I’m shaky and unsteady on my feet as Gunner helps me up off the bed. I’m already sore between my legs, and I know I’m going to be even more sore later. But somehow, I’m glad to be sore. It feels good to take a physical memory with me of what just happened between us.

“There’s a bathroom through that door.” Gunner points with one hand, pulling off the condom with the other. “Go ahead and get cleaned up. We should go downstairs and find out what Tweak’s got.”

I do as he says, shutting the bathroom door behind me carefully. My head is still kind of reeling from what just happened. Being around Gunner makes me feel like I never quite know what’s going on, or what’s going to happen next. One minute, I think he’s ignoring me and only helping me out of some sense of obligation. The next, he’s got his tongue between my legs and driving me out of my mind. Just now, when he came inside me… it felt so good I almost cried. It was even more intense than the first time with him.

God help me, it’s never felt like this before, with any man. It’s so good that I almost wish it had never happened. Because I know this isn’t a long-term thing. It’s basically just a one-night stand, artificially prolonged because for some reason Gunner’s agreed to help me find my sister.

And even though I don’t know him that well, everyone says he’s a man of his word. Which means I know he won’t rest until we’ve located Eden.

But I hope it also means that he won’t pretend that this… thing between us isn’t something serious.

I’m not stupid. I know it’s just sex.

But even though I know it’s ridiculous of me, I can already tell that when it’s all over, I’m going to suffer.

Somehow, Gunner has sort of gotten to me. Being with him makes me wish for things I can’t have. I can’t help but wish that he felt the same way.

If it wasn’t for the fact that I can’t find Eden by myself, I’d run away from this. Before I get hurt even more than I know I already will be when this is over.

But I can’t run until I know she’s safe. Even though every day I stay in Tanner Springs, I run the risk of my heart being broken just a little more.

I splash some cold water over my face, and finger-comb the just-fucked look out of my hair. It doesn’t help all that much. When I emerge from the bathroom, Gunner’s already dressed, and my clothes are in a small pile on the bed. Wordlessly, I start pulling them on, feeling awkward that I’m still naked and he isn’t.

Once I’m finished, he strides to the door and holds it open for me. I almost laugh at the unexpectedly chivalrous move, and he must see my lips quirk up.

“What?” he asks.

“Nothing,” I murmur. “Just… this is a pretty far cry from the way we came in.”

Gunner catches me around the waist as I walk through. “I’m not a total caveman,” he growls into my hair. Even though he just made me come twice, I’m instantly wet for him.

“I wouldn’t say that,” I say breathily, teasing him. Laughter rumbles up from deep in his throat.

“Watch it, darlin’.” He pulls me against him, and somehow he’s hard again. “Or I may just have to live up to your filthy expectations of me.”

We walk downstairs, him following behind me. Down below, a few of the men look up and start hooting and catcalling. I realize they must have heard us — me, especially — and I have to fight the urge to run back into the apartment and hide. I guess we were a little louder than I thought.

“Ignore those idiots,” Gunner grunts, reading my thoughts. “Come on, let’s go back and find Tweak.”

He leads me to the back of the bar and into the small room with the computer monitors where we were before.

“You got us an address?” Gunner asks him without preamble.

“Yeah.” Tweak gestures toward the middle screen, which shows a Google Earth aerial view of a small, squarish house with a large, cluttered yard on what appears to be a small rural county road. “That’s where Gonzalo lives, I’m pretty sure. It’s about fifteen minutes outside of Red Hawk.”

Tweak tells Gunner the address, which he doesn’t bother to write down. “Okay,” Gunner says. “I’m gonna go talk to Rock about taking a few of the brothers out there.”

“You told the prez about any of this yet?” Tweak asks.

“No. But Angel knows. He’ll back me up.”

Tweak nods. “You want me to come with you guys?”

“Not yet. I need you here. Keep digging up intel, in case this ends up being a dead end. We still need to find where Gonzalo’s crew does their business.”

“Yup,” Tweak responds, and turns back to his computer screens.

Just like that, the conversation’s over, and I’m practically running to keep up with Gunner as he strides back out into the bar area.

“I want to come with you,” I pant.

Gunner turns on his heel and practically glares at me.

“Abso-fucking-lutely not,” he growls. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Dammit, Gunner!” I practically wail. “I’ve been sitting around on my hands for days now. I can’t just do nothing while you go out and get her.”

“Yes you goddamn can,” he retorts. “You realize how dangerous this is? If you go with us, we’ll have to protect you. Which means less energy and focus on protecting and rescuing your sister, if she’s there. You get that?”

“But—”

“No fucking buts,” he cuts me off. “If you want her to be safe, you need to stay out of it, and wait here.”

Thorn appears at my side. “He’s right, darlin’. Let the Lords handle this for now. It’s the best chance you have to get your sister back.”

Gunner glares at Thorn but says nothing. I sigh loudly and admit defeat. “Fine,” I spit out. “So, what? I just stay here?”

“Didn’t you say you’d met Sydney?” Thorn asks. “Why don’t we ask Brick to call her? She can come here to the clubhouse and keep you company while we’re gone.”

I smile at Thorn gratefully and look at Gunner. “Good idea,” he says grudgingly.

“‘Course it is,” Thorn grins, a roguish twinkle in his eye. “As are all my ideas.”

“Thorn, you’re coming with me to find Gonzalo,” Gunner glowers, and stomps off.

“I do believe he’s taking me along to keep an eye on me.” Thorn winks at me.

I roll my eyes. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Hardly,” Thorn laughs. “If I had a woman that looked like you, I’d get me out of the picture, too.”

I open my mouth to protest, but Thorn’s already sauntering over to Brick. They speak a few words, then Brick looks over at me, nods, and pulls out his phone. I guess Sydney will be coming to keep me company after all.

* * *

It only takes about ten minutes for Gunner to assemble a group of four other men, including Thorn, a man named Beast who I recognize from the Smiling Skull, and two others named Hawk and Bullet. The five of them take off, leaving me alone to kill time until Sydney arrives. I wander over to the bar, where a woman who introduces herself as Jewel is now behind the counter. She serves me the club soda that I ask for, and tells me to let her know if I need anything.

Spying a cluster of low, comfortable couches, I make my way over to them and sit down with my drink to wait.

I’m absently flipping through some random social media posts, nursing my club soda, when a clacking of approaching heels makes me look up. A tall strawberry blond in a skin-tight black miniskirt and a hot pink tank top with a Harley logo is gazing down at me, her pink lips contorted into a slight sneer.

“You’re wasting your time, missy,” she scoffs.

Missy? My dislike of her is instant, but I fight to keep it off my face. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t know what sob story you’ve given to Gunner to make him feel sorry for you,” she continues, putting one fist on her hip, “But don’t get any stupid ideas. You’re not his type.”

Is this seriously happening right now? “Not his type?” I say in disbelief. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You think because he’s paying you a little attention right now, that he’s not gonna just drop you like a hot potato once he’s had his fun?” She snorts softly. “Sorry to tell you, Gunner ain’t gonna give you his class ring. He ain’t gonna take you to the prom, and whatever little white picket fence future you’re imagining isn’t gonna happen. You may as well know the truth from the get-go.”

“Excuse me,” I say coldly, “but my life and whatever is or is not happening between Gunner and me is none of your business.”

The woman throws back her head and laughs uproariously. “Oh, Jesus Christ, you do think he’s gonna put a ring on it, don’t you?” She shakes her head at me, pity dripping from her voice. “Sorry, sweetheart. He just ain’t that into you.”

“How the fuck would you know anything about it one way or another?” I spit back, and inwardly wince that I’m letting her get to me.

She shoots me an ugly smirk. “Because he’s been fucking me every chance he gets. For months. And I can do things to him that a little priss like you would never know how to do in a million years.”

My stomach jumps unpleasantly in my gut. Is she telling the truth? Is Gunner fucking this… whorebag at the same time that he’s been sleeping with me? Something in my face must register my dismay, because the bitch laughs again, crossing her arms over her surgically-enhanced tits with a mocking smile.

Oh, hell no. I am not giving her the satisfaction of scoring a point off me. I am done with this conversation.

“Look,” I bite out, getting to my feet. With her in stilettos that are at least three inches high, she’s got a good six inches over me, but I don’t care — my blood is starting to boil.

“I don’t know what the fuck your problem is. But I’ll tell you this. If Gunner’s fucking me, that clearly means he’s not getting what he needs from you. Which, you know, I can understand.” I take a long, slow look at her from the ground up, obviously judging her ‘assets’. “Cheap whores like you are a dime a dozen. Maybe Gunner just wanted something a little less… common.”

The whore’s face turns from smug to furious in a heartbeat. “You fucking bitch!” she screams, turning scarlet with rage. She takes a step forward, raising her hands like she’s getting ready to claw my eyes out with her porn nails. I move into a crouch, scared but determined to give as good as I get.

Just as she starts to launch herself at me, though, a set of masculine hands grab her by the upper arms and roughly pull her back.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Heather,” rumbles Brick. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“This bitch insulted me!” she yells, pulling against Brick’s steely grip to try to get herself loose. It’s useless, though — it’s almost like a stone statue has hold of her because Brick is not budging.

“Calm the fuck down!” he roars back, holding her fast.

“Let me go!” she screams as she continues to struggle.

“For fuck’s sake,” Brick mutters in a disgusted voice. “Heather!” He brings her closer until she is mere inches from him, getting in her face until she blanches and finally calms down a little. “You knock this shit off! Alix is here because Gunner wants her to be.” He nods toward me. “You say another word to her — one more word — you are out of here. For good. You hear me?”

The bitch yanks her arm back defiantly just as Brick lets go, which causes her to stumble back on her heels. She flies backwards and flops ungracefully down on the low overstuffed couch, her legs splaying out wildly. In spite of myself, I actually start laughing. It’s a welcome relief from the tension and anger I was feeling just moments ago.

Behind me, another female voice starts laughing as well. I turn around to see Sydney standing there.

“Hey, girl!” she greets me.

“Hey!” I grin, thrilled to see a friendly face. “I didn’t see you there.”

“I just got here.” She glances down dismissively at the prone figure on the couch. “I see you’ve met Heather,” she says with disgust.

“Yeah,” I nod, glancing back as well. “I’ve had the dubious pleasure.”

From the couch, Heather mutters something I can’t quite hear, but that doesn’t exactly sound friendly.

“Dubious is right. Come on,” Sydney says, rolling her eyes. “Let’s go over to the bar and hang out with Jewel for a while. The club whores” — she calls out the word after Heather for emphasis — “won’t bother you any more now.”