She shakes her head at my words. “This is me. All of this…” she waves her hands around, “… is me. You don’t want me. You want the idea of me.” She goes to walk past me, and before I grab her arm, I think better of it, and instead step in front of her. I don’t want to touch her and make her more upset than she already is. My intentions are not to make her angry, my intentions are purely to try and make her see I’ve changed, and I want her back.
“The idea of you is such a lovely thing,” I say. “But it’s you who makes me truly happy.”
“Happy?” she scoffs, then leans in. “Tell me, how was it fucking that bitch from your office? Was she everything you hoped for? Why don’t you go marry her and see where that gets you? I…” she pushes past me, “… I need to work.”
I smile despite myself.
Jealousy looks good on her.
Very good.
“Everly…” She’s two steps ahead of me, trying her best to get away. “Everly…” I say louder this time, making her stop. I walk up behind her and touch her arm ever so softly. “You are the only woman for me. I never slept with her. All I could think about was you, and how much I want… you.”
She shakes her head and keeps on walking.
I smile knowing she cares.
That despite everything, somehow, she still cares.
“Gunner, you piece of shit.” My grandmother’s standing right in front of me. I’m guessing she’s heard the news about her beloved grandson, Roberto. I look up to her from my desk and smile. “You think it’s funny? Do you think it’s fucking funny?” she screams.
I look at my cell in the hopes Everly will reply. I sent her a message asking if she would like to meet, or if she needs anything. It’s been five hours since I sent the text message and six since I saw her this morning.
My need for her is strong—I think it always will be.
“What do you want?” I ask, getting tired of listening to her rant and rave. I’m sure she has said more since her outburst, but I don’t give two flying fucks about what she has to say.
Grandmother’s hand goes to her hip as her lips thin. “You think you can do that? Just take his life?”
My head rises. “I did,” I say with a smirk.
She pulls out a gun and raises it to my head.
I don’t care. I know she won’t use it. She has motives. She will always have motives.
She isn’t the great woman I once thought she was.
“I should make you visit him. Pay your respects.”
“You could try.”
The gun shakes in her hand.
I cock my head to the side, daring her. “But if you think you can shoot me, don’t think I won’t shoot you right back. Do you honestly think there’s not a gun in my hand right now?” Her eyes go wide. “You gave that bastard my house when it wasn’t yours to give,” I say, referring to my parents’ home.
Roberto should never have been allowed in that sacred place. Ever.
“You didn’t care for it. Don’t act like you did,” she snips back at me.
I slam my fist on my desk as I stand and look her straight in the eye. “It was the very last thing I had of them, and you made me destroy it. I suggest you leave before I destroy you too.”
The gun in her hand drops to her side and she looks at me in confusion, like she can’t understand the words that have just left my mouth.
“You’ve really fallen for her, haven’t you? You love that silly bitch.”
Reaching up, I snatch the gun from her hand so fast she doesn’t register until it’s laid on my desk.
“Watch your words when it comes to Everly. I will have no hesitation to kill you for them.”
“You wouldn’t,” she says, taking a step back.
“Oh, make no mistake. I will.” I sit back down on my seat as she starts to back away with her head shaking as she retreats. “And Grandmother…” she pauses, “… I don’t want to see you ever again.” I stand, walking behind her as she heads out through my office door, and I shut it behind her.
She looks at me through the glass with all hope gone from her eyes.
It’s nothing less than she deserves.
26
Everly
The week passes quickly, so quickly that I manage to dodge Gunner every chance I get. He comes to my apartment, but I don’t open the door. He comes to my work, but I don’t speak to him. He sends me messages that I don’t reply to.
I need a clear head when it comes to Gunner Reid, and seeing him does not give me a clear head. It muddles my mind more than necessary.