“Good. Because it’s the truth. You just have to ask, Nat, and I’ll give you anything you want.”
“Food?” I ask, smiling at him. Gunner grins at me and nods his head.
“I can arrange that. Gotta get that baby fed.” He nods toward my stomach and holds his hand out to me. I meet him halfway and take his hand in mine. With our fingers threaded together, we walk into the clubhouse. There are cheers as we enter, and Kiki comes running toward me. She grabs me out of her dad’s hand and pulls me into a hug.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Nat. Dad was going to rip the goddamn city apart to find you.”
“He was?”
“Yeah, he was. He was beyond pissed, girl.”
“I’m glad he looked for me. I’m glad he found me,” I tell her.
“Me too. It wasn’t the same without you here,” she tells me. My heart feels full. I never knew having people around me like this could feel so right. Another tear rolls down my cheek as she pulls away, and I look at Gunner. He looks at me strangely before stepping closer. Pulling me from Kiki, he tugs me right into his arms and right into my safe space.
“Don’t cry, baby girl. Everything is gonna be okay.”
“I know it is. Thank you.”
“Stop thankin’ me before I bend you over and fuck you against the bar.” My cheeks heat as a small smile tugs across my face. I like he isn’t embarrassed to take me anywhere he wants.
“I’m just happy,” I tell him.
“You should be. You deserve that much.”
“Gunner?”
“Yeah.”
“You make me happy.”
“I’m glad. You make me happy too, Nat.”