A Gangster's Pure Love

CHAPTER 5

As his heavy punches land on his punching bag Gunner feels his muscles begin to finally loosen and his frustration levels begin to drop. It's taken him a good number of hours for him to get to this point and while it's been that long he doesn't seem to be tired at all. His knuckles are burning from all the punches that he has landed on the bag but it's nothing he can't handle. This is like second nature to him, to have his body endure the most extreme pressure and pain it can and so he keeps punching. And instead of slowing down after each punch, the opposite is what is going on with him as each punch he makes packs up with more energy than the last. All his muscles feel pumped up with adrenaline as all the thoughts swirling in his head make him release one punch after the other.

His day was just fine, his life was just fine but little did he know a visit to his brother's grave and a scream from an unknown person would change all that for him. He knows this is Wyestone where anything is possible but he didn't expect to run into his old family on a day like today.

When her scream reached his ears he didn't even hesitate before running her direction. Just the amount of fear in that voice was enough to let him know how serious the situation was.

It was already getting dark but thanks to his eyesight he could clearly see the pair struggling while being able to stay hidden from their sight. It took him just seconds to assess the situation before he knew what was really going on. He was about to walk out and try to negotiate with her attacker when he saw him hit her head with his gun knocking her out for a bit. That scene before him was a common sight in Wyestone and he knew if he didn't act fast enough another innocent life would be lost. So he took aim so easily like many times before and when he fired, he knew just one of his bullets was enough to do the job. And just like that, the two bodies separated as both went down on the grassy floor.

He knew one was definitely dead and the other was barely hanging on to life, so he sprang into action wanting to save the young woman but when he came to the spot where the bodies were he froze. Two things shook him to his very core...The extreme beauty of his damsel in distress and the tattoo on the neck of her attacker's lifeless body laying next to her. Both were enough for him to decide not to call it in. This was not a case the Wyestone police department could handle and besides he was already too involved to risk going the official route.

He gives the bag a final double punch and he exhales loudly. It swings further out than the other times and when it swings back he gets a hold of it in an embrace.

He takes deep steady breaths as he waits for the rhythm of his heart beat to calm down. Every one of his pores on his skin feels like they have opened up after the work out making him feel rejuvenated.

His eyes finally shift to his surroundings which he didn't bother to look at from the time he got here as all he wanted was to let out all the steam he was feeling deep within.

The place is quiet almost feels deserted. He hasn't been here in a long time. He didn't even think he would would ever come back here after the promise he made to himself and his brother.

It's just as he had left it 10 years ago when he bid goodbye to this part of his life. Every piece of furniture is in the exact same place as it was before. If there has been any movement it was probably just to get it cleaned.

After so long he had almost forgotten about its existence until that scream. The one that made him reach out for his second gun instead of his first. He didnt know why he did that but when he fired his shot and it claimed it's victim, his beast came alive and this place called out to him.

He could have gone the other way, the right way that he has lived the past 10 years but a look at the person that he was carrying in his arms cemented the choice he had made. If he wanted her to live which he did more than anything, this place was her only chance.

He lets go of the bag and picks up his towel and heads to the only room in this entire place that is brightly lit.

"How is she?"

"I can't say for sure, I need to run more tests."

"Damn it." Gunner curses in frustration.

"Why is she not in a proper hospital?" His doctor gives him his usual look of disapproval.

"You know why."

Gunner looks at the girl sleeping on his bed with a bitter look on his face. Her blue swollen face is not even showing any signs of improvement. She's been laying in his bed unmoving for the past couple of hours and he is getting agitated. He can't keep her here but then again he can't let her leave either.

For the first time in his life he is second guessing himself. And for the first time he brought a girl back with him which he never did no matter the circumstances.

He looks back at her and a strange feeling tugs at him once again. Something about her is telling him she is different but he refuses to entertain that thought.

"I need to shower."

"B...but I need to leave and...."

"Stay!" He growls at the doctor.

"You leave when I say so." He doesn't even bother to look at the person he is talking to but just keeps walking to his shower. So many thoughts are still swirling in his head right now and he doesn't need to add his doctor's absence to his list of problems.

He jumps in the shower and opens the tap. When the ice cold water falls on him he doesn't even flinch. His mind wonders to the person he once called brother. The picture of his head in a pool of blood with a fresh clean bullet wound right between his eyes is staring him in the face. That picture makes him hit the shower wall with his fist. His whole being is full of rage.

"10 years..." He sneers.

10 years that he has enjoyed some kind of peace and quiet in his life. 10 years since he has kept his hands clean and his old life tucked away never to be lived again. It was the biggest and hardest decision he has ever made. And one of the toughest things he has ever done. Not only did he fight his way out of the underworld, he spent his days on the outside fighting his demons.

But now that figure laying on his bed has just changed all of that for him. Because of her he will pay a heavy price. Its now just a matter of time before he is sucked back into his old ways.

He doesn't regret his decision but for saving her, doors that had remained shut are now wide open.

Of all the people in this whole world, why did it have to be her?

He feels like fate is playing the nastiest trick on him. He sighs in frustration before stepping out and going to stand in front of his mirror.

His eyes are reflecting everything going on within him, it's like he is gazing right into his own soul and right there he can feel them...the tiny cracks forming around the walls of his unfeeling self and he doesn't like it not even one bit.

He blinks away those thoughts afraid spending time on them will just make everything worse. Instead he stretches out his hand to the cabinet and brings out one of his favourite tools. He holds it up to the light and the metallic blade shines in the bright light showing off it's sharp edges. The shiny teeth on the blade matches the tattoo on his chest and a sense of pride fills him.

"The razor"

Flashes of his old life appear in his head and it makes him smile just for a moment before he brings the old shaving instrument to his face. It's been quite a while but it feels just like yesterday when he held it and enjoyed it's sleek feel. He brings it close to his jaw and skilfully trims off the stubble that is already covering it. With just a few strokes he is done with no cut on any part of his skin.

He smiles at the skill that he had perfected over the years. He hasn't done it in the last 10 years but its like riding a bike...he could never forget.

Its one of the reasons he hasn't been back here. This place is like a drug to him, always calling, always enticing him to step right back in and enjoy the rush of being on the wild side.

Just thinking about it now makes him feel like he can almost taste it, taste him while he stirs deep within him. The man he hasn't been in 10 years. He was locked away under his desire to atone for all his misdeeds but now with his razor sharp eyes already shining back at him in the mirror, he knows with no doubt that he is back.

"The razor is back"