Could have done without the blood and gore in my hair, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. I took in Blake, who was staring at me, looking as surprised as I felt.
When black commandoes streamed onto the property, I knew Gunner had found us.
My thought was confirmed a few seconds later when I was wrapped in his arms.
“Don’t you ever do anything like this again. Scratch that. I’ll just handcuff you to my furniture again. I don’t deal well with thoughts of losing you.”
Carter clapped him on the back. “Ain’t that the truth.”
He was grinning, but his cheekbone was swollen, and he had a cut on his lip. Noticing my look, he shrugged. “Don’t ever come between a lunatic and his chosen one.”
Gunner stood up with me in his arms and growled. “I said I’m sorry. What else do you want me to do?”
Carter flipped him off and walked away, calling over his shoulder, “I’m expecting at least flowers.”
Gunner glared at his friend’s back, and I put my hand on his cheek, guiding his mouth to mine. I’d been more scared than I'd let myself feel while in the house, and everything hit me at once. I just wasn’t cut out for a life of guns and crime. Which was a problem, considering who my family was.
His kisses were gentle and unhurried, even though we were standing in the midst of his team, who were busy securing the area. We eventually broke apart, but every inch of my front was still touching him. I wasn’t ready to lose that connection yet. I placed a soft kiss on the edge of his mouth. “We got her.”
He grunted, then nuzzled his head into my neck. “You got lucky. Don't ever do something like this again. Promise me.”
I tensed at the pain in his voice. “I promise.”
We finally separated, our hands clasped tight. I searched the chaos for Blake and Sofie and found them just outside the gates by his car, surrounded by people. Someone was checking Sofie, and Blake was watching them with narrowed eyes.
I tugged on Gunner’s hand and nodded at Blake. “You need to talk to him.”
He watched them for a while before sighing. “Let’s get this over with.”
Blake straightened up when he saw us approach, and I shot him a small smile that he didn’t return. Not sure if any of the guys except Carter even knew how to do anything but scowl or imitate a robot.
Sofie's hunched shoulders snapped up when she spotted us, and she jumped off the car, windmilling her arms and racing at full speed to Gunner, crashing into his legs. “Uncle Gun.”
He lifted her and threw her in the air—quite a feat to do to a six-year-old—then caught her against his chest, hugging her tight. “You okay, button?”
“I went on a vacation and got all the candy. She even had dolls and dress-ups. But now she’s sleeping. Can I visit you next?”
She didn’t seem too torn up by what had happened. It didn’t erase the fact that she’d been kidnapped and then seen her kidnapper get shot with a dart gun. But that was a problem for later.
Blake came up to us, patting Sofie’s back. “Come on,principessa, time to go home.”
Sofie released Gunner with a pout. “But I want to play with Uncle Gun.”
Gunner transferred her squirming body into Blake’s arms, and Blake tapped her nose. “Not today. But how about we stop for ice cream on the way home?”
She threw her little arms up in the air and cheered. “Yay, ice cream. Can I have rainbow?”
“Sure. Now say good-bye.”
Blake stepped up to a stoic Gunner. “Thank you doesn’t even begin to express how grateful I am for having her back.” When Gunner didn’t respond, Blake just nodded. “I swear I’ll make things right.”
Sofie waved at us and then everyone else she passed on the way back to their car. Carter kissed her cheek and tickled her, and she blew him air kisses that he caught.
Gunner put his arm around my shoulder and led me to his SUV. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter27
Freya
