Dawn Endeavor 4: Gunnar's Game (18 page)

“So you and Lonnie are good now?”

Her grandmother's perky grin reassured her. “Oh yes, though I think I probably need to do a little more groveling to make Lonnie feel better. You know how men can be.” Alicia's smile faded. “I never would have believed Lonnie capable of any wrongdoing were it not for Anderson's manipulation. I had Jules do a thorough look at my aura. I fear I've been tainted for far longer than I'd thought.”

“I'm sorry, Grandma.”

Alicia leaned closer and stroked Ava's cheek. “I'm sorry, Ava. I never meant to hurt you.”

Ava snorted. “That toss against the wall? Please. That was nothing.” Her grandmother chuckled. “That's my girl.”

“Any news on Grayson?”

“Not yet.” Alicia frowned. “But Keegan and James managed to bug Anderson's vehicle. And one other piece of news that might interest you. Melissa Ramirez's body turned up yesterday floating in the Potomac River.” Ava sat up, groaning as she did so. “What?”

“A gunshot to the forehead. Right between her pretty blue eyes.”

“I want to say good riddance, but somehow I thought Jack would handle it better.”

Alicia frowned. “I don't think this was Jack. And that worries me. I have a feeling Anderson is cutting ties. If we don't find him soon, he may decide to go to ground and stay buried for a while. And I'd very much like to nip this in the bud.”

“I have a feeling we need to.” That odd sense Ava sometimes had returned. If they didn't locate and neutralize Anderson now, real trouble would befall them later. The kind even Circs couldn't rebound from. Dead Circs told no tales.

Alicia nodded and stepped back from the bed. “Well, I just wanted to see how you were getting on. I told Gunnar you'd be fine, but the boy is being surprisingly tight-lipped this morning. You need to reassure your new mate.”

“I will.” A sudden thought hit her. “Um, Keegan's not back yet, is he?”

“Why, yes. In fact, I thought I saw him headed to the gym earlier.”

“Hell.” Ava quickly rose and winced as she headed for the door. “I don't suppose you know where Gunnar is?”

“I believe he's working out with the others.”

“In the gym?”

“Yes.”

Ava sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that.” She quickly made her way downstairs to the gym. Outside the open double doors, Jules, Jesse, Lonnie, Kisho, Morgan, and James Foreman were taking bets.

“That's gonna leave a mark.” James shook his head. “I told him to leave well enough alone. Who the hell would think goading Tersch is a smart thing?”

“Hey, I like Keegan. See how he's using those twenty-pound weights to knock into that idiot?” Morgan pointed to the gym. “That's smart thinking.”

“We really should break them up.” At least Lonnie had the sense to stop the mindless fighting. “Tersch is ahead by two hits, so I win. Now let's stop them before one of them really gets hurt.”

James frowned. “Now, Admiral, I need to make back my money. Double or nothing says Keegan slams him in the head with that barbell.” She'd heard enough. “Okay, fellas. Show's over.” The group turned to stare at her, and Ava realized she should have taken a moment to dress in more than Gunnar's large T-shirt.

Jules grinned and moved back from the door. “Please, Ava. After you.” She sniffed and walked through the small crowd.

“Ten says Ava stops the fight,” she heard Morgan say.

She rolled her eyes and advanced on the testosterone-laden fools before her.

Keegan looked damn good in nothing but a pair of shorts. Too bad her heart was already taken.

“Okay. Break it up, boys.”

Gunnar turned to glare at her, and Keegan took advantage. A large black iron disk hit her mate in the gut and took him down.

“That's now one hit ahead. I win,” Jules said from the doorway.

“Out! All of you,” she shouted and ignored the muttered laughter. “Keegan, leave.”

“You sure, Ava?” Keegan drawled. “Because if this big lug is giving you a hassle, I could—”

He choked off the rest of what he'd meant to say when Gunnar's large hands wrapped around his throat.

Ava licked her lips, taken with so much raw power. “Gunnar, let him go. We need to talk.”

He shook Keegan before dropping him to the floor and advancing on her. In seconds, he had her wrapped under a large arm. “See this, Keegan? This is mine.

Touch her again, and I'll kill you.”

Keegan turned a confused gaze to Ava as he rubbed his throat. “What's he talking about?”

She sighed. “My Neanderthal boyfriend—”

“Mate.”

“Mate, is convinced you want to have sex with me.” Keegan grinned. “Well, sure.”

“Keegan,” she growled. “Tell him we never had sex. Even when we were dating.”

He frowned. “Well, it wasn't for lack of trying. Fool woman was playing hard to get.” He had a twinkle in his eye. “But hey, if you want to try me on for size, I'm game.”

Gunnar snorted. “Dream on. You couldn't handle her.” Keegan laughed and stood. “You might be right.”

Gunnar relaxed by her side.

“I'll let you two talk. But no sex in the gym. Some things just ain't right,” Keegan warned and left them alone. He closed the doors behind him.

Before Ava could say anything, Gunnar turned to her with a scowl. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Excuse me?”

“Parading that body around the others? You trying to make me crazy?” His eyes narrowed. “Or maybe you like being mauled by the monster inside me. You want it back? Want me to rape you again? Talk about kink.” She flushed. “Gunnar, stop. I was worried about you.” He opened his mouth to retort and froze. “Worried about
me
?” Ava grabbed his arm to keep him from moving away. “Let's get something straight. I'm fine. You didn't rape me. And you need to stop denying who you are.

You're a beast, man, berserker. Everything. So stop rejecting that part of yourself.”

“You and your grandmother can think what you want. I know I claimed you last night. That's it. We're not playing with that monster again. The next time we have sex, you're using that suppressant on me. I won't hurt you, baby. I don't like knowing I made you bleed.”

“Yet you're hard just talking about it.” She glanced at his erection with a raised brow.

He turned around, giving her his back. “I'm a freak, all right? But I love you. I can't help being this way, but I don't want to be. I like being with you.” He turned around to face her again, his body once again under his control. “As a man or beast, I can handle that. I can't stomach hurting you.”

“Oh, Gunnar.” She hugged him tight, content when he hugged her back. “You don't understand yourself. Just because you have certain sexual needs doesn't make you a freak. I'd be surprised if you didn't have control issues in the bedroom. You're a berserker. So strong, you're naturally endowed to be dominant. But you're also a Circ, a part of a team, and you're subservient to Jules. You give and take. And with me, your mate, you can have it all.”

He looked so hopeful yet wary. It made her heart hurt to see him in such conflict.

“Ava, I'll try. But until I'm sure I won't hurt you, I think we need to use the suppressant.”

“Ah, about that.” Damn, she hadn't wanted to discuss this yet, but the timing was right.

“What about it?”

“I don't have one. I used a placebo before, so you'd think you couldn't hurt me.

And it worked,” she said in a rush when he would have argued.

“You little witch.”

“I couldn't agree more,” Robert Anderson said from the doorway. He had a smug look on his face and a gun pointed in their direction. “Now why don't we join Alicia and the others in her study? I have so very much to share with you all.” Ava looked down at herself, wondering how she managed to find herself in these situations. “Could I get dressed first?”

Gunnar growled and stepped in front of her.

“Why bother when you look just beautiful as you are, my dear?” Anderson smiled, though the expression didn't reach his eyes.

Ava sighed. “This is so not my day.”

Alicia stared at the men invading her study. Sitting with Lonnie, sharing a cup of tea and old times, made everything that had passed the last few weeks feel like a bad dream. Yet once again, Robert Anderson tried to come between her and those she loved.

Jules, Jesse, and Kisho preceded four rogue Circs into the office. Jules looked less than pleased. Kisho's face wore no expression.

“Sorry, Mrs. Sharpe. They’re holding Morgan, Keegan, and James hostage so
we’ll cooperate. Jules warned us not to do anything until we talked to you.”
Jesse announced on a Dawn Endeavor broadcast. Even Lonnie heard the news, but like the others, he didn't react.

“Ava and Gunnar?”
she asked.

“Together in the gym. With Anderson.”

She had a bad feeling about that.

“So this is the bitch,” one of the rogues muttered. “Doesn't look so shit-hot powerful to me.”

“Smells powerful, though,” another said.

The rogues were clad in a dark black material that looked formidable.

“The new Kevlar weave, hmm?” Lonnie said. “I just outfitted my team with those.”

The obnoxious rogue nodded.

“Where are the others?” she asked, knowing this team would have knowledge of all the occupants in residence.

“Anderson's got your precious granddaughter. Don't you worry. The psychics are out of it. And Reynolds is bleeding out as we speak. You do what we tell you, and everyone will live.”

Kisho growled, and his claws appeared.

“Morgan is fine.”
Jesse frowned.
“But he said to hurry up, or he’s going to drain
more energy than his kitsu had planned to give up tonight. Oh hell, is that love talk
for sex?”

Kisho coughed and flushed, but Alicia could see the relief he tried to hide.

Obviously Morgan was well enough to heal himself once Kisho found him again. The pair could exchange energy in a way she still found amazing, after all she had seen in this world.

“It's okay, Kisho.” Alicia had finally accepted that their vision would come to pass. And now that it had, she felt much better about the possible outcome. She and Lonnie had shared truths yesterday, and she understood how fortunate she was to have someone so trusting and loving in her corner. “Jules, Kisho, Jesse, I want you to be calm and do everything they tell you to.”

“No shit, lady.
We’re
the ones with the guns and the claws.” As one the rogues held up one the new Circ 1000s. With them, Circs could be taken down in one shot, since the specially crafted rounds penetrated deeper into Circ skin than the other weapons they'd used.

“How nice for you.” She smiled and secretly handed Lonnie her own version of the gun she'd had hidden in her desk drawer for just this occasion, though hers was filled with tranquilizers. Mentally, she warned the others,
“Get ready, men.”
The Circs tensed, and the rogues responded.

“Now!”

In seconds, Jules, Kisho, and Jesse had disarmed three of the four rogues.

Lonnie shot the fourth, then continued shooting the others until all the rogues were down.

“I'll check on the others.” Kisho and Jesse left in a rush.

Jules stood with Lonnie. They exchanged a long glance, and Alicia smiled.

“Go ahead, Lonnie. I'd try to talk you out of this, but I know you won't be budged.”

He shrugged. “Sorry, Alicia. But it's for your own good. If I didn't, you'd make a mess of Anderson. You're too close to this.”

“I could promise I'd stay right here.”

Jules and the admiral exchanged another glance.

“Shoot her,” Jules said.
The traitor
. “Sorry, Mrs. Sharpe. But even you can't expect us to believe you'd sit tight while we take care of Anderson.” She didn't plan to let them shoot her. But before she could move, Lonnie pulled the trigger. Jules caught her as she fell and gently laid her on the couch.

“Don't worry. You'll be just fine, honey,” she heard Lonnie whisper. He kissed her gently on the cheek.

“T-traitor.”

Jules chuckled. “Yep. You can thank us later.”

* * *

Tersch glared at Anderson, trying to decide if he should rip the man's head off or just break his neck. He didn't want to dirty the floor mats, but they'd scrubbed blood out of them before. He refused to let his fear for Ava get the better of him. He knew what she was capable of, and he trusted her to stay out of harm's way while he handled Anderson.

“You, Tersch. Come here.”

Ava's eyes narrowed, and she shook her head. “No, stay here.” The woman worried for him? His beast liked his mate's concern but felt it unnecessary.

“I'll be fine.”

“Like
Alicia
was fine?” she said, obviously hinting at something he didn't understand. He was having a hard enough time reining in his beast and berserker.

Both of them wanted to emerge and torture Anderson for putting his mate in harm's way.

“I said come here.” Anderson shot a hole into the wall a few feet above Ava's head. “I'm fast, and I never miss.”

Tersch grit his teeth, held on to his beast, and approached Anderson.

“That's far enough.”

Not for what Tersch had planned. He knocked Anderson's gun away and started choking the fucker. “You don't threaten my mate and live,” he growled.

Anderson clutched at Tersch's hands, but instead of trying to break free, he stroked along the outside of Tersch's knuckles. And in that moment, Tersch understood why Ava hadn't wanted him in reach of their enemy.

Unable to help himself, Tersch looked into Anderson's eyes.

The dark blue swirled, a mirror of himself, and he allowed his own rage to pour through. Yes, he was angry that the woman constantly tried to manipulate him. The lies, the deceit. Sharpe and her smart-mouthed granddaughter. Trying to trick him, to control him.

He shook his head, aware he'd dropped Anderson and was growing. Stronger, taller. More powerful than he'd ever been. He ripped through his clothes as the berserker came out to play.

“That's right. Good. You lead, I follow,” Anderson murmured. “Now you wanted to get rid of the woman first. You said something about fucking her to death. A secret fantasy of yours. I'll stand watch right here, at your command.”