49. Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Keaton
How could I be so stupid? Layne was the best thing that’d happened to me in a long time, if not my entire life. And like the idiot I was, I’d butchered this one good.
Now she’d once again gotten hurt because of me. Twice at that. First the photos, then the virtual hit-and-run.
The thought made me floor the gas pedal of my TRX, and I shot down the almost-empty road leading to Fort Vickers, where Wentworth, Moriarty, and Rhyner lived. My brother had sent me some ominous text, and I’d called him back after the meeting, which had lasted past midnight. I’d seen the pictures of me and Delilah online myself, which was bad enough, but hearing that Layne had nearly gotten killed . . .
I overtook two vehicles driving the posted speed limit, ignoring their aggravated honking. The flight back had felt like an eternity, and so did this drive from the airport to Layne. The sun crested the horizon, the glittering lights of Glam City winking out one by one in the rearview mirror. Which I appreciated. Reminded me too much of Vegas and what’d happened with Delilah.
Crap, hopefully Layne would understand. Couldn’t blame her if she didn’t. If she filed for divorce.
My chest tightened. You can’t allow this, God.
Should’ve never left her alone. Thought she was safe living in a house with three special operators, but whoever was after me was shrewder than I’d anticipated. How had I ever believed I could keep both Layne and LGD?
After another twenty minutes, I finally arrived at Fort Vickers and drove straight up to the gate. I showed the guard my base pass Wentworth had provided me a while back, and was let inside. The rumbling of my TRX cut through the quiet neighborhoods, two-story homes with American flags and manicured lawns rolling by. My brother’s house was all the way at the back of the base. I pulled up to it, parked along the curb, and jogged across the lawn to the front door.
My heart jackhammered in my chest when I rang the bell.
No answer.
I rang again, over and over, then pounded my fist against the door. “Layne!”
The door was ripped open. “Are you out of your—” Rhyner fell silent like someone had hit his mute button, his expression going dark. Wearing only shorts, he looked more intimidating than ever with all those muscles on display. Even Wentworth looked like a beanpole next to this beast.
I raised my hands in a placating gesture. “Relax, man. I’m just here to—”
Rhyner shot forward with a snarl, tackling me like a linebacker. I dodged to the side, but not fast enough. His massive arm whacked me in the chest, sending me flying. We both slammed into the grass, me on my back and Rhyner half on top of me. For a second I just lay there, breathing through the pain. Holy crap, the guy wasn’t messing around.
His heavy weight lifted off me as he shoved up. Not willing to be shredded to minced meat, I rammed my elbow into his temple. Apparently Rhyner hadn’t expected a counterattack, because he backed away far enough for me to drive my knee into his right kidney and my fist into his face. The gap created by his retreat allowed me to roll from under him. In a split second we both bounced back to our feet, circling each other.
“I just want to talk to her,” I said, breathing hard and my fists at the ready.
“You promised you’d take care of her. Instead, you cheated on her and nearly got her killed! And then you show up, banging on the door like some freakin’—”
“I—”
Rhyner’s hammer of a fist shot forward, and I blocked it, immediately dodging his other paw. That one would’ve knocked me out cold without a doubt. From the crouched position I launched another counterstrike. My right fist found his solar plexus, my left his kidney. Then I immediately retreated.
What the . . . Rhyner stood there like I’d blown him a kiss instead of punched him full force.
“I trusted you with her.” His dark eyes were nearly black, fury oozing from his every pore.
“I know, okay?” Not letting him out of sight for even a split second, I tried to regulate my breathing. It was only a matter of time before he attacked again. “That’s why I’m here, to make it up to you. Her. I love her, man. I’m giving up LGD for her.”
The words felt foreign on my tongue, but they were true. I loved Layne, and I wanted her in my life. Needed her in my life.
Rhyner scoffed. “You can make it up to her by taking a hike. For good.”
I swallowed hard. I didn’t want to. Couldn’t live without Layne anymore, especially after our talk in the pool. Our marriage plans. But . . . “If that’s what she wants.”
“Sure is, believe me.”
It was like someone ripped a hole into my chest, grabbed my heart, and yanked it out. Please don’t, God. I need her. She’s my everything.
“I want to hear it from her,” I said, my voice hoarse. If I had to fight her beast of a brother to get to her, so be it. But I needed to talk to her.
Rhyner let out a humorless chuckle. “Nice try, pretty boy. You won’t see her again.”
“I—”
He lunged forward. I tried to dodge, but despite his bulk, Rhyner was lightning fast. He hit me center mass, and I got knocked to the ground once again. This time, he didn’t give me a chance. He delivered two blows to my right kidney that left me writhing. Then he straddled me, pinning my arms between my body and his knees.
He drew his fist back. Sent it straight into my face.
Pain exploded in my nose and right eye as he hit me with full force, knocking my head to the side.
Rhyner grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. His gaze was void, as if he were no longer in control of himself.
Bile burned the back of my throat. The guy had snapped somehow, and I was pretty sure he wasn’t aware of what he was doing.
The next blow came, this one even harder than the first.
My head swam, my vision blurring.
He was going to kill me.