Under the Gun (CEP Book 3) (15 page)

“What was that all about?” Gunner asked as they left the church.

“He called me a stupid cunt,” she told him.

“You’re fucking kidding me.” She could tell Gunner wanted to go back in the church because he hesitated, but she pulled on his bicep, tugging him toward the street so they could get a cab.

“Nope. But it’s okay. I’m over it. Little jerk will soon get his,” she said.

“He so fucking will,” Gunner promised holding the door of the taxi that had stopped open for her.

Chapter 14

“Dude, where you been? A funeral?” Boone teased when Gunner walked into CEP.

“Uh, yeah, that’s exactly where I’ve been.”

Boone’s face dropped. “Sorry, man. Bad joke.”

“No, it’s okay,” Gunner answered. “My dad here?”

“In his office.”

“Thanks.”

As he walked toward Hank’s office, he noticed it was unusually quiet. And that’s when he realized Abby wasn’t there.

“Where’s Abby?” he asked his dad.

“Family emergency. Dad had a heart attack so she flew back to Wisconsin to be with him.”

“That’s not good.”

“Yeah. Told her to call when she heard something. What’s going on with Quinn?” Hank asked.

Gunner looked at his dad for a second wondering if he was asking if they were sleeping together then his senses came the fuck back. Jesus. “Dropped her off at her place after the funeral and she was taking a nap but wanted to get your thoughts on things.”

“Okay.”

Gunner told him about he and Oz confronting Rod then about Tommy Edwards’s remark this morning.

“Punk needs to be put in his place.”

“Yeah, he does,” Gunner agreed.

“So you thinking it’s this Vance guy or the kid?”

“Not sure. And nothing the cops would call illegal has really been done yet, so not a lot I can do but threaten right back which sucks ass.”

Hank nodded. “Catch-22.  On the one hand, it’s good that nothing’s gone on. On the other, bring that shit so we can take action, huh, kid?”

Gunner nodded right back. “Gave the security at her office and apartment building my card telling them to call if anything happened, so I’ve got that covered.”

And lo and behold, his phone rang right at that moment.

“Yeah?”

He listened for a moment then turned and headed out of the office.

“Son?” Hank called after him.

“Someone tried breaking into her apartment. I’ve gotta go.”

In the cab, Gunner called Quinn but didn’t get an answer. “Goddamn it!” he yelled making the cabbie jump. He next called Oz telling him what’d happened and asking him to meet him so they could view the video and see if it was the same person. He tried calling Quinn again and thought about throwing his phone when she still didn’t pick up.

Dialing again, he waited for an answer.

“Security. This is Brandon,” a man answered, the same one who’d called Gunner.

“Is she there with you?” Gunner asked.

“Yes.”

“Give her the phone.” When Quinn came on her voice sounded so tiny he wanted to punch someone. “Baby. You okay?”

“I don’t know. I was asleep and kept hearing something. I thought it was you getting back but then I heard a loud bang on the door and got up to see what was going on. Whoever was out there was rattling the doorknob like crazy and it sounded like they were picking the lock. I was so scared.”

She sounded like she was in shock, no emotion in her telling him this.

“Stay put. I’ll be right there.”

He jumped out of the cab and ran into the building heading right to security.

“Where is she?” he asked one of the guards.

“In here,” he said, leading him into a lounge-type room.

She sat on a couch in the clothes she’d changed into after the funeral, a royal blue turtleneck and another pair of tattered jeans, but she looked so lost there by herself and he was angry that he’d left her alone.

When she saw him, her eyes didn’t light up as they normally did. No, they were blank as if she’d just checked out.

“Hey, baby,” he said, sitting next to her and pulling her into his lap. “You okay?”

She looked at him and he finally saw a flash of emotion as her eyes watered. “I just…I just want it to stop,” she whispered.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m gonna find out who did this.” God, he was pissed. Whoever the fuck was doing this to her was going to die by his own goddamned hands.

They sat there for a long time before Oz and Tilly came in, which brought Quinn back to life and she crawled off his lap going to her best friend who hugged her tightly as Quinn cried.

Gunner stood and met Oz halfway. “They got the video ready?” Oz asked.

“Haven’t asked. I just got here a few minutes ago.” Seeing that Quinn was with Tilly, he looked back at Oz. “Come on,” he said, walking out to the main security office. “You Brandon?”

“I am,” the guy said, standing and shaking Gunner’s hand.

“You have video yet?” Gunner asked.

“Yeah. Have a seat.” He motioned to two chairs. “This shit’s weird.”

Brandon ran the film back showing them where a guy dressed exactly as he’d been before, hoodie, head covered, nondescript clothing and the watch. Gunner hated this shit because on the video he could tell the guy was smaller. Rod was probably five-nine but so was Tommy which didn’t narrow anything down for them. They watched as the bastard came into the lobby through the front doors and went right for the stairwell. The video then flashed over to Quinn’s floor showing the guy exiting the stairway and going right to her door.

“This is where it gets weird,” Brandon said.

Gunner and Oz watched as the guy passed her door and headed right to the camera, then pulling out a huge knife, waved it around so it caught the lights.

“Look the fuck up, asshole,” Gunner mumbled, wanting to see who it was, but the hoodie’s shadow hid everything. “Fuck!”

The guy walked back to Quinn’s door and putting the knife on the floor, knelt and started working at the lock with what looked like an actual lock pick. He got the lock on the knob picked, it appeared, because he moved to the first deadbolt next. But this one was giving him a hard time it appeared because he got frustrated and pounded a fist against the door. He tried the lock for another moment then gave up. But before leaving, he wedged the knife between the door and the jam, then turning once again to face the camera, he held his arms out as if taunting them. Then he left by the stairwell again.

“Jesus Christ,” Oz murmured.

“She didn’t say anything about a knife,” Gunner pointed out.

“No. When we got there, I hid it in my jacket. Didn’t want to alarm Ms. McDonnell any more than she already was,” Brandon explained.

“Good thinking. Thanks,” Gunner said.

“You got the knife?” Oz asked.

“Yeah, right here.” Brandon opened a drawer and pulled it out by a handle wrapped in a cloth handing it to Oz. “Didn’t know if it has prints but I doubt it ‘cause the guy’s wearing gloves.”

“You call the police?” Gunner asked.

“Yeah. Detective Jared said he’d be over later to check things out.”

“Weird fuckin’ knife,” Oz commented. “It’s like a chef’s knife or something. Look.” He handed it to Gunner. “See the weird shit etched on it?”

“I’ve seen these before,” Gunner said, looking at the blade. “Friend of mine in the Army had one. Said he trained to be a chef before enlisting and got it as a gift. It’s Japanese. Something like this would cost around two grand.”

“No fuckin’ way,” Oz and Brandon said at the same time.

“Whoever this belongs to is serious about cooking,” Gunner declared. “I’ll call Tommy’s dad and see if they’re missing a knife by any chance.”

“What about Vance?” Oz asked.

“Been thinkin’ about it and I’m not sure it’s him. Not letting him off the hook but I’m not sure.” He then told him what the kid had said to Quinn at the funeral.

“Jesus. And his parents were standing right there?” Oz asked.

“Yeah, but they were pretty distraught. Don’t think they heard him.”

They thanked Brandon for the help and going back into the lounge, Gunner saw Quinn had settled down and she and Tilly were talking quietly.

“Hey,” he said. “I’m gonna take you back upstairs to get some things then we’re going to my place.”

She shook her head. “No, Gunner. This ends now. I’m gonna stay with Tilly.”

“No, you’re goddamned not, Quinn,” he said through gritted teeth so tired of her always resisting shit.

“I am.”

“No.”

She and Tilly both stood, Tilly going to Oz and Quinn facing off with Gunner.

“I said I’m staying with them! God! Do you ever fucking listen?”

“You’re not.”

“We’ll never work! We’re both too stubborn! It just won’t work.”

“We’ll fucking work, Quinn,” he bit out.

He could tell he’d pushed her as far as she’d go because without warning, she let him have it. “I am! I’m so sick of this shit! You acting like you like me when I gave you a year to do something and you did nothing! You turned me down for coffee then went on about your life as if it was
nothing
, like it was no big deal! Well, it was a big deal to
me
, Gunner! I liked you! A lot!” She glared at him then started pointing her finger from herself to him then back again a few times. “And I don’t know what’s going on between us now but I’m putting an end to it right now because all you’re gonna do is break my goddamned heart!”

“Missed it a-fucking-gain, Quinn,” he ground out.

“And what the hell does that mean anyway?”

She was screaming hysterically now, which she had every right to do because of the circumstances, but all her yelling was riling him up right along with her.

“I’ve been giving you fucking clues this whole time and you’ve totally ignored them!” he rumbled.

“Clues? What are you talking about?” she snapped right back.

“Jesus Christ, if I have to point them out they mean nothing!”

“That’s just great, Gunner! Just fucking great! So glad you could help me out here! So you know what? I’m done! We’re done!” With her fingers gathered together at the tips, she used them to touch herself in the head a few times as she said the next part. “I’ve got to get it into my stupid head that you mean nothing to me!”

“I mean nothing to you? Seriously? You fell asleep with my fucking cock in you last night, Quinn! Fucking twice!” he fired back.

Quinn gasped as did Tilly, and Oz hustled his wife out of the room PDQ leaving Gunner and Quinn to battle it out.

“I cannot believe you said that!” Quinn hissed.

“Well, get over it because I did.” She was glowering at him now and he’d reached his breaking point now too. “Here’s what’s gonna happen, Quinn. Are you listening because it’s not going any other fucking way. We’re going up to your apartment and getting your things. Then we’re going to my place and that’s where you’re staying until we can get all this shit cleared up. You got that?”

Her glower turned even darker and he braced himself for what else she had to say.

“Why do you even fucking care?” she said through gritted teeth, her green eyes flashing at him.

He bent low to get in her face making sure she heard what he was about to say so there’d be no question about it. “Because I think I fucking love you.”

That took the wind out of her sails.

He knew she’d been ready to throw something right back at him but now he watched as she went from bending at the waist primed to tell him off to standing straight.

“What?” she asked, eyes huge.

“You heard me.”

She shook her head slowly. “No. Say it again.”

God, he was pissed. But for her, he’d do it. “I said I think I love you.”

Eyes still big, she repeated, “You think you love me.”

“Let’s go get your shit,” he said semi frowning down at her. She continued staring at him. “Babe. Let’s go.”

That woke her up. “Gunner?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I—I think I might love you too,” she confessed.

He bent and grabbed her up, her legs going around his waist, arms around his neck, as she yelped. Then he gave her the kiss to end all kisses and still holding her, pulled his head back and told her, “Good. Then let’s get your things so we can go back to my place so I can fuck you. Show you how much I
think
I love you.” He waggled his eyebrows.

She giggled then leaned in for a quick kiss. “Deal.”

Chapter 15

“After that, well, I think my
think
has turned into a
know
,” Quinn said dreamily, breathless after Gunner had shown her three times what he thought about her.

They both lay naked, heads at the foot of his bed, trying to catch their breath.

Gunner chuckled. “Again, in English, please.”

She turned to look at him and burst out laughing. “That was about as English-y as I’m gonna get right now, honey.”

He reached an arm out and pulled her on top of him, holding her face in his hands as he looked at her.

“What?” she asked smiling.

“So goddamned beautiful,” he said, pulling her down for a kiss.

“You’re pretty handsome yourself, honey.”

He kissed her again. “I’m starving.”

She laughed. “Me too.”

“Stay here, gorgeous. I’ll bring you something.” He kissed her once more then got out of bed as she turned on her stomach, hands under her chin watching as he pulled on a pair of well-worn low-slung jeans.

“What’s that tattoo on your arm?”

He glanced down at her then sitting on the edge of the bed, reached a hand out to tangle in the hair that sprawled across her back. “I was in the Army. Flew choppers and was a Night Stalker. That’s the emblem.”

She came up on her elbows. “Night Stalker?”

“Special ops team.”

“So dangerous stuff?”

He nodded.

“How long were you in?”

“Eight years.” She saw him hesitate before he continued. “Got out right after a major fuck-up.”

“What happened?”

“Somehow the enemy got intel on where we were going in.” He appeared to be uncomfortable talking about it, so she remained quiet, giving him time. “They ambushed us right after we landed. IED’s going the fuck off everywhere. Gunfire.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “I lost my best friend, Nate, that day. He…he died in my arms.”