Page 38 of Gunner

“Well kind of, most seem to be team Lunner actually.”

“What is the alternative?”

“Alternative?”

“To Lunner?”

“Oh, that. Well, there isn’t really one. It’s just those that are for and against.”.

Lacey couldn’t believe her ears.

“Who is against us?”

“I don’t want to say in case you get mad.”.

“I won’t get mad. Now, tell me.”

“Fine. Astrid thinks you’re crazy if you take him on, and so does Mustique.”

Lacey’s heart was beating ten to the dozen now. “Did they say why?”

“Just that they thought he was too broken. I don’t think that. I think you two are perfect for each other, but you know Astrid, she isn’t really a commitment person.”

“He isn’t broken, he’s just a little banged up.” Lacey realised she believed that in her heart.

“Exactly, and God knows he has reason to be after what he has been through. Liam was so angry when this first happened, but now he feels bad for not being the friend he should have been.”

Lacey steered the conversation away from Gunner, wanting to make up her own mind about what he told her later and not be persuaded by well-meaning friends. She wanted him, loved him there was no doubt about that, but was it enough?

Noticing it was now dark, she realised she’d lost track of time and it was nearing eight. Her phone dinged, and she saw a text from Gunner saying he’d be an hour late and asking if that was okay.

She texted back saying it was and then settled to watch The Crown on television. Thirty minutes later, she heard the screech of tyres and sat up quickly. Lacey heard shouting and then saw a flash of light as a window smashed in her living room, and a bottle exploded into flames, everything catching on fire around her within seconds.

Lacey stumbled to her feet when another bottle came from the other side and exploded, knocking her back into the coffee table where she hit her head. The pain made her vision blur as smoke began to engulf the room, and then gunshots echoed around her. Coughing, she tried to move forward but was frightened in case she got hit by a stray bullet. Liam was on duty with Waggs tonight, and she knew they had their hands full outside. She had to get herself out of this one.

Crawling with tears and blood dripping down her face, she headed for the door, not caring about the glass cutting into her palms or knees. The smoke would kill her before the cuts, or the fire would.

Holding her arm in front of her face, she tried to take a breath as flames licked up her living room curtains and spreading so fast it made her head spin. Bumping into something she cried when she realised that in the dark she’d gone in a full circle and was back near the table rather than being closer to the door. Dizziness hit her, and Lacey realised that she was completely disoriented.

Blackness began to close in, and she knew that without help, she wasn’t getting out of there alive.