He pressed the knife deeper—
Bang. The gunshot shattered the air. Jesse’s eyes widened, his smirk faltering.
For a moment, he swayed on his feet, as if his body hadn’t caught up to the fact that there was now a hole in his skull. Then, like a marionette with its strings cut, he crumpled. The knife clattered to the floor beside him, the handle slick with blood.
Gunner was on Dawn in an instant, holstering his gun as he dropped to his knees in front of her. His hands shook as he reached for the knots, ripping at them, desperate to get her free.
“Baby, are you okay?” His voice was rough, thick with emotion.
Dawn nodded, but her eyes glistened, her breaths coming in shallow, unsteady gasps. The moment her hands were free, she sagged forward, and Gunner caught her, pulling her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her like he could shield her from everything, even the memories of tonight.
His fingers threaded into her hair, his lips pressing against the top of her head. “It’s over,” he murmured, voice fierce with promise. “He’s never touching you again.”
And he meant it.
Jesse was gone and Dawn was finally safe.
Chapter Ten
Dawn sat curled upon Gunner’s couch, wrapped in one of his oversized flannel shirts. The fabric was warm, carrying his scent—leather, smoke, and something distinctly him. She clutched the steaming mug of tea he’d made for her, but her hands still trembled, her body still caught in the lingering aftershocks of fear.
She was safe. Jesse was gone. She kept repeating those words in her head, but her heart hadn’t quite caught up yet.
Across the room, Gunner stood with his back to her, bracing his hands against the kitchen counter, his head bowed. His muscles were tense, his shoulders rigid, as if he was barely holding himself together.
“This is on me,” he finally said, his voice low, rough with self-recrimination. “I should’ve ended him sooner. Should’ve been there faster. Should’ve—”
“Stop,” Dawn interrupted softly.
Gunner exhaled hard, shaking his head. “I knew he was a threat. Knew he wouldn’t stop. But I still let him get that far. He put his hands on you, hurt you, took you, and I—” He turned, his eyes meeting hers, raw with frustration, pain, guilt. “I should’ve protected you better.”
Dawn set the mug down on the table and stood, crossing the space between them. She placed a hand over his, feeling the tension in his fingers, the barely controlled storm beneath his skin.
“You did protect me,” she said, her voice steady despite the emotions tightening her throat. “You saved me.”
Gunner’s jaw clenched. “I shouldn’t have had to.”
