Page 86 of Gunner
“Someone’s taken the place hostage.”
Just then, King’s phone rang as he quickly answered. Getting to my feet, I walked over to Bailey as we both listened as I noticed Frank and Priest both head to the armory, almost as if they knew they would be needed. When King got off the phone, he muttered. “That was Sheriff McClure. Someone entered the drugstore with a gun. The perpetrator’s taken hostages. We need to go.”
“He deputizing us?”
King nodded. “Yeah, but not you. He said you were not to come armed.”
“Why not? Can’t I do anything around here anymore?”
“Gunner,” King carefully said, placing his hands on my shoulders. “Sarah is one of the hostages.”
Onlookers lined the streets as we pulled into town on our bikes, parking beside the sheriff’s vehicle. My club brothers wasted no time getting off their bikes and heading over to Sheriff John McClure. He was a good man. An honest man. But with only him to patrol our small quaint town, when needed, he would deputize me and my brothers when needed.
Only this time, he didn’t want me.
“Gunner!” King yelled. “Go stand with Beth and make sure she’s okay.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” I shouted back angrily. “My fucking woman is in there and you want me to do nothing?!”
Sheriff McClure walked over to me. “Gunner, I know you. You won’t think. All you care about is getting to Sarah. Well, she isn’t the only one in there. There are six others that need help too. Please, I’m asking you nicely. Go stand with Beth.”
Ignoring the man I respected, I looked at my brother. “Tell me she’s going to be okay, Callum. Tell me she’s going to walk out of there unharmed.”
“Come on, Cord,” my brother Pyro said, pulling on my arm. “Let the others take care of this. Let’s go find Beth.”
“I can’t lose her, Chase. I can’t.”
“I know, Cord.” Pyro whispered, dragging me across the street as King and my other club brothers all donned bullet-proof vests, raising their right hands as Sheriff McClure quickly swore them in.
I should be with them. I trained for weeks in first response, just like everyone else. I was good at it. In case of injury, I could provide aid. Instead, I was standing across the street with the other lookie-loo’s, with my thumb up my ass.
Seeing Beth, I rushed over to her and wrapped her in my arms. “It’s gonna be okay, Beth. She’s gonna be just fine. I know.”
Beth stepped out of my embrace, frowned, then slapped my chest angrily. “I know my daughter’s going to be just fine! I’m not worried about her, you nincompoop! Sarah knows how to take care of herself. I’m worried about Mike! He’s up on the roof with his damn sniper rifle. He’s gone trigger happy again.”
Shielding my eyes, I looked up and sure enough, there was Mike and his military issue, sniper rifle pointed straight at the drugstore across the street.
Shrugging my shoulders, I muttered. “I don’t see a problem with it. I say let Mike do what he does best.”
“Does that mean he can have a go at you too?!”
I gulped.
“No. That’s not what I meant,” I said, getting a little pissed that everyone seemed damned determined to take a shot at me. “Why are you mad at me? I didn’t hold up the damn drugstore.”
“Oh, shut up, Gunner!” Beth growled, walking back inside her coffee shop, slamming the door behind her.
“Damn Cord, did you have to piss off Beth?” Pyro grinned, shaking his head.
I don’t know what I said.
She made no sense. I was just trying to comfort her, and she chewed my ass out. I would never understand women. Ever.
Didn’t even want to try anymore.
From now on, I was going to keep my head down and my mouth shut.
I couldn’t win with them.