Page 12 of Lawless
He scratched the bird under its wickedly curved beak and my smile grew. How long had it been since I just had a silly conversation with a cute guy? Gunner almost seemed normal, if even nice. He looked just like a guy at my college campus I would flirt with, pre-Collapse. I'd even let him buy me a drink.
Then my eyes fell to his leather cut and reality slapped the smile right off my face. The patch on the left side depicted two crossed assault rifles with "2A" beneath them. I didn't know much about MC life, but I knew 2A referred to the Second Amendment of the United States, a law that no longer existed in this gigantic land mass which didn't even have a name anymore.
2A became an emblem for those that thrived on the new violent, chaotic nature of modern society. Those who wore it lived for the bloodlust of the border wars, the power of taking someone's life with a handheld machine. They lived and breathed death and violence.
Because the Second Amendment, once central to American culture, was the right to bear arms.
If that wasn't enough, a long bandelier of ammunition stretched from Gunner's shoulder to his hip. I don't know how I missed it before, but the kitchen lights made the bullets gleam like endless rows of small, golden missiles.
A black handgun sat in a holster on his opposite hip, and there was no telling how many other weapons he had on him. This easy-smiling, angelic-looking man absolutelylovedviolence.
"How about that coffee, Mari?" he teased, resting a hand on the weapon at his hip. "Can I call you Mari? Not thatMarrriposaisn't pretty. It's just a hell of a mouthful."
"Uh, sure." I turned uneasily toward the coffee pot, fumbling for cups with shaking hands. "Call me whatever you like."
"In that case, I might call you Maripos-ass, 'causedamn, mami."
In two steps, he was right behind me. I froze at the heat of his breath on my neck. My eyes squeezed shut, bracing myself for his hands on me, and then the gun or knife that would surely follow.
"Relax," his lips brushed my ear as fingertips trailed across my waist. "You're shaking like a leaf. I'll make it good for you, baby girl."
His thick erection pressing against my ass stole a gasp from my mouth. Gunner let out a groan in reply, his lips falling to my neck as he held my waist in place. My core roared like an inferno, my touch-starved body leaning into his heat and hardness as if of it’s own will, but that didn't stop the frantic thoughts.
At least he's not doing this to Gretchen. At least she's safe upstairs. I'll survive this.
"Screeeeech!"
Horus, still on Gunner's shoulder, suddenly began flapping his wings and screaming bloody murder. Temporary relief flooded me as Gunner pulled away.
"Go away, Horus. I'm busy," he chastised the bird with a swat of his hand, but the falcon would not let up. His talons curled into the worn leather at Gunner's shoulder, holding on and screeching in his human's face.
"...Mari?"
"Gretchen!" Hot shame filled me as her swollen, bruised eyes widened with fear, peeking through the gap in the swinging kitchen door.
She took in Gunner standing so close to me and seemed to understand exactly what was about to happen.
"I told you to rest," I blurted out, my heart pounding wildly. In truth, I could have kissed her with gratitude for showing up right then.
"I came down to grab some water." Her eyes darted nervously toward Gunner, who stared back at her intensely.
"I'll bring you some," I said quickly. "And some food. Go on back up. I'll be right there."
She nodded and retreated back, letting the door close softly.
"Holy shit," Gunner turned back to me, bewilderment on his face. "What the fuck happened to her?"
I glared at him, unable to help myself. "Like you don't know."
His eyes widened in shock before narrowing venomously at me in return. “Look. I know what I look like, but I donotfucking beat up little girls. No one in the SDMC does that shit."
"Okay, Gunner," I said placidly. "If you don't mind, I'd like to make coffee and lunch unmolested. Thank you."
I turned back to the coffee machine without waiting for an answer, although still fully expecting a gun or knife in my back.
Instead, I heard the ruffling of feathers as Horus finally calmed down, then Gunner's booted feet walking away and out the kitchen doors.
Five
