Page 11 of Stolen

“Especially not the Enforcer chick, right?”

Gunn sighed. “You knew what I was when you got involved with me. And I knew what you were. Being an Enforcer isn’t just a job for you. It’s what your whole family does. The last thing I want is to put you in a position where you have to choose between them and me.”

Because he knew who she’d choose. Not the outlaw wolf who had nothing to offer her. No way she’d give up the love of her family and her pack bonds for that.

She turned to face him. “Okay, then,” she said. “What can you tell me?”

He looked down into her eyes, that connection still there, the piece of him that felt what she felt. She cared about him. She wanted to trust him, and she wanted him to trust her.

It mattered to her that he would turn out to be the man she wanted to believe he was. The one who was watched over by an angel of hope.

And he wanted to be that, for her.

He just didn’t know if he could.

But he told her as much as was safe—about Hawk and Ariana, and their belief that Ricardo De León was coming after them, despite there being no intel to support it.

She ran her hand absently up and down his pec. “What makes him so sure there’s more?”

He gestured helplessly. “Just a feeling. And some shit about the cartel’s pack bond.”

Mikey tilted her head, considering. She asked slowly, “Is your friend Hawk emotionally involved with this woman? The cartel leader’s sister?”

That threw him, because it was the same thing he’d been thinking—and should have pursued. Gunn said a little testily, “He didn’t confide in me. There wasn’t time for a bottle of Chianti while we painted our nails and chatted about our feelings.”

Mikey rolled her eyes. “If he’s in love with her—or in lust—then his judgement may be compromised. Don’t tell me you didn’t think of that.”

“I think about it all the time.”

Their eyes met, and he could see she knew they weren’t talking about Hawk anymore. “Gunn—” she began.

He shook his head. “Don’t.” He ran a strand of that amazing hair through his fingers again. “We knew this would be complicated, you and me. There’s things I can’t just walk away from. But trust me when I tell you, I will find a way. Just let me get through this one thing.”

She gazed into his eyes, then nodded. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do.” He paused, then added, “Thanks. That means a lot.”

She smiled up at him. “So… I guess it will take a little while for your guy with the intel to get back to you. Any idea how you want to pass the time?”

He smiled at her, his heart melting. “I believe I can think of a couple of ways.