Chapter 11 (Gunner):
“Hey. If you get a free second from kicking ass can u call me. No biggie.- D”
No biggie. I always fucking laugh when she says ‘no biggie’. We’ve been friends for years. I think she realizes that I know by now when she says ‘no biggie’ something fucking big is on her mind.
The second I can pull away from Anatoli and Tobias I do. I can’t focus anyway. Not while knowing she needs me enough to text for help.
I dial her number quickly. The phone only rings once before her all too familiar voice answers the phone. Her tone is a pathetic attempt at sounding casual. I have to admit, despite being in a dick mood for work, it is good to hear her sweet voice.
“What’s going on Dana?”
I make an effort not to sound as angry and hardened as I feel in the moment.
“You are definitely in work mode,” she says with a laugh.
“Yeah, I am.”
I run a hand through my hair. I don’t want her to think I’m not there for her, but I don’t know how to be the me I need to be to take down a guy like Pytor and the man she has come to know.
“I don’t have anything important to say. I just wanted to hear from you.”
“Babe,” I laugh. “Number one thing I know about you is you don’t reach out to people for no reason. Just say what’s on your mind.”
I know she hates it when I make it sound so easy, but in my mind it is. If she’s got a problem, say it. Nothing can get resolved if she keeps it bottled up.
“I just… I miss you. I feel lonely.”
Instantly, I tense. I haven’t really thought about how much this must be for to handle. We just recovered from the whole thing with the Incidere, now this. Fuck. She could relapse. Honestly, nothing else sends panic through my system like the thought of Dana taking a knife to her skin again.
“You’re struggling?” I grit out. I wish like hell I could be by her side right now.
“I know I’m weak… I don’t know. I wish I could control the timing. I…”
“Dana,” I cut in quickly. “Babe, you are not weak. Honestly this shit is a lot for anyone to handle. This work, well, it just happens to be my coping skill.”
“That’s kind of fucked up,” I hear her mumble. She thinks I can’t hear her, but when I laugh she starts giggling. It is pretty fucked up that planning a guy’s takedown is what calms me.
“I’ll be okay,” she says, the strength coming back in her voice. “It’s good to hear from you Gunner.”
I nod even though she can’t see me. I can’t afford to sound weak right now. She gets it. I’m sure of it. I’m ready to hang up the phone when Dana starts calling my name out urgently, hoping to catch me before the line disconnects.
“Yeah, Dana, what’s up?” I really have to go.
“Gunner is there something you, Sam, Rex and Alex aren’t telling me?” Her voice is soft, but reality hits me like a block of ice. Fuck. If this goes south and something happens to Alex how will I tell Dana? I won’t fucking fail at killing Pytor. I won’t get killed. I’m sure of that, but Alex on the other hand. Mentally and/or physically, I am not sure she will be totally okay. Anatoli, Tobias and I are doing everything we can to ensure her safety, but fuck, she will be in Pytor’s hands for a while. All we can really do is make sure he doesn’t kill her. This is such a fragile plan. I don’t like that. Not one fucking bit.
“No Dana there is nothing you need to know.” It’s true. She doesn’t need to know anything right now.
“I know you’re lying just so you know. Alex didn’t say bye to me when she left. She wouldn’t do that unless something was wrong.” Fucking Alex. “You know I’ll find out what it is.”
“Don’t do anything stupid Dana.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.” I throw my head back. I love that she is fearless with me, but fuck, I can’t worry about her too. I drop my tone.
“Dana Prescott, trust me. I will tell you what you need to know when the time is right. Don’t fuck this up.”
There is a long silence and then…
“Okay.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
“I love you Dana.”
“I love you too Gunner.”
Her voice is tense. I hate ending the call like this, but I can hear Tobias and Anatoli shuffling around in the other room. I need to get back. I end the call as gently as possible, and promise to call her back as soon as I can. Please let her be okay until I get back. I run my hand over my face before pushing off the wall and throwing the door open.
“Where were we?” I grit out when I enter the room. Tobias looks very amused, which is rare as fuck for this guy. He seems to be thoroughly fucking entertained by the fact that I have a woman. He doesn’t understand love. I get that. I didn’t either, not until I met Dana. I was in the same boat as him for a long time, but now he’s just pissing me off.
“Talking to your woman?” he muses.
“Yes and shut the fuck about it. Alex is on her way here. Don’t let the first sight she see’s be you with your face bashed in.”
Tobias’s stance widens on instinct. “You would lose that fight Gunner.”
Honestly, for the first time in my life, I think I would. Tobias and I both glance over at Anatoli. He hasn’t said a word in over an hour. His eyes are unfocused, and I know it is because of Alex. His jaw is wound tight. I don’t even know what to say in this situation. I know just the vaguest details of their time together, but I do know he is the reason she escaped. Tobias takes the lead on this one. He walks over and looks Anatoli straight in the eye.
“Don’t be a fucking pussy. This fucking girl…” he shakes his head and steps away. Then he turns to me. “Alex has always turned this trained assassin into an over productive stepbrother.”
“Watch it T,” Anatoli warns. Tobias is completely unphased. I know enough about their world to know just because Anatoli is the kinder of the two he is not to be underestimated.
A little over forty minutes later a car pulls in. I practically jump to the door. I need away from these two for a second. Rex walks up first. I don’t wait for Alex. I immediately pull him into the other room. I know Alex is following close behind him. She is probably just mentally prepping herself outside. I see the door start to open, but Rex and I are already gone.
This is something they all need to handle on their own. They can deal with whatever past shit needs to be dealt with, but ultimately Anatoli and Tobias know the plan. They know what needs to be done.
It’s their job to tell her.