Page 63 of Gunner

“No, they wouldn’t have. He got the drop on me but you saved me and the people I love. There are bad people in this world, but you, Lacey, are one of the best.”

“You’re an exhausted new mother, Roz. Go easy on yourself.”

“I should have protected them.”

With that, Roz stood, and they watched as she walked toward Carmine’s body and looked down on him before bringing back her boot and kicking his lifeless body hard.

“That’s for threatening my son and anything else you did. I will see you in hell, asshole.”

Then she walked back into the woods and disappeared.

“I am so glad she likes me.” Lacey laughed, and he chuckled thinking only minutes before that he’d never smile again.

“How about we get you checked out at the hospital and then go home? I think we deserve a few days off?”

“That sounds like an excellent plan.”

At the hospital, they checked Lacey over. It was the same doctor as she’d seen before, and Gunner’s calm exterior cracked a little under the strength and fortitude Lacey showed. The police came to take statements, but Aubrey, the detective in charge and Will Granger’s fiancée, shooed them away and said she’d come out to the house and take it tomorrow when Lacey had rested.

Gunner got word that everything had gone smoothly at the Palace and at Sandringham House and the press office would announce a new Deputy in the morning after the sad news of the recent Deputy’s death. Waggs had stayed with them until the doctor had given Lacey the all-clear then he’d left to go back to Eidolon. He would help Lopez find Frederick Granger, who it seemed had disappeared without a trace but not before they’d found out he’d been the one helping and hiding Carmine Russo.

The news that his father had helped Carmine would gut Jack and Gunner knew he’d hunt his father down, and not give up until he found him. Jack was a man with integrity and loyalty, and he’d take this personally because what could be more personal than your own father trying to ruin you.

Gunner vowed to be beside Jack every step of the way, and he knew the others would too. Eidolon had come through for him when it mattered, and he knew nothing would shake the new bonds that had been forged through betrayal and pain.

As before, the hospital waiting room was full of people who loved Lacey and him and he felt so fortunate to have that, but it was the call he received from his amma that brought him to his knees and showed him how loved he truly was.

“We saw on the news that Lacey nearly drowned. Please tell me she is okay.”

Of course a woman like Lacey getting hurt would always make the news, and she’d decided to be open about Carmine Russo and what he’d done to her in the hopes that it would help others in her situation feel less alone and maybe find the courage to get away or seek help.

“She is fine. It was close, but she’s going to be alright.”

“Oh my, Gunner. How awful for you both. It must have been so horrible for you reliving the fear from what happened with Milla.”

“I’m fine, Amma.”

“I know you say that, but for a lot of years, you were not. I know you blamed yourself, but nobody else did. It was a terrible accident that couldn’t have been foreseen. I’m so glad you have Lacey, and she has you. Please give her our love and bring her by to see us soon. We miss you, sweet boy.”

“I love you, Amma.”

“Oh, I love you too, so much.”

When he hung up, Gunner smiled realising that his past no longer had control of his future. He’d always regret what happened with Milla, but he wouldn’t sully the gift of life by wasting it on guilt.

He looked at the woman in a hospital bed sleeping in his arms and realised he had a future and that it was just beginning.