Read Online Dawn Endeavor 4: Gunnar's Game by Marie Harte - Free Book Online Page B

about this.”
    “What the hell does that mean?” Gunnar asked. “Just how psychic are you, Ava?”
    “I'm not a mind reader or an empath. I don't see glimpses of the future. I just know things sometimes.”
    “But you haven't said that you know he's not guilty,” Alicia corrected her. “You just don't want him to be guilty.” To Ava's shock, her grandmother's eyes watered.
    “I don't want him to be guilty either. But Kisho had a vision earlier. One with Lonnie and a gun. And I'd been shot.”
    Crap . Ava rushed to her grandmother's side and leaned down to hug her tight.
    “Shit, Alicia. Dry up the waterworks, would you?” Gunnar's soft growl sounded more worried than annoyed. “Come on, we'll fix this. I won't let the bastard hurt you. I swear.”
    Her grandmother's sobs continued. A quiet suffering made worse because she tried to hide it and couldn't.
    “I'll get Olivia,” Jules murmured and left.

    Ava turned to Gunnar helplessly. She'd never seen her grandmother so upset before.
    Alicia pushed out of Ava's arms and stood with her back to them.
    He looked as if he'd rather hug a cactus, but Gunnar gently took her sobbing grandmother in his arms. Like a giant bear hugging a doll.
    Ava gaped, not quite sure what to think. The same man who sneered at her grandmother's orders, who called her Alicia instead of Mrs. Sharpe, and didn't seem to respect her authority when he dragged his feet over her every order, offered physical comfort?
    “It's not that bad, Alicia. Isn't that what you always tell me?” He patted her back with what Ava assumed he meant to be soft taps.
    Her grandmother jerked under the blows.
    The older woman stopped her tears and squirmed to free herself.
    Torn between laughter at Gunnar's awkward assistance, surprised pleasure that he'd been so thoughtful, and concern that her grandmother might have shattered a rib, Ava pulled Gunnar aside.
    “Better now?” she asked Alicia.
    Her grandmother wiped her eyes, now filled with mirth.
    Thank you, Gunnar.
    “That was just what I needed, Gunnar. Thank you.” She gingerly made her way to her desk and sat, looking more amused than upset.
    Not wanting Gunnar to feel embarrassed by his kindness, Ava tugged him with her. “I need to talk to him about Grayson. I have some ideas on how we might contact him.” She kept her shields up tight, just in case Grandma had a sudden urge to peek.
    “That's fine.” Alicia chuckled and smoothed back her hair. Not a trace of sadness lingered on her face.
    Ava could have kissed the stubborn Circ resisting her pull.

    Alicia nodded at them. “Go on, Gunnar. I need to focus on a few other items right now. Ava, call Robert Anderson. Notwithstanding his participation in a congressional hearing that has bearing on our funding, he was the last one to talk to Grayson that I know of. And that was two days ago. I'll leave your brother in your hands…for the moment.”
    “Good idea. Come on.” Ava released the hold on her strength and yanked Gunnar out of the office. She closed the door behind them.
    He stumbled to a halt in the hallway and glared. “Jesus, you're a lot stronger than you look. Not to mention more irritating.”
    No more Mr. Nice Guy. He'd probably spent his load of kindness back in the office. So much for their brief bonding moment consoling Alicia.
    At the thought, she couldn't contain a grin. “So, Mr. Comfort, how come you never offer to hug my fears away?” She batted her eyes. “I'm so scared of the future.
    However will I survive?” Actually, she did worry for her brother, but she'd rather laugh than cry about him.
    “You really need a better use for that smart mouth.” He raised their twined fingers to rub them over her lips. Tingles suffused her entire body, and he leaned closer. “Next time you're hard up for a good fuck, I'll let you suck me off. A real treat for you. How's that?”
    She swore under her breath. Ava truly was perverted, because his arrogance made her wet. And he knew it,