Page 94 of Avery's Hero

“I’ve got a lot of contacts.”

Like a switch has been flipped he’s agitated again. “What’s your deal?” His tone is full of accusation as his eyes drill into me again.

“Deal? I’m not clear what you’re asking.”

“You’re a firefighter, how do you have this building, how can you let Avery live rent free? What kind of dirty business are you into?”

I shake my head and remind myself that Gunnar’s been locked up with some of society’s worst. “Well, that’s a far stretch.”

“That apartment is worth a mint.”

“For your information, this was my grandfather’s building. I remodeled it with my own hands. I’ve been flipping real estate and have owned investment property for twenty years. I’ve got a solid income from it.”

“Lucky you. Everything’s going just as you planned. Kid’s doing well. Got a girlfriend that obviously adores you.”

He curses, paces away.

“You know your life isn’t over because you’ve got a record.”

He laughs harshly. “How would you fucking know? Have you walked a mile in these shoes? Have you seen the shit I’ve seen? Lived in a cell block with murderers trying to wait on you to drop your guard so they can shank you? Do you have a felony conviction for assault? No? That’s what I thought. So don’t think you know that my life isn’t over.”

A creak on the steps above draws both of our eyes. Avery’s peering down, her knuckles are white where she’s clenching the railing.

Gunnar makes a rough sound, drawing my eyes back to him. He takes a step back, turns. The grass under his feet rustles in the dark silence as he walks away.

Avery flies down the steps and chases after him. “Gunnar, wait!Please don’t go.”

Slowly, he turns. A dark cloud of energy crackling over him. His eyes are filled with angry hurt. “Don’t follow me, Pip. I need to be alone right now.”

“You can’t just go storming off in the night…”

He steps back, putting more room between her and him. “I will. I’m afreeman. I can go any damned where I want.” He throws an angry glance at me. “I won’t stay under his roof tonight, that’s for certain.”

“Please. Let’s talk this out,” she says, her voice cracking with emotion.

Looking at me over her head, he says, “Pipsqueak, I just hope you know what you’re doing. But if you’re truly happy. That’s what matters.”

“I am, please just listen.”

“I’ve heard enough. Don’t follow me. I’ll be in touch.” Then he turns, with his shoulders tight, and disappears into the darkness.

Avery, spirit broken, posture sagging, stands staring after him. I can feel her heartbeat from twenty feet away.

When I wrap my arms around her, she lets out an angry sob.

“I’m sorry, baby.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Everything inside me feels broken or bruised. Brock lies silently next to me, staring at the ceiling. The darkness presses in on me.

After carrying me to bed and tucking me in, he pulled off his shirt and climbed in the bed with his jeans still on. I’m not sure if that means he’s leaving or staying.

But the deafening silence and questions are destroying me second by second.

Brock’s touch was so tender and hesitant when he silently helped me into bed, that I know Gunnar said something. I finally ask the question that’s tearing at my throat because I can’t take it anymore. “What did he tell you?”

“He said a lot.”