--<3--
Gunner, the bikers, together with the mob members, anxiously waited for Isak and Athena to come out from one of the doors any minute now. It had gone almost forty-five minutes since Isak ran inside, and the house could collapse any minute now. The men who kidnapped Athena had stopped running out now, and Gunner didn't think it was more people alive to get out, and that scared him. If they weren't getting out soon, they could die from the smoke.
"She will never get out. Athena is drugged and badly hurt. You burned her in," The man that Henrik says was the head of this spit out and started to laugh. Gunner stared at the house before giving up. He took some steps before starting to run to the house. He needed to get her outnow before it was too late.
Before Gunner even was close to the house, two bikers took their grips off him, dragging him back while he was struggling and screaming at them to let him go and save Athena. His dogs got alerted and were close to attacking the two bikers dragging him back if it wasn't for Wyatt that commanded them to back down a few times before they even listened.
"Get off me! She needs to get out!" Gunner screamed struggling against Jax and Titus that pitched him back. Jax hated to see his biker so broken as he was struggling with him and wished he could do anything to get the mystery woman to safety.
"You know as well as everyone else that that house can explode any minute now. You may not come out alive," Jax informed him and pushed him back even more.
"I don't care, as long as I can be by her side the last minutes of my life," Gunner said, and now without his knowledge, tears wear dripping down no stop. Gunner felt panic. He didn't want to live the rest of his life knowing that he was the one killing his Angel.
"Gunner, listen to me. If she gets out, you are of no use inside that building," Jax said, feeling the pain his biker felt. Marcus stepped up beside Gunner as he had a sorrowful face and placed a soft hand on Gunner's back.
"Isak will come out with her" Was the only thing he could say as he was staring at the house, desperate to see a glimpse of his sister and best friend. Henrik held his wife that was now crying in his arm and shaking in fear. Gunner couldn't do other than stare at the house while the two bikers held him back.
Everyone was at least fifty meters away from the house as they were waiting for it to blow up. Every person that is in custody was now in the car secured so no one could flee, everyone except for the head of it all of course.
Suddenly a high explosion was heard and smoke together with fire was flaming up in the air lighting up the ground they stood on. The air smells of smoke and burned wood. Heat and material were flying everywhere, and the cries from Athena's mother were heard when everyone's hope for the two people they were waiting for died down. A laugh was heard echoing in the woods.
"I told her. She wouldn't be with anyone other than me" The man laughed like a psycho. Gunner turned to the man ready to charge, but Jax and Titus held him back even more now than before. But Henrik turned to the man with eyes harder than stone and fists shaking in anger, ready to kill.
"You are a pathetic and disgusting pig, kidnapping my daughter thinking she would give up," Henrik said, walking closer to the man that was tied up against a tree. The man was smirking.
"She gave up. We were just getting married, father-in-law," He said, and Henrik was so close to charging at the man but stopped himself as he knew that giving him a quick death wasn't good enough. Henrik would torture him for months, he would beg for death as Henrik brings him back to life every time.
"I never gave up," A weak voice said behind all of them. The kidnapper's face turned to a frown as Athena was walking leaned against Isak looking like she could black out any second.
"Athena!" Henrik screamed and ran over to his daughter, taking her from Isak's grasp and holding her against himself as he was crying in joy. Wyatt and the mob doctor ran over to the group of people standing around Athena, and Henrik that was now kneeling on the ground.
"We couldn't get out by the door, so we needed to climb down the roof. Athena almost fell down as she faded in and out of consciousness. But I held on to her," Isak said and fell down onto his knees in exhaustion but thankful that they now were safe.
Wyatt fell to his knees beside Athena and her father as she was smiling up at her dad. Athen saw double as her dad was two persons as well as Wyatt. Athena's eyes went heavy as she saw her dad stroking her face.
"Jag älskar dig," She whispered before fading away and going lifeless in his arms. Henrik stared at his daughter before shaking her lightly. Wyatt pushed him away angrily so he couldn't hurt her even more.
"Move, we will take over," He roared in his doctor's ways. Wyatt and the mob medic took Athena on a bore and took her to a truck that speeded out of the territory faster than anyone could say anything. Gunner stared after as he didn't even get a chance to see her correctly. Jax and Titus let him go as everyone started to pack into the cars again with a glimpse of hope.
***
Gunner sat exhausted and worried with her family, Vic, and Natasha. Neither of the medics did say anything about her as they fastly moved around the house. Gunner hadn't been sleeping for almost twenty-four hours as he had been sitting and waiting for over six hours. Even if Gunner didn't believe in God he was praying for her to be okay. His left leg was bunching and his worried almost broke him down as he had his face in his hands. He couldn't lose her. Athena is the most important person in his life.
"She will be fine," Vic said to Gunner as she saw the panic the biker had. Gunner looked up at Athena's friend and then looked down again.
"Yeah, she is a fighter, remember," Natasha added. Gunner nodded his head, trying to convince himself the same thing. His head was spinning, and the only thing he could think about was the image of her body falling unconscious in her father's arms. Gunner felt three noses against his hands over his face as he heard paws run into the house. Maddox had taken care of them and thought they could cheer his friend up.
"Hey boys," Gunner said when they started to lick him all over the face. Gunner couldn't help but smile at the three of them as they always made him feel better.
"You think you could borrow me a supportive dog?" Isak asked, leaning against the wall, looking devastated. For the last hours, he had been mumbling nonsense over and over, staring off into the air. Gunner looked up at him and felt bad for him when he saw the stress and sorrow drip from him. He looked at Scooby and told him to walk over to Isak. As Scooby slowly went over to the grown-up man Isak opened his arms for the dog to walk into. And just like that, the two men were cuddling the dogs.
Ten minutes later the door to Athena's room open up and the two medics walked out with small smiles on their faces.
"She is ready for you," Wyatt said and opened the door for everyone to get into. Marcus was the first one to fly up and rush into the room. He stood by her side in a matter of seconds and held her hand. Athena looked up at her brother with a tired smile, she hadn't been happier to see her brother ever before. Athena's parents walked in together with Isak smiling down at their fighter happy to see her alive and smiling. Last, it was Gunner looking a bit out of place as he watched the family.
Gunner watched as Athena spoke with them all in Swedish not really knowing what he should do now. Athena slowly looked over at the door and saw the biker standing there with his dogs.
"Gunner," She said and let go of her mother's hand to try to reach out for the biker. Gunner walked over to her with his eyes only for his angel. All the worried and panic feelings washed away as he saw her smile up at him.
"I'm okay," Athena said as she saw the worry in his eyes blossom as he saw the bandaid over her ribs. Tears started to stream down from her face as she watched her biker look all over her for any sign of pain.
"I'm so sorry for leaving you. I should never have done that," Athena said and squeezed his hand. Gunner shook his head and leaned over, and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Don't think about it. It doesn't matter as long as you are okay now," Gunner said and stroked away some hair from her face. The move was so gentle and something neither of the family thought they would see the silent biker perform.
"I never thought I would see the day when Athena was in love," Isak said jokingly. Athena started to chuckle but then held herself against her rib when a pain spread through her body.
"Don't joke," Henrik fastly said, making Athena chuckle even more even if the pain rose even more. Isak couldn't help but laugh too.
They all spoke lowly with Athena as she looked at the people who cared about her. They were catching up about what had happened since she fled from Sweden. Isak was as always speaking widely with his hands all over the place as Marcus added a few words here and there. Athena's mom and dad were just smiling and hugging as they watched their princess being safe again. Gunner tried to leave the family alone, but Athena refused to let his hand go.
"Hold up. You meet this man because you were his target?" Isak asked when Athena told them about her history at the biker club. Gunner looked away a bit flustered, knowing that Henrik had become pale, and was looked over at Gunner when Athena told that part of her story like he plans the best way to end the bikers life. Gunner had a feeling that he was deciding if he should kill him fast or painfully slow.
"Yeah, but hey! I am happy he did collect me. Gunner does mean a lot to me," Athena said and squeezed the biker's hand. She turned her look from her dad and looked up at the biker. Gunner couldn't help but to sigh and smile back at her. Gunner wasn't happy to see her face being beaten up but to know that she was fine was all he needed to know for now.
"Honey, I think we should get out and give them some private time," Sofie said and started to drag out her man when he was ready to object. The two other men laughed and joined Sofie and dragged Henrik out of the room while he was protesting loudly. Athena couldn't help but laugh, even if it hurt.
When the two of them were alone, Athena looked back at the biker, who carefully sat down on her hospital bed.
"How bad is it?" Gunner asked worriedly. Athena smiled sadly and let her free hand bedside her body pet the three dogs that were checking up on their favourite woman.
"A concussion, a few wipes scares on the back and front that will be a permanent reminder... Two ribs were broken and a mind a bit drugged" Athena said summing up a lot of her problems.
"They wiped you?" Gunner asked, sad and angry at the same time. Athena nodded, still looking down at the dogs as they gave her a bit of support.
"I'm glad they didn't do it as often as they could have," Athena said before looking over at Gunner again with a small smile. Gunner was angry at himself, that he hadn't run out and looked for her more, maybe he would have found a clue about where she was.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," Gunner said sadly, holding her hand harder as he thought she would disappear. Athena saw the look in his eyes and sight. Athena didn't want him to blame himself for something he couldn't do anything about.
"You couldn't do anything about it, I left of my own free will, and they adducted me before the sun raised. You had no chance of finding me," Athena said. She put her hand against his cheek and smiled lightly, trying to assure him that she was fine and with him now. Gunner looked into his angel's eyes and breath out.
"Stay with me," Gunner whispered. He was looking into Athena's eyes seriously as she was a bit taken aback by what he said.
"Gunner, I can't stay here. I'm not a member of the mc, and, besides I don't think Jax would want a mafia girl around," Athena said, feeling a bit unsure of what to say. Athena loved Gunner, but she didn't want to be a burden on him anymore.
"Then be my old lady. Jax basically already sees you like it. Come on angel, you know we are meant to be. You and I will live an amazing life together, be my old lady?" Gunner said and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.
"I love you," He whispered when he leaned back to look at her right into her eyes. Gunner wanted her to know that he was serious as he asked her to be his for the rest of their lives. Athena's heart swells at the words. She thought about what he asked her to be. It would mean that she needed to stay here in the USA. She wouldn't go back to Sweden to be with her family. But honestly, could she ever go back to how it was without missing Gunner to the death of her?
"I love you too," She whispered and looked him in the eyes. Athena brushed her hand against his cheek before dragging him into her and pressed her busted lip against his softly.
"Tell me that's a yes," Gunner whispered as he pushed his forehead against her forehead. Athena's eyes started to water as she was sure what she wanted. A smile spread on her lips as she was nodding lightly.
"Yes, Gunner, I will be your old lady," Athena said, and the heaviness Gunner felt inside him disappeared quickly as joy spread around him. He couldn't help but smile big and embrace Athena in a light hug so he wouldn't hurt her and pressed his lips to hers. Athena answered the kiss with just as much love as Gunner gave her. When they parted, they looked into each other's eyes smiling.
"I will need to speak with Jax about building a house on his territory and speak with Asher about the tattoos. But if you don't want one that's fine, but I want to follow the tradition," Gunner said, smiling big as he excitedly planned what they needed to do now when they finally had the rest of their life together.
"We don't have money for a house, Gunner, and for that tattoo, I would love to get one. Vic told me it was sort of important, and now when I will be a part of this... I want to be all in all the way," Athena said, smiling, holding Gunners' face in her hands. Athena was so happy to see him excited while thinking about everything they would do.
"Athena, I have saved up from the day I came here thinking that I one day would need to move to Alaska and build a house there. We have money," Gunner said, smiling at his Angel. He felt so complete now like everything had fallen to place. Gunner had been reconnecting with his family. He had his friends around him most of the time, he has the most wonderful woman as his old lady and the three dogs. These were things Gunner couldn't imagine when he was left on the streets years ago, but he was dame happy he had it now.
"I'm sorry you thought you needed to do that," Athena said, looking up at Gunner with sadness in her eyes. Gunner shook his head and smiled at her.
"Don't be. It leads me to you. If that didn't happen, I wouldn't come as close as I did to you," Gunner said, thinking back at the trip they had made. He hadn't felt so close to anyone before, and it made him realize how much he loved her. Gunner thought about the situation he understood that he loved Athena and couldn't help but smile.
"Can I tell you something?" Gunner asked. Athena nodded and moved over to the bed to let him lie down next to her. Gunner laid down next to his angel and put an arm under her neck as he put her head against his chest.
"The first time we kissed I was hooked, I knew I wanted to explore whatever it was we had. Later on, when we were on our way to Salt Lake City and woke up the first night in each other's arms, I knew then that I love you. I just couldn't imagine waking up in any other way, to be honest," Gunner said and rested his head against Athenas lightly. Athena smiled lightly as she thought back to the nights when she had leaned against his chest like this.
"The first time I knew I loved you was when we were on our way back home from that trip. You were drying the boys as they were soaked. I just couldn't look away. I saw a caring man loving his dogs and couldn't see anyone else being more perfect than you to be that person in my life," Athena said. Gunner wasn't really sure how such a simple act could be the moment someone knew they were in love.
"I love you," Gunner whispered as he kissed her head. Athena smiled as she whispered back already on her way to sleep, as her eyes felt heavy. Gunner felt the heavy breaths Athena had and knew she had fallen asleep. Gunner felt dame lucky as his Angel fell asleep in his arms.