Page 88 of Heartless
“Brought you these.” Gunner produced the bouquet of flowers from behind his back with a lopsided smile. Red and golden sunflowers immediately brightened up the drab hospital room.
“Thank you, Gun.” I beamed up at them. “I’ll have Rhonda find a vase for them.”
“You sound so much stronger too.” Reaper leaned over the bed to kiss me, scratching Freyja as he pulled back. “Guess that’s thanks to you, huh?”
The cat closed her eyes with a proud purr as Reaper moved aside so Gunner could kiss me.
“How are you, baby girl?” Gunner pulled a chair up next to my bed, blue eyes wide and searching my face, and I knew he didn’t mean just physically.
“I’m…okay. Still kind of shaken, I guess.”
He nodded, taking one of my hands to kiss. “We’re never letting this happen to you again.”
I swallowed, not wanting to argue with my men when they were only concerned and eager to take care of me.
“Where’s Jandro?”
Gunner let out a disdainful scoff, dropping my hand. “Withhim.”
Reaper focused his gaze on me, not missing a single breath or twitch of my face. So much for not arguing. It seemed we’d be continuing our conversation where we left off.
“Where—” I swallowed, clearing my still-sore throat. “Where are you keeping him?”
“Contained,” Reaper said flatly.
“And what will you do?”
Gunner took both of my hands, moving to sit next to me on my bed since I still couldn’t turn my head to face him. “Mari…you have to understand, there’s only one option, right?”
“What, kill him?” My eyes darted between his and Reaper’s. I knew in my gut that was their answer to this, but I needed to hear it from them.
“It’s not up for discussion.” Reaper’s voice was flat and emotionless. “I’ll take no pleasure in doing it, but it has to be done.”
“Reaper, you can’t!” I pulled away from Gunner’s hands to reach for his. “Love, please listen to me. He needs help.”
“I don’t give a fuck whatheneeds,” he growled between his teeth. “Shadow had his chance to be with you and fucked it up beyond all repair. He already doesn’t deserve the privilege of breathing right now.”
“It was anaccident!” I cried.
“Baby girl.” Gunner stared at me, his voice low in an attempt to be calming. “It sucks what he’s been through, yes. But there has to be consequences for what he did to you.”
“Okay, I agree with that, but killing him isnotthe answer!” I grabbed for his arm. “Please listen to me, Gun. You know Shadow wouldn’t hurt anyone, you both know that.”
“Hedid!” Reaper yelled, so loud that he made the windows rattle in their panes. He turned away for a moment, scrubbing his hands down his face. Then he mumbled, “Gun, can we have a minute?”
Gunner frowned, but then nodded sharply. He bent down to kiss my forehead before turning and swiftly exiting the room. A long, uncomfortable silence stretched between me and Reaper, and I knew his temper was close to snapping. Not even Freyja could soothe the tension in the room.
“Do you still want to be with him?” The question came out of him so quietly, I nearly missed it.
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “I…I don’t know about that, but I do want to keep helping him after…we have some time to move on from this.”
“Move on from this?” Reaper repeated, incredulous.
“Sorry, I’m still tired and shaken up. I might not use the best words to fit the situation, okay?”
“Situation?” he went on. “For fuck’s sake, Mari. Why do you keep downplaying this?”
“Because he didn’tmeanto do it!” I cried out, exasperated. “Yes, I was scared. Yes, it was awful, and my feelings are all confused but I’m sure ofthat, Reaper. And you know it, too. If he had only taken a pill—”
