Chapter 13
Val
I ’ve always loved silence. Those moments of quiet when my mind can stop churning. But now, silence feels too heavy, too loaded with thoughts I cannot ignore.
The police stationed outside Gun’s place are supposed to make me feel safe, but I can’t help but be constantly reminded of the danger lurking beyond these walls. Are these police members even safe? Lucas Frye was one of my most trusted employees, and he still betrayed me.
How can I know how deep Marcus’s control goes?
I sigh, leaning back onto the plush couch, wincing as my sore ribs expand and contract with my breath. I scroll aimlessly through the news feeds on my laptop.
Each headline blurs into the next.
No matter how hard I try, I can’t distract myself from the threats on my phone—from the fact that my life is currently hanging in the balance.
It’s all too much. I close the screen and let my head fall back, staring at the ceiling. For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like if all this chaos was over.
The thought is interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. My heart leaps to my throat, but I relax when I hear the familiar heavy footsteps. Gunnolf.
“Val?” His voice is steady, but I can feel anxiety and worry pulsing underneath.
“Hey,” I say as he steps into the room, his broad shoulders filling the doorway. He looks more exhausted than I’ve ever seen him. His dark green eyes soften when they meet mine, and for a moment, the tension in my chest eases.
“Hey,” he says, his voice low, almost hesitant.
“Hey yourself,” I reply, trying to sound casual, but there’s a tightness in my throat that I can’t quite shake. “Long day?”
He lets out a tired chuckle, running a hand through his messy hair. “You could say that.”
I watch him as he crosses the room, dropping his bag on the floor before sinking into the couch beside me. It feels good to have him next to me. He is calming, safe, and grounding. Without thinking, I shift closer, leaning into his warmth.
I’ve never felt this way about a lover before.
His arm wraps around my shoulders instinctively, pulling me to his side. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this... safe. Given everything going on, it’s a ridiculous feeling, but with Gunnolf, nothing can touch me.
“You okay?” he asks softly. His fingers stroke against my arm gently.
I nod, though I’m not entirely sure I am telling the truth. “I am better now that you are here.”
His lips twitch into a small, tired smile. “Oh yeah? You sure about that?”
I can’t help but smile back, wincing as I nudge him playfully with my shoulder. “Looking at you right now, if I’m being honest, you look like the one who needs a break.”
“Can’t argue with that,” he admits, taking a deep breath. “I’ve been running on fumes.”
“I’ve been thinking,” he says suddenly. His voice is so soft I almost miss it. His fingers still stroking my arm rhythmically.
“About what?” I ask, opening my eyes to look up at him.
“About what happens after all of this,” he admits, his gaze fixed on some distant point across the room. “When Crowe’s taken down, everything goes back to... whatever normal looks like.”
The words catch me off guard—a pit forms in my stomach. We’ve never talked about the future like this. I don’t even know what’s happening with SableTech at this point.
Everything between Gunnolf and me has always been tangled up in the chaos of this case, his resentment, my irritation. But now, everything has changed. I know it, and he knows it, too.
I shift, turning to face him more fully. “What do you think it looks like?”
His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, there’s something raw and vulnerable in his gaze. “I don’t know,” he admits, “But I can’t stop thinking about us, about what happens between us when the dust settles.”
“And?” I prompt, my heart pounding in my chest.
Gunnolf reaches up, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. The warmth of his gentle touch sends shivers down my spine. “I want to see what this—” he gestures between us, “—looks like when we’re not fighting for our lives every day. I want more than just stolen moments in the middle of chaos.”
I swallow hard, my throat tight. “You think there’s a ‘normal’ for us, Gunnolf? After everything that’s happened. Just the other day, you were trying to run away from this. What’s changed?”
His jaw tightens for a moment, and he tilts his head. His eyes look over me. He studies me in silence. Finally, he says, “Maybe it won’t be normal. Maybe it’ll be something else. But I’m willing to find out if you are.”
My breath catches in my throat, forming a lump, and for a moment, all my fear and apprehension fade away. But only for a moment before the swirl of uncertainty, fear of being heartbroken, and intense desire floods my senses once again.
I take a deep breath. Be brave, Val.
“I’d like that,” I whisper, barely able to find my voice.
His eyes soften, and before I can think, his lips are on mine, soft and searching. It’s a slow kiss filled with everything we’ve been too afraid to say out loud. My hands slide up to his shoulders, pulling him closer, and he responds with a low growl that sends shivers down my spine.
When we finally pull apart, we’re both breathing hard, the room suddenly feeling too warm. He rests his forehead against mine, his hands cradling my face.
“I’m serious, Val,” he murmurs. “When this is over... I want to try. I want... us.”
I close my eyes, letting the words sink in. It’s terrifying to let someone in like this, but with Gunnolf, it feels right. “I want that too,” I whisper back.