Chapter 21
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
L yla took a sip of her coffee and looked over the rim at her brother.
Jackson had been smirking since they’d arrived at the coffee shop. “So…Rock.”
She wasn’t surprised this was what he led with. “Yep.”
“I didn’t think he was going to agree to let you leave his side to meet me this morning.” He was still smirking, clearly half serious, half joking around.
“I can’t really blame him. The last time I walked away from him, I was gone for thirty-eight years.”
Jackson chuckled. “Okay. There is that. So… How did this all happen exactly?”
Lyla lifted a brow. “You want me to tell you about Rock and me from forty years ago?”
“I think so. Do I?”
“No. You don’t.” Lyla smiled at him. “Trust me. I can’t even make it PG. Let’s just say he was there when I needed him one night toward the end of my senior year, and we had a connection.”
Jackson drew in a deep breath. “Okay. And you’re…in love with him?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been here for three days.”
“I was probably always in love with him, Jackson. He was my first love. Now he’s my last love.” She wanted Jackson’s blessing, but it wasn’t necessary. It wouldn’t change anything.
“I always liked that guy,” Jackson said.
She chuckled. “Me, too.”
His face scrunched up. “How far back does this infatuation go? How the hell did I not notice?”
“I knew the day I met him. You wouldn’t even remember that day because it wasn’t consequential to you, but I remember it vividly. So does Rock. But you have to know neither of us acted on those feelings. He was extremely respectful of the fact that I was sixteen. We didn’t even acknowledge our shared attraction. Not until after I was eighteen.”
Jackson nodded slowly. “I’m not surprised. The guy didn’t even smoke pot. It was always so comical that Mom and Dad thought he might be a bad influence on me. It was the other way around, though. Rock never wavered on his stance about illegal substances.”
Lyla smiled. “He’s a good guy.”
“He’s also smart as a whip. I never told anyone, but the reason I befriended him in the first place was because I needed his help with Calculus.”
Lyla laughed. “Jackson… I’m not that na?ve. Nor are Mom and Dad. We all knew that.”
His brows shot up. “You did?”
“Of course.”
“So, what are you going to do now? Stay here in town?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate. There was no decision to be made.
“Mom and Dad will be sorry to see you leave Florida.”
“Yeah, but they don’t need me. Not really. Not yet anyway.” She drew in a breath. In the back of her mind, she had some concerns that her parents would eventually need help. She wasn’t sure how she would juggle that if she moved back to Shadowridge, but she’d cross that bridge if and when she came to it.
Jackson leaned forward and set his elbows on the table. “I was actually thinking about moving to Florida myself.”
“You were?” She sat straighter and took another sip of her coffee.
“Yeah. I’m tired of the rat race in New York. My kids aren’t even in the area anymore. I work from home most of the time. And it’s fucking cold in the winter.”
“Need a condo?” she joked.
He stared at her for a moment. “Maybe I do.”
“I was kidding. Kind of. But if you want my condo, that would certainly be tidy.”
“I could at least move into it in the short run. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with also hunting for a place to live. I was really dreading that part. Would you leave your furniture? I was thinking of selling everything. It’s not cost-effective to move furniture.”
“Fuck, Jackson. I’ll leave everything you want. You can’t imagine how much weight that would lift off my shoulders. I could pick up my personal things and hand you the keys.”
Jackson set his mug down and held out a hand. “I think we have a deal.”
She laughed as she shook it as if they were strangers making a business arrangement.
Jackson sobered as he sat back. “I’m so pleased to see you this happy. It never really occurred to me that you weren’t happy. But now that I see you alive and smiling, I realize you haven’t been happy for years.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think about it much either. I think what happened was that I had this great thing, and it was so fleeting, and then it was over, and I never found that again. Nothing ever measured up. The moment Rock stepped back into my life the other night, everything fell into place as if no time had passed. Yes, we have a lot of life to talk about, but it’s all just information. Details. It won’t change how we feel about one another.”
Jackson smiled. “I can see that, and I sincerely wish you all the best.” He pushed his empty mug to the center of the table. “We should probably get back before Rock gets nervous and hunts us down. I think we’ll have the painting finished later today. I have a carpet guy coming tomorrow. With all the extra help, we should have the house in great shape and on the market quickly.”
Lyla took the last sip of her coffee and set the mug next to Jackson’s. “Let me run to the bathroom really quick. That went right through me.”
Jackson stood as she did. He looked around. “Do you know where it is?”
She turned and pointed. “Short hallway over there. I’ll be right back.”
“Rock will kill me if I lose sight of you.”
She chuckled. “It’s just the bathroom. You can watch the hallway the entire time. I’ll be right back.”
Lyla could laugh it off in front of Jackson, but she was putting up a front. She wasn’t particularly excited about going to the bathroom alone either, but she needed to get over herself. It could be months before anyone found Carl. She couldn’t spend her entire life in fear.
There was no one in the short hallway, and she entered the bathroom to find no one in there either. Two stalls. She was alone. She peed, washed her hands, and was just about to reach for the door when it suddenly opened.
It was not a woman. It was the same guy who had attacked her the other night. She assumed it was Carl, but she had no idea. She really didn’t know what Carl looked like. Her mouth opened, instinct telling her to scream, but she wasn’t fast enough. The man rushed into the room, grabbed her, slammed her against the wall, and covered her mouth.
Fear climbed up her spine as her eyes went wide. She couldn’t breathe. He was pinching her nose. Panic made her struggle as much as possible, but he pinned her hard against the wall with his entire body.
His face was inches from hers when he hissed, “Where the fuck is my stuff, bitch?”
She shook her head as much as she could. She had no idea what the fuck stuff he was looking for. Money? Drugs? She didn’t know.
He pulled out a knife and held it in front of her face. “Don’t fuck with me, bitch.”
She stiffened, eyes wider, fear making her vision blurry.
“If you make a sound, I will slit your throat. Do you understand, bitch?”
She gave a slight nod.
He lowered his hand to her throat. “Where is my fucking stuff?”
“I don’t know what you’re looking for. I swear. I don’t know anything about your stuff.”
He narrowed his gaze and leaned in closer, bringing the knife to her throat. His other hand was around her neck, pinning her almost too far off the floor. She was on her toes, trying not to choke.
“Don’t fuck with me,” he growled. “I’ll cut you. You’ll bleed out in this bathroom before anyone finds your body.”
She drew in air through her nose, struggling on her toes. She brought one hand up to his arm and pushed against it. “I can’t breathe,” she managed to wheeze.
“I don’t give a fuck if you breathe, bitch. Where’s my shit?” The knife came too close to her and nicked her skin. She felt the warmth of blood running down her neck.
She considered telling him she had whatever he was looking for and would take him to it just to buy herself some time. But suddenly, the door flew open, slamming against the opposite wall. She expected to see Jackson or even some members of the MC, but she was relieved and surprised to see Rock.
In less than a second, he grabbed the back of her assailant and yanked him off her by the collar.
Lyla screamed as she scrambled a few inches toward the corner. She had nowhere to go. She flattened herself to the wall and grabbed her neck. She didn’t think he’d cut her badly, but she wasn’t certain.
Two men joined Rock and wrestled her attacker to the floor. One of them kicked his knife into the hallway.
Lyla was so confused. The guy who had her attacker held down with a knee to his back looked scarier than the man on the floor. He had on a denim shirt with the sleeves ripped off and greasy hair. He looked like he hadn’t showered in a week.
He started barking out orders as if he were in charge. Of what?
Lyla cried out every time the asshole on his stomach made another effort to free himself.
“Handcuffs!” the greasy guy shouted.
The other guy with him handed him a pair.
Rock rushed to Lyla. “Are you okay? Shit, you’re bleeding. Keep your hand on the wound, Baby girl.”
For a moment, she stared at him wide-eyed.
Rock set a hand on her lower back. “Lyla, Baby, let’s get you out of the bathroom.”
She grabbed onto him with her free hand. Suddenly, she started gasping. Her body switched out of shocked mode as an emotional burst consumed her.
Rock pulled her into the hallway and hauled her into his arms. “Let me see your neck, Baby girl,” he whispered near her ear over the din of shouting.
She eased her hand away.
He winced but pulled off his shirt and pressed it on the wound. “It’s okay, Little one. It’s not too bad. Look at me.”
She was sobbing now, unable to stop herself. Adrenaline pumped through her body, making her shiver violently. Shock.
“Look at me, Lyla,” he ordered again.
She forced her gaze to his.
“I’ve got you. You’re safe. The cut isn’t bad.”
She nodded because he seemed to need her agreement.
Sirens entered her consciousness. Lots of them. They grew louder.
“Who- Who-” She swallowed. “Who are those guys?” She pointed toward the two men who had crowded into the bathroom and now had her attacker cuffed. They were holding him down.
“Police, Baby girl.”
She couldn’t make sense of that. They didn’t look like police.
Rock cupped her face and turned her so she was facing him. “They were undercover. They were following Carl.”
“So-so-so that’s Carl?”
“Yes.”
“Do-do-do you know them?”
“Yes, Little one.” He pulled her tighter against him, still holding his shirt to her neck. There wasn’t room for them to move. The hallway was jammed with people coming in both directions.
He forced her to continue looking at him. “It’s a small town, Lyla. I know most of the people. I’ve worked with the police several times. I didn’t know these guys were tracking Carl until one of them called me about ten minutes ago.”
“They called you?” She stared at him, struggling to make sense of all this.
“Yes. They spotted him and were trying to follow him through town. Owen called me to make sure you were safe and with me. When I told him you weren’t, I jumped in my car to head here.”
“But, if they were undercover, how did they know about me and know to check that I was with you?”
“As soon as Susan realized it was most likely Carl Houseman who had attacked you, she contacted Owen’s handler and told him so he could get in touch with Owen and fill him in about our involvement and her suspicions about Carl.”
Lyla inhaled deeply. “A lot of people were looking out for us.”
“They sure were, Baby girl.”
She leaned into Rock hard, letting him absorb her weight. “Jackson…”
As if she conjured him, Jackson suddenly burst through the throng and into the hallway. “Fuck. Jesus. Fuck.” He glanced at Rock. “Is she okay?”
“She’ll be fine. It’s just a nick.”
Jackson ran a hand over his head. “Fuck,” he growled again. “She just went to the bathroom. I should have gone with her.”
Rock grabbed Jackson’s arm. “It’s not your fault.”
Lyla sincerely hoped Rock truly believed that. She didn’t want Rock to be furious with Jackson for not going into the damn bathroom with her.
“Police,” someone shouted from inside the coffee shop. “Clear out of here, everyone, now. You need to let us get through.”
Surprisingly, the hallway cleared, and four officers in uniform came into view.
Rock pulled Lyla back another foot, giving the police room to get through.
Jackson moved with them, closer toward the rear exit next to the men’s room.
Lyla tried to stop shaking, but she couldn’t. She trembled violently while everything happened in slow motion around her. Carl was hauled off the floor and escorted out of the bathroom and then out of sight. The police asked a lot of questions, which Rock and Jackson fielded.
A paramedic joined them. “Let me look at your neck, ma’am.”
Rock removed his shirt from the wound and tipped her head into the light.
The paramedic took a quick look and then nodded toward the door. “My partner is bringing the ambulance around behind the coffee shop. Let’s go out there. I need to see the wound better.”
Rock and Jackson flanked her as they led her out of the door and toward the awaiting ambulance.
The paramedic opened the rear door and reached in to drag a first-aid kit to the edge. “Let’s have another look, ma’am.”
Lyla felt like she was underwater. Everyone’s voices were muted.
“I think she’s in shock,” Rock said. He hopped up onto the back of the open ambulance, sat, and lifted her into his lap. His lips came to her ear. “I’ve got you. You’re safe. Let the medic look at your neck.”
The paramedic gently tipped her head to the side.
Lyla winced when something cold touched her.
“Sorry. I’m just cleaning the area. It’s a tiny nick. I promise. No need to worry. I’m going to put one butterfly bandage over it. You’ll be fine in no time. It won’t even scar.” The man was very kind, and he took care to keep his motions slow.
Lyla was panting. Her world was spinning.
“There. All done.”
Rock guided her head upright. He cupped her face. “You’re okay, Baby girl.”
She wasn’t, though. That was twice Carl had attacked her. She was shaking with fear. Rationally, she knew he’d been taken into custody, but she wasn’t feeling rational at the moment.
Jackson handed Rock an open bottle of water, and Rock helped her take several sips. He kissed her temple.
“The police need to speak to her,” Jackson said, looking leery. His brows were drawn together as though he didn’t think she was capable.
Lyla took in a deep breath and fought for inner strength. She couldn’t let Carl get to her like this. He was nobody. An asshole who’d tried to terrorize her. She needed to take back her power.
She nodded. “I’m okay.”
“You sure?” Rock asked. “We can wait a while if you need more time.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m good.”
The two officers who’d come to the house the night Carl attacked her stepped closer.
Susan was the first to speak. “Lyla, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
Lyla nodded. “I will be.”
“Can you tell us what happened?” Susan asked.
“I went to the bathroom, and as I was coming out, that guy attacked me. He slammed me into the wall and demanded to know where I put his stuff. Just like last time. I don’t have any idea what his stuff is.” Apparently, the guy was Carl Houseman, but she had no personal way of confirming that. She couldn’t remember him well from high school.
“ We do,” Susan said.
Rock held Lyla tighter. “Enlighten us.”
“Carl Houseman was in over his head, buying and selling drugs. He got behind. He owed his dealer a lot of money. So, the last time he made an exchange, the guy followed him back to your house. He knew Carl was keeping his stash there, and the house was vacant, so he waited for Carl to leave, went in himself, found the stash, and took everything.”
“How the hell did you find all this out?” Jackson asked.
Rock simply nodded. “Because Owen was undercover. He knew, but he couldn’t call it in.”
Susan nodded. “Exactly.”
Lyla turned her gaze toward Rock. “The guy who came in behind you?”
“Yes.”
“Is it over, then?” Lyla asked, unable to keep her voice from shaking.
“Yes, Baby girl, it’s over.”
Susan nodded. “The investigator might have a few more questions for you, but they have most of what they need without you. You can press charges for assault, of course, and that might be advised at some point, but chances are Carl will get nailed for far bigger crimes before anyone could even take a look at your assault charges.”
Lyla nodded. “Okay.” She certainly didn’t want to become involved in a lengthy court battle if it wasn’t necessary.
“I’ll let you folks get out of here.” Susan smiled as she and her partner turned to head back into the coffee shop.
“Let’s get you home,” Rock stated.
“To your place?” she asked, her voice squeaking.
“To our place, Little Lyla.” Rock kissed her temple and helped her to her feet.