“Indian Springs Island.” The concession wouldn’t make any difference.
“Off the coast of?”
“Not important.”
“Miles to the mainland?”
“Also not important.”
She nodded. “Is this your house?”
Gunner nodded too as she walked toward him.
“It looks like you.”
He raised an eyebrow and waited for her to continue.
“Sparse to the point of being cold. No sign of distinguished personality.”
“Distinguishable?”
She scowled. “You know what I meant.”
Gunner smiled. She’d described his reputation fairly accurately. That didn’t mean she had any idea what he was really like. Few did. In fact, he could count the number of people who knew him well on one hand. His parents, his sister, Razor, and Doc. Even Mercer didn’t truly know him.
“I see no need for frivolity,” he countered.
“Friv…what?”
He smiled again. “Extra stuff.”
“It reminds me of Russia. Everything is gray.”
“I found Russia to be quite beautiful.”
“Perhaps you are colorblind.”
He stepped closer to her. “I can see the difference between the color of your eyes and mine.”
Raketa looked away, toward the water. “Why did you bring me here?”
Gunner walked over and sat on the edge of the tractor tire. There were many reasons he’d brought her here. To keep her safe. To find out what her connection to Petrov was. To get her to stop lying to him. But those weren’t the only reasons. There was one more that he had a hard time admitting even to himself.
“What’s your connection to Petrov?” he asked instead of answering.
“There is no connection.”
“Who is the woman still being held at his compound?”
There it was. He’d only caught a glimpse, but it was enough for him to see the flash of pain in her eyes.
“Who is she to you, Rocket Girl?”
“I’ve told you, I don’t know.”
Gunner stood and picked up the tire, hoisted it over his head, and hurled it toward the mark. This time he met it. He walked over and moved the stick another twenty feet and then sat back on the edge of the tire.
With the humidity and his physical exertion, Gunner’s shirt was soaked all the way through. He reached behind him with one hand and pulled it over his head, tossing it on the ground near where he kept a cooler of water. He took a long drink and then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.