Page 18 of Gunner

“I—” She licked her lips, looking up at him with a mix of want and hesitation. “I just ... I don’t want to rush this.”

He exhaled, forcing himself to dial back the hunger roaring inside him. He cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb along her jaw. “I’m not rushing you, sweetheart. But I’m not gonna lie—I want you.”

She let out a small laugh, a little breathless. “I kind of figured.”

He grinned, but then his mind shifted, darkening slightly. Because as much as he wanted to lose himself in her, he couldn’t shake the image of her slashed tires. Couldn’t ignore the nagging sense of unease in his gut.

Jesse wasn’t done. That much was clear. And Dawn, as stubborn as she was, had no idea what kind of man she was up against.

Gunner leaned in, pressing one last kiss to her forehead before pulling her back against his chest. “Get some rest,” he murmured, his hand rubbing small circles on her back. “I’ll stay until you do.”

Dawn didn’t argue. She let out a small sigh and relaxed against him. But even as he held her close, his mind stayed sharp.

Jesse had already made his move. And Gunner wasn’t about to wait around for the next one.

****

Back at the clubhouse, tension simmered in the air. The Iron Sentinels had been dealing with their own set of problems lately, and tonight was no exception. The Rat Bastards MC had been getting bolder, encroaching on their turf and sniffing around their business.

Inside the meeting room, Gunner sat with Beast and the other senior members, discussing their next move.

“They’re testing us,” Beast said, his voice level but firm. “Pushing to see how far they can go before we push back.”

“We can’t just let them,” one of the guys said. “They’re already screwing with our shipments.”

“We won’t let them,” Beast assured him. “We’re just not making the first move.”

Gunner leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “We may not have to. Jesse’s been stirring shit up. If he keeps at it, he’s gonna give us a reason.”

“Who the hell is Jesse?” Beast asked, his tone edged with suspicion.

Gunner exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “Some lowlife from the Rat Bastards,” he said. “He’s been harassing Dawn—slashed her damn tires last night.”

Beast’s gaze flicked to him, sharp and knowing. He wasn’t the kind of man who missed details, and right now, Gunner could tell he was seeing too much.

“That why you’re so worked up?” Beast asked, his voice deceptively calm.

Gunner clenched his jaw. He’d known Beast long enough to understand when the older man was fishing for something deeper, reading between the lines that Gunner wasn’t laying out in plain sight.

Beast didn’t wait for an answer. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “What’s going on, Gunner?” he pressed. “This about that girl?”

Gunner’s silence said more than words could.

Beast huffed out a breath, shaking his head. “Shit.” He eyed Gunner like he was sizing him up for a fight. “You really into her, huh?”

Gunner didn’t confirm or deny it, but the tightness in his shoulders, the way his fingers flexed restlessly against his jeans, made it obvious.

Beast cursed under his breath. “Listen, brother. You know how this life works. You get involved with her, and she’s in it, whether she likes it or not. That something you’re ready for?”

Gunner’s gut tightened. He didn’t need the reminder. He knew exactly what kind of world he lived in—one where loyalty was everything—and enemies didn’t just come at you, they went after the people you cared about. But the idea of walking away from Dawn, of leaving her to deal with Jesse on her own, was not an option.

“She’s already in it,” Gunner said, his voice like gravel. “Whether she likes it or not.”

Beast studied him for a long moment before shaking his head. “I’m telling you now, brother. Getting too involved with a woman right now is not smart. We’ve got enough on our plate.”

Gunner’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t just some woman.”

Beast’s lips curled into something close to amusement. “Oh, I know.”

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